Inviting an unchurched friend or neighbor to a worship service can be a tension-filled experience. Imagine what it would feel like to invite the same people to the very first public worship service at a new mission church. If you really want to know, ask Kerri Haas, who invited two unchurched families to the launch of River of Faith LCMS Mission in Waterville, OH on March 16...

After she invited the families, Haas asked fellow River of Faith launch team members to pray for the families. One family attended and the other did not, although Haas ancticipates second family will check out the new congregation.

Haas, who plays keyboard and selects music for the new congregation, was kind enough to summarize the process she goes through in inviting unchurched people to worship at a church.

"My method is almost the same every time with inviting the unchurched.  I believe that even more so than Christians, non Christian or unchurched person have a lot of inner conflict.  I believe that they carry burdens differenly than we do.  They don't know how to deal with them and allow them to take control of their lives.  When we would hopefully finally reach out to God to help us, they don't know what to do.  I have found that by listening to these worries, without judgement and helping them with these conflicts that they gain the trust of you when they need someone the most.  Then, when they have spoken about it to me several times, I then bring it up once without actually inviting.  Then, I finally do invite at some point.  I also use opportunities where I'm talking about my week where I just say something about church.  I have people then ask where I go, etc, etc and it starts a conversation on it."

Much thanks to Kerri for her willingness to encourage fellow believers through this blog.

If you have a story about how God is working in your life or in your congregation, please let me know at wilsonk@oh.lcms.org. If you are curious about the history or meaning of "Christ Cairn" an explanation is coming to this space.