I’ve been convicted this week of my selfishness.  Without consciously choosing to be, I’ve been selfish about all the stuff that has to be done at ICC.  And my selfishness has not just affected me, but all of the people who have been working their tails off to make things happen each week.  We have done a lot of generic things to let people know about opportunities to help out, but I have failed to lead by inviting people personally to come along and serve with us. And after yesterday it’s obvious to me that A LOT of our regulars are chomping at the bit to get more involved. 

I just mentioned in passing before dismissing everyone that hanging out and helping is a great way to get to know some folks and that we were short a couple of our normal breakdown people for the day.  No hard sell.  No big promotional push.  No “the sky is going to fall if you don’t stay and help pack the trailer” speech.  Just a mention and an open invitation.

We had 11 people stick around for the first time and help break everything down and pack up the trailer!  By just mentioning it in the service…. Unbelievable.  A word to each of two different groups who might read this:

To Iron City Church: I ask your forgiveness and I repent of not asking each of you to come and serve.  It’s going to take ALL of us working hard to move this church towards turning the Pittsburgh metro area on it’s head and acheiving the vision that God has laid out for us: to be a dynamic movement of Christ followers: building bridges and changing the world.

To other church planters/pastors out there: I encourage you to be bold (not obnoxious, bold) about inviting people to step up and serve.  One of our guys told me yesterday after the service, “thanks for asking me to help – it lets me feel like I’m an important part of this thing.”  The truth is that he’s always been an important part of this thing, but by me not giving him a clear invite to serve he didn’t feel like he was.  Don’t let this happen to you….

Have a great week!