Invest and Invite

Ingrid got to PVMC when a neighbor was nudged by God to invite her to church! Pastor Tim preached on staying connected to the Vine through John 15:4, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” Abiding is staying connected to the Vine and this is necessary for fruit to be produced. If the branch is cut from the vine, it will not live. We cannot live our spiritual lives without being connected to God. John 15:5, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

Ingrid did not grow up in church but she was exposed to the Catholic church. God placed a business mentor in her life that talked to her about Jesus. When she moved to Wilmington, five years ago, she decided she wanted to go to church. Thinking she was taking her visiting sister to a Catholic church, they attended a nondenominational, storefront church. The preacher had on baggy pants, walked back and forth and they had a band! It was so strange but she liked it. Her neighbor invited her to the 11:15 service at PVMC. There was no crucifix with Jesus on it. There was no kneeling and standing which was hard on her knees and there were no statues! She and her husband, Gary, loved the message and began coming to the contemporary service. They joined in January and are both active.

Pastor Tim said the fruit also represents the people we reach for the kingdom. He read a statistic that on average the United Methodist Christian (which we were a part of at that time) invited people to church once every 38 years. We were only ahead of the Episcopalians who invited one person every 56 years! I am thankful for Ingrid and Gary’s neighbor for listening to God’s nudges and inviting them to church! Who are you inviting and investing in?