CYUAG

So last night, I went to CYUAG which stands for Christian Youth United for the Advancement of the Gospel. (I think). It was a really cool experience. It was for Free Worship night which was an interesting concept where you just come and worship. I was blessed by God last night in many ways. One of the things I loved was that all the people there were so friendly! So many people approached us after the service and just talked to us and asked about our lives and such. They kept asking us to come back Sunday and in the future. It was something that I loved and due to their friendliness, I hope to go again in the future.
Last night, I got to thinking however, about the church and how friendly it was. I thought it was kind of sad that I was surprised by how friendly they were, but that's the truth. Many churches don't go out of their way to make newcomers feel welcome. Even within InterVarsity, it can be hard to make new friends because people already have their groups of friends and don't often go out of their comfort zone. I've had conversations with people who say that they try to arrive after the service has started in order to avoid the awkwardness of being alone. But last night, even before we entered the main area of the church, we had people asking for our names and welcoming us in. I loved it!
So if you're ever at church and you see somebody new, go up to them and talk to them. Make them feel welcome. It's something I hope to be able to work on in the future.