Comments on: Up to the Hype

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 14:25:06 +0000

Our simple philosophy at Melbourne is: Speak to a stranger (member you don’t know or a visitor) before you speak to a friend. This keeps the priority before us of trying to be open to new people and understanding that the family of God is open to all.

Peace.

By: Mary Lu

Mary Lu — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 00:38:39 +0000

A dear friend sent the article to me. Our church is going through a development project. One of the areas we are working on is to be more welcoming with visitors and even with people that are already members. So I read the article with interest. I plan on reading the article as a devotional for our next meeting. I was also interested in the reader feedback to see if there are any ideas out there that would help to encourage our congregation!

Thank you to all of you who wrote in.

Phil, thank you for creating this forum for conversation!

Blessings,
Mary Lu Saylor
Spartanburg, SC

By: Mary Chew

Mary Chew — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 01:07:29 +0000

If the teenager sitting next to you seems to be a little “turned off”, don’t assume that he is bored. I’m a grandmother, and the young boy I sat next to last Sunday was not entering into the worship although he was standing throughout. At first I felt annoyed and then I got a check in my spirit. I started to talk to him at the greeting time and discovered that he had just moved here from another province. I could imagine how a boy of 14 must be missing his friends and trying to adjust to a new place not knowing anyone. I pointed out the youth pastor to him and told him that we have a terrific youth group at our church. I was very pleased to see him going to the pastor to introduce himself at the end of the service. The lesson for me is that we should never make assumptions about anyone and always be ready to encourage and offer a friendly word.
God Bless
Mary Chew

By: Terry Laudett

Terry Laudett — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 22:35:38 +0000

Most of the time, we have lunch at the church building on Sunday afternoon. Often, we try to sit next to someone we do not know or do not know very well. It helps to sit down and eat together.

By: preacherman

preacherman — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 21:59:01 +0000

I believe we can and should strive to be disciples of Christ. Following His steps. His words. Obeying His Commands (only two)Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, strength, and mind. Love your neighbor as your self.”
As a young Church of Christ minister I have been preaching that there is a differnce know about Jesus and knowing Jesus. Jesus wants you to know him. Jeus wants you to have a relationship with Him. Many in the Church can quote scipture backward and forward but don’t know God. Jesus will say on that day, I never knew you….It is about relationship. So, we must make disciples. Just my thoughts.

I really enjoyed comming across your blog. I lookforward to reading more. God bless your work in Abilene. I am also looking forward to getting a copy of your book. Can I get a copy through ACU press?

By: Philip Goldreich

Philip Goldreich — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 21:04:06 +0000

Phil this is Phil also, I have enjoyed your daily articles for more than a year. I am vey greatfull to have such a powerful positive influence in my life, I look forward, most of the time to read your article. Sometimes I feel it is actually God talking thru you to me. Beleive me I need it.’
I go to a little small church in my area and after the session is over I too welcome all the new comers to the church, I feel at times they do not get the proper welcome. I think it is important for someone to be with them to make them feel at home. In a place they would like to call home. For me it is like welcoming family members back into the house, that have been gone for awhile and have finally made there way back. Though in reality I am a nobody at the church and am still not a member. I see all the arguing from the old and all the scaredness from the new to speak out. We were trained to respect our elders. Today it takes so much to get young people(couples) to feel welcome in a church because of all the old values that we have learned from our own experience, growing with many different style chuches looking for home. Im not sure if this is my home church but im not giving up smiling and waiting to hear all the stories of the people in it. Though as I wait I will welcome all the new comers and give them my shiniest smile and welcome to the area in which im trying to make home.
I almost wanted to be an exchange student to go for the day to each persons home thru a year period so I could get to know them better, but im not that gutsy yet!!

By: David Krischel

David Krischel — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 16:29:15 +0000

Having been injured by mercury & DDT I can not tolerated perfume colognes & scented laundry detergents. I am fortunate enough to worship because the church has providied an “allergy room” I have been seperated from the body for over 20 years now. Occasionally I lead singing on Wednesday nights with the aid of a fan blowing the chemical odors away from me. I have never felt a part of a community and feel isolated. I have talked to the elders about this and nothing has been done. I see many people who do not have a health problem, yet they just bump shoulders together do some small talk about nothing and go home. I’ve known others in the church for over 30 years yet I do not know that much about them.It’s sad that many “christians” don’t know anything about me either.

By: Dan Reed

Dan Reed — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 16:11:52 +0000

Ironically, I preached on fellowship Sunday night and read your article Monday morning … wish I had been able to read it first!
I talked about there being open and closed fellowships and the fact that churches were often unintentionally closed simply because that was more comfortable.
Fellowhip requires mutual purpose, usefulness and joy … sharing our lives.
To deepen and broaden that fellowship, we need to
understand and celebrate our differences (talents, personality, skills, etc.),
look for opportunities to be useful to others,
recognize the good actions and traits in others,
invite others to help with a project
offer to help with theirs,
watch for visitors, meet them and introduce them to others.
I added that Christian fellowship will render glory to God.
Dan Reed

By: Kenneth Praul

Kenneth Praul — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:24:13 +0000

I’m not always aware of who is new in the area, or even when they may sit around because I am visually impaired, and sometimes I feel bad about it, but I do have a golden retriver guide dog, and everyone wants to visit with him, and sometimes I meet people at church I’ve never met before because of him, his name is Mason. It makes for an interesting church, I’ll say for sure.

By: Eleanor

Eleanor — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 13:18:29 +0000

I think we should be sure to speak to and welcome people who are not as well dressed or attractive. I try to introduce myself to anyone I don’t know when I am in the States.

I am in Beijing China now. Here at the Chongwenmen Church they ask all who are there for the first time to stand and those around them greet them. Each newcomer is given a small brochure telling about the church and it has a map on the back. Then everyone is encouraged to greet those around them. (This is at the end of the service – just before the last song.)