PATTIES AND PIES ON THE PORCH IS THIS SUNDAY!
Hi Everybody!
This Sunday is our Patties and Pies on the Porch! It is going to be awesome! There are all kinds of pies coming so there will be plenty of food for everyone! Don’t eat breakfast that morning; you’ll have room for more pie!
These “Porch Sundays” are designed to connect our church relationally and to give you a tool to invite someone new to our church community.  There are countless stories over the last year or so that we have been doing these of new people coming to our church through these events and meeting Christ and getting connected to what God is doing at Crossbridge!
I still find it nervous to invite people to church and I work here! It can be like asking someone to the dance at school.
“What if they say no?”  What if they say I’m weird?” “What if they pull out a can of mace and spray me in the eye?! Ow, my cornea, it burns! It burns!” – Okay that last one was a little much.
It would be easier to talk ourselves out of doing this but we must remember that: everyone spends eternity somewhere. I still believe that people without Christ are one heartbeat away from an eternity without Him. I still believe it is the mission to the church to proclaim that Jesus is the only way to God and that He is God! Because of these convictions let’s invite some people to join us this Sunday!
Here are some helpful hints…
1. Be specific. The following rarely works: “You should come to church with me sometime.” It works about as much as, “We should do lunch sometime.” You have to be specific.  “Will you join me this Sunday for the 11:15 am service at our church? I can pick you up around 10:15, we’ll get some coffee along the way and then have lunch afterwards. How’s that sound?” or “My church is very meaningful to me and I think you would find it meaningful as well. Will you come with me this Sunday; we’re having a fun day with lunch served after the services.” Remind them this is time change Sunday! They get an extra hour of sleep!!
2. Be an expert about the Family Ministry environments at your church. If you are inviting parents with kids, the single most important issue on their mind is, “Will my kids be safe and will they like it?” Do your homework and let them know you’re already thinking about their kids. Email them information about the kids programs. Tell them stories about how much your kids or your friends’ kids enjoy the church. (If you aren’t sure the kids enjoy your church’s family ministry environments, please see point #1.) If they have teens make sure to come to the 9:30 so their teen can enjoy Teen Chaos!
3. Leverage the church’s website. Send them there or to our Facebook page to see more about Crossbridge
4. Don’t give up. My experience is that I have to be persistent and keep inviting. I can’t tell you how many times people have said they were coming to church on Sunday only to cancel on Saturday night. Don’t be discouraged. Don’t be defeated. Hang in there. Keep inviting them.
This isn’t about church attendance. It’s about eternity. And when eternity’s at stake, we can push through the awkward tension knowing that we’re simply doing what Jesus did – reaching out to those who are far from God.
So, who are you inviting to church this Sunday?
Chuck
