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Permalink Reply by Zonda Bodiford on August 12, 2010 at 12:22am

James: I wish we could put up a billboard saying:

"Do You Hear Me Now?" ( God)

Maybe people (whether they were dechurched, unchurched, anti-church, no church, or whatever) would get to considering the state of things as in the Earthquakes, Floods, Pandemics, Epidemics, Murders, Parents killing Kids, Kids killing Parents, People letting Cats Die in Walls, etc etc., and it could get them to understand that God is trying once again to get our attention and tell us that where we're going and what we're doing is not in our own best interest and that getting Back to Church would be a good start!

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Permalink Reply by James Nored on August 12, 2010 at 12:37am

Thank you, Zonda, for these thoughts. Yes, God does try to get our attention in many different ways. And the world also has a way of beating up on us all on its own.

I'm thinking that we will probably have a "Back to Church Sunday" in September. Thanks for the feedback.

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Permalink Reply by Zonda Bodiford on August 12, 2010 at 12:42am

Back to church, back to God, back to Life!

James Nored said:

Thank you, Zonda, for these thoughts. Yes, God does try to get our attention in many different ways. And the world also has a way of beating up on us all on its own.

I'm thinking that we will probably have a "Back to Church Sunday" in September. Thanks for the feedback.

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Permalink Reply by Jeremy Turner on August 12, 2010 at 8:23am

Hey James, I think it's a clever concept!

Would you do any other events to continue the 'back to church' theme? You're probably more familiar with back-to-school nights than I am, but I remember it was a chance for parents and teachers to meet and connect, see the lay of the land, etc. Would you see it as an 'Open House' of sorts where elders/deacons/ministry staff/teachers/small group leaders could be available to meet and connect with people coming back or new people altogether?

Jeremy

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Permalink Reply by Sarah on August 12, 2010 at 10:28am

James is right when he says the spirit is already moving ahead of us. Have you ever been in the situation when you hear of a new restaurant, and then on another day, someone else mentions it....and then yet another day, you see an ad somewhere? And you think "Huh...maybe I should check it out." just because you keep hearing about it randomly? (How's that for a run on sentence?)

A flyer may be impersonal, but who's to say it's not just another step in the process described above? As for Wayne's response, getting them to come ONCE may be the impetus to getting them to keep coming. And I think God would take one day of worship over none.

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Permalink Reply by James Nored on August 12, 2010 at 10:36am

Great example of God being at work, Sarah. Why pray, if we do not believe that God is at work in the world? To me, it is a great comfort to know that the Spirit has been sent out ahead of us, working on people's hearts. This means that when I talk with someone about my faith, invite them to study or worship, that he may have already prepared this soil. It helps take away some of the fear. And if they do not respond--well, God still has more work to do on their hearts. It takes away the burden from us in reaching out, while still using us in significant ways for God's work.

Sarah said:

James is right when he says the spirit is already moving ahead of us. Have you ever been in the situation when you hear of a new restaurant, and then on another day, someone else mentions it....and then yet another day, you see an ad somewhere? And you think "Huh...maybe I should check it out." just because you keep hearing about it randomly? (How's that for a run on sentence?)

A flyer may be impersonal, but who's to say it's not just another step in the process described above? As for Wayne's response, getting them to come ONCE may be the impetus to getting them to keep coming. And I think God would take one day of worship over none.

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