Over the 900 metres from my front door to my daughter’s school, I see a lot of handbills on hydro posts. There are the usual themes, of course, lost dogs and cats, piano and guitar lessons. This past summer I noticed something different: appeals to spiritual quests. Learn more about Eastern Spirituality or Buddhist teachings or Yoga. “Isn’t that interesting,” I thought. “Churches should do that!”
Well, I merely thunk it; Rev. Kirk MacLeod of Keswick, Ont., has actually done something about it. I hand this column over to MacLeod as he challenges the rest of us to evangelize:
“Imagine doing something that could unite all Christian churches in your community. Imagine having your neighbour spark a conversation about faith. These things could happen if you join with one community in Ontario this coming Easter.
“Keswick Presbyterian is inviting Presbyterian Churches across Canada and even further to be part of what we are calling the ‘Ask Me About My Church Campaign.’ It’s simple, really. It begins with one church approaching all other Christian churches in their community and inviting them to participate in this new outreach. Don’t move ahead without at least 80 per cent of the churches on board because this is about ‘Kingdom building’ and not ‘kingdom building.’
“Here’s how it works: At three crucial times in the life of the church – Christmas, Easter and that sacred time of year known as Fall Kickoff, churches are invited to purchase signs (available on our website) from a local printer (the organizing church could coordinate this) and place the signs on their front yard for about three weeks.
“Imagine going down your street and knowing that you are not the only Christian in your neighbourhood, let alone on your street. Or imagine your neighbour is going through a crisis and needs a ‘sign’ that they are not alone.
“All these things could happen if only one church takes the initiative in their community. We’ve done it in Keswick! Seven of the nine churches came on board for our Christmas dates. Two churches were not adverse but simply had a wait and see attitude. I’m optimistic that the two holdouts will join us for Easter (put your sign up the week before Palm Sunday and remove the Sunday after Easter) and that even the communities that surround us will take part. Maybe you can motivate your church to get on board. If youare looking for more information go to askmeaboutmychurch.com or follow us on Facebook and YouTube (key words: ask me about my church). We would love to hear your good news stories and for you to read about what happened to us over Christmas.
“One last imagine? I imagine driving through my own community this Easter season and seeing even more ‘Ask Me About My Church’ signs. As I head south to the next community I see more signs and then the next community even more signs. I see signs stretching from coast to coast to coast.
“I even see signs that read, ‘Ask Me About My Church’ in other parts of the world. Maybe it’s a dream or maybe it’s one small way we can see God bless His church, the entire church. For a denomination that has been declining for years – or to use a Natural Church Development term, a church that often lacks passionate spirituality – we need to be bold and courageous and we need to let the world and our neighbours know that we love our church because there we grow in faith in Christ and belong to a family where we are welcomed and loved.”
So, there you are. A challenge to give to your neighbours something they desperately need: a personal relationship with Christ. Or, to use another campaign slogan that rightly should belong in the church: Let’s just do it.
