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'Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.' ? Acts 2:47, NIV

By Rodney Smothers

Eugene Peterson, writing in his contemporary rendering of the text puts it this way, 'People in general liked what they saw. Every day their numbers grew as God added those who were saved.' These words from Acts 2:47 remind us that the real catalyst for Kingdom growth is the saving work of Christ in our lives.

Sharing our experience in the redemptive power of God?s salvation through Christ continues to be a powerful reality when it comes to growing congregations. Salvation is not a program or a strategy; it is the fulfillment of God?s plan to redeem us from sin.

Long before we become disciples, we must accept Christ as Savior and surrender our will to God?s will. This invitation, acceptance and subsequent personal transformation are lived out in the nurture and care of a loving Christian Community.

The first invitation to Christ is often heard in an old-fashioned witness known as evangelism. The 'E-word,' as it is often referred to, challenges us to share the Good News of God?s salvation through Christ by unashamedly inviting people to become Christ?s followers. This invitation to discipleship is a heart felt expression of our sharing assurance of faith in Christ with someone else.

The greatest movement in church life occurs when we see new believers come into their own recognition of the sacrifice that Christ has made for them.

Churches that are reclaiming the burden and blessing of connecting and reconnecting others with this life transforming witness are filled with joyous people proclaiming the Good News.

These people are not trying to figure out some strategy for growing churches, they are living out their own encounters with Christ in such a way that others are drawn by their witness to experience Christ for themselves.

Our congregations can reclaim this power of persuasion again as we reclaim our evangelistic compass. While methods change, the message remains the same ? 'I was lost but now I am found.' Too churchy, you might say; perhaps, but also a simple and clear invitation to salvation is Christ?s example for making disciples.

During this Lenten season let us recapture a Holy Spirit-inspired movement to equip ourselves to share the Good News of the Gospel of redemption.

Our need to recapture our evangelistic zeal is the missing ingredient in our modern strategies around congregational development.

We are not making widgets, we are making disciples. It has been said that life is fragile and we must handle it with care.

Care-filled life is demonstrated in our prayers, presence, gifts and service. This Lenten season we can renew our evangelistic heritage and teach with conviction, preach with boldness, lead with authority and serve with a strong commitment so that the world will know that we are true followers of Jesus Christ.

As a part of our Lenten disciplines we can pray daily for an opportunity to share faith in Christ with a family member, co-worker, neighbor, stranger or friend. We can read God?s Word and renew our vows to live as faithful witness to God?s salvation for us through Christ.

We can invite someone who does not yet know Christ as their personal Savior to experience a vital encounter with Him through testimony, worship and witness. And finally we can share our personal testimony of coming into the saving grace of Christ?s salvation as an invitation and opportunity for someone else to become a disciple of Christ.

It is in these acts of devotion and service that we become faithful witnesses.

The Rev. Rodney Smothers is a gbwc_superusere in the Annapolis Southern region of the Baltimore-Washington Conference who specializes in church development.