Is this Missional? You tell me.

We met last Saturday morning, at 9:00 am in the Sanctuary. We divided up and went out to meet our neighbors in our “hood,” which is in transition. That means, old white folks are leaving and younger families of diverse ethnic heritage are moving in.

You may be saying, “Hey, canvassing the neighborhood is not new!” You would be right. It’s anything but new. So what’s the big deal?

I encouraged our people to give and not take from our neighbors. We want to leave the impression that we are here to serve. Here’s what I told them:

1. Don’t collect information. People who collect information want something from you. I want your vote, your money, your attendance … something. Instead, we want to give. Give them your name. Give them the name of your church and point to it, so they know where they can come for help. Give them the idea that we are here to help. Give them a way to contact us if they need help, or know someone who needs help.

2. Don’t try to go in a house or get into a deep conversation. If they invite you to do either, feel free. Whatever you do, don’t make them feel that you are taking their time or privacy.

3. Do engage them in a friendly way. “Just out meeting the neighbors,” and good neighbors bring cookies – so we had a few prepackaged cookies to give away.

4. Give them a brochure of the church that lets them know what we are doing and what they might receive from us.

Amazingly, every person received all 43 of us well. It was interesting to note how people responded to folks knocking on the door who were genuinely giving things away. Not the kind of giving that is intended to hook you and make you give more to them than you get in the end. Rather, the kind of giving that is intended to make you receive with no strings attached.

Then there was this one guy. When the lady and two teens (one was her son) knocked on his door, he was so willing to talk. She said he kept engaging her on a deeper and deeper levels, so she just kept engaging back. After a while, he prayed to receive Christ.

As if that weren’t enough, he dropped this bomb: He said he had been praying for God to send him someone, because he knew he was separated from God, but just didn’t know what to do. He said that our church member was an answer to prayers. Talk a about a divine appointment. Talk about a Macedonian call. Somebody tell me God doesn’t send out His children to those who are calling out for salvation. Booyah! (Yes, we’ll be following up.)

Giving and giving, until you give away your faith. That’s awesome.

What really thrilled me is how excited everyone else was about engaging our neighbors. We are responsible for two neighborhoods: The one in which we worship and the one in which we live. For some, it is the same neighborhood. I see our people looking at our neighbors with a whole new perspective.

It’s bueno!

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