I just went outside a few minutes ago and it is a beautiful warm spring day. The church lawn is covered with robins who announce the arrival of spring. Other birds fill the air with chirping and the flowers are beginning to bloom...but wait isn't it still February? Seems like it was just yesterday that our area was hit with a devastating ice storm in February although it was three or four years ago. But yes I do believe Spring is here to stay.
Spring is an especially important time in the life of the church. Every spring we get ready to celebrate one of the most important holidays in our faith: Easter. Every year, families come together and celebrate this most holy of holidays and in turn the church normally sees an uptick in attendance on that special day that we celebrate. Although much of the increased attendance is organic in nature due to long-held traditions, the church has a special opportunity to have a greatly increased impact on its community. We can expect more people who normally do not attend church to show up on our doorsteps and we welcome them with loving arms but what if we were intentional about inviting them, showing them love, and welcoming them into our faith family.
The leaders and administration of the church can create some of the "marketing" for special events such as Easter but there is a better way I believe. Everyone has heard that "word of mouth is the best advertisement". When the members of the church are excited about their church, it is contagious. When there is a buzz among the people about what the church is doing, their friends, family, and neighbors get curious. The church as a faith family is crucial in this concept. Every individual member plays a role.
This year, the church will be providing resources to the members in order for them to get the word out about our Easter services. There are no throw-away Sundays in the life of the church but we realize that Easter already presents a unique opportunity so we want to capitalize. In the next several Sundays, you will begin to see some of this material being made available to you and it is my desire that you join with me in this exciting opportunity to reach the lost this Easter.
So will you begin praying now for our church and our community? Here are a few things that I would encourage you to pray for:
1. That our church will be excited about what God is doing in and through it.
2. That we will have a great impact on our community this Easter.
3. That lost people will be invited to hear the Gospel on Easter Sunday.
4. That lost people will give their lives to King Jesus this Easter.
5. That I, as the pastor, will be granted wisdom and the words to speak to be an effective conduit of grace.
