Let Pagans Play

Dave Ferguson offers this excerpt from the upcoming book, EXPONENTIAL: How You And Your Friends Can Start A Missional Church Movement on his blog:

Many of our artists play in local bands or perform in community theater companies. Since we encourage people at all stages of spiritual growth to use their art for God we have lots of artists who are recruited by other artists and begin doing their art before they become Christ followers. We’re not only OK with that, we encourage it. We have one campus that has been very successful in encouraging people playing in outside bands to come to church and play in the worship bands. They have recruited two entire bands that way. Not to mention that as result of the relationships that have been formed in these bands, a number of people have come to follow Jesus!

Next time you’re in a public place take a look around. If you are in a public place right now, go ahead and take a look. Research tells us that thirty percent of the people you see have significant artistic gifts. That’s 3 out of 10. And sadly enough most of them don’t think they have a place in the church. Yet those are the very people who you need along with your friends to catalyze and sustain a missional movement. So, go over and ask one of them to join you. Now. Seriously.