The estimates vary, but depending on whose stats you reference, somewhere between 60% and 80% of the people in New England have no active relationship with Christ or His church. This means it is very possible that 4 out of 5 of the people we work with, our neighbors, those we pass in the supermarket, are far from Christ and destined for an eternity separated from God. I know that for many of us, that is a heart breaking reality. The question, of course, is what can we really do about it.
How do we effectively reach that 60% to 80% of the population that is far from God? Over the years, between St. Matthews and The Rock, we've done it all. We placed ads, even full page inserts, in the newspaper. We hung posters. We've put out banners. We've direct mailed post cards to thousands of homes at once. We've even run cable TV commercials. But would you like to guess has has been far and away the most effective form of outreach our church has ever done? Personal Invitation!
The difference between someone receiving an impersonal postcard in the mail (or seeing an ad in the paper) and receiving a personal invitation from someone they know and trust is immeasurable. That is not to say that every person we even invite will accept our invitation. But even if one in ten responded affirmatively, the impact would be enormous. And I would venture to guess that if the invitation is sincere, offered to someone with whom we have a relationship, we might find that 2 or 3 out of 10 might respond affirmatively. Compare that to other forms of marketing where 4 or 5 out of 10,000 is not uncommon.
If we will consistently invite our friends, neighbors and coworkers to worship, Bible study, a concert or other special event, we will see in ever increasing measure the lost coming to Christ. That is the heart of our mission as a church: to reach and disciple people for Christ. And allow me to share with you something else we've noticed. We keep track of the number of visitors we have each week in worship. Between St. Matthews and The Rock we average 5 to 10 visitors every week. When a person, family, or couple comes by themselves, we find that about 10% of them eventually connect to the church. This is actually right at the national average. However, if a person was invited to worship, and the person who invited them is there with them when they attend, the overwhelming majority of them are returning, and becoming connected to the church.
So what can we do about the fact that so many of the people around us are far from God? Quite simply, we can invite. It is far and away the most effective and powerful tool we have for reaching the unchurched. Of course, all through the process, we must be in prayer for those we are inviting. This work is always a partnership with God. If we will do what we can do (invite), God will do what He does (touch hearts), and together souls will be saved and lives will be transformed!
We are coming up on the Advent Season. It is a time when many people are even more receptive to invitation. Who could you invite to worship between now and Christmas? Start praying for them now. And when God opens the door, step through it confidently and extend an invitation.
God Bless,
Pastor Steve
