One of the staples of political campaigning is canvassing a neighborhood door to door. Back in my political days, I used to divide candidates into two groups: cowards who would put something on the door and then run and the brave hearts, more obnoxious types, who would ring the doorbell to meet whoever was inside.

Years later, after trading politics for ministry, I found myself working to save a struggling little congregation in a small town. It is no wonder I decided to go door to door to invite people to church. My wife was the lone volunteer to accompany me at the time and I remember suggesting we merely leave materials at the door. She quickly agreed.

In a nutshell, I was being chicken … I was apparently more willing to risk bothering people if I was campaigning for myself or my friends than I was if I was campaigning for Christ.

It was a comical coincidence that our church door hangers were similar in size and in color to the water disconnect notice the town would leave on a door if someone failed to pay their water bill. I suppose this meant our hangers were read by everybody, but there still were only two people who came to church as a result of our canvassing several hundred homes.

Those two people were Bob and Florence …

My wife was leaving material on their door when the inside door opened and Florence inquired, “May I help you?” The next thing I heard was my wife calling from across the street. “Dennis, these nice people want to meet you!” In other words, “I got caught. Please come help me!”

Bob and Florence had been married for decades. They knew where our church was. They talked about going to church somewhere, but, as Florence said, “Those steps seem pretty steep when you don’t know anybody inside.”

The truth is the church steps were steep for Bob and Florence, but they came anyway to church the following Sunday. They joined a short time later. Florence had never been baptized, which meant we also had a baptism the day she and Bob affirmed their faith in Christ. It was very cool and very meaningful.

It is still a widespread belief in the Christian tradition that being baptized, accepting Christ, making a commitment to the Body of Christ, are the most important things to happen in a person’s lifetime.

Bob and Florence made many friends at that little church in a short time and my wife and I were privileged to be among them. They were in church every Sunday for two years until Bob had a fall that would unexpectedly claim his life. Then, Florence suddenly died a few months later.

I think about Bob and Florence often, not only because I miss them, but because I learned so much from them. The active member rolls of that little church are the same now as they were before Bob and Florence joined but they sure made friends and touched a lot of hearts. And when they died, they sure added to the saints in heaven.

I still use door hangers, but they are mostly for folks who are not home or choose to not answer the door because I ring the doorbell now when I campaign for Christ.

Jesus says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28) Jesus does not say, “Ring the doorbell and run!”

So, we will be coming around the next several weeks to invite folks who do not have a church to join us this Christmas Season and beyond. Our aim is to make the steps a little easier to climb, to touch a few hearts and to add to the saints in heaven.

Even if you are not a brave heart, join us this weekend Saturday @ Six or Sunday morning at 8:30 or 11 a.m. We are continuing our series on Characters of Christmas. This Sunday’s focus is “Elizabeth!”

Dennis Andrews Ed.D.

Reverend Andrews is Minister at Community Presbyterian Church of Deerfield Beach (Steeple on the Beach) located five blocks south of Hillsboro on AIA. See more @ www.communitych.org or on Facebook.