I'd like to say a word in favor of speaking to people. And not to just anyone–I'd like those of us who are part of the church to speak to those who aren't. Further, I'd like to suggest that we first listen, then speak.

I realize this doesn't sound controversial. We may want to do this, but there is a gap between the wanting and the doing. And if we ever get to it, the actual doing often involves very little listening.

As a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, I count myself convicted. For years, my outreach to those unconnected to the church was through evangelism committee meetings centered on fliers, direct mail, and improvements to things around the church. I did plan a congregational event to which the neighborhood would be invited. None of this is bad. But I was so focused on people inside the walls that I never engaged any new people outside of them.

Then I started a new call, which centered directly on connecting with the demographic most unconnected to the church: ...