Praying For The One
Brian and Nancy began attending Eastside in 2020, right around Father’s Day. Like so many others, they were looking for community and a place to grow their faith. What started as a personal step quickly grew into something more. They began to sense a calling—not just to attend, but to invite.
“We really started to feel called to invite people to Eastside,” Brian remembered. “It wasn’t just about us anymore. It was about sharing what we’d found.”
That decision to extend an invitation would soon lead to powerful stories of transformation in the lives of people they loved most.
An Invitation Changed Everything
Their first Christmas at Eastside turned out to be unforgettable. Brian felt a nudge to invite his best friend, Danny. For years, Danny had been hesitant about church. He carried doubts and fears, and the idea of walking into a service felt overwhelming.
But Brian knew he couldn’t keep quiet. With a little encouragement, Danny agreed to come—bringing his wife and daughter along with him.
That Christmas service became a turning point. The music, the message, and the warmth of the community broke down walls of fear. Danny and his family loved the experience so much that they returned again and again.
What started with one invitation grew into a ripple effect. Danny’s decision to show up opened doors not only for himself, but also for his wife, his daughter, and now the family and friends he is reaching.
“They thought it was such an awesome experience,” Brian said. “Now he’s inviting his own family. He’s reading the Bible and he’s getting baptized this weekend. I was almost in tears when he told me that.”
A Mothers Faith Reignited
For Nancy, the story of invitation took on a deeply personal layer after the loss of her father in 2022. The grief was heavy. But in that season, she sensed the importance of extending an invitation to her mom.
Her mom had been to many churches before. None of them had felt like home. And with the language barrier—she speaks Spanish, while the services at Eastside are in English—Nancy wasn’t sure what her experience would be.
Still, she asked. And her mom said yes.
To Nancy’s surprise, her mom was deeply moved. She began attending regularly, sitting in services with her Bible in Spanish open on her lap, using her phone to translate as needed.
“She told me, ‘I’ve never felt what I felt here,’” Nancy shared. “And now, when she talks to people, she says, ‘When we go to church…’ This lady doesn’t even understand English, but here she is talking about how great the church is.”
It was more than just attending a service. It was finding belonging. For a grieving widow who had lost the love of her life, Eastside became a place of hope, healing, and family.
Faith Deepened Through Invitation
Brian and Nancy didn’t expect how much these invitations would impact their own walk with God. Watching God move in the lives of Danny and Nancy’s mom strengthened their faith.
“It’s brought us closer,” Brian said. “You see that God is working through them, and you can actually see it.”
Each story became a reminder that God’s Spirit is always at work—sometimes in quiet ways, sometimes in ways that leave you almost in tears.
Nancy put it in simple but powerful terms:
“It just takes that one invite. Don’t wait until tomorrow, because tomorrow might not come. Just go for it—He’ll do the rest.”
This is for every one
At Eastside, we believe every person matters deeply to God—that’s why we say this is For The One.
When Jesus told the parable of the shepherd leaving the ninety-nine to go after the one lost sheep, He was showing us God’s heart. Every person is worth pursuing. Every story matters. Every single one.
Brian and Nancy’s story is living proof. One invitation led to Danny’s baptism. One invitation gave a grieving mother a spiritual home. And those ripples continue outward into families, friendships, and generations.
That’s why we handed out wristbands earlier this year with space to write down a name—your “one.” It’s not just a program. It’s a reminder that behind every name is a person God loves. And when you pray for them, when you step into courage to invite them, you’re joining in God’s mission.
For The One
Who’s your one?
Maybe you already know the name you wrote on your wristband. Maybe you’re still praying for clarity. Either way, keep praying. Keep asking God for opportunities. Keep looking for moments when you can extend an invitation.
It could be a family member, a coworker, a neighbor, or a longtime friend. It might be someone who’s hesitant like Danny or someone who’s carrying loss like Nancy’s mom. You never know what hangs in the balance of one simple invitation.
We are praying with — for courage, for open hearts, for God to do what only He can do. Because this is for every one.
Don't wait. now is the time
Brian and Nancy’s story is still unfolding. Their lives look different because they chose not to keep their faith to themselves. Instead, they stepped out, invited, and watched God transform the people they love most.
Their encouragement to all of us? Don’t wait. Don’t hold back. Step into the calling God has placed on your life to pray, invite, and trust Him with the results.
As Nancy said: “Just go for it—He’ll do the rest.”