AP

Last November, Gateway Presbyterian Port Stephens ran Taste & See for the first time. We didn’t feel ready. We’d previously run Alpha with good success, but circumstances meant we needed to try something different. Taste & See seemed simple and achievable—four weeks, four meals, four big ideas about God—but forming a team, choosing dates, and wondering who might come – all felt uncertain.

Rather than waiting until everything felt right, we decided to step out in trust. As a team, we prayed that God might bring even one person.

As we promoted the course, several people shared their stories in church. These testimonies encouraged the whole congregation as we urged them that “A successful invitation is one given, and prayed for”. And that our faithfulness is giving the invitation, God was the one at work in their hearts to accept it

One Sunday, we had someone attend church for the very first time, coming from a background of witchcraft. She later shared how deeply a testimony resonated with her. Despite not knowing her, she was who we were praying for all those weeks! She became our first sign-up.

Then God surprised us. On the first night, close to the last minute, people accepted invitations and around 20 people came. Many people invited friends they never expected would come—and often those “unlikely” guests were the most engaged. One person who was exploring Christianity for the first time, drove up from Picton to Anna Bay each week (several hours in each direction), which was something that amazed us all!

Over a third identified as non-Christians, a third had brought someone along, and a third were part of the team. Together, we explored what the Bible says about our world: beautiful and good, yet broken through our rejection of God and each other.

The shared meals and relaxed setting helped people feel comfortable asking honest questions. Each week, personal stories of how Jesus changes lives had a powerful impact.

We were humbled by how God worked. We had prayed for one person; He brought many. After the first session, one person said: “I thought I was a good person, but I was really challenged tonight that I have to think more about this.” Taste & See gently helped people realise there is a creator, who has a claim on their life…

Already, we have seen real fruit.

• One person has come to faith after more than 50 years away from God.
• Another has found clarity, and a new faith after all her doubts were replaced with answers
• Another, not yet a believer, now comes eagerly to church, without feeling like he’s being dragged along by a believing spouse.

Taste & See wasn’t a perfect course; we do feel some changes need to be made, but God used it powerfully. As someone working in church outreach and youth ministry, I find that having clear, faithful resources makes it much easier to help people engage with God’s word — especially when time is limited.

Through this experience, we’ve been reminded of a simple truth: God delights in using willing people who trust Him, even when they feel unprepared. As we obeyed, Jesus’ words proved true again: “the harvest is plentiful.” What we do may lack some theological finesse, but God can overrule for his glory and the blessing of his people.

– Cooper Rispin