More Than a Prospect

I’m sitting again at the Pilgrim’s Desk, reflecting on the coffee I had yesterday with several Christian brothers.

One of the brothers—a relatively new believer—shared that he’s been visiting different churches. He mentioned meeting “two nice Mormon girls” at the park who were very friendly toward him. He decided to visit the LDS church with them, but when he told them he was still seeking, they stopped returning his calls and texts.

He said it hurt his feelings.

He had hoped to maintain a friendship—as “brothers and sisters in Christ.” But it became clear that what he experienced wasn’t relationship… it was recruitment.

The rest of us around the table smiled and tried to be empathetic. But we had all seen something similar before.

It’s easy in moments like that to say, “Well, that’s what those Mormons do.”

But as I sat there, I sensed something deeper.

Don’t many Christian churches do the same thing?

Really.

Of the many churches I’ve attended over the years, it’s actually rare for someone to follow up—especially after you move on. Even people who once felt like close brothers drift away quickly.

I understand part of it.

Time is limited.
The number of seekers seems endless.

But still…

If we invest so much time and money in mission trips to distant places, hoping to bring people to Christ, shouldn’t we at least follow up with the people right in front of us—those in our own communities?

Even businesses understand this.

Whether for-profit or nonprofit, they recognize that a person who has once engaged is worth following up with. That’s why I still receive emails from organizations I donated to years ago.

And yet, many churches—whether they realize it or not—operate from a similar model, but often without the same consistency in relationship-building.

Can we really assume that someone who no longer shows up simply “fell away”… or “was never one of us”?

I don’t think we can.

This moment has been a quiet wake-up call for me.

Instead of critiquing others, I need to look inward.

Who have I not followed up with?
Who might have felt like a “prospect” rather than a person?

I need to pray for discernment—to recognize the people God is placing in my path, not as opportunities… but as relationships.

Because the narrow path was never about recruiting.

It’s about walking with people… as we follow Him together.

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“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” Philippians 2:3 (NKJV)