Ridgell's Originals

 I don't mean that you need a class just like we have at Hillcrest.  Or that I have some program to push or sell.  But I do think every church ought to periodically have a class dedicated to people seeking Jesus.  We are a large church so we offer it as an ongoing class.  A small congregation might just want to offer it periodically and maybe haave the whole church involved.

But here are a few things that have helped our class thrive.

It is absolutely, 100% geared to non-believers.  We announce it that way.  In fact, our members aren't really invited to it.  

It is for people who want to know what it looks like to live the Jesus life.  It is for people who want to follow Jesus, but aren't sure how to go about it.  And it is for people who may have gotten off the Jesus road and want to come back.

If our members invite someone to the class, they have to come with them.  If you are a member that wants to come, you have to buy into helping all the seekers on their journey.  We have members who study with visitors, who babysit, who help out with transportation and even bills.  Members who fervently pray for people to know Jesus.  Who show up for baptisms and for rededication blessings. And who sit in hospital rooms. 

I have come to realize that every Hillcrest member in our class has had hard things happen to them.  Maybe that is why they want everyone to know Jesus.  When a visitor talks about losing a child, we have people to share their Jesus journey when they lost their child.  Or broken relationships.  Or addictions.  Or whatever the pain felt in a lost world, we have someone in our class that has traveled that same road and been healed by Jesus.

We are committed not only to getting them on the Jesus journey, but to helping them get firmly set on that road.

And our church leadership buys in.  Elders and staff.  Everything from hiring me part-time to fully supporting this class.  One elder couple even is part of the class.

You don't have to do it just like we do.  

But you do need to have your version of the Jesus Journey class.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM