From the Vineyard Newsletter on 12/9: The Great Commission-Part 4

For the last several weeks I have been focused on our role in fulfilling the Great Commission. The first week we talked about the importance of having a salvation prayer list for those whom we wish to see come to salvation in Jesus Christ. I hope you shared your with us, so we can pray along with you. Week 2 I shared about praying for God to stir our own hearts with a passion for the lost. Then last week I shared about the power of inviting people to church. 

One of the ways that we as a church partner with you is to create events that you can invite your unchurched friends to. These special events are created to make it easy for you to bring people and to have fun. Our two biggest events are the Brooksville BBQ in October that brings close to 2,000 people to our doorstep and the Candlelight Services on Christmas Eve which bring in close to 600 people. Both of these events are as safe, fun, family-friendly events that anyone can invite a friend to. We also participate in Christmas Parade every year not only with a parade float and walkers, but also as the biggest parking venue for the event. Giving us a chance to hand out bottled water and invites to Christmas Eve. In that single event we get our name out to over 200 carloads of people and some 10,000 onlookers. It is a great way to reach out to our community.   

The greatest challenge in these events is getting church members to help us put on these events. The lost come in groves. The unchurched love these events! On Christmas Eve the unchurched outnumber our members. What we need is for church members to come and be a smiling face. For church members to come and help us with hosting, or with the worship, or ushering, or making sandwiches, or handing out bottles of water. That requires a little sacrifice on our part. If you hand out water, you may not get the best seat at the parade. If you invite people to come to Christmas Eve, it will probably mean your celebration will start after you make your guests feel welcome, and you have said a long heartfelt goodbye. 

Becoming evangelistic, and fulfilling the Great Commission, are by nature selfless, sacrificial, and inconvenient. It won’t happen without great passion for Jesus and his mission to seek and save the lost. So we must pray, and we must step out in faith. I hope you will show up on Christmas Eve, with a lots of unsaved and/or de-churched friends, family, and neighbors. Services are 4:00 and 6:00 pm.  

 

Grace and peace,

Hal