Serving others is good for your spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Though helping others may not get you featured in a magazine, doing so in ways both big and small will have a significant effect on the quality of your life and your overall health.

When churchgoers invite their friends who don’t know Jesus to church — including Online Church — it’s a great act of service. I know inviting them to a ball game or out to dinner is easier than inviting them to church, but pushing through the intimidation is important in taking that step of faith.

Many find this difficult. Here is some news that might make things a little easier: statistics show that you are actually risking very little when you invite your friends to church. Around 50 percent of your unchurched friends will go with you the first time you ask. That percentage goes up substantially with a second or third invitation.

Believe me, we will not offend any of our friends by inviting them to church. Even if they say no, they will be touched that we cared enough to ask. And just think of what could happen if they say yes. Here is more from Paul: “Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity” (Col. 4:5).”

When we invite our friends to church, we are inviting them to a place where they can learn about their Creator and have their deepest needs met, where they can find friends who will support and encourage them, where they can learn what it means to follow Jesus, where they can begin to take responsibility for their own spiritual health.

As Andy Stanley says, “Following Jesus will make your life better and make you better at life.”

What better way could there be to bless your friends than to invite them into that opportunity? And if following Jesus is something you are still exploring, you can bring your friends along to explore with you.

© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.