This past weekend saw us involved in the Passion for Life mission; on Friday night we played football and went for a curry, Saturday morning saw a parent and toddler group and holiday club morning being run, and Sunday was our usual service with a roast lunch afterwards. Michael Ots from Landsdowne Road in Bournemouth came up to do the talks for us.
In thinking about the weekend a number of things gave me pause for thought. Firstly it is easy to invite lots of people to events where they will hear the gospel, but it is harder actually getting them there. Lots of people who said they would come didn't make it or something else came up during the week before (like a raft of children's birthday parties). The churches core people were heavily involved in planning and running the mission but were also the ones inviting their friends - the challenge therefore is to involve the fringe and grow the core of the church.
I think one of the big dangers is post mission fatigue. A couple of people have shared how they had hoped lots more people would come along to things, and I have to say I share that sentiment. But there are two questions I think it is worth asking: Did some people come along to hear the gospel? Yes. Did I invite my friends and encourage them to come along? Yes.
Provided we invited our friends along and encouraged them to come we ought not to worry if something else stopped them coming, we have simply said to those who couldn't come last weekend why not come this Sunday for Easter. Evangelism is not a one off weekend, hopefully the weekend will help some, it will raise questions for others, but the church every Sunday is always preaching the gospel, it wasn't a one off opportunity, so the invitation still stands, you couldn't make last week why not come on Sunday?
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