A few years ago I read an article by Ed Stetzer entitled “Strategic Evangelism: The Power of an Invitation.” Stetzer makes the point that Christian community (what we often call “attendance”) “is a place where evangelism should take place.” Attendance is not the same as covenant community (membership). The bar is set high for membership, but the doors are wide open for attendance.

Stetzer goes on to ask the salient question: “Whatever happened to the strategy of simply inviting a friend, co-w...