I have been mulling over the question of why more adults aren’t involved in the superb classes you teach or groups you lead. I’ve come to 2 conclusions.
1. They don’t like it. Like Mikey and his Life cereal, they may not like it because they haven’t even tried it. I’m becoming more and more convinced that the key to getting people to “try it” is personal invitation. We can print brochures, make announcements, and send emails, but personal invitation is paramount. And some people will need to be invited several times. Many people will transfer negative experiences in other groups and automatically perceive that your class will be boring and irrelevant also. What can we do to change that perception? A survey of adults who were previously involved in church but have now dropped out found that many don’t buy into church life because they don’t feel engaged and welcome.
2. They don’t value it. This is actually two observations rolled into one. Some people don’t think the experience will change anything within their day-to-day life and others don’t think they have anything of value to contribute. Conclusions from the survey mentioned in the last point found that "People are looking for a faith that can change them and to be a part of changing the world." None of us are looking for more activities, we all long to make a difference. While leaving an area as undisturbed as possible may be a noble goal for wilderness camping, it is a miserable goal for Christian leadership.
Last week I challenged you to look for things to celebrate within your group. This week I am challenging you to consider how your learners could be changed by your next time together?
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