Building on "Round Up Sunday"

"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:25, NIV

We chose a Sunday that we believed would be a good one to gather our families back together and set some goals for a "round up Sunday" attendance emphasis. Our goal was to have 200 present for Bible study, and 250 present for worship. Even with a few people unable to be here, we managed to make both goals. We had 215 for Bible study and looking back in the records, that will be the largest attendance of this year so far with the exception of Easter Sunday. And we just did make the 250 mark in worship. Well, we had 249, and so we counted the police officer who comes to do security patrol for us, so that helped to round it up. And we probably missed one or two here and there, so we can say 250 people were in worship with us, in one service, Sunday morning.

As a side note, there were 25 children in Children's worship, and 15 preschoolers, toddlers and nursery babies here yesterday, and altogether, one fourth of those present were under 18.

We don't do something like this merely to pat ourselves on the back and feel like we've accomplished something. There are several reasons why we placed an emphasis on raising our attendance numbers and making people aware of what they are.

Encouragement
Our church has now been pastorless for over a year, and during that time, people have a tendency to drift. We've had several members pass away, and several of our families, including some involved in key leadership positions, have moved away recently. The combination of all of those factors can be discouraging to those who are attempting to remain faithful to the church and continue serving and supporting it. You miss them and you notice the empty spaces. So a little bit of an emphasis which encourages people to get back in touch with people helps build a few relationships, and makes people feel they are being used in the kingdom work at the church, and the results will hopefully encourage people to continue this ministry and these relationships. Several members and regular guests who haven't been here for a while returned on Sunday and that, too, is encouraging.

Reaching the goals may also help to create a spiritual sense that God isn't finished with GOBC and he still has a work to do here. It would have been so easy for many people to just consider this another "gimmick" and leave it at that, but obviously many people took the challenge seriously, and made a move into the lives of other people, especially considering that there were people visiting here who are not regulars or members. Be encouraged, then, by these results. This is August. Let's build on this through the remainder of this year, and see where that leaves us by Christmas.

Fellowship and Community
People come to church to experience the presence of God. We hope that's what they find every time they come to GOBC. Research shows us that over 80% of adults who are not part of a church would consider the claims of Christianity if someone presented them in a clear, understandable way, and many of them would respond positively to a personal invitation to accompany a friend to church. Reaching across the aisles and singing "There's a Sweet, Sweet Spirit in this Place" isn't just a nice way to end a service, it sends a message that this is a congregation that wants to give itself away, in a meaningful way, to other people. If you're looking for Christian community, you'll find it here.

Outreach
We exist in a community which has seen large numbers of new residents move in over the past couple of decades. Many of them simply do not know about the Christian community that exists as Garden Oaks Baptist Church, or what happens here, though they may see the building. They aren't going to take the initiative to come, for a variety of reasons. Events such as this open opportunities to reach people who have come to our part of the city in recent years, and allow them to find a comfortable way to find out about the Christian faith, and about how it is presented here.

It also gives us a handle on the kind of people who have moved in around us, in order that we might be able to "speak their cultural language" so to speak, and translate the principles of the scripture into that language in order to gain both a hearing for and an understanding of the gospel message of Jesus. Surprise! People are willing to listen, and they are even willing to give you a hearing.


Move Forward
I think yesterday's events were very important with regard to some specific messages which we can receive and call blessings. Our church is still viable, and there are plenty of people who want to be part of this body of believers in order to fulfill their spiritual calling and advance the gospel message. We can, as a body, put together prayer and the movement of our feet, so to speak, and see the results of viable ministry. There is excitement and enthisuasm among our people about our particular body of believers, and there is ownership of the ministry, under submission to God's Spirit.

Can you see a vision for the future? I can. Do you want to be part of it? As a body, let's pray for God's will and for God's direction, and follow the lead of the Spirit. Yesterday was just a taste of what God wants to do with us and through us. Let's ask for more, and receive what we are given.