A couple visited the services of a church for the first time. The preacher announced that he would preach a four week series on the doctrines of the Christian faith. The couple came every week and listened attentively. On the fourth Sunday they came forward at the invitation and were baptized.

When the preacher asked which sermon had really persuaded them to become Christians, the couple replied, “Your sermons were helpful, but they were not the most important factor. Two different families visited us from the church here. They were so friendly and encouraging. They obviously loved the Lord and His church. The friendliness, interest and kindness of these families helped us to resolve to become Christians and unite with this church.”

Most of us will never influence thousands. Our lives will touch only a small circle of people. But this should not discourage us. God can use the visits you make, if you will make one visit a week, as a powerful force in bringing others to Christ!

—Douglas Parsons, from the Bulletin Digest

"I Am a Visitor"

“I am a visitor, and sometimes I see things you church members don’t notice. I can appreciate things you take for granted—and be repulsed by the things you have learned to accept. Your building may be beautiful, your sermons inspiring and your church perfectly aligned with the Bible, but most of the time it is not these things, but the little things, I notice.

When I walk in the door, I feel like a stranger—for that is what I am. So it means a lot when someone welcomes me with a friendly greeting. I don’t mean just the preacher or an elder, but one of the “regular members.” It’s nice when they want to know my name and even better when they want to know me. They try to make me feel at ease. They show me where my Sunday School class meets. They introduce me to someone in my class. I make two new friends.

I like Bible classes where there is love, excitement and participation—where the people seem glad to be there! I like it when someone asks me to sit next to them and helps me find 1 Corinthians 13 in my Bible. The class members are anxious to discuss the Bible and see how it applies to their everyday lives, and they talked to God in a language I can understand.

Someone from class invites me to sit with them during worship. When the singing starts, I notice there is no organ, but it sounds beautiful anyway. It seems to me, as I look around, that everyone is singing and happy to be there! My new friend next to me sings, and while he isn’t a fantastic singer, he means what the song is saying. People seem to enjoy worship—it impresses me.

It impresses me that when the preacher starts talking everyone grabs their Bible and note pads.

After worship I figure it is time to duck out, but I can’t. Everyone stops me and talks to me —making me feel at home. They invite me to come again—one even invited me home to Sunday dinner. They all seem to want to know me better, so I stay and talk and meet new people. The TV and the paper can wait!

When I go back home again, I may forget what the building looks like or what the sermon was about, but I will never forget how the people made me feel. Here was a church who loves God and one another. People who seemed to love me. I need to go back and find out what makes them that way!”

Brethren—we make the difference. Let’s visit! Let’s encourage! Let’s invite! GOD WILL BLESS OUR EFFORTS!