Tonight was my team party for the 2nd grade girls basketball team I helped my good friend coach. We met at Peter Piper Pizza to let the girls run wild with video games, so that inevitably left the parents to talk. My strategy was pretty simple. Do what I do best...simply talk about anything. However, when the party started, the dynamic was weird. None of the parents seemed to engage each other but rather stayed by themselves. Well I wasn't about to let these parents think that I don't care or am not interested in them so I began to engage each couple 1 by 1...but I didn't make it past the first couple. I know that may not shock you if you know me but I really wanted to talk with each parent...but God had other plans.
The couple I spoke with were a very nice couple and their daughter was as sweet as pie. After we got through the pleasantries they began to ask about me and my family, and my occupation. Once they finished I did the same. Then when I finished, the husband left and it was just me and the wife, I could tell she an agenda with me.
She kept asking questions about my job and my Pastor...so I finally asked about their current church situation. She launched into a schpill about her husband being turned off by off-putting pastors. Well, I then returned the favor and turned up my lobbyist demeanor that I use at work. It was quite something how God moved...
Basically, she wanted to know about my church but she kept asking about the pastor so I knew that she was probably oblivious to how to get to know a church....it's through SMALL GROUPS!!!
Here was my basic argument:
"When people visit the church they often make the mistake of "judging" the church based on the pastor. While that's an important aspect of the decision if it's made based solely on the pastor then you'll be doing yourself a disservice. If you want to get to know a church...visit their small groups. It's in the context of biblical community that you'll find out the warts of the church, the priorities of the church, the cause of the church."
She thought that was a interesting take and she said she'll keep that in mind. I could tell she wasn't convinced so I cranked it up a bit. (She and her husband are both in sales...so I had to really up my game)
I went on to let her know that the heart of my job is to "create and maintain environments where authentic community and spiritual growth can come together to transform lives. My goal for each adult at FBC is for them to look back on their small group experience and realize they are closer to God than they were when they started. You see we were never created to live lives standing alone but rather we were created to perpetually be doing life in an environment where no one stands alone. Yes, you may have a bad experience like your husband did but that no reason to give up. You've probably gotten a bad hair cut but you still get your haircut, you've probably been to bad restaurants but you still eat, likewise you may have a bad experience but you still need a small group."
Her husband came back and she changed the subject but when he left again she went right back to my point, but this time her tone had changed. She was seeing things differently now...there was more certainty in her voice and she even began back-tracking and said that her husband would probably go to church if she wanted him to but he may not engage with the church.
The heart behind my action was simple. Not long ago I did a life evaluation and asked myself 1 question:
What am I doing with my life that will last forever?
If I'm building into people through small group environments then I'm getting it right! I'm making an investment that will last for eternity. However, if my sole focus is attendance numbers, success, and the bottom line...it's a wasted life, it's all going up in smoke. But when I'm building into people and they in turn can then go and make disciples and encourage others to follow Christ, that an investment that going on through the fire! One of the best ways to build into people is through small groups and I will forever be passionate about how God can work in ANYONE'S life using small groups.
This was a nice, caring, and eager lady and I hope that our conversation can be used as a catalyst to her family becoming interested in God, the church, and finally, life-giving relationships found in small groups! May God be praised!
