Whoops….

Today’s tale is one of transparent failures in evangelism. 

A few week’s ago on a typical Sunday morning Russ and I entered our church with a few minutes to spare before the service started. His goal is to catch a few people in the lobby. I was, of course, headed to the coffee line to top off my thermos before we would enter the East side and find a seat. Hopefully at a table. 

As I approached the line, I sort of recognized the man ahead of me. I thought I did anyway. I tried to get a better angle and determine if it was who I thought it was. I was 85% sure so I tapped him in the shoulder and asked if he was the gentleman who had been at the store where I work a few Friday’s ago. 

He didn’t recognize me or the name of the store at first, but I mentioned a bit of his and his wife’s story of how they had moved here recently and he began to make connections. Yes! It was him. He pointed off to the side to where his wife was standing so I skipped the coffee line and went over to say hello. 

In total embarrassment I stammered how close I had come to inviting them to our church as they were leaving the store that day. The thought came over me as they were headed for the door. We had had such a nice conversation and I felt I should invite them but it would have involved me basically chasing them down out the door and it was too awkward so I didn’t. 

Russ happened along so I flagged him down and introduced them. They were so nice and introduced us to their son and then they crossed over the West service just as another friend of ours walked up. He said hi to them as well and seemed to know them. 

After they had left I confessed my less than stellar performance in outreach and he shared his own confession. The way he had met them was through a Marketplace transaction. They had purchased something from him and during the pickup, he felt he should invite them to church, but didn’t. 

We both had prayed for them, but we didn’t do the inviting. 

I guess God did, because they had been attending for a couple of weeks when we all realized our encounters that had not been the catalyst for them attending. 

At least our friend and I were honest in our admission to them that we had failed and our exuberance that they found us anyway was evident. 

But goodness. 

I am sure the Holy Spirit had given both of us the nudge, but we overthought and declined the opportunity. 

So thankful for grace. 

Hope I get another chance to invite someone and praying I yield to the Spirit and not my own head. 

We shall see.