so here is what i have been thinking about... a lot of church members (and I'm not saying any of you... just in general) only run to someone's aid only when they have fallen away from church, and they think as a duty of being a church member they must bring that person back, and only for the sole reason of bringing them back. This my friends is the wrong reason, in my opinion, to run to someone's aid. You shouldnt just run to someone just because it is your duty as a member of the church.
I think that the best way to bring someone back to church is to be a friend to them, granted this was a thought ive had before but the lovely Amanda Hudson has made is stick in my mind and this is definitely something we should all remember. It may be our duty as members to do missionary work and help people, but that shouldnt be the sole reason we do it. Missionary Work is a work of love & friendship & trust. I think the most important way for people to feel comfortable coming to church isnt by constant pestering or promise of baked goods, its by letting them know that whether or not they want to come you are always there for them, through thick and thin!
It may seem harsh the way im putting that, and i dont mean for it to be, but i know that when i was struggling and people i barely knew were just saying "oh you should come!" , or "hey just come back to church its fun." every once in awhile but never caring to just talk to me as a person that i got even more angry and frustrated, all i really wanted was to see was that someone actually cared about me enough to be there for me even if church wasnt exactly what i wanted for my life!
Being a friend isnt hard! its as easy as texting or calling someone every once in awhile and asking them how their day is or asking them to hang out ! friendship is the best way to get someone to come back, but reach out to them genuinely, because true friendship is the strongest thing & it opens so many doors in a persons heart, more than you could ever possibly try and fathom!
so here is my challenge, i was going to say invitation but i feel that challenge is a better word to use, and any great missionary knows that you are always supposed to challenge the people you are trying to teach a lesson to& i guess that is sort of what i am doing! BUT I CHALLENGE all of you to be a friend, not to the people you are already friends with (though you shouldnt negelect them) , but reach out and genuinely make a new friend, it could be with someone already in the ward or someone thats is inactive or someone that isnt a member, doesnt matter who it is, just make friends with someone you arent very close to right now, and i know that that friendship, maybe not now, or even soon, but your friendship is going to make a difference in that persons life somewhere down the road! but it will also make a difference in your own life. I know it is true, because so many people have been friends to me even though i may not have deserved it, and they stuck by me even though i was a jerk, and i can honestly say those people really effected who i am today! and im grateful for that, try it !
REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU STAND FOR (:
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