On Mission 2

Dear Brothers and Sisters, A church member was telling their pastor how difficult they had been finding it trying to invite their friend to church. It was someone from their work, they had forged a friendship and had made the invitation to come along to church a few times. Each time their friend had declined. Now this friend was inviting the church member to go to the dog track with them to watch the races. The church member was talking to their pastor in frustration and upset—what should they do? The pastor had an idea, and gave a friendly challenge not only to this church member, but to the members of his church one Sunday. He suggested they go into a TAB and place a bet on a horse before their next meeting, and then give feedback on how they found the process. Some at the church were outraged at the suggestion (rightly so) - but the pastor told them that he was in no way encouraging gambling, and that there was a point, which would be explained the following week. The next week at church people gave their feedback. Some had followed through and attempted to place a bet on a horse, their reports were quite similar, of the experience they said: it was an alien environment; they didn’t know what to do; they felt awkward and on edge; it felt like everyone was watching them, seeing if they would make a mistake; nobody talked to them; they just wanted to get in, get it done, and get out again as fast as possible; the people inside were very different to them. Others didn’t engage in the challenge, and their reasons were also fairly revealing: I didn’t agree with it; I couldn’t be bothered; I was brought up Methodist; I wouldn’t like the people there; I would be extremely embarrassed. Perhaps these are the ways people feel about going to church today? As a gathering of Christians we can quickly become cut-off from our culture, and unaware of what makes those around us tick. A suggestion is for us to re-frame our thinking around sharing the good news of Jesus. Do we plan to only do it “when they come to us”? Or are we willing to engage in the marketplace, finding ways outside of our church walls to speak of what Jesus has done for us, and the love he has for this world. In Christ’s Love, Craig Olliffe. Senior Minister