One of the things I love about what I get to do here at NewSpring Church is when I get to connect with other pastors and share ideas. One of the guys I’ve had the opportunity to connect with is Chris down in Florida (who is coming to Unleash…only 300 spots left!)
A few weeks ago he and I were talking on the phone and he asked me how I handle invitations. I told him, “Honestly man, I listen to the Holy Spirit…and when He says do a call for salvation—I do it. Salvation is in His hands, not mine.”
(By the way—last night at 5:00 and 6:45 God totally led me to do a salvation invitation and we saw several people receive Christ in each service. It was a God thing—I hadn’t planned on it…but I’m learning more and more when God says to do something—DO IT!)
Well, last night I linked THIS POST that Chris had on his website. Seriously, STOP RIGHT NOW and read it…it won’t take long…and if you have even half a heart to see people meet Christ…it will mess you up.
Chris e-mailed me this morning and here is what he had to say—PLEASE focus on what Pete said about the reason he hadn’t received Christ until now…and by the way—this e-mail COMPLETELY messed me up…once again, there’s NOTHING like seeing people meet Christ—NOTHING!
Perry:
First of all…thank you for the link on your blog about Pete…I’m having the single highest day of hits. :-)
Secondly, I wanted to let you know that YOU played a HUGE part in Pete’s conversion. You remember the phone call we had about altar calls and invitations during the service? I took your advice…began to get a little more aggressive and frequent with them…and really trying to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Two weeks ago your words were running through my mind before the service…during the service I kept feeling the Holy Spirit leading me to speak more “confrontational” about sin. I gave a time of “invitation”...Pete accepted…it was his first Sunday at Compass Point. He told me later that many times he had felt that God was speaking to him…and that he needed to give his heart to Christ. The reason he had never done it before (in his 71 years)...is because no one had ever asked him to make that decision…or told him how to pray to do. Had you not talked with me…I probably would have never thought about doing “altar calls”...and Pete would still probably be “Hell Bound”. Thank you for your friendship…mentoring…and Godly example.
Finally, tell your staff that the impact of the ministry of Newspring reaches far beyond Anderson, South Carolina. If you don’t believe me…just ask Pete!!!
Grace and peace:
Chris Elrod
SO…who out there needs to have a conversation with someone today about Christ? Who is the “Pete” in your life? What’s holding you back? GO FOR IT! Tell them about Christ…invite them to church this Sunday…you MIGHT just be the person God wants to use to impact their lives for ETERNITY!