Go, Go, Go
In my early days of ministry I was greatly influenced by a strong Bible teacher and Pastor of Mariners Church named Joe Aldrich. Joe would often say, “Every good ministry starts with a vision for the lost.” This statement is reflected in what is commonly called the “Great Commission” found in the closing words of Jesus in Matt. 28:19, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
I am presently a part of a ministry that was started and continues to hold, a “vision for the lost” as its primary purpose in taking the gospel of Jesus Christ locally and globally “going and making disciples.” What I have discovered is that people won’t come to our camp or your ministry because we have invited them, they come because someone went to them and brought them. Making disciples of Christ doesn’t happen because you invited them… It happens because you went (GO!) and got them.
The concept of “GO” is not new. Go means go! But often we get frozen, because we do not know who to go to… I suggest three natural possibilities as a place to start:
Similar cultural background: It is generally true that the more you share in common with someone, the easier they will be to talk with about spiritual issues. Creating common interest conversations (sports, work, service projects etc.) that are genuine enable you to establish meaningful interaction. Your ability to understand and relate to differences with honest conversation will have a direct correlation in your opportunity to talk about Jesus.
Love them, I mean really love them: Let love be your motive and your story. Often we get caught up in talking about our church events, projects or Bible study groups as if we are selling memberships into a club. Joe would often say, “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” Start with caring and then introduce them to the Lord of love. Serving is a crowbar that can open up the hardest heart to the love of Jesus.
Invite people into relationship: Penetrate their world before you invite them into yours. People who are not Christ followers are usually uncomfortable in a church gathering even though we try to be very comfortable, hospital, friendly and sensitive to their fears. That’s why Jesus went to Jacob’s Well (John 4:6) or visited Zacchaeus in his home (Luke 19:5) or spoke with men alongside the road (Matt. 20:30). One of the definitions of the word penetrate is, “to enter and defuse.” When we go, we make the message “less dangerous” (to defuse), because we are standing in their world and not asking them to stand in ours.
Every fall I have the privilege of coaching football at a local high school. I guess I could invite the students to come over to my church office and discuss theology, but I have found it more advantageous to “Go” to them… Who and where are you going?
Fellow-Pilgrim,
Gene Molway
Romans 12:7 “…If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.”