Outreach V. Inreach

Steve Ellison
Steve Ellison, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Jan 1, 2011 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."
Our church had a large outreach event on a recent Saturday. I personally went to 81 houses on Saturday morning and handed out fliers for our Fall Festival held that same afternoon as well as regular service times. I did not speak about a relationship with Christ on these visits. We had a large crowd of non-church members at the festival. Not one person came to Sunday services as a result of the festival. I thought about that fact and I considered the other outreach that we do. We do much outreach. I began to think (I believe that it was the Lord speaking to me, but I am very cautious about saying anything is a word from the Lord. The warnings in Scripture about falsely representing the Lord, give me great cause for concern.) that our outreach is not reaching the lost in a spiritual sense. Those we reach out to are simply coming to us only at times that we provide free fun, food, clothes, etc. It seems that the recipients feel entitled to receive and gratitude a far-away thought. Very, very infrequently does any one of them respond spiritually or even attend church. I am wondering if the Lord is speaking to me about doing more "inreach" and less "outreach". They will know you by the love you have for each other comes to mind. Will the lost take notice of us, know us, be attracted to us, be attracted to Christ as they see us loving one another?

Published by Steve Ellison

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  • rmharrington1/4/2011

    We share a heart, pastor. So much secular means of reaching out. Yet the scripture does say to apply wisdom and to seek all opportunity. It can be a narrow call. Great food for thought, my friend.

  • Dina Sullivan1/3/2011

    Excellent.. :o)

  • Steve Ellison1/1/2011

    Hi Naomi. Yes, we have all experienced this wherever we are. You are also correct that we are only responsible for our part. The rest is up to God and the other person. Our food pantry attracts 30-60 families each week and only a tiny portion of those attend church anytime, anywhere. Happy New Year to you and yours!

  • Naomi1/1/2011

    I suppose everyon has experienced this regarding visitation or church activities. Especially around Thanksgiving and Christmas when some of your members show up for the only time all year long. You probably remember who those families were at Hodgen. It is still the same. It is troubling to the mind and heart. But we are not responsible for how the person responds to the outreach or to the message. We water, God supplies the increase.

  • Teila Tankersley1/1/2011

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    ೋ ❤❤❤~~HAPPY NEW YEAR~~❤❤❤ ೋ
    ╚═════════ ೋღ❤ღೋ ═════════╝

  • Jack Wellman1/1/2011

    Great point pastor. We are focusing on In-reach during the cold, harsh winter months and Outreach during the warmer weather. I drafted and had approved by the church board, an In-reach letter to former, and non-active members as a way to restore them to the Body of Christ. If not ours, then at least some other church home. We both face challenges, as only 22% of born-again Christians now attend church regularly. Sad facts indeed. Pray your "reaches" for the lost are fruitful. And, Happy New Year. :-)

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