It is a hectic Sunday morning after worship. People are streaming in and out of the pastor’s office as he tries to put away all of the things that seem to have accumulated on his desk since he arrived earlier that morning. Suddenly Neta appears at the door. “Pastor, I’d like you to meet Emily Johnson. She’s worshiping with us for the first time today and wants to join our church.”

The pastor puts aside what he is doing and greets Emily warmly. He invites her to sit down for a minute so that he can get to know her a little better. Emily begins to tell the pastor how much she likes the congregation. She was especially impressed with the Sunday school for her three young children. She wants to join soon so that they can get started regularly and wonders what she needs to do to join. She isn’t …