Pastor's Points April 2019
Dear Church Family,
We are approaching one of the best times of the year to invite people to come to church. Please be praying about those whom you can personally invite this year to one of our Easter service. The research shows that people are just waiting for an invitation from you to come to your church. A few years ago, LifeWay Research conducted a survey of 15,000 adults for the North American Mission Board to try to determine which of 13 approaches is the best-received when a church wants to be heard. The research showed us that best-received means of seeing new people walk into one’s church is, well, a personal invitation.
a. Sixty-seven percent of Americans say a personal invitation from a family member would be very or somewhat effective in getting them to visit a church.
b. Sixty-three percent of Americans say a personal invitation from a friend or neighbor would be very or somewhat effective in getting them to visit a church.
c. Sixty-three percent of Americans are very or somewhat willing to receive information about a local congregation or faith community from a family member.
d. Fifty-six percent of Americans are very or somewhat willing to receive information about a local congregation or faith community from a friend or neighbor.
So, people ARE open to an invite from church, particularly if it is from someone they know. But one simple invitation isn’t necessarily going to result in subsequent attendance. Neighbors may come because of an invitation, but they’ll stay for the community.
Please get one of our prayer guides this month and use it to help you make this most important invitation. We want you to be praying about who you know that may not know Christ but needs to. Who’s Your One? This is a very important question. This prayer guide will help prepare the way for you to invite this person to come and be a part of one of our Easter services this year.
With all the craziness that is going on in our world today, we have a golden opportunity to reach out to people with the hope of the Gospel. People are looking for something to put their trust in, but all that this world offers leaves people empty. We need to make sure that we offer to all who will hear the hope that is found in our Savior Jesus Christ. Please make the effort to ask the question, “Who’s Your One?” And after you ask the question and God gives you an answer, open your mouth and be faithful. You never know, a simple invite to a church service could have an eternal impact!!
I love you and I love being your pastor,