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Dearly Beloved,

"Laura! DENISE was there!" 

This Easter we are trying something new. Our Easter Sunday service will be held at the Sid Williams Theatre and across the parking lot at the Florence Filberg Centre our children's ministry will be hosting an exciting kids party. In both settings the gospel of Jesus will be shared along with an opportunity for people to respond. 

This has me thinking about the potential that is in simply inviting a friend (two or few!) who don't know Jesus yet to join you for Easter Sunday this year. 

You never know what could happen. 

In our first year of marriage Laura worked at the GAP clothing store. She did a great job of befriending and getting to know several of her co-workers. I remember Laura coming home from a shift one day and joyfully telling me about how she had invited Denise (co-worker) to church and that she thought she may actually come. 

And sure enough she did. 

It was such a wonderful feeling to have Denise with us in the service that Sunday. She loved it. She was curious. She was open. 

And, she only came back one or two more times and then no more. 

We weren't totally sure why, but that didn't change Laura's connection with her at work. 

Fast forward several years. Life and ministry had moved us along elsewhere and working at the GAP and any connection with Denise was now about 10 years into the past. I was invited as a guest speaker at an out of town church I had never been to or spoken at before. A few minutes into my message I noticed a familiar face in the audience. It almost made me lose my train of thought.

It was Denise. 

And she had the biggest smile. 

After the service concluded I could hear from across the hall "Miiiiiiiiiiike" and as I looked up I saw Denise running toward me. 

After a moment or two of catching up, I said, "Densie, I've just got to ask, what are you doing here? Like, in church? I mean it's so great to see you again and I know you live in the area, but I've got to admit I didn't expect to see you in church!"

Denise when on to tell me all about her neighbours. They were so kind and caring. They had taken an interest in her and her life and had built a friendship with her. 

And then they invited her to their church. 

Of course Denise had been to church before (with us!) so she had a little bit of an idea of what to expect. And somehow, perhaps for reasons only the Holy Spirit knows about, this time something about the gospel connected. She went on to tell me about how she came to faith in Jesus through her neighbours, was baptised in water, and had become part of the life of the church. 

And when I phoned back home to Laura later that day I got to say, "Laura! Denise was there!" 

So, you have some friends here in the Comox Valley who don't know Jesus yet. Who could you invite to our Easter service? 

Let's pray and let's take some risks. 

Pastor Mike 

PS - Not every invite results in someone coming. Don't be afraid of 'failure'. In fact, being turned down isn't a sign of failure, it's a sign that you care enough for your friend that you're willing to take a risk.