By Dr. Joe Yelton
Interim Pastor
Across the land, almost like a mantra, I hear Christians say of their church: "I want my church to grow." Don't you suspect that for many, what is actually being said is, "I wish my church was as I remember it in the past." That's noble and good.
Yearning for the church family to have new faces in our midst week by week ... seeing families move to the community and joining us here ... watching our children and youth thrive in their faith development, all of these and more are healthy desires for any congregation. To that end, may I offer a few thoughts?
Do:
Introduce yourself to an unfamiliar face, even risking discovering they've been here for a while. Your friendliness is almost always the reason people decide to return.
Offer to sit with people new to our faith-family. It's terribly lonely feeling like the odd- person out.
See if they'd like to join you in the coming week for a coffee or lunch.
See if you might answer any questions they have about us.
If it seems appropriate, offer to introduce them to the church ministers BUT CERTAINLY, introduce them to those seated around you.
If they've just moved to your neighborhood, welcome them into your life and your church.
Don't:
Avoid rushing others toward participation. Let them find their pace as well as their desires for involvement.
People will flourish in the places they are given room to find their own way. Avoid trying to fulfill YOUR agenda for them.
Everybody's different. Don't encourage those discovering our church to become like you. Let them find their own thumbprint for "being the church."
Avoid negative words and speak positively. Anybody ... anybody can find the rips in the tapestry of life. It takes a special person to help rethread the torn places. Be that person.
In the end, precious friends, give love and grace ... first, midterm, and last. (wash, rinse and repeat -:: } Joe