August 31, 2008
Welcoming the “˜Strangers” in Your Life
By Jan Johnson I wanted to talk to a friend before the church service, but I remembered the “three-minute guideline” presented at a leadership meeting. For three minutes before and after the service, we were asked to talk to folks we didn”t know. Umph! So I looked for newcomers. I spoke to a man I didn”t recognize, but he seemed nervous. He hadn”t been to church in a long time, so I asked him about himself to put him more at ease. At first, I thought the guideline was superficial. I enjoy deeper friendships, and this seemed so shallow, akin





