Dear Church Family,

August in Houston may not feel like fall is any closer, but the rhythms of the next season are certainly beginning. Students are returning to school in Houston on Monday, regular gatherings across our ministries will recommence in the near future, and many of us are reconnecting with neighbors, coworkers, classmates, and friends after the summer.

This time of year gives us a natural opportunity to cultivate a stronger culture of invitation.

When Philip told Nathanael about Jesus, Nathanael responded with skepticism. Philip did not argue with him or try to answer every question. He simply said, “Come and see” (John 1:46).

We might sometimes assume that people aren’t interested in church or that they’ll just come when they’re ready. Yet many people are waiting for someone they know and trust to invite them. A sincere invitation can open a door for someone who is searching for community, returning to church after time away, or beginning to ask deeper questions about faith.

An invitation is also about more than asking someone to attend a service. It means making room for them: offering to meet them when they arrive, sitting with them, introducing them to others, helping them feel at home. Christian hospitality begins before a guest enters the building and continues long after the service ends.

Our Fall Kickoff will be an especially good opportunity to extend that kind of invitation. On Sunday, August 16 at our West U Baptist and Bellaire campuses, we will gather in the gyms during Community Group meeting times to celebrate the season ahead, connect with one another, and learn more about Community Groups, serving opportunities, discipleship, and the many ways we can participate in the life of our church.

At Bellaire
9:30A & 11:00A • Bellaire Gym

At West U Baptist
9:45A • West U Baptist Gym

Prayerfully consider one person you could invite. It may be a neighbor, a coworker, another parent from school, someone new to Houston, or someone you haven’t seen at church in a while.

You don’t need the perfect words. You can simply say, “Come with me and see.”
Let’s be a church family known for noticing people, opening doors, making room, and inviting others to come and see what Jesus is doing.


Expecting Greater,
Pastor Roger


P.S. Make sure to join us this Monday evening (at CityRise Bellaire or online through the GLU app) for the second night of The AI Revolution with Dr. James Tour and his topic, Building New AI Computational Devices and the Downstream Moral Implications. Learn more at cityrise.org/ai.