Walk this way

I was amazed to read today that, in an attempt to get people back to church, a Bishop is going to fly a plane towing a banner advertising a campaign called 'Back to Church Sunday'. The aim of this campaign is to bring a total 20,000 extra people into 2,000 different churches. The campaign might have a good aim but this method is way off target.

Yesterday in church the preacher was talking about mission. He related two stories of how he had spoken with work colleagues recently who were going through tough times and had offered them prayer. At no point did he say that he had tied a big sheet, with John 3:16 painted on it, to the back of his car and driven round and round the company car park.

The example of Jesus is that we should walk alongside people and share their pain and sorrow as well their smiles and laughter. John 1:14 clearly demonstrates that God knew that incarnation was the only way to bring about salvation. I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't make use of technology in our evangelism but it should never be a substitute for relationships.

Last week I was looking at a few books in my local Christian bookshop, and one in particular caught my eye. I didn't buy anything that day but Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels will soon be added to my reading list.