My Dilemma

Here’s my dilemma this week. 

Next Sunday – Palm Sunday 01 April our Sunday Street Team are going out after the morning service and I don’t just  want to get more people involved, I need more people involved . But how do I do it?

I don’t want to harangue people, lay on the guilt and make people feel bad if they don’t come out.

I don’t raise expectations that coming out on a Street Team will be an evangelical adrenaline filled excitement rush of prayer and miracles and enlightening conversations – sometimes it’s a little dull.

I just want people to join for two reasons:

1.   We need help
2.  I believe it’s the right thing to do

I’m aware that even though we’ve only been running the teams since January- for some people its old news, ‘He’s not mentioning the Street Teams again is he’?

I know other people have made the decision ‘this is not for me’ and no matter how much persuading arguing, appealing or cajoling,  their minds are made up,  they’re not going to come.

Some people have said they can’t join the teams because its lunch time and.....they are at home having lunch at lunch time.   And the fact that they could still be home and having lunch by 1:30 – ok 1:45 – it’s too late. Well you can’t argue with that can you!

People tell me that they would find it too awkward speaking to complete strangers in the high road,  yet  the same people think nothing of speaking to complete strangers who want to buy their goods or services at work, or speaking to 30 children in a class room – most of us speak to strangers every day.

I don’t want to embarrass people or make them feel awkward or bring anyone along under duress I just really believe that if a few more people came along – they’d  really get a taste for it and enjoy it.

Street Teams are about far more than just an experiential buzz.  I think they are great because they communicate something about the church being active on the street, not just contained in a building.  

At Upton Vale we call this ‘Outside the Walls’.

It also strikes me that the Bible is full of references of people ‘going out’ and being ‘sent’ to the people.  So I think this is a good biblical model.  

I’m  aware that the teams have conversations and prayers with people who are not in church, haven’t attended a service and had no intention of going to church that day. In fact most weeks we pray with more people on the streets, than respond for prayer after a sermon.

This is with one team of 10 people.   Imagine if we had two teams out and about what a powerful witness that would be.  Then I start imagining what could happen if other town centre churches got involved.

This next Sunday is Palm Sunday, we’ll be celebrating Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem; the crowds waved branches and threw their cloaks on the floor welcoming him. It feels right to me that the church is out on the streets (and I know this sounds corny) trying to bring a bit of Jesus into people’s lives – they need him.

 So, it would be wonderful if we had a big team of people with us this Palm Sunday, some giving out cakes, some giving out Easter leaflets, some carrying ‘free prayer’ signs and praying with people.

I just wish I knew how to get more people involved.

If you have any ideas let me know.

Graham