The catchcry of contemporary missional thinking is, “go to ‘them’ “. The “them” are of course the ‘not-yet-christians’ (the p.c. term for pagans, or unbelievers).

There’s something in this “go to them” stuff (though the idea is not new….we used to call it “bridge building”, remember?).  Please don’t hear me say that guest services, invitation dinners and Christian basics courses have had their day. I don’t believe that for a moment. What I am saying is that these “come to us” style events need to be supplemented, or perhaps preceded by regular “go to them” activities.

Let me give you two examples of some creative “go to them” activities. I was invited to conduct a mission for St. Matthew’s Wanniassa (Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn) recently. The local “temple” in that community - especially on Saturdays and Sunday’s, is the outsized Bunnings Wharehouse (you know, the hardware mega-mart thing?).

The team at Wanniassa hit upon the idea of taking the gospel to Bunnings. After all, that’s where the people are. Hundreds and hundreds of them.

Their approach was ingenious (in my ever-so-humble opinion). With the blessing and the cooperation of the store management, the people from the church advertised a free “home security” demonstration in an area of Bunnings set aside for such purposes (kind of like an open theatrette). The store provided experts in security devices (everything from camera’s to window locks and aluminium screens) who each gave a five minute demo with questions following. I then gave an equally brief presentation on “eternal security”, again with questions following. Bunnings happily produced refreshments and the church sent everyone away with a showbag packed with gospel-oriented paraphernalia. A morning well spent!

Or what about an art show? Here’s how this particular “go to them” event worked. A local church was wanting to raise their profile in a high-security apartment dominated community. One of the ministry team befriended a secular businessman with a passion for photography. Between the two of them an exhibition of this man’s photo’s was arranged. The church agreed to fill the walls of a neutral venue with “Reflections from Egypt” (or some such thing….basically they were pics of people, markets, deserts, pyramids) and to provide high quality finger food and drinks.

The photogapher, in turn, invited his friends - some 70 of them. The room was packed with guests and a small team from the church who engaged people in gentle, Jesus-centred conversations. Christian literature was on hand and much was given away.

I understand the mood was very upbeat, lots of laughter and bonhomie - but importantly, these “not-yet-christians”, dozens of them, were introduced to God in Christ.