Invite Them to Come In

When it was constructed in 2005, the South China Mall in Dongguan was the largest mall in the world. It covered an area of almost ten million square feet, or 230 acres, with over seven million square feet of leasable space.

There were 2,350 retail outlets, and the seven zones in the mall were modeled on iconic international cities or regions, such as Paris, Rome, and the Caribbean. It boasted a 1.3-mile-long canal and such features as a giant Egyptian sphinx and an 82-foot-tall replica of the Arc de Triomphe. But owing to its location and because most people who lived near the mall were factory workers with little time or disposable income, the shoppers simply didn’t show up. One hundred thousand visitors a day were expected, but years later, only one percent of the retail spaces were in use.* Many churches today are nearly empty when they really should be bursting at the seams.

Sometimes it is a matter of changing economics or shifting demographics, but the reality is that people need Jesus today as much as they ever have.

The church has the answers to the problems being faced by the world today. In the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22, Jesus said, “Go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding” (verse 9).

People don’t typically invite themselves to church or wake up one morning and suddenly decide to become Christian. If we want to see people come to Jesus, it’s important we share with them, minister to them, invite them, and help them to see the character of Jesus. Too often, the church concedes defeat, believing that church growth is impossible. But as long as church members are satisfied with small things, they are disqualified to receive the great things of God. Is there someone with whom you could share your faith in Jesus or encourage to connect with your church family? The church will grow. God wills that His kingdom expands. Do His people share that burden?