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Jesus turned and saw the two men following him. He asked, “What do you want?” 

They said, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” (“Rabbi” means “Teacher.”) 

He answered, “Come with me and you will see.” So the two men went with him. They saw the place where he was staying, and they stayed there with him that day. It was about four o’clock. - John 1:38-39  

The power of an invitation is that a simple, personal ask can make someone feel valued and change the course of their life.  

 

A couple of weeks ago, the Inspiring Hope Learning Center was invited to attend the Student Involvement Fair at Wake Forest, an event for clubs, organizations, and fraternities & sororities at the university plus outside non-profits and organizations from the community to connect with Wake students. This was our first year there, and I got to attend because Stacey had to actually be at the Learning Center.  

There were over 150 organizations of all kinds there, and we had a lot of students come by our table to find out what the Learning Center is all about. Over 50 signed up on our interest list, plus we got to talk to many more and share the story of what the Learning Center does and is. We invited them to come check it out and see for themselves what it is all about. We made a lot of connections; it turned out much better than I could have ever hoped.  

It was a conversation that I had with one of our current volunteers who was helping us out at the fair that really stood out though. He and one of our other volunteers are two of the male Spirit Leaders at Wake, both are great guys, our students love them, and they are both smart – premed both. I asked one of them how he became a Spirit Leader, and he told me that he had played baseball all through high school but wanted to try something different. Then one day in Latin Class, someone invited him to come try out for the Spirit Team; he wasn’t sure. Then over the course of the next week, he got 4 more invitations to try out. So he did. It was the power of an invitation. Over the past couple of years, he has experienced things he never would have, trips to Bowl Games, a trip to Canada, new friends, a community to be part of, and so many other things that have shaped his life at Wake. His life is different and better for the invitations he received to try something new.  

At the Involvement Fair, these two volunteers simply shared their experience at the Learning Center with the students who came by our table. They told of what they did there, how often, their connection with the kids and how it was a “chill place and a great way to decompress from classes”. It was their enthusiasm that caused so many people to want to know more. It would not have been the same without them.  

They came out to help because we invited them to, and they agreed. It was a pretty easy ask, and they were glad to help. It would not have been the same if it had been just me. I am so glad we asked. It will be interesting to see if any of the students we invited to come actually do get involved, but even if just a few do, it was worth it.  

There is great power in an invitation. It can change someone’s life. An invitation to coffee or dinner, to hang out, to a Small group, to church, to follow Jesus, these all carry the possibility of real-life change. An invitation shows we care. An invitation is about possibility and openness and trusting God with the outcome. An invitation takes boldness and a willingness to step out in faith.  

When two young men came up to Jesus and asked where He was going, He simply said, “Come and see” and their lives and ours were forever changed. We have that same opportunity today.  

My prayer is that we grow as an invitational church, one willing to reach out to others and allow the Spirit to move through these opportunities, a church that invites people to share in the same rich life Christ has given us.  

The power of an invitation is real. Your ask may be their answer. You never know what might happen, but with God there are always possibilities.  

Maybe invite someone to your Small Group. Maybe invite someone to lunch or coffee. Or a family to come over for dinner. Or to come to church and maybe lunch afterwards. Perhaps this invitation will change their life.  

The power of an invitation is ours to run with. Be in prayer that God will lead you to invite someone to something that will help them discover how to find and follow Jesus.