I once had the opportunity to interview a staff member in Jacksonville, FL (actually Jacksonville Beach). I arranged the interview so I could be at First Baptist in downtown Jacksonville to attend their weekly worker’s meeting followed by their Wednesday evening midweek service. The teacher’s meeting was amazing. Imagine me still remembering a Sunday school worker’s meeting this many years later. Guynelle Freeman gave a five-minute talk about reaching the lost that still makes me want to go out and reach out.
As soon as this worker’s meeting was over, I walked to the sanctuary so I could get a good seat. I hadn’t been there two minutes when a gentleman came, sat down beside me, introduced himself, and said, “You know, I love my church.” I said, “I can see why. It’s a tremendous church.” He said, “But I never knew what it meant to love my church until I repented of my sins and received Jesus as my Savior. Has that ever happened to you?”
“Oh, yes,” I said. “Could I tell you about it?” I did, and he asked, “What do you do?” When I told him he got embarrassed. I said, “Thank you for giving me the chance to be sure. Your love for the Lord inspires me.” Ten minutes later another gentleman did the same thing with the same results. That (not the sermon, the music, the budget, or the buildings) is what does make a church great. By that standard, how great are you making our church? It’s a good question for all of us to ask week by week as we are called to go into the highways, hedges, pews, and hallways to bring people to faith in Jesus Christ.
Coming back from the sushi counter at the grocery store, I walked into my hotel lobby and the woman who was at the registration desk when I checked in said, “Hello Mr. Lincoln. Welcome back.” I couldn’t believe it. I said, “Thank you. How did you remember my name? Have you taken a memory course?” “No,” she said. “That’s my job. We want our guests to feel special.” I did. She really succeeded.