Recently in Jervis Bay, a boat was capsized by one of many whales stopping off in the bay on their way back south with their calves. Ideally a lifeboat would have been handy to scoop them up and take them to shore. But there wasn’t one around. However, the fishermen were able to swim to shore and safety.
Back in June this year Andrew Heard, pastor at Central Coast Evangelical Church visited the church I was part of at the time. This is the question he asked our congregation, ‘Is your church a life-boat that saves those who are drowning?’
Think about your church. Is your church like a lifeboat for those who are perishing? Are you reaching out and pulling people in from the dark waters of the unsaved and bringing them into the fellowship of God’s people – the saved? Look around at your town or community. How many people are there who never come to church? Who never hear the gospel message? How can you and those in your congregation reach out to these people? How do we encourage people to come to church, where they will hear about God?
Statistics show most people are encouraged to come to church by friends or relatives. Even those who don’t normally attend church, are more likely to go if they have become friends with a Christian who invites them. So the first thing you can do is make friends.
When you have built up a friendship, then you can ask your friend along to a church related activity. To begin with, it might be a special event your church is having or a social event where they will meet other Christians. In our previous church some of the ways this worked was through playgroups, kids clubs (children are great and so natural at inviting their friends along to something they enjoy) youth groups, craft groups, a group for those around the 50s which was designed primarily as a social group for outings, bushwalks or ten pin bowling, tennis days etc where people could invite friends, theatre parties, trivia nights. The list of ideas is endless. It means churches need not be afraid to be innovative in the way they reach out to the community.
From groups and activities such as those mentioned, many people ended up coming to church and then committing to Jesus. And when new people do come to church they need to be made welcome. This job should not fall to the minister or pastor but all of us. Think how you would feel if you walked into a strange place and no-one made an effort to speak to you.
In the National Church Life Survey conducted in 2006, data showed churches which have a high incidence of newcomers have three things in common.
1. They are involved in and focused on activities that reach out to the community
2.They are flexible, willing to try new ideas and approach ministry in innovative ways
3. They make those who come to church, especially newcomers,
welcome.
Does this sound like your church? Is your church a life-boat to the drowning? If it is what role are you playing in drawing others in? If your church is not a lifeboat, what can you do to change this situation. You could start simply by being a friend.
Please visit these related blogs
What to do when a friend is in danger