Who will you invite?

This coming Tuesday 29th August and Sunday 3rd September mark the beginning of the next phase of Share Life for 2023. For 3 Tuesdays and Sundays Elliot Temple will be preaching on the topic of “Why bother with God?” It is a great topic, a great question and one that I think sits on the tip of the tongue of my friends when they think about me, my job and our church. Nigel, why do you bother with God in a secular world with increasing freedoms and fun available to all?

Elliot has a great angle and has been working on these talks with prayerful vigour and I am looking forward to inviting some of the people in my network to come. 

So Share Life is almost here - who will you invite?

Now let me say, I know that for many, that question can be both daunting and deflating. Some people find it so easy to both choose someone to invite and then to invite them. But I’m not naturally like that. Over time I have appreciated the encouragement of friends and some ideas for how to make it all happen. So, if you are more like me, here are some ideas that might help you. 

First, remember God’s strength, given to us in the Gospel by the Spirit. As Paul says in 2 Timothy 1:7: For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline. God is with you!

Secondly, doing the names list work is very helpful. The names list exercise is on the GG website and in the SL booklet for this year. Basically, name all the people in every one of your networks: work, sport, hobbies, clubs, your street, school friends, and so on. Write the actual name of everyone you have connections with. Name all the people that you think would benefit from Share Life if they came, without guessing their level of interest, without being limited to peers.

Third, choose some of those people who you have a current positive connection with and make them the focus of your invitation this time around. Be open to others God might bring across your path but think specifically about the people you have current positive connections with. 

Fourth, figure out the best method of invitation for the people you will invite. Will it be in conversation, via private message or email, through a personal note in their letterbox or through someone else?

Fifth, arm yourself with the resources you need for the invite. Get your mind around the question “Why bother with God?” How might you explain it further? Then get what you need to make the invite happen and keep it handy (eg. the printed card / a digital invite).

Sixth, go for gold! Find the right occasion and make the invitation. Make it personal and give enough notice (so don’t do it the night before). As you do, take the pressure off, make it their choice. You could say, “I thought of you when I heard my church was putting on this topic... check it out... no pressure... I’ll chase you up in a few days."

Does that make it all sound a little easier? It does to me. 

Now you will notice that I didn’t mention prayer. That’s not because I don’t think we should pray, it’s because I think we should pray at every point, not just at one point. So pray for the people in your network. Pray for wisdom to know the best way to invite people. Pray as you prepare to make the invite happen. Pray before, during and after you do it. 

I have two people in mind and I am going to take some first steps today. What might you do? Who might be among your networks who would benefit from coming and being a part of Share Life 2023?