Moving Towards Jesus

“Around the Almond Vineyard we keep on hearing about how important it is that we share our lives with people and look for where God is at work. Well just a couple of Sunday’s ago at the Carol service a couple in our church brought friends who only a year ago were very antagonistic towards church, but due to circumstances beyond their control have experienced the kindness of Jesus in the middle of a very trying situation. I met them at the end of the afternoon over a mince pie and mulled wine and this is what they said, ”Congratulations on having a brilliant church... I loved everything about the service” . In other words you (as the church), were yourselves and the gospel has impacted his life. They are people who are moving towards Jesus.

I took that as a great compliment because the way we are trying to live our lives as a church community hinges on having a people or a community to invite people to belong to. And when we act it this way:

1. It takes the pressure off. Our job is to provide a place for belonging, not push the Bible on people. We can trust God to do the “converting” thing.
2. Whatever our personality trait and whatever gifts we have we know we can be a major part of the process of reaching out by simply creating the right environments for friends and strangers.

It puts the focus back on our “inner life” instead of what we say and don’t say to people. We have to become good news to our families and friends if we want to influence them.

David Hart
Leader