TEXT:

‘Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of His coming back again is drawing near’ – Hebrews 10:25 The Living Bible

THOUGHT:

Recently I was challenged by the results of a survey. “There are 320 million people in the USA, yet fewer than 20% attend church services regularly. The No 1 reason for not attending, “They say they are too busy!” This situation is being made worse as 150,000 walk away from church every week. It’s the same in the UK and many other countries, although the numbers and percentages are different. What can reverse this trend?”

One thing can.

One action can inspire someone to return.

One simple gesture could lead them back to church.

One question could change everything

“Would you like to come to church with me?”

• An Alarming Statistic

The survey discovered that only 2% of church members invite an unchurched person to their church in a whole year. Friendship evangelism is the most productive, yet obviously it is the most neglected.

• A Golden Opportunity

The survey also discovered that over 80% of the unchurched said they would be more likely to attend if they were invited by a friend or someone they knew. This means it is possible for everyone in the church to experience the joy of seeing someone come to their church for the first time because they asked them.

• Get into the Habit of Asking and Inviting

When I helped with the training of new sales agents in the company I worked for, the hardest task was getting them to ask for the order. Scared of someone saying “No”, and being rejected, they would avoid asking and come away empty-handed. Yet the client was not rejecting them personally, just what they were offering. It was later proved that many times they would have come away with the order if they had just asked for it!

• A Declined Invitation can become another Opportunity

I recently invited our neighbours to the church for Share a Meal Sunday, when I would also be showing pictures from the Pastors Conferences in Uganda. They were unable to come that Sunday due to a prior engagement, but said they wanted to see the pictures, so a home viewing is now being planned. If someone cannot come to what you are inviting them to, they may be able to come to something else if you only give them the opportunity.

• It can take time for a person to respond

The church had a stand at the Saltash Regatta in June and we made very good contact with two people. Since then Jenny has kept in contact with both of them, although often it felt like she was wasting her time. How thrilled we are to have seen both of them come to a Sunday service during October! It is important to realise that just because people do not see a need for Jesus now, it does not mean they never will. Give out the invitation in a casual way so that it is no problem if they refuse, for they may say “Yes” another day!

• The Challenge

I want to see the 2% raised to much higher than that. Who will join me in this challenge to invite at least one person every year? Between now and the end of December, there will be plenty of opportunities as the Christmas and New Year programmes get under way.

Will you put your name to this challenge too and let me know that you are willing to do it? Of course, do not stop when you have invited that person. There will still be plenty of time left in the year to invite another, and another! I am sure you will be very surprised about the outcome of such actions, and soon it will become your lifestyle!

A storm had thrown thousands of starfish onto the beach. Out of the water, the sun would soon kill them. A man and his grandson were walking by the water. With his stick, the man flicked a starfish back into the sea every step he took. “But Grandad, what difference will it make, there are millions on the beach?” “It makes a difference to each one I put back into the sea!” he replied.

I cannot turn hundreds of thousands of people around, but I can try to help those I come into contact with each day. If I can reach them, then they can reach someone else.

Every invitation counts.

Invite someone!