Ok, first off, I'm now in the habit of calling our people "Connectors." I hope that isn't too cheesy.
In several recent conversations I've been asked about our mission.
We want to see people far from God come close to God through Jesus Christ.
We use the statement,
"Connecting with God. Connecting with people. Connecting with the world." But this is more than just a mission, it also describes our strategy.
Here's how it might play out in the life of a Connector, in this not-so-fictional story...
At some point during the week "Steve," who considers himself committed to Connections, bumps into his neighbor "Joe," who doesn't go to church. Joe already likes Steve because he's a good neighbor and shows genuine interest in their friendship. Joe says something that makes Steve think of a message he heard (or a song we sang, or someone else he knows at Connections). Steve tells this to Joe, then asks, "Would you like to come to Connections with me this Sunday?"
Steve is of course shaking in his boots, but to his delight, Joe says "yes." (After all, 88% of people surveyed who don't go to church said they would go if a friend invited them.)
Sunday morning Steve and Joe go to church, and Joe has a great experience. So great, in fact, Joe is compelled to ask Steve some questions about God, Jesus and church. Steve is a little frustrated because he doesn't have "great" answers for all of Joe's questions. But Joe really doesn't seem to mind because he is more interested in an ongoing discussion.
But because Steve feels a little overwhelmed to "know it all" he invites Joe to his Connections Group. To his amazement, again, Joe agrees.
Joe quickly finds out that this group of people is refreshing "normal" in many ways- they love to joke around, catch up with each other, and enjoy some great coffee and desserts. They have the same struggles as everyone else- they struggle with money, with time management, with raising kids, with marriage, with mundane jobs, with aging parents and their own health.
But Joe also senses that these folks aren't just like everyone else. They are flawed people, but have a different "spirit" or attitude about them. They seem to have hope, freedom, purpose and genuine love for others.
They don't just chit chat all evening, but have some direction. They talk about their lives and the bible. They encourage one another. And they pray for one another. Joe doesn't speak during the prayer, but he is deeply moved by what he feels. He couldn't even describe it if he tried.
Steve and Joe see each other during the week, and they talk a little about Connections and the group. Joe says he really enjoyed it, and he means it. So Steve asks if he'd like to come again. Unfortunately Joe has plans next weekend.
BUT, Steve is not discouraged because he knows that Joe has never been in the habit of going to church. He has a family, work, hobbies and responsibilities. Regular worship attendance alone will be a radical life shift for Joe.
So Steve gentle continues to invite Joe. When he can, he does attend.
After several weeks Joe starts making worship a priority. He's at worship more than half the Sundays of the month. He's developing his own friendships, and genuinely looks forward to his Connections Group (yes, somewhere along the line, who knows when, it became his group too.) Joe has actually begun to invite some of his friends to Connections as well.
Joe never did anything with church before, but he's an early riser and a friendly guy. Soon he finds himself volunteering to help set things up and be a greeter twice a month.
All the while Joe has heard the story of Jesus preached every week. At some point along the way he started to believe it. One Sunday Joe is moved by the music and the message. And by the end of the service, somehow he just knew, he was now a part of Connections. He put his faith in Jesus and felt connected to God, to people, and in a new way, to the world.
He could hardly wait to invite the family that recently moved in just down the street.
