INVEST AND INVITE: "MAY I HAVE THIS DANCE?"
By David Rogers

What an incredible joy (and relief) it is to know that God is madly in love with you and me. It sure is comfortable to know that we are saved if we have a relationship with God when we place our trust in Jesus. But what about the people outside the walls of The Heights…do they have that same joy and understanding that God is madly in love with them too? Do you know that God is madly in love with those people who live next door to you…with that guy in the cubicle next to you…with that girl who sits on the row beside you in second period…with that tired waitress at the Waffle House? God is madly in love with them…and He expects you and me to tell them…AND…to love them too!

Good evangelism is the process of being friendly without discrimination and influencing all of one’s friends toward better living, through good deeds and good conversations. For a Christian like myself, evangelism means engaging in these conversations in the spirit and example of Jesus Christ.

Evangelism in today’s world has to be less like an argument and more like a dance. This is not to say that it will be illogical, but rather that it will not be about winning and losing, which is why I think the image of dance works so well. Dance is not about winning and losing. When the music ends, you don’t sneer at your partner and say, "Gotcha! I won that dance 7 to 3!" And if you try to pull someone into a dance against their will, the term we use to describe that behavior is not "bold dancing," but rather "assault."

All around me, all around you, are people who would stay up half the night reading or talking if they could get some help with their spiritual questions in a safe place and with a safe spiritual relationship. Evangelism as dance begins with something beyond yourself. Anyone who hears the song of the Gospel—truly hears it—must dance. And all dancers seek to share their joy. So let’s talk about how. Let’s talk about evangelism as conversation, as friendship, as influence, as invitation, as companionship, as challenge, as opportunity, as something you get to do, as dance. Now is the time to INVEST AND INVITE in your community. You are more ready than you realize. Get ready for something fresh, something unexpected. Let’s get ready to dance. Let’s get ready to INVEST AND INVITE.

Click here for a poster with the 6 Step Process and Spring/Fall Emphasis Dates.
Look for the "Invest and Invite" logo on our News and Events page for more opportunities!