Our church, The Body, focusses on evangelism a lot.  Our pastor consistently emphasizes our individual responsibility, rooted in scripture, to spread the good news to others. When we actively engage in evangelism, our church is likely to experience numerical growth as people accept Jesus as their Savior. Often, those who accept Christ through our evangelistic efforts will express a desire to deepen their understanding by joining us in church. 

Some individuals may possess a sincere zeal for evangelism and view inviting others to their church as a chance to answer that calling and spread the Gospel to a wider audience. It may feel more comfortable to extend an invitation to someone who has already accepted Christ rather than to someone who hasn’t. But what if instead, we shifted our focus to reaching the lost in our communities? 

Rock Hill, SC, where I live, is a vibrant and growing city with a population of over 75,000 people, and it’s steadily growing as more and more people move into the area. But here’s the thing – despite the number of churches in our city, there are still many people who don’t know Jesus. 

According to recent surveys, while a significant percentage of people in Rock Hill identify as Christian, there is also a significant percentage who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus. That’s where our focus should be – on reaching those who are lost and in need of the hope and salvation that only Jesus can offer. 

Every church, including yours, is pursuing growth. However, by enticing individuals away from another church, you’re essentially hindering the growth of that congregation. Instead, God calls us to advance His kingdom, not to prioritize the expansion of our own church by recruiting members from others. Instead of trying to poach members from other churches, we must be intentional about reaching out to our neighbors, coworkers, and friends who don’t know Jesus. Invite them to church, share the Gospel with them, and walk alongside them as they explore faith and discover the love of Christ. 

Why is this important? Well, first and foremost, because Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). Our mission as followers of Christ is to share His love and message of salvation with everyone we encounter, regardless of where they are on their spiritual journey. If we are only sharing or inviting Christians, we are not MAKING disciples because they are already disciples.

Reaching the lost and bringing them into your church is also important for the health and growth of the church. You see, when we focus on reaching the lost in our communities, we not only fulfill the Great Commission, but we also experience growth and vitality in our congregations. As new believers come to faith and join our churches, they bring with them a fresh perspective, passion, and energy that revitalizes our faith communities. 

So why are church members so easily swayed to go to another church?  Church members are often looking for the new shining thing in their area, that new church or that church with big programs. It is time for church members to stop jumping ship to chase those things and commit to sticking it out with the church where God has placed them, for the good times and the bad times. Remember the example of Joseph in the Bible – he could have given up when he was sold into slavery and later imprisoned, but he remained faithful to God’s calling on his life, and God turned his situation around for good (Genesis 37-50). 

I personally believe that when God sends you to a church, He knows what role you are to play in that church.  God doesn’t make mistakes so if He sent you there, He wants to use you THERE.  You, or the church, may not be in your season at the moment, but if He sent you there then your season will come.  I think there a just a few GOOD reasons to leave your church:  God is telling you to leave to serve somewhere else(and if that is the case then you should be able to talk to your pastor and leadership and announce it to the church members), you have moved and can longer attend due to distance and/or your church is not following the mission God has set forth for the church.

Here are five questions to ask about your church to see if its mission is on target: 

1. Is the Gospel preached and lived out in our church? 
2. Are we actively reaching out to the lost in our community? 
3. Are we making disciples who make disciples? 
4. Are we serving and loving one another sacrificially? 
5. Are we praying fervently for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done in our church and community? 

So how do we know if someone is attempting to poach us from our church or we are chasing the shining new church thing?

Christians by nature will invite other Christians to special event at their church, such as baptisms, awards, baby dedications, performances etc. It is crucial to support our loved ones during those moments so of course if we are invited, we should make all efforts to attend, even if it conflicts with our church’s services. However, I want to encourage you to love your church so deeply and passionately that you’re willing to make a deliberate decision to prioritize your commitment to your church over frivolous requests to attend other churches and miss your own services or special events. 

By saying “no” to these requests, you’re not only affirming your dedication to your church family but also making a statement to your fellow church members and your pastor that you value the community and spiritual growth that happens within your church. You’re saying, “I am here, I am committed, and my church family is important to me. What we do at church matters.” 

It’s important to recognize that when we attend other churches and miss our own services or events, our eyes and hearts can easily wander. We may be tempted to covet what another church has or what they’re doing, rather than fully engaging with and investing in our own church community. 

If your church aligns with the five questions we discussed earlier – preaching and living out the Gospel, actively reaching out to the lost, making disciples, serving one another sacrificially, and praying fervently for God’s kingdom – then you’re in a good, Bible-believing church. Trust that God has placed you there for a reason and commit to being fully present and engaged in the life of your church. 

So, instead of looking around at what other churches have or are doing, let’s focus on looking for the lost and winning souls for Christ. Let’s be willing to work for the Lord until God calls us home because as Christians, we’re called to share the Gospel and invite others to experience the love and grace of Jesus Christ. 

Let’s make a conscious effort to prioritize our church family, to love and support one another, and to faithfully serve and worship together. When we do this, we’ll experience the true beauty and blessing of being part of a vibrant, Christ-centered community. Together, let’s make a difference for eternity in our church, our community and beyond.