There’s a number that keeps coming back to me, nearly tormenting me. The number is 18. I learned this number from Dr. Jim Graham, pastor of Coosada Baptist Church. It’s the percentage of people in Elmore County in church each Sunday morning.
Of course, the real number that shakes me up is 82--the 82% who stay home. Who are these people? Many of them probably have never heard the Gospel and have only a passing acquaintance with the name and person of Jesus Christ. Most of them probably had some religious training in childhood but have since dropped out because something happened to cause them to disconnect along the way. Many of them are youth and children whose parents never brought them to church and have no idea what church is about. We church goers have become an extreme minority.
What does this mean? For one, it means that if we don’t get serious about reaching unbelievers with the Gospel we should expect that Christianity will become irrelevant in our community within a generation or two.
For another, it means that we need to think differently about how we reach people. Most of us have spent our lives in a our world where people were basically Christian and church growth meant that congregations competed for where people went to church. That world is gone. If every church in Elmore County doubled in attendance, we still would be reaching less than half the population. We need to work together.
For another, it means that evangelism can no longer be the work of advertisement or a committee alone. Every Christian needs to have a conviction that people need Jesus, Jesus is found in church, our church offers Jesus, and people need to be here. Each of us needs to invite people to church all the time. Graciously, never being pushy, but always looking for opportunities to invite. Everything that happens at our church, from Vacation Bible School to a Sunday School supper, is an evangelistic opportunity.
We also need to recognize that the people who visit us do not come fully formed and do not know the customs and expectations of our congregation. We need to be patient and recognize that the only thing that really matters is Jesus. We also need to remember how easy it is to forget how strange and scary it can be to be somewhere new, how helpful it is to find a friend, find a sign, and get help in understanding how things work.
So let’s all be invitational, hospitable, and visionary. God has given us a great opportunity. Praying, working, dreaming, loving together, I believe we can win Elmore County for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Blessings,
Nathan
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