From personal experience, it’s hard seeing friends or family loose their love and interest in Christ. And sliding in church attendance is definitely a sign that something is brewing in their heart. Sometimes it’s based on emotion or even a situation or circumstance we come to face; it’s then easier to “loose” interest in church and drop out, then it is to persevere or push through whatever is going on. This is most definitely NOT an opportunity to judge them or cast them out of our circle – but rather it’s an opportunity to love on them. Here are two simple ways to jump start that:
Don't give up. Proverbs 18:24 says, "There are friends who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother." There is no greater gift you can give your friend than "sticking closer than a brother." Keep asking your friend to church but also ask her to functions that you might have outside of church. You may even want to get a group of your church friends together and invite your friend to hang out with all of you. Encouragement goes a long way, you just can’t give up. You never know when you might get a “yes” response!
Pray for your friend. My brother stopped going to church for a year. I asked him over and over if he would come to church with me and he always made up some lame excuse. I decided that there was nothing that I could do to change his mind (or heart), so I gave him over to God. When I began to pray for my brother everyday I began to see God work miracles in his life. When you pray for your friend, expect God to answer your request. Once you begin to see progress, keep praying. When your friend begins to open up, tell her that you are praying for her and ask her if she has any specific needs that you can pray about. If there is less of you, there is more room for God to work in and through the situation. He is faithful, so keep the faith!
Additional Reading
Hebrews 10:23-25
Proverbs 27:17
Romans 15: 7-9
Proverbs 27:17
I Peter 3: 8-9
