Everyone’s Welcome (well…sort of)
Without intending to, we could communicate the wrong messages to people whom God is pursuing through church online.
Without intending to, we could communicate the wrong messages to people whom God is pursuing through church online.
Thanks Dana! You made some excellent points and I think it is important that we are reminded that a lot of the people that come to Church online are seeking and / or being pursued by God. I think to some extent it is harder to tell the difference because we do lack the face to face communication, BUT that means we just need to be more in tune and open to God's direction because HE knows what we don't necessarily see. All we see is someone trying to disrupt or being obnoxious which is our human reaction.
I understand what you're saying. Sometimes I feel a real need to 'protect' the church online environment but try to make sure I don't let my desire to be comfortable at church stand in the way of God using the message to speak into another person's life.
Hi Dana! Thanks for sharing this with us. We really need to be reminded. To see people the way Jesus sees them, that is what it is all about .
Dana, Great stuff! As a newbie LifeChurch volunteer, I generally let the Spirit lead. Church Online can be so different, and a reminder that we represent Jesus and need to see others as He does is important! Thanks!
Thank you Dana for these great reminders on how to truly,better serve! I know of many times over the last few months when folks came in disrupting with profanities,etc how we had to collect our thoughts and discern the best way to approach the situations.
I know in general we who know Christ, do find it offensive; however, we still have to love them folks or they may never come to know Christ as we do, and witness real transformation in their lives.
And thank ALL of you who are in some role of service; be it with LifeChurch.tv or in your local worship place. This truly is what it's all about.
Thanks for sharing this insight, Dana. We, at least in America, are so used to having our comfort level catered to. Change doesn't happen when we're comfortable, and we have to remember that those taking part in our experiences may be made uncomfortable by the message, which causes them to try to make others uncomfortable.
I think the fine line of balance is to set the tone that everyone is welcome exactly where they are, with the understanding that they'll be invited to consider change. How that happens can vary with each experience and its volunteers.
Thank you Dana for these great reminders on how to truly,better serve! I know of many times over the last few months when folks came in disrupting with profanities,etc how we had to collect our thoughts and discern the best way to approach the situations. The ultimate solution is always love and making them feel welcomed truly, unconditionally as Christ did with us.
Well said, Donna – I think the longer one volunteers anywhere the easier it is to forget that we should always let the Spirit lead! Good reminder. We all lose our perspective on something after we've done it for a few months, I think.