Revitalization through Reaching and Welcoming New People
by Dr. Francine Taylor-Thirus, attorney, teacher, and elder, and Director for Revitalization and Racial Ethnic Ministry, General Board of Discipleship

Believers must have a growing relationship with God that is rooted deeply in faith. Reaching and welcoming new people is a way to demonstrate a faith-filled prayer life that is open to the guidance of the Spirit.

During the last few months, having moved to a new city, I have had many opportunities to be in situations where I was the visitor and was influenced, positively or negatively, by the kind of welcome I encountered.

One positive experience was a learning/training event called Regeneration 21 led by Marilyn Magee, Director of African American Ministries at the General Board of Discipleship. Regeneration 21 is about systemic leadership and congregational revitalization in African American congregations.

We were all warmly welcomed and received by our leader before she guided the group through the steps of study, planning, implementing, sharing, and evaluating. Because of the personal, engaging reception, the participants eagerly participated in the training experiences of listening and receiving information.

We were embraced into this feeling of welcome by reading from the Book of Nehemiah, which stresses the work of God. This passage reminded us that there are leadership principles we can model and that God's work of revival and reformation must be done. This work is as much internal as external. We must regenerate the spirits of the people of God as we work on the physical structures.

In addition, I had an exciting experience of participating in the Mexican American Program and the National Plan for Hispanic Ministry of the United Methodist Congregational Mobilization Process at Perkins School of Theology in May. The inspirational theme was "Called to Lead in Servant Ministry." We were encouraged to remain steadfast with God's global vision of "welcoming" where all of us are living, worshiping, and glorifying God as one.

Our opening Scripture was Esther 3:1-6, 9-14. The Rev. Minerva Caranova shared reflections from the topic, "For Such a Time as This." With the recurring words "I remember a time . . .," she gave us a walk down memory lane of her personal past. Later, she opened the floor to all of us to share our own reflections. That opportunity opened the door to remembered pain, insults, degradation, embarrassments, isolation, and grief, in addition to witnesses of being sustained through it all by the grace of God.

Rather than stopping there, we were next led to comment on our present and future realities with the transformational word, "This is a new day of working together and mobilization for the Hispanic Plan." The conference not only reached out and welcomed the participants, it also invited and encouraged all of us to listen and to then step forward to implement this plan.

Since moving to Nashville, I have visited churches that reached out to newcomers in a variety of ways. Many were very warm and welcoming. Some paused in the middle of the service to greet, sing a special welcoming song, shake hands, distribute literature, give each newcomer a Bible, and pass the love of Jesus Christ to each visitor and to one another. It leaves a lasting impression to see a congregation demonstrate genuine openness and fellowship to one another and to visitors.

Luke 5:4-9 describes how Jesus provided a miraculous catch of fish on the Sea of Galilee. He said to Simon, "'Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.' Simon answered, 'Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.' When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break."

Jesus asked Peter to step out beyond the familiarity of his capabilities and vision limited by his humanness. Jesus asked Peter to see the bigger picture of possibilities and solutions that avail themselves through trusting in Jesus. God's power is not limited by what we can do.

The church is being called upon to be revitalized. We are called upon to "Put out into the deep water and let down (our) nets for a catch." We are being challenged to turn away from the voices of fear, doubt, and failure. Even in the midst of remembered unsuccessful attempts we are called upon through faith to follow Jesus anyway. Just like Peter, we are to respond by declaring, "Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets."

Let us be obedient to God and let down the nets, to put out into the deep where catching fish (reaching and welcoming visitors) is a sign of Christian mission. The power of Jesus is at work in us. The presence of Christ can remove our doubts and fears. There is hope indeed!

Special Issue 2001