Summer is giving way to the rhythms of school, work, and sports. Calendars are filling up, and routines are finding their place again. What a natural time for us as God’s people to embrace this moment in our culture and remind the people in our communities: you belong.
That’s the heartbeat of Everybody Weekend (September 20-21). We want to lean into the momentum in our culture, with some unified energy and focus to create space for more people to engage with the Good News of Christ, that God doesn’t just save us from our sin and brokenness but He saves us into His family. Everybody who trusts in Christ belongs in God’s family.
For through [Christ] we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. Ephesians 2:18-19
It is the joy of those who have freely received to freely give to those around them. As those who have been welcomed into God’s family, how can we not extend that invitation to others? And just like you would make sure you have an open chair for the friend you invited over for dinner, we want to do the same for Everybody Weekend. We want to make room at the table, to intentionally prepare so that when new people walk through the doors, they know without a doubt: we were expecting you.
This means investing in people before they arrive and making sure we are ready when they do. It means stepping up to serve and show hospitality to our guests. It means praying for people by name and being ready to help them take their next step with Christ. It means asking God to draw people to Himself and to use us as His instruments. It means being Everyday Missionaries in the places we live, work, learn, and play.
This is why we talk about Invest and Invite. As one church in many places, we want to be united in praying for specific people who need the gospel and taking bold steps to invite them. Imagine what could happen if hundreds of us took this seriously. If every family invited neighbors. If every student reached out to friends and classmates. If every one of us chose to make room at the table.
So here’s the call: Pray with expectation for God to work. Invest in neighbors, co-workers, and classmates. Invite those God puts on your heart. Let’s make room and be ready to welcome everybody to the table, believing that together God will use us in a powerful way to remind everybody in our communities: you belong.