Monieca and I met our son for dinner at a local restaurant after work Thursday. Several FBC members happened to be eating there and we spent some time talking with each of them. It’s not unusual to meet members when we’re out to eat.

When I was in line to pay for dinner, I struck up a conversation with a man who happened to be the manager. He had moved here several years ago from another part of the country and had been with this company for a long time.

Noticing the words “First Baptist Church Rock Hill, SC” printed on the pocket of my dress shirt, he asked if I was affiliated with First Baptist Church. I told him I was the Pastor and he asked if that was the big church on Dave Lyle Boulevard. After telling him it was, he said he had driven by it every day on his way to work for several years and thought to himself it was a beautiful building. I asked if he had ever been inside the building and he said “no.” I offered to give him a personal tour some time and got his business card. I’ll follow up with him in a few days.

One of the great things about wearing clothing with our church name or a religious message is that it often generates conversations with people we don’t know. Of course we have to be willing to not only wear the clothing but to also engage people in conversation. I enjoy doing this and find that most people are very friendly and open to talking about church and spiritual issues.

What is required is having a mindset that seeks to be intentional about creating opportunities like this. Every Christian can think like this and become an instrument God uses.

I don’t know what will come of this encounter at the restaurant. At a minimum I had a nice conversation and met someone new. What I do know is that nothing would have happened if my mindset had not been what I think our Lord wants it to always be. I don’t always have that mindset, but I’m definitely trying to have it more and more.

What about you?

Pastor Steve Hogg