Guests

Remember Aunt Sue? We all have one. That aunt or uncle that loves us to pieces and invites us to stay with them for the summer yet somehow every time you see them they call you by the wrong name? Seriously. They’ll say, “My how you’ve grown!,” but they can’t remember who you belong to!

It’s funny, yeah, but it’s frustrating. Why can’t they get it right? Well, it’s because they don’t reeally know you.

We forget who we don’t know. I mean, Aunt Sue only sees you once or twice a year and you never call to check up on each other–she doesn’t even have Facebook. Of course she can’t remember you.

When it comes to knowing people, it’s so important that the church get this right. It’s like Cheers, (well, maybe not quite)

“Sometimes you wanna go
Where everybody knows your name,
And they’re always glad you came
You wanna be where you can see,
Our troubles are all the same”

People need to feel valued. They need to not just be told they matter but be shown they matter. We do this through relationship.By following up with new families, finding out their needs, praying with them, seeking them out. It makes a difference!

If Christ stood at the entrance of the church He would make every single guest that walked by feel like they were known, loved, and accepted. That’s just what His spirit does. While we may not know how many hairs are on one another’s heads as He might–we can make an effort to remember people. Their name. Their face. Their story.

Getting to know one another, being the church, takes more than Hi How are Yous and God Bless Yous at the door. We have to commit to showing people they belong. And then actually do it.

Have you ever been told by a doctor, “We’ll call you with your results,” and then days go by and no phone call? It’s like Hellooo! Do I not matter over here?! Is it a fungus in my toe or am I gonna die!? I need to know. Am I right?

When we tell people we’ll call them, we’ll pray for them, we need to do so. Not days and weeks later. You never know the difference you are making in someone’s day. We all have a desire to feel at home, to belong. And of all places, the church should feel like home. Instead of feeling stuffy and uncomfortable like Aunt Sue’s on Thanksgiving it should feel like a party.

A place that you can’t wait to get to.
A place where everybody knows your name
And they’re always glad you came
We wanna be where we can see
Our troubles are all the same

-Lenae