Finish strong

I want to explain something and then say something. First, I want to explain our approach to evangelism. Our approach to evangelism is service oriented (showing God's love through kindness, meeting needs, inviting, etc) and it is sort of seasonal. We share Christ in season and out but I love when the season hits. I view summer and winter as "out of season" and fall and spring as "in season". During the sunny days of summer people vacation and during the cold days of the dead of winter they tend to stay in. In-season hits in the fall about September (when school starts) and climaxes with Christmas. Then the winter lull. The spring season begins around the last of Feb - peaks at Easter, then lingers till mid-May. This is important to understand (for me at least) because it helps us plan ahead. We have a strategy for sharing Christ -- it's sort of like a fall and spring campaign. We've prayed about it, we're excited about it and God is blessing it! God has poured out a double blessing on our church this spring. God has sent us many people who are either searching for God and/or a church home. You have done an excellent job bringing your friends to the assembly and many of them keep coming back. In fact, nine families and two singles and four Marshall students keep coming back. Praise God! Second, here's want I want to say. We need to finish strong. We began this spring "campaign" together in late Feb. Remember, you responded by praying and bringing a friend and they came - 370+ people on Easter! Many of them stayed. But the summer lull is almost here. The Marshall students will be leaving, families will be going on vacation, etc. all this is good and natural and we plan for it. But we need to finish strong. Here's how - three things. 1) Strengthen your relationships with newcomers. Show them the love of God. Do simple little acts of kindness over and over. Don't preach or pressure them. Build a bridge so Jesus can walk across and save them. Invite them to join a small group. Encourage them. Pay attention to their needs, hurts, etc. Cry with them, laugh with them, stay in tune with them and when the time is right put in a good word for Jesus. Share your story. If they ask to study the Bible and you need help call one of the elders (or me). 2) Pray for them. Pray they make a commitment to Christ. Pray they make our church their home before June. Ask God to keep them from drifting away and draw them to himself and us. We'll show them the love of Christ. Just pray for them. 3) Pray for me - this Sunday I will be preaching about fellowship and I want our newcomers to respond. I am going to interview two people (Jason Moore and Megan Hensley) and they are going to share why they made Norway their church home. Then I am going to preach Acts 2. Pray I do a good job. Lets finish strong. Love, Jeff P.S. We're already working on summer outreaches - we are so excited about it and will share it with you soon.