I thought I was doing okay having led a few people to Christ in my lifetime. But hundreds, Lord?

Those churches must be doing something right. Most growth in North America is from people changing churches.

Of course, we are always happy when someone does accept Christ. Only…we don’t seem to plan for it very well.

My mind drifts back twenty years to a tiny church plant. The pastor decided we should use Evangelism Explosion. So we memorized verses and wrote out our testimonies (which felt kind of weird), and learned a plan for presenting Christ to people.

It was scary, and some people thought it was too much by rote, but it worked. Our baby church had people coming to Christ right, left, and center.

Exciting things happened. For example, one night our trainer, my partner Ken, and I knocked on the door of a house. We had no idea who lived there. A couple in their early forties came to the door. When they discovered we were from a church, they said they already had company, but would we please come back the next night?

Our trainer became ill, but Ken and I decided to go anyway….

Read the rest of "What Should We Do About Those Lost Sheep, Lord?" as a pdf.

(This article is the 3rd in a series called "21st Century Pilgrim" which was first published in the Canadian Baptist in 1994.)

Read the rest of this series:

"But What About Those Gates of Hell?" as a pdf. 1st in the series of 4 "21st Century Pilgrim" articles.

"Mary or Martha, Which One Am I?" – 2nd in a series of the "21st Century Pilgrim" articles.

"Good Guys, Bad Guys, and a Longing for the Kingdom" 4th in the series of 4 "21st Century Pilgrim" articles.

This question from the chairman of the board of Deacons came at the end of another long meeting. Since I’d been a deacon from the age of 23, I was used to being frustrated by the slow progress made in church meetings. But lately I’d been feeling more frustrated than usual. It seemed as if we never got to anything really meaningful. Or if we did, it was always at the end of the evening when everyone was tired and anxious to get home. I didn’t really know how to answer.

I simply said, “I don’t know. It just seems there must be more to it.”

A puzzled look appeared on Alan’s face.

I tried to explain. “More to being a Christian, I mean. I’m so tired of meetings where nothing ever seems to be accomplished. Nothing that matters, at least.”

“I guess I don’t understand,” Alan replied. “I think we’re doing great. We’ve got a new building. The church is growing. Great people. Good services. The church is sure meeting my needs.”

I went home that night more frustrated than ever. I’d been a Christian since the age of three, an active layman since I was 18. I was now forty-two. Was this part of the mid-life crisis they talked about? Did I have needs the church wasn’t meeting, or was there something wrong with me?

Read "I Cried in Church Today"