Mark 1:17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.”
Our congregation had gotten small, really small—like an average Sunday attendance of ten. Everyone wanted new members, so we brainstormed as a group, developed a strategic plan, and got to work. Our plan seemed good, but we weren’t seeing any results.
In our lesson from Mark, Jesus is walking along the Sea of Galilee where his friends are working, and as he encounters them, he issues an invitation to join him in his mission. The call is so meaningful, his friends actually leave their work immediately to follow Jesus.
Our members decided if people weren’t coming to us, we would go to them. I joined a local service club, members evangelized in supermarkets, work, and barbershops. They talked to people at concerts, farmers’ markets, and doctors’ offices, keeping it simple. We mentioned our church affiliation, and we extended an invitation. No one reacted immediately, but before long, we saw some new faces—and then new faces brought their friends. Our simple plan appears to be working. Some Sundays, forty people come together for worship. We will keep fishing, thanks be to God.
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