St. Luke’s parish is a loving, spiritual community that nurtures individuals and families in the Sacramental life of Jesus Christ. Our parish identity over many years is one of a warm and welcoming, prayerful, committed family. Sadly, not all people enjoy this kind of community.
Current statistics show that 80% of growth registered by churches is either biological (families growing up in a parish) or transfer growth (people moving from church to church within a denomination). This, coupled with other factors such as the rising popularity of virtual community, results in the current decline in committed church-goers.
Additionally only 2% of committed church-going Christians invite an UN-churched person to church during the course of a year. And even less than 2% will actively engage in personal evangelism. These facts are a painful reality and work against our Great Commission to “Go and Make Disciples” (Matthew 28:19).
Let’s use these statistics as motivation for St. Luke’s to take action now to share the Good News, reach out and LOVE THE LOST, to bring as many unchurched people as we can into His marvelous light and the community of St. Luke’s.
Our parish family reviewed its gifts, programs and approach to community outreach as part of the Evangelism 101 workshop that we hosted in August 2010. All agreed that St. Luke’s is poised for growth through the work that has been done and continues to be done through the Visioning process – with one missing element: personal evangelism, which works best one on one.
In considering how to reach outside ourselves to the unchurched in our community, the Vestry and Fr. Robert reviewed a program recommended by our Bishop and tested by parishes across the nation called HARVEST UNLIMITED.
The Harvest Unlimited program provides a method, using personal conversation and prayer, to engage the neighborhoods around us - to connect with the lost, and love them.
Even though people may not go to church, the majority of them believe that Christianity is relevant and they seek others who express God’s love. Eight out of ten of the unchurched are open or positive to attending church if only someone would personally invite them! This is great news for us as we move to personally invite our neighbors to St. Luke’s.
What perfect timing LENT provides for this opportunity. As a parish family, we can corporately and intentionally observe the discipline of participating in the Harvest through the variety of service opportunities it offers. The 40 days of Lent covers the timing of Harvest.
I have been asked to coordinate the Harvest initiative for St. Luke’s parish. I invite you to please attend the Annual Parish meeting on Sunday January 23, to learn more about how St. Luke’s intends to LOVE THE LOST. The Harvest leadership team will be introduced at that time and you will hear more about how the program works and what to expect from it.
Please keep this meaningful and exciting initiative for our parish family in your prayers; and mark down MAY 1, 2011 – Harvest Sunday, on your calendars, now!
May God bless St. Luke’s parish as we intentionally strive to adopt the Father’s heart toward the lost and hurting.
- Anne Lucas/Coordinator for the Harvest
The Harvest is plentiful, but the worker’s are few. Ask the Lord therefore, to send out workers into His fields. Luke 10:2.
