RevWrites - Nov 23

This is the eighth consecutive RevWrites on membership. I hope you have given some thought to the topic. Several people have responded directly to me and there is increasing discussion around the place. Ideas range from there should be no formal membership at all right through to there should be a formal membership agreement that a person must sign before they can be regarded as a member of NAC/WHAC.

So where to now? It would be good for the Parish Leadership to seriously discuss the various ideas that you have brought to us. We could then come back to you early next year with some suggestions about the way ahead.

So let’s talk about “Say G’day Sunday.” (The Big Connect ~ 645). Research tells us exactly what we already know. The biggest problem with church members going to invite their neighbours to Christmas services is fear. A reasonable response, I would have thought.

But let’s look at what we’re being asked to do. A very attractive leaflet is being produced that has details of our Christmas Eve Service and Christmas Day Services. On Christmas Eve we have QuizWorks coming to run the entire service with children in mind. They are great! On Christmas Day both WHAC and NAC have a service.

We’re being asked to knock on our neighbour’s door, say “g’day”, and hand them the leaflet with an invitation to join us at Christmas. Do it your way but we aren’t being asked to engage in lengthy conversation. Just an invitation to join us.

Of course, this is only the first of several visits to our neighbours that we will do over the next year. Already, the youth visit the immediate neighbours of the church building to thank them for their patience with all the inconveniences we cause during the year. The youth give them a small gift so the immediate neighbours are used to being visited. (Of course, most of them are in Thomas Street where I live so it would be good for me to visit them don’t you think?)

We have been praying for our neighbours for many months now. I have been praying for my street and neighbours several times a day. I expect God will answer my prayers. He seems to delight in doing that so I expect he will again this time and go before me when I visit – even if I’m not allocated Thomas Street, which will be allocated to me won’t it Kathy?!?!

Of course, if one of your neighbours responds to your “G’day” with a request to tell him how to become a Christian (It has happened!) then you don’t have to rush away. If you fell like rushing away, you might be in the majority. But if you’re at a loss simply tell him how much you appreciate all that Jesus ahs done for you and invite him to come to our church where he can find out more about Jesus.

Fear needn’t win the day. But if the apostle Paul asked people to pray that God would give him boldness, then it’s surely appropriate for us to ask the same prayer.

Neil Macken (neil@nac.asn.au)