Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
In the Gospel, Jesus urgently calls us to "Repent, and believe in the gospel" and to "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." Notice how there is no hesitation when He invites others into relationship with Him. Jesus sees the broken and immediately goes after them.
Just as Jonah goes out to invite others to hear the word of God, we too are called to follow in the ways of Christ by inviting others into a relationship with Him. We allow our complacency and our fear to stand in the way of sharing the Gospel. Yet, we can mirror the Psalmist in calling out to the Lord, asking Him to give us the boldness to invite others with the same urgency.
Here are five tips you can use to practice making an impactful invitation to a program that provides a space to have meaningful conversations.
Before beginning, take a moment to pause and pray, seeking guidance from God on who to invite. This is an opportunity to partner with the Holy Spirit in the conversations that He’s already having with the people around us.
Like Jesus in the Bible, interactions should be tailored to individuals. There's no one-size-fits-all conversation. Consider the person's past experiences, hesitations, frustrations, and hopes to better understand them. It increases the chance they’ll say yes to your invitation.
We often invite people to something without them knowing it’s an invitation. In your invitation, be specific and direct, avoiding vague suggestions that may go unnoticed. Provide clear details so that the individual can make an informed decision.
It’s key to be simple rather than having a lengthy, complex conversation. Try for a series of clear and concise interactions with the "If I... Would You" framework. For instance, "If I sent you the trailer for Alpha, would you watch it and share your thoughts with me?"
Finally, don't be discouraged by a 'no.' There are various reasons for refusals, and most have nothing to do with you. Accept the ‘no’ with grace and revisit step 2, considering if there is a different way to approach the individual. Maintaining the relationship is essential, it demonstrates that you care more about them than getting a yes from them.
Who is one person that I can think of to invite to Alpha and when is the next time I will see this person?
What practical steps can I take to invite this person? Can I take them out for coffee, invite them over for dinner, give them a phone call?
You can learn more about Alpha at stannparish.org/alpha