A Recap Posted on May 17, 2021 by Brendon
” There will be so many of Gods sons/daughters there today who feel like they don’t belong. You get to be the grace of Jesus in flesh to them!” – Nikomas Perez
Receiving a text message like this on a Sunday morning is such a great reminder and a truth to what First Impressions is, each and every weekend.
First Impressions is so much more than just opening a door, or keeping a table full or helping someone park or driving them to a door.
First Impressions is the starting point and ending of an entire experience.
John 13:34-35 says ” A new command I give you, love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
I love those words from Jesus. They are so true and so meaningful in today’s world. As much as Jesus was teaching the disciples that were with him in the upper room that night when he said these words, Jesus was giving us a new command to follow through with always.
First Impressions is a team that consists of multiple teams under the umbrella of that phrase. The teams consist of parking, golf carts, guest central, greeters, communion, Living Room and Belong. All of these teams combined create the First Impressions umbrella that we all serve under. Each one doing it’s own part and each serving a different function of the whole.
The whole? Is the mission of Harvester Christian Church and hopefully all churches, it may sound different, but to lead people to find and follow Jesus is the mission. That is the whole that First Impressions is a part of. No matter which position you fill or role you play in the umbrella of First Impressions, you are playing a critical role in the mission.
Each weekend there are guests that come to a building whether being for the first time, church shoppers or someone moving into the area looking for a place to be welcomed and loved no matter what.
No where in Jesus’ teachings or life did He say or teach that only certain people would be welcomed to the church. No where did Jesus not help someone that came to him. Jesus was always ready. Jesus was always welcoming and loving to anyone that came near. He teaches and commands the disciples when He was on earth and as He is in Heaven to be ready for any and all that will come and listen to the good news of His life and grace.
The goal of our First Impressions teams, is to create a remarkable guest experience each and every weekend for all guests that come to worship Jesus. Whether it is their first time or their millionth time. Every guest that comes into church should have a remarkable guest experience.
Think of it this way: when we do our part, Jesus will do his.
So what is our part?
Mark 10:45 says “For even the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.”
Our part in this whole thing……is to serve.
We have a part in creating a remarkable guest experience by being there. Showing up us one of the hardest things to do in life. Whether it is in church or in life. There are so many obstacles and so many hindrances that can stop us from showing up.
When we show up, Jesus shows up.
Be willing. Be ready. Be part of the whole. Be present.
Our First Impression team has the ability to shape an experience for someone that has never been to church and be able to meet Jesus for the first time.
A great example of this is the experience that you get when you go to Disney world. Everything is immaculate. It is clean, it is organized, it is fun and the memories that are made can last a lifetime. My own kids remember our first trip as a family to Disney World. I remember it like it was last summer but in reality it has been 3 years. We took our 3 year old and 5 year old to Disney for the first time and we last 11.5 hours without one meltdown or fight or argument. We got there early and stayed for the fireworks at Cinderella’s castle.
How did we last that long?
God’s grace…..but really it was the experience that we all received when we went. We were greeted with smiles…before masks….and sent off with a smile. And everything in between was treated with the utmost respect and accuracy.
We may not have face sized rice crispy treats or rides or characters running around in parades.
But what we do have….
Is a God who sent his son to die on a cross to take away our burden of sin and give us eternal life through grace that we do not deserve.
That is worth showing up for and being a part of.