They had tried everything -- new...
Illustration
They had tried everything -- new worship styles, bigger ads in the Yellow Pages, evangelism programs -- literally everything. None of it had worked. The little church was smaller and less satisfying than it had been before they had tried all of that.
Then one day a young woman came to church with her two little girls. They were dirty. They smelled bad. Their hair was matted. They looked nothing like the kind of folks that went to church here. Betty was the greeter that morning and although it wasn't easy for her, she welcomed the three and offered to help them if they needed anything. Part way through the worship service one of the little girls went to use the restroom. When she came back, she talked to Betty and asked if she'd come sit with them. Betty wasn't sure she wanted to, but she couldn't think of how to say no. So she went up and sat with the family -- difficult though the task was.
As she sat down next to the bedraggled family, the little girl snuggled up close and put her head on Betty's lap.
"I like you," she said to Betty.
"I like you, too," Betty replied.
"Can we come back here again?" the little girl asked.
"Of course you can," said Betty.
Members of the congregation were astounded as they watched this happen. Even Betty was amazed at what was happening. But in that event the church was changed, not by a program but by the mysterious truth that all people are members together of the body. They would never be the same again.
Then one day a young woman came to church with her two little girls. They were dirty. They smelled bad. Their hair was matted. They looked nothing like the kind of folks that went to church here. Betty was the greeter that morning and although it wasn't easy for her, she welcomed the three and offered to help them if they needed anything. Part way through the worship service one of the little girls went to use the restroom. When she came back, she talked to Betty and asked if she'd come sit with them. Betty wasn't sure she wanted to, but she couldn't think of how to say no. So she went up and sat with the family -- difficult though the task was.
As she sat down next to the bedraggled family, the little girl snuggled up close and put her head on Betty's lap.
"I like you," she said to Betty.
"I like you, too," Betty replied.
"Can we come back here again?" the little girl asked.
"Of course you can," said Betty.
Members of the congregation were astounded as they watched this happen. Even Betty was amazed at what was happening. But in that event the church was changed, not by a program but by the mysterious truth that all people are members together of the body. They would never be the same again.
