14 But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? Romans 10:14
A frequent declaration of the Connections Ministry team members is, “we exist to try to help every person we encounter find or discover that which they are seeking and to continue to become that which God is perfecting in them.”
Find and become. Discover and become. Keep moving. That is the lens through which we try to view everything we do.
We all arrived at this place for one reason or another. Somewhere along the way, something compelled us to walk in to one of the many doors of JCBC. Our hopes were that this church would somehow facilitate or help satisfy that “thing” which made us decide to show up in the first place. Someone embraced us. Someone guided us, knowingly or unknowingly, and we began to find and discover. We built relationships. We engaged in the ways that made sense for us. We plugged in. We somehow dove in to the current of Johns Creek life and here we are.
That rhythm has not changed. Every single week, someone comes through one of the many doors at JCBC because of some compulsion. For some reason, that person or family has determined to turn in to our parking lot. They hope that this church will somehow facilitate or help satisfy that “thing” which compelled them to show up in the first place. They hope to be welcomed and embraced. They hope someone will guide them and show them how they can best seek and find and discover and become here. They hope that relationships can be built.
Facilitating that journey is not just the task of the Connections team, but the task of each and every one of us. It is our collective, church wide responsibility to do everything we can to help folks seek, find, discover, and become even as we continue to seek, find, discover and become ourselves. We are all in this together.
How do you help? There are two tools that you should be aware of that have been specifically, intentionally designed to help those who come in our doors begin their journey. The first is Let’s Eat. Let’s Eat is our event name for a series of Guest Meals held throughout the year. It is a time when our guests get a chance to have a great meal on us and meet all of the ministers. There is no heavy handed, formal presentation, just good food and fellowship. Upcoming Let’s Eat dates can be found on the website under the Connections tab along with online registration. Make it a habit to make sure all guests and newcomers know about Let’s Eat. Invite them. Encourage them. Bring them! Our next Let’s Eat is Sunday, August 3rd in the Heritage Room and will feature dishes most commonly associated with scattered, smothered, and covered! Waffle House comes to JCBC!
The second tool at your disposal and about which you should be fully aware is 4D – our four week orientation class for all newcomers and guests. Led by staff ministers, 4D is designed to introduce the language of Connections, Formation, Mobilization, and Worship and gives attendees the chance to preview all things Johns Creek. iMAGiNEXT features prominently in Week 3 and the sessions end with a campus tour during Week 4. Again, upcoming schedules and dates can be found on the website under the Connections tab along with online registration and descriptions of each week’s agenda. Make it a habit to make sure all guests and newcomers know about 4D. Invite them. Encourage them. Bring them! Our next four weeks session begins on August 10th at 9:45 in room the dedicated 4D classroom (Room C326.)
Open the door. Pave the way.
David White
Connections Pastor
Johns Creek Baptist Church
