In the United States, we have this amazing phenomenon. People will visit a Church community one time and then decide if it is the right one for them.

I am not so concerned about Christians who come to check us out. Most of them will move on and find another place to worship.

What does bother me are those non-believers who show up and are trying to decide if they want to make God, the Church, or faith a part of their life. This Sunday might be the week that someone takes their first step on their journey with Jesus. It might also be a stumbling block that keeps them from progressing.

This is what keeps me up at night. This is what I pray about every single week. This is why I work so hard to make sure my sermons are clear, educational, and engaging.

Thankfully, God has placed me into a community of believers who are also seeking to make an impact on the lives of others. Each week, I pray that if people are not engaged with the sermon, they will connect with a believer and be encouraged by their faith. I ask God for our greeters to be friendly, for our children’s workers to be prepared, and for our community to shower new people with love and attention.

Each week might be our only chance to share Jesus with certain people. I am so thankful that it is not merely MY only chance, but that we are in this together as a Church and the weight falls on all our shoulders. I need you. We need each other. Together we can touch lives for eternity.