“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Luke 5:31b-32

The first step is in many ways the most difficult.

Arthur Flake first enunciated this concept in 1916 as the first step in his plan for Sunday School/church growth. “Know your possibilities”. We must identify those we want to reach with the Gospel. Identify four people or families who are unchurched. These families should be within the geographical influence of your church so that they can be discipled after their commitment to faith in Christ.

Where do you find them? I have been asked that question hundreds of times. The answers are unlimited. Look next door, in the next cubicle or office, in line in front or behind you at the grocery store. It’s the person checking you out or serving your coffee. It’s the Dad or Mom sitting next to you at your children’s soccer, basketball, baseball or football games. It’s that proud parent at the dance recital or the spelling bee that you are sitting next to. I could go on, but you get the picture.

Identifying people who are unchurched is hard work but it is the place we must start.