Conversations Over Coffee
A good friend of mine told me a story that messes with me each time I hear it.
My friend is a pastor. Like many pastors, he used to spend countless hours at a local coffee shop. That is here he had meetings and wrote most of his sermons. Since he spent so much time at this particular coffee shop he got to know the baristas and other staff. He would greet them and make small talk with them. Over time they found out he was a pastor and learned a little bit about his church.
After a year or so, one of the baristas (his name is Don; I met him a few years later) was talking to my friend after making my friend’s coffee. Then Don, sort of shyly, asked my friend if it would be ok if he came to his church one day. My friend was floored!
My friend responded, “Of course you can come to the church, Don! We would love to have you.” Don said something like, well I didn’t know if it was ok. You see, my life is a little messy right now. I don’t know what I think about faith and church. And I’ve got some baggage. Plus you never invited me so I didn’t know if it was ok for me to come.
Don showed up the next Sunday, and eventually, he got baptized. He became really involved in the church. Over time got his life on the right track in large part because of the hope and life he found at church. He’s a vital part of my friend’s church, even to this day.
But Don’s last line always stands out to me. “You never invited me so I didn’t know if it was ok to come.” If Don wouldn’t have been bold enough to ask my friend if it was ok to come to church, then I don’t know where Don would be.
This story stays with me and it messes with me. I wonder how many Don’s are around me but they aren’t quite bold enough to ask if they can come to church. How many of my friends would be willing, curious or want to come, but they are waiting on me to invite them.
I wonder about that same thing for you. Who might come to check out church and give faith a try, but they are just waiting for you to invite them? My prayer for both you and me is that we have the courage to offer a simple invitation which could be a doorway for someone to find a meaningful faith.
Peace,
Matt
My friend is a pastor. Like many pastors, he used to spend countless hours at a local coffee shop. That is here he had meetings and wrote most of his sermons. Since he spent so much time at this particular coffee shop he got to know the baristas and other staff. He would greet them and make small talk with them. Over time they found out he was a pastor and learned a little bit about his church.
After a year or so, one of the baristas (his name is Don; I met him a few years later) was talking to my friend after making my friend’s coffee. Then Don, sort of shyly, asked my friend if it would be ok if he came to his church one day. My friend was floored!
My friend responded, “Of course you can come to the church, Don! We would love to have you.” Don said something like, well I didn’t know if it was ok. You see, my life is a little messy right now. I don’t know what I think about faith and church. And I’ve got some baggage. Plus you never invited me so I didn’t know if it was ok for me to come.
Don showed up the next Sunday, and eventually, he got baptized. He became really involved in the church. Over time got his life on the right track in large part because of the hope and life he found at church. He’s a vital part of my friend’s church, even to this day.
But Don’s last line always stands out to me. “You never invited me so I didn’t know if it was ok to come.” If Don wouldn’t have been bold enough to ask my friend if it was ok to come to church, then I don’t know where Don would be.
This story stays with me and it messes with me. I wonder how many Don’s are around me but they aren’t quite bold enough to ask if they can come to church. How many of my friends would be willing, curious or want to come, but they are waiting on me to invite them.
I wonder about that same thing for you. Who might come to check out church and give faith a try, but they are just waiting for you to invite them? My prayer for both you and me is that we have the courage to offer a simple invitation which could be a doorway for someone to find a meaningful faith.
Peace,
Matt
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