Neal Pollard
Friday night, Carl and I flew to Bismarck, North Dakota. Why? Well, of course, we wanted to attend the “Melita Banana Days” in Melita (pronounced Meh LIT Uh), Manitoba. That, and stay in a Bed and Breakfast in Carnduff, Saskatchewan, that doubles as an ice cream shop. Saturday night, we were back in our own beds sleeping. While we were registering at the festival on Saturday morning and talking with some of the organizers, we told them we had flown up from Colorado to check them out. From what we could tell, we were the only attendees from America. They were mildly intrigued by that fact, but basically brushed us off. Which was fine. We also wanted to check out Oak Lake beach about 60 miles north of there. But it was ironic to read on their website that this event is about promoting tourism. Perhaps our tepid reception was an exception to how they welcomed outsiders checking them out.
On a family vacation not too long ago, our family visited a small congregation on a Wednesday night. We drew a few stares from the local members as we took our seat right as Bible class began. Afterward, we were briefly greeted by one member who explained that their little group was going to have a meeting to discuss strategies for being more evangelistic. We were a family of strangers to them, and we might have been newcomers or non-Christians. They would not know. None of them tried to connect with us. We were essentially shown the door. We found this ironic.
It is ironic to sing, pray, preach, teach, and otherwise emphasize about the church’s mission and then to practically ignore it. Our assemblies are foremost about worshipping God and building up the body, but even first-century gatherings were attended by those other than the local Christians (cf. 1 Cor. 14:22-25). In our zeal to deepen and build our relationships with one another, we must not ignore or be cold toward those who “enter” our assemblies. Instead, we should seek opportunities to start conversations and create opportunities to open doors which lead them to Christ. Certainly, they should leave our assemblies aware of our intense interest in them. To do otherwise is to undermine our very purpose and mission. That would be the ultimate irony!
The Preacher Pollard Blog 
Jesus called the Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. I wonder what he would call a body of Christ such as what you and Carl experienced? Certainly not the church from Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13). It amazes me any body of Christ can be so unloving and unfriendly… especially when they speak of evangelizing. How are they going to be evangelistic when they ignore visitors? Yes, I am shaking my head. Thanks again for a great article.
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SOW THE SEED
Then Comes The HARVEST
Jesus told this story: A farmer planted seed. Some fell along the road…some fell on rocky soil…some fell among bushes…some fell on good ground. When they came up, they produced a hundred times as much as was planted. His disciples asked Him what the story meant. Jesus answered “The Seed is God’s Word” Luke 8 “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it but God made it grow.” I Cor. You plant the seed, others will water it and God will make it grow. God has provided the tools for sowing; you and I must be sowers!
We cannot personally visit 320,000,00 lost souls in America: we must use mass evangelism. A lost soul might tell God in the Judgement “No one ever mentioned HIM to me.” God can reminded him that he was given a Bible or a Bible dvd or Good News From God book or a BCC or Bible website.
Christ helped people and expects us to help people but His goal is saving souls and that must be ours. “To help someone physically and allow him/her to be lost eternally is too sad to even contemplate. Jesus healed but He came to seek and save.” J Tilton
Congregations have a long list of “ministries”. Congregations go on “mission trips”. Ask them how many were immersed.
Good News From God
This little book opens the mind and the heart of the reader to go to The Bible and/or to brethren to learn more about God. The reader may have already submitted his/her life to God and will obey His commandments when he/she learns them. GN is simple and easy to understand. On the day of Pentecost, all the Christians learned was that they needed to submit to God by immersion. What did they know about The church? ¡Nothing! Nothing about the New Testament, Sunday assembly, Lord’s Supper, acapella singing, Christian prayer, meet anywhere [no temple], we are priest, etc.
Please give GN and/or Bible dvds [A dvd holds 3,000 books or 10 hours of videos . Cost 35¢] to friends, family, neighbors. Put in waiting rooms, homes, cars, jails, prisons, denomi-national buildings, colleges, universities, hospitals and public schools. Use them in all food distribution, disaster relief, homeless ministries, school backpacks, etc. Distribute at lectureships. ¡Save souls! Free, PPd. Arabic, Chinese, Creole, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Tamil, Telugu, Vietnamese.. goodnewsbook@outlook.com goodnewsfromgodbook.wordpress.com
According to the 2015 edition of Churches Of Christ, there were 13,155 congregations in 2003, with 1,656,495 adherents; the number of congregations fell to 12,300 in 2015 with 1,519,695 adherents. Meaning a 6.5 percent drop in congregations, and 8.3 percent in adherents in twelve years. Many congregations disobeying God by adding instruments, female leaders, etc: should not be included. Some are no longer Christ’s church: Carpenter’s, X Fellowship, etc.
Few Christians evangelize. Few ministers evangelize. Those who do, immerse regularly because people are searching spirituality. A fund raiser for a ministry said [2013] he visited 100 congregation in the West: 97 were dying & 3 were immersing. The brethren, Lubbock TX area, distributed 6,230 copies of GN in six months. Some evangelized for the first time. So easy! A lady read it and asked to be immersed. 50% of Americans are interested in “Christianity” but are not interested in “church”. [Lifeway Research]. They will be after immersion. Worship services are not for evangelizing. OH congregation of 22 knocked doors and baptized 14 in 12 days [2014]. “No one wants to be lost for eternity, and if you wouldn’t want to be, then loving your neighbor as yourself means you won’t want them to be lost, either. Disciple making is the reason The church exists (Matthew 28:18-20) and without it we can’t say we have a love for anyone. A church that is content to gather together and never reach beyond the doors of the building is a church that has lost its love for people and without a love for people a church is of very little use to God.” [author?] “Those who have left The church [70% of the teens/young adults] are people who have not been taught what they need to know.” J Willie, Focus Press. In a radio interview [2013], a pastor was asked why so many youth have lost their faith: “40 years of youth ministers.”
Training in personal evangelism: George Hall, gwhall43 @gmail.com; gospelsharingministeries.com; homemission.org; J Tallman , jerry@hiseternalplan.com; dare2share.org
The present generation knows nothing about the Bible, Jesus, etc: “It’s been another good day of knocking doors. Talked with a teenage boy who lives across from our building. He was very receptive to what she had to say. He told her that his family has never gone to church … ever. He was very interested in learning about Jesus. She asked him if he would like to learn more about the Bible. His response: “Ma’am, I don’t know anything about the Bible.” [author?]
Bible DVDs: free samples or $35 per 100 ppd, USA. Evangelism dvd, Jesus film [100 languages]. minifarms@gmail.com
DVD [watch free/buy]: Luther and The Reformation http://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/tv-specials/luther
There are a lot of congregations that unfortunately are as you described. Sometimes one can attend for years and still be an outsider. Thankfully God is so awesome and there ARE congregations that love one from day one! 😉