Last night, six of us gathered at the Iowa State Extension office to participate in a focus group on young adults and social media. Most of us knew very little about Extension and the services they provide, and those that did know held a fairly narrow view, associating it only with 4-H and Ag programs. After the formal focus group, we hung around after to ask our friend — who works for Extension — what it was. “Well, let me tell you,” she said, as she explained everything that they do and the many services they provide. As we listened, we became more and more interested and more and more supportive of their work. Really all that it took was a few minutes of her sharing for us to be hooked. And she shared in a way that made sense to us, appealing to common interests and her awareness of some of our needs and passions. I felt that after a ten-minute conversation, I could adequately steer others to Extension as their life circumstances needed.
I think we face a similar issue when it comes to the church. We believe we have a great thing going: I love our theology, feel embraced and a part of our community, and am excited about our future. We know that others need to hear about this great thing we are a part of, but we think it would take too long to tell them or be irrelevant to their lives. We expect others to share the witness for us — others who are ‘smarter,’ ‘more articulate,’ or we’d even settle for those paid ministers 
But just like with Extension, we don’t need to rely on somebody else in an office somewhere to share the Good News of Christ with our friends — we need to rely on OURSELVES! You know your friends better than I do, and you know what speaks to them and their hunger for fulfillment. You don’t have to be knowledgeable about every detail of our Basic Beliefs in order to share why Community of Christ is important to you (though it certainly doesn’t hurt!). And you don’t have to impress or convince or be perfect in the delivery — all you have to do is share your own story and invite.
We have an inCREdible message to share with the world, but any message needs messengers. Most people are searching for something to ground their lives in meaning, and the restorative message of God’s love for you and the whole world is certainly something worth offering! I often hear people lament, “We have such a great church, I just wish that others knew more about it.” My answer to them? ‘Then I guess you’re the one who needs to share it with them!’ 
Talk about our message of wholeness and peace. Talk about the ‘welcome’ that Jesus extends to all people and the sense of community expressed through the church. Talk about transforming lives and neighborhoods through justice and healing. Talk about the incredible feeling that comes in true forgiveness. Talk about the blessings of a world-wide body of believers, united in a common desire to see God’s reign of peace come in this world. Talk about the hope of new life today and beyond death. Talk about whatever inspires YOU to be a part of Community of Christ.
But fundamentally, you have to talk It is a rare chance when someone stumbles across the church; more often than not, the only way they will ever know about this incredible treasure we know as the Community of Christ is if YOU share it with them.
So the next time somebody asks you, “What is it?” be prepared, like my friend at Extension, to say, “Well, let me tell you…”
