There are 52 weeks in a year. I think the Church shines the first 4 of them, and if you survive the remaining 48, you're definately in!
When a person first comes to a Church it's very exciting and they are usually warmly embraced, welcomed and made to feel at home. If they dare to come back a second week there is often more familiarity in place, and again they are surrounded, cared for, appreciated and made to feel at home. After another couple of weeks however I've noticed that something strange occurs.
If this person keeps coming back but has not been plugged into a small group or some other deliberate and regular expression of community, then they will be considered as part of the general role-up to Church on a Sunday. I think there is then a 48 week gap between this occurring and someone re-realising who they are and inviting them to be involved in ministry of some description.
As the Church we need to be active in addressing this gap and actually erasing it all together. We need to be intentional about ushering people into small groups and helping them feel connected. Then we need to be intentional about discovering who they are, what they are like and how they think, love, play, feel, etc. Then we need to help them discover their gifts and name their passions and discern how God wants them to be involved. Then we need to get them into the game. Hence canceling the 48 week gap!
