May 31, 2007

I am taking a break this week to tell another story from Priority One – Lehigh Valley.
I recently had lunch with a friend, who is helping to bring leadership to the men’s ministry at his local church. He told me a story of what happened this past fall when he was actively involved with getting men into a new small group that was starting up. He previously had 22 men sign up for an experimental group that was going to meet on Monday night to study a book together and watch the first half of the Monday Night Football game. It sounded like a great idea, and, as stated, it had attracted the 22 men, who had already signed up. Plus, there was hope of even more men getting involved.
He decided to make some phone calls to as many of the men as he could reach just a few days before the initial meeting and connected with 11 of the initial 22 men. He had no idea how many men would actually show up, but he sort of figured that at least the 22 that signed up would show up. He even thought that, possibly, some additional men would make it. As it turned out, the only men that showed up were – you guessed it – the 11 men that he reached personally on the phone. Not one man of the other 11 showed up and neither did any other men. Amazing!
What strikes me about this is the power of the personal invitation. This is a striking example to me of the impact of a personal, face-to-face invitation or phone call. Sometimes I send out e-mails or arrange for announcements to be made from the front at church or at some meeting and have all kinds of materials out, and, then, I wonder why very few, if any, responds. Most likely it is because I have not taken the time to personally invite someone else to take part in the group, event, or whatever it is, with me. Why is it that I do not do the personal calls? I know for me, it is usually because it takes more work to personally make the calls. Plus, there is a risk involved, and I might have to face rejection. How will it make me feel when this other person says “No” to me?
Is there a lesson or challenge in this for you? I know that there is for me! As we enter into our time of year where we are telling men about our Lake Champion Men’s Weekend, I am challenged to make sure that I personally invite others around me. How about you? How are you challenged by this story today? Remember: there is power in the personal invitation. Jesus said, “Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” And, at once, they left their nets and follow him. Matthew 4:19-20.