Yes, God really does change lives!

For multi-site churches, one of the struggles I see campus pastors having is how to connect emotionally with the people at the service. Somehow giving announcements alone does not endure the people to a pastor.

For new church plants and for any church we share what the Bible says but often don't show how these truths have actually affected someones life. And life change is our goal, correct?

I want to suggest adding an element in the service I'll call a "Changed Life Interview" or "God stories". This is a time when the pastor interviews a person in the congregation who has seen God change their life. It could be how they came to Christ, how God intervened in a circumstance, how God answered prayer, how they had the opportunity to share their faith, how they did the godly thing at work and God protected, etc.

A 3-4 minute interview like this helps people:
1. See that God is at work today.
2. Trust God to do it in their life also.
3. Makes us all real, especially as people learn to share from their weakness, not their strength.
4. Connects the pastor with people and changed lives.

Large churches sometimes do this on video so they can edit it and keep it on focus. But a smaller church needs to show itself personal and intimate. This can be very effective. The pastor should coach the interviewee, if possible do a practice interview. When I've done this I get to know the person's story, tell them what questions I am going to ask and coach them on what to talk about.

An interview format keeps the pastor "in control of the time and stops rambling". This is a way to interview missionaries also and youth coming back from a retreat where God worked or people who did a service project in the community where a God impact happened, etc.

The result will be people excited about how God changes lives and will encourage steps of faith by others.