Comments on: Agents of Invitation

By: Mike Bauldree

Mike Bauldree — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:42:38 +0000

For me, personally, I believe the best way to “evangelize” is by sharing with others how we (St. Mark’s) are making a difference in so many lives in the community.

I’ve often had to turn down an invitation from a friend because of a church ministry committment. But it provides an opportunity to explain the reason for declining the invitation: “I’m sorry, I can’t make it. My family and I will be at our church working with other members to package food for Stop Hunger Now. It’s a fantastic organization that our Missions team has partnered with to help feed thousands of people worldwide. Hey, would you and your family like to come? My wife and I find that, while we’re also helping those who need it most, our children also learn the real value of helping others and not to take anything for granted.”

– or–

“I’m sorry, I can’t make the game with you this week. I’m serving as an overnight host at our church. Each year our church hosts homeless families in the WIHN program. We reach out to these wonderful families and also learn so much about ourselves in the process.”

– or —

“Hey, our church is having a Fall Festival this Saturday. We have so many great games and activities for kids and families and it’s a wonderful way to meet people within our area. Would you and your family like to join us?”

In other words, I belive the best way to invite folks to our church community is not to approach them from an “are you saved” perspective. Instead, the most effective form of invitation is to articulate to the community the many ways that our church is changing the lives of its members and the lives of the community around us.

By: Ramona Cook

Ramona Cook — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:25:12 +0000

Praise the Lord! I’ve been a Methodist for years and being one who has an evangelism interest, I’ve been all too alone. Not that I think others have not been caring about the message going forward, but all too often we yeild to the mind-set of the day. The mind-set of our culture has been to be silent and private about our “religion.” So it is an answer to prayers that the Methodist Church is coming alive to witness and invite. I am aware that Methodists have always been great in missions mindedness and do bear witness in those ways. I have been involved in many types of missions through the UMC, I am aware that there is much for which to give the UMC applause. What I am saying is not intended to critize. I’m just glad to see the re-openess to personal inviting and exhuberant invitation.

It is what the Methodists did in earlier years. (It is not a Baptist idea!) The Church grew so quickly that had the personal evangelism efforts of the congregants continued, it has been calculated that everyone in America would have been Methodist. Although, I am not into making Methodists, I am into inviting folks to become believers and disciples of Jesus.

I do not know the plans you have engaged or that are on the agenda to be engaged, but I have a few ideas that I think work. I’d like a chance to become informed and to be active in the work.

By: Julie Gibson

Julie Gibson — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:43:12 +0000

I think it is interesting that we (myself included!) are so eager to tell others about a great restaurant, a good movie, a fantasic place to shop, etc. Yet, we hesitate to tell others about the church.

I’d like to pose a couple more questions:
Do we hesitate to tell people about our church because we are worried about how they will respond or what they will think of us; OR because we ourselves are not very excited about the church we attend?

I know that I am excited about St. Mark’s and the leadership that you and Pastor Lib provide. God is doing some pretty wonderful stuff here!