04/16/2024
Got a heads up for you! To go along with our May 15 Wed night meal, I want to challenge you to join us as we kick off Operation Friendship. I want to challenge all of us, and especially our Sunday School teachers and class members, to come to prayer meeting that night after the meal. (I know some of our kids teachers will be occupied; we can get them in on it in some other way.) Here are some amazing facts that we will talk about that night.
Over 80% of unchurched people say they would seriously consider coming to a specific church if someone invited them.
Only 2% of church members invite someone to church in any given year!
Of those who do attend a church for the 1st time, only 2% come because they saw an ad for the church. Only 6% come because a pastor invited them. Only 6% come because of an organized evangelistic program. Do you know why the other 86% come? Because a friend or neighbor invited them!
I have been a pastor for 32 years now. (Yes, I know that's shocking since I'm only 35 years old! :) ) I am convinced to the depth of my being that the strongest connection anyone can ever have to a specific local church body is the connection of real friendships. Pastors come and go. Ads and campaigns might get a few in the door, but can never keep them here. What keeps people at a particular church are real in-it-for-the-long-haul-through-good-and-bad friends that become true brothers and sisters in the faith.
God has convicted me that we need to become better friends on purpose. We need to reach out in friendship and not give up. We need to begin with our own members and those who at some point were consistent attenders and make sure they know that we really care about them. And, being an old guy, I'm still stubbornly convinced that the best way to get this started is through our Sunday School classes.
So PLEASE come on Wed. May 15 for food at 6 and Bible study at 7. We will talk about Operation Friendship, and I hope that God will convict you as deeply as He has me that this is our best hope for truly reaching and discipling people around here for Jesus Christ!
