I love to ask new people, “How did you find The Gathering?” This past week at NEXT (our monthly event for people to learn more about the church), I asked just that. One young woman who moved to St. Louis just last week was there and told me her story. She lived in Alabama and struggled to ever connect with a church that felt like home. Her mother, who also lives in a very small town in southern Missouri, called her one day and told her that she should check out The Gathering. It turns out that her mom had found us during the pandemic, started worshiping online, and thought that we might be right for her daughter. So, she invited her. Fast forward several months and her daughter decided to move to a new place and pursue a fresh opportunity. She chose St. Louis, in part because of the connection she felt with our church. Upon arriving in St. Louis and starting a new job, she was talking to a coworker. She told the coworker that she started attending The Gathering from a distance and was now excited to be able to do it in person. The coworker smiled and said, “I was just about to invite you to The Gathering. It is my church, too”!
I love to hear stories like this. Most of us don’t think of ourselves as “evangelists”. In fact, most of us have a pretty negative view of what that word means. Most of us would never call ourselves pastors. Don’t you have to have some degree for that? Many of us may not see ourselves as leaders. Those are people who know more about the Bible or theology, right? But the truth is, you are all those things. Every day, you have the opportunity to invite someone to hear good news about God (that is what the word evangelist means). Every day, you have the opportunity to help a person find a new connection with God (that is what pastors do). Every day, you have the chance to lead someone to Jesus and a church that could change their lives (that’s a leader). Every day, we have a chance to do that, and it is as simple as offering an invitation.
There are more people in your life than you realize who are searching for something. Maybe they feel stuck in their faith, disconnected from God, burned by a previous church, disinterested in organized religion, or so busy that they haven’t stopped to even think about it all. In the midst of that, you can offer a simple invitation: “Hey, I heard this message, listened to this song, took my kids to this church, connected with this group…and I really think you might find it meaningful. Would you want to go with me sometime?”.
It is that simple. A mom inviting her daughter. A coworker inviting another. A friend asking a friend. A parent talking to another at the playground. This is actually where lives can be changed, where a latent faith might be sparked, or where a person may start the journey to connect with a God who can change their life. It doesn’t happen in special workshops, big worship services, or by theological experts. It happens when ordinary people like you and me just follow that nudge and invite another person.
I love to hear these stories. So, do me a favor. If you are reading this online, you can find this post on my Facebook page. Share the story of how YOU found The Gathering. And this weekend, offer an invitation!
Have a wonderful holiday weekend everyone, and I will see you in worship.
Peace+
I love to hear stories like this. Most of us don’t think of ourselves as “evangelists”. In fact, most of us have a pretty negative view of what that word means. Most of us would never call ourselves pastors. Don’t you have to have some degree for that? Many of us may not see ourselves as leaders. Those are people who know more about the Bible or theology, right? But the truth is, you are all those things. Every day, you have the opportunity to invite someone to hear good news about God (that is what the word evangelist means). Every day, you have the opportunity to help a person find a new connection with God (that is what pastors do). Every day, you have the chance to lead someone to Jesus and a church that could change their lives (that’s a leader). Every day, we have a chance to do that, and it is as simple as offering an invitation.
There are more people in your life than you realize who are searching for something. Maybe they feel stuck in their faith, disconnected from God, burned by a previous church, disinterested in organized religion, or so busy that they haven’t stopped to even think about it all. In the midst of that, you can offer a simple invitation: “Hey, I heard this message, listened to this song, took my kids to this church, connected with this group…and I really think you might find it meaningful. Would you want to go with me sometime?”.
It is that simple. A mom inviting her daughter. A coworker inviting another. A friend asking a friend. A parent talking to another at the playground. This is actually where lives can be changed, where a latent faith might be sparked, or where a person may start the journey to connect with a God who can change their life. It doesn’t happen in special workshops, big worship services, or by theological experts. It happens when ordinary people like you and me just follow that nudge and invite another person.
I love to hear these stories. So, do me a favor. If you are reading this online, you can find this post on my Facebook page. Share the story of how YOU found The Gathering. And this weekend, offer an invitation!
Have a wonderful holiday weekend everyone, and I will see you in worship.
Peace+
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M-Note 3.1.22Lenten Devotional // Day 1Lenten Devotional // Day 2Luke: The Gospel For Rebels Week 5Lenten Devotional // Day 3Lenten Devotional // Day 4Lenten Devotional // First SundayLenten Devotional // Day 5Lenten Devotional // Day 6Lenten Devotional // Day 7Lenten Devotional // Day 8Lenten Devotional // Day 9Following Jesus: Some Assembly Required – Week 1Lenten Devotional // Day 10Some Assembly RequiredLenten Devotional // Second SundayLenten Devotional // Day 11Lenten Devotional // Day 12Lenten Devotional // Day 13Lenten Devotional // Day 14Following Jesus: Some Assembly Required – Week 2Lenten Devotional // Day 15Lenten Devotional // Day 16M-Note 3.20.22Lenten Devotional // Third SundayLenten Devotional // Day 17Lenten Devotional // Day 185 Benefits to Embracing Your Uncertainty of GodLenten Devotional // Day 19Lenten Devotional // Day 20M-Note 3.24.2022Lenten Devotional // Day 21Following Jesus: Some Assembly Required – Week 3Lenten Devotional // Day 22Lenten Devotional // Fourth SundayLenten Devotional // Day 23Lenten Devotional // Day 24Lenten Devotional // Day 25Lenten Devotional // Day 26
April
Following Jesus: Some Assembly Required – Week 4M-Note 4.1.2022Lenten Devotional // Day 273 Implications of God's Humanity on YoursLenten Devotional // Day 28Lenten Devotional // Fifth SundayLenten Devotional // Day 29Lenten Devotional // Day 30Lenten Devotional // Day 31Lenten Devotional // Day 32Following Jesus: Some Assembly Required – Week 53 Misunderstandings of Easter that Impact YouLenten Devotional // Day 33Lenten Devotional // Day 34Lenten Devotional // Palm SundayLenten Devotional // Day 35Lenten Devotional // Day 36Lenten Devotional // Day 37M-Note 4.14.2022Lenten Devotional // Day 38 Maundy ThusdayLenten Devotional // Day 39 Good FridayLenten Devotional // Day 40 Holy SaturdayLenten Devotional // EasterMysterious You: How your union with God makes you divineM-Note 4.20.2022No Filter: See The Real You – Week 14 Ways Embracing Your Sin Serves the WorldM-Note 4.28.2022No Filter: See The Real You – Week 2
May
3 Reasons You Should Embrace Your WeirdnessM-Note 5.5.22No Filter: See The Real You – Week 3Identify Your Purpose and Empower Your FutureM-Note 5.12.22No Filter: See The Real You – Week 4Confidently Approach Life as a Second ChanceLearning to Enjoy LIFE by Eliminating DistractionsUncomplicating the “God” Question to Simplify Spirituality
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