Our Very Lives: Who Could You Bring?

This is a guest post from Chrissie Carter, who leads our Lancaster extension service alongside her husband Andy.

At the beginning of the year during our Vision Sunday, Pastors Ed & Michele shared with the Church their heart, vision and plans for us in 2017. They shared how excited they are that this year, our theme would be sharing “Our Very Lives” (2 Thes 1:8).

They called the Church to be a part of this by bringing who they are to the table in one of 6 ways: bringing, building, connecting, giving, leading and praying. I sat there feeling encouraged and inspired to be who I am, to do what I can do and consequently see the Church built and people’s lives changed.

Since meeting Jesus I’ve had a massive passion to tell my friends, family, co-workers, food shop delivery man, hair dresser, doctor and anyone else who will listen how good He is and how amazing it is when in relationship with Him. I so want them to know who I know and how insanely good He is. I know that if Jesus can work in my life the way He has and does, He can do what seems impossible in their lives too. In short, I’m a bringer.

I have been best friends with my best friend since September 2004. We met at high school on our first day in Year 7. Our friendship, like most relationships, over the years has been through really really great times and some not so great times. She saw me 7 years ago put my trust in Jesus and choose to become a Christian. She didn’t really understand, nor did she always agree with how I lived putting Jesus and His Church first. But 13 years later…we’re still best friends and we’re still doing the journey of life together.

On July 24th last year she stepped through the doors of Church with me. It wasn’t her first time at Valley nor would it be her last. She’d literally come to Church with me to shut me up. I was so excited about a guest speaker who was preaching, Pastor DJ McPhail (shamless plug: who’s coming this summer for Valley Conference!! Book in before the end of March for the early bird rate!) I sat through the whole service so conscious of her, of myself, of everyone else just incase something was said or done that didn’t make sense to her. As it came to the response time, I remember saying in my head “Jesus, just do what only you can do.”

My best friend became a Christian that night. She encountered Jesus and this Sunday, along with others, she’s getting baptised.

Baptism services are always powerful (and you’ll often see me crying!) because we get to hear story after story of how Jesus, with His perfect grace, has impacted and changed someone’s life. This Sunday we will hear people share their testimony and make a public declaration about their faith in Jesus…. it’s going to epic!!

So I want to put the challenge out to you. Who could you bring along this Sunday? Because it’s such a great opportunity to bring someone! They’ll have fun, make some new friends and they get to hear firsthand about the love, grace, power and awesomeness of Jesus. As Christians, not only are we called to do this, but it’s an honour and an absolute privilege to bring and invite people to Church! We know how amazing it is to be in Church and to encounter Jesus, so why would we not want to invite and bring along our closest friends?

So who could you bring along this Sunday?

Did their name just spring to the front of your mind? Why not pick up your phone, give them a call or send them a text right now and bring them along.

I’m bringing my friends and I’m super looking forward to meeting yours.