Who will be baptized Next at MJ?

by David Shannon

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Why greet visitors every service? Why speak to folks in the parking area while entering? Why go out of your way to welcome someone and ask to help them find a class or a seat? Why give the first 5 or 10 minutes after every class and service to our visitors? Remember the next adult baptized at MJ will most likely first be a visitor. They will probably be warmly welcomed, which will encourage them to come again. After several visits they will hopefully learn enough that their interest will be sparked to further study. They will enjoy the relationships they are building with those who �look for them� each visit. They will sit down with an individual who will help them to better understand the Word of God. They will then ask to be immersed into the Son. Notice this fact, if during the first visit they don't receive the love of Jesus from us, they will probably not return to learn the doctrine of Jesus. In this sense, we all practice the first step of evangelism every time we greet a visitor�we show them the love of Christ. Let�s do it the best we can�for soul�s sake.

A church that says it is serious about evangelism, but isn�t serious about their visitors is only fooling themselves. When the best prospect in all of MJ is sitting beside us Sunday morning and we don't greet them, invite them to lunch, or befriend them�it�s hard to say we are serious about evangelism. When they are coming to us, yet being ignored, it must break God�s heart. Thank God we are in a congregation which has so many who go out of their way to evangelize by the way they welcome others� before and after every worship service. You don't know what to talk about with visitors? Do you hate that uncomfortable silence? Have them complete a F-O-R-M. Ask them about their �F�amily, �O�ccupation, �R�ecreation, and then leave a �M�essage with them to come to your Bible class, sit with you in worship, go to lunch, or to come back to the next service. The three areas mentioned above really spark conversation. Try it this Sunday. We may not all be teachers, but we all can give a smile, a handshake, and introduce ourselves. We can all help someone find a class, restroom, the welcome center, or a seat. We all can remember a name or write it down and look for them at the next service. We all can do our best. That is all God ever asked and it just may be enough to encourage another soul to give their best to the Lord too! I want to be serious about evangelism, don't you? Let�s prove it Sunday!

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• Meeting the Needs of the Unchurched -Sep 19, 1999