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The spot for the good news, the good word, the quick reports of the many, many wonderful news items I hear all the time and want to share with the rest of you. Expect to find the good news when you come to check out "what’s the good word?"

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Invite

I had a nice chat with Barb K who’s currently conducting a pre-baptismal class in Ottawa. The small group of children will be working with her over an extended time. They’re getting to know the church they’ll be joining from many perspectives.

Barb speaks, lovingly, of the learning and behavioural challenges of these particular children. And I use the word “challenges” not to suggest disability. In fact, sometimes a gifted child presents an even greater challenge to a parent or teacher or congregation. The secret, she shared with me, has been to invite a guest to the class to talk about something for which that person has a special passion, or some unusual insight, or additional experience. What a breakthrough!

Barb shares just how successful this has been. The children look forward with excitement to greet the guests. The guests have shared wonderful information and testimonies with the children. They’re glad to have the opportunity (and I suspect to have Barb there riding herd on the little beasts). With guests, the class is on best behaviour.

The children share what they’re learning at home with families and look forward and plan for the day they’ll be baptized to show the world they’re followers of Jesus and full-fledged members of the Community of Christ.

Then, of course, Barb the Seventy can’t resist reminding me that invite is such an essential word for all of us to remember, all the time. It’s how we reach out into the community to meet the needs of the lost and seeking, and to bring in the richness and diversity we need to grow our congregations and engage in God’s mission for the world.

So there you have today’s good word: Invite!

(Posted by Marion)

6 comments:

  1. My favorite congregations are always the ones who constantly invite strangers and friends to come. Jimmy Munson teaches his congregation, "Our victory is in the invitation!" I totally agree.

    So which congregation in CEM is the most inviting? I am guessing Montreal. If anybody else thinks they do it better, let us hear from you! We'd like to know.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I don't know about that Carman. I'd like to hear from some of our
    CPI congregations who have been making a concerted effort to invite?

    Are you there Stratford? Grand Valley?

    ReplyDelete
  3. they are? (LOL)

    i don't know about inviting congregations but i do know about "inviting people" and we have quite a few of those in our cem!

    john (and how did i become anonymous? mwa ha ha!)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi John
    I hope so!
    Tell us your story.
    And Post as John if you don't want to be anonymous.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Welcome Chicken, Good news indeed.

    ReplyDelete

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