By Megan Soper, July 3rd 2025
Below is a blog post written by a leader of one of Incarnation’s Missional Communities.
In order to appropriately envision evangelism at Incarnation Tallahassee, one must start by imagining a table. The table is surrounded with folding chairs, because a home that is ready for invitation is always prepared with extra chairs. There is a delicious smell of warm food. The sounds are of plates, forks, and the pouring of wine, plus the laughter and chatter of friends. The feeling is eager anticipation to celebrate together as we share about the Lord’s work in our community.
At our Parish, we call our small group Bible studies ‘Missional Communities.” This term brings a breadth and depth to what these groups are and do, they are communities, groups of parishioners and friends who gather together, and they are also ‘missional’ because they are more than just inward discipleship focused on the upward seeking of the Lord, but also outward mission. The recent dinner imagined at the opening is multifold. First, it represents a gathering of our Missional Community leaders where stories were shared about the work of the Lord in our groups this year; it also has a second meaning, one metaphorical in nature. The dinner itself as metaphor expresses the aroma of Evangelism in our Parish. That is, to understand Evangelism at Incarnation Tallahassee is to see a gathering around a table. A Psalmist writes, “you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” describing in the thankful words, a way the Lord shepherds him to a table, a place of comfort and of provision. Christ held dear conversation at a table in his most intimate moments with his inmost friends, and yet, he didn’t guard his table from those unwanted by others. Christ’s table was shared with the dear and the outsider. So is our Evangelistic heart at Incarnation.
One story shared at the real, not metaphorical, table was of a woman in our Parish, Wendy, who in her time sharing the gospel with a local community met a woman who we’ll call Patricia. Wendy uses her gifts to share the gospel with the dear children and yet when Patricia came into her life, Wendy welcomed her to the table. Patricia sought the Lord hearing the children’s lessons and she shared her story with Wendy. Wendy began meeting with her, offering friendship and counsel, driving her to the Phi Center (a local organization supporting women in pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood) for prayer and when Patricia found work (praise the Lord) and couldn’t attend the Phi Center prayer meetings anymore, Wendy sought Patricia in her home to continue the relationship of discipleship and prayer. Sometimes, Evangelism is an opportunity that presents itself in a different person than who we originally sought. When the spirit moved Wendy to see Christ, to bring her to the table and the table to her, Wendy blessed Patricia with comfort and provision.
Another story shared by our Missional Community leaders harkens back to the comment that a home of invitation must always be equipped with extra chairs. When Jon and Missy spoke about gathering a Missional Community in Missy’s home, they prepared a coxy sitting room, invited the Lord to guide study and conversation, and expected say, twelve persons. When twenty-two showed up, the extra chairs came out, the community bumped a little closer elbow, and the name of God was glorified. Ready with extra chairs, comfort and provision were offered for those who sought, Missy widened the circle and broadened the table.
The last shared memory was from our Missional Families community; this group exists to offer a gathering place for the entire family together, especially for those in the ages of parenting babies and young children when engaging in church community can be a significant challenge with toddler underfoot. The families gather for a meal, then the adults head inside for study while the children fellowship (read: play, dance, glow stick, and plan military strategies) outside with childcare workers. Sometimes the provision and comfort of Evangelism is being able to say to a parent in the throes of parenting a toddler, come and eat with us, allow your child to play with good friends in Christian community and study the Word together with other parents in the trenches.
If only there were endless hours to gather at a table, pour a glass of red wine and share the way the Lord blesses Incarnation to experience the Evangelism table, surely that table could stretch to eternity and the wine would never grow dry. Perhaps this is the way to imagine sharing the heart of Christ, gathered at a table with the intimate friends and the just as intimate outsider. With the willingness to open a heart, an ear, and the front seat of a car to a woman in need of friendship and prayer. With the invitational heart to always find a place for just one more chair. With the knowing smile of a parent saying, “here is a warm plate of food for you and your children, come and find rest here at the feet of Jesus.” Evangelism isn’t always a suitcase and a worn pair of shoes, sometimes, it’s a table, ready and waiting with the comfort and the provision of our Lord Jesus.