As our program year begins, here are some thoughts on invitation and evangelism from Lea Anne Schmidt, Coordinator of Growth and Member Integration.
My best friend, Amy, once invited me to go on a blind date, and that (much later) turned into an invitation to marriage from my husband, Patrick. My oldest child graduated from high school this year, so I invited over a hundred people to my house. We are all invited in many different ways: to meals, to mingle, or to mourn. Invitation makes us into who we are.
In an age of email and Facebook, inviting someone to an event can seem easier than ever. Why, then, do we seem to hesitate so much more before inviting folks to church? Why don’t we share a great church experience on Facebook like we may share a great dinner, concert, or party?
When we recite our Baptismal Covenant, we are asked, “Will you proclaim the good news of God in Christ in word and deed?” and we answer, “I will with God’s help.” In the Gospel of John, Chapter 1, John and two of his disciples see Jesus walking along the road and ask him, “where are you staying?” Jesus responds, “Come and see.” Jesus offers an invitation.
This week I have been asking myself: Where is Jesus inviting me to “Come and see?” And who does He want me to invite to come along with me? When and how do we do the work of Jesus by offering invitations to others? When and how do we evangelize on His behalf, the Episcopal way?
The Episcopal Church guides us through its recently published Charter on Evangelism. It states, in part, that “Through the spiritual practice of evangelism, we seek, name and celebrate Jesus’ loving presence in the stories of all people—then invite everyone to MORE.” The Charter describes three components of evangelism: of the church, by the church, and for the church.
Evangelism of the church points to us. Before we can share Jesus’s love with others, we need to dwell in it through reading scripture, worship and prayer, both privately and corporately. We need to tend to our spirit and allow ourselves to be loved by God.
Evangelism by the church is what we do to share Jesus’ love with others. In our service for others and in our moments of need, we want to be open to naming what it is that sustains us. By talking openly about our faith, we become disciples of Jesus.
The third part is Evangelism for the church. New members are crucial for the vitality of a congregation. Their questions, energy, curiosity, and love for the church keep us attuned to our community and our mission. The more diverse we are, in a myriad of ways, the more closely we reflect the Body of Christ.
Do you need to invite people to Sunday services? No, but that is an important part of who we are as a church, and is a gift we are called to share—however much it is a step out of our comfort zone.
During these last weeks of our church sabbatical, I invite you to engage in some private and public evangelism. First make space for God and take time to pray, study scripture, and attend worship. Then ask the question, when or how did your faith carry you through difficult times? How has St. John’s helped you to answer Jesus’s invitation to “Come and see”? And after feeding your own spirit and acknowledging your blessings, ask yourself who you know that needs an invitation to “come and see” and invite them to church.
Originally published in the September-October 2018 Evangelist.
