Christ Episcopal Church
	Riverton, New Jersey
	“Make disciples of all nations” November 2005 According to most sources of information on the subject (and here quoted from Christian Connections), “By far the most important aspect of a congregation's ability to attract new members is the degree to which members invite others. Between 75-90% of all adults who join a congregation are first brought by a friend or relative. There is no more effective method of church growth than the personal invitations extended by church members”. This website talks about the importance of advertising, programming, signage, and the attractiveness of the worship space – but this quote is pretty much the last word. After 21 centuries, people still respond when invited by someone they know to “Come and see”. And according to other sources, 73% of the un-churched have NEVER been invited! And the Dean of our convocation remarked to me the other day that one in three accept the invitation! So? Well, Jesus considered the sharing of his Good News of the Kingdom so important that the command to do so was literally his last words before his ascension into heaven: those constituting his Great Commission, the quote at the top of the page. The ancients believed that at the end of ones life there are final thoughts offered, basic truths told, important insights gleaned over a lifetime shared. They were considered some thing of an oral last will, and something to be taken to heart. Jesus’ apostles took his last words very seriously, as have every generation of our Lord’s followers. That is why Christianity is the world’s largest religion and continues to grow by thousands of believers every day. Yet, without those to share and carry on the Good News of God in Christ, the church, both worldwide and as found on the corner of Main and Fourth Streets in Riverton, is always only a generation away from extinction. We can never take for granted that ‘the faith once delivered to the saints’ will necessarily carry on without the active participation of 21^st century disciples, including my sisters and brothers, you and me. Men and women are called into faith by a personal encounter with Jesus. In the Gospels this is accomplished either by our Lord saying, “Follow me” or by his disciples calling others to meet him – exhorting them to “Come and see”. The first method still occurs from time to time, but most come to faith through the invitation of others. And this is statistically verified! Jesus tells us to make disciples of all nations, but we need no look no farther than our own back yard. Barely half of Burlington County’s population is affiliated with a house of worship. Now imagine for a moment what the ramifications just for our congregation would be if we really intentionally began to reach out with our own “Come and see” ministry. There are over 30,000 unchurched people within five miles of Christ Church. One tenth of one percent of that group would close our projected 2006 budget gap; one percent would almost double our membership! We have enclosed in the Tower Bell is a copy of the Forward Movement publication called ‘How to talk to others about your church’. It is a very low-key (dare I say Episcopalian) approach to a personal ministry of invitation. Prayerfully consider its ramifications for yourself, Christ Church, and the Christian faith that is so vital to us. Then give it a try. This time of year: Christmas, and this special parish anniversary: our sesquicentennial both offer golden opportunities to invite a friend, an acquaintance, a stranger or even an enemy to ‘come and see’ what you have come to experience of our Lord in this place. Untold thousands of people have found a spiritual home at Christ Church over the last 150 years and hundreds more will if they only know we are here for them. I believe this is eminently doable, and with God’s help, we will do it, all to the glory of the One from whom all blessings flow! See you in church (with a guest?), The Revd Richard C. Wrede, Rector