Florida and Alaska churches use gimmicks to bring people to church on Easter

[billiefan2000]

Church by the Glades: “Step Right Up, Folks, Git Yer Peanuts, Popcorn..”

http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/?p=504


Alaska Church Offers Awards for Bringing Easter Guests

http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/?p=502

[fishbait]

Alaska Church Offers Awards for Bringing Easter Guests
May the blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ splatter their Easter guests with warm crimson cheer.

[KingMerv00]

I always thought God was the gimmick.

[billiefan2000]

I guess it shows that churches must be desperate


if they have to resort to gimmicks to get people to come.


this is BTW one of the reasons that membership is declining in mainline churches

is that they are attempting to be "relevant" rather

than focusing on the traditional birth, death, and rebirth stuff, and walking in the shoes of Christ





Real Preachers of Genius: Seeker-Sensitive Mega Church Guy

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Yb9DF16Fx8k

[madurobob]

Well, I'm sure all those new attendees will drop a little in the tithing plate. So, it becomes a matter of dollars and cents as much as souls. So they spend $3K on popcorn, donuts and circus animals, they earn $10K in donations. Nearly every retail business in my town is doing the same (offering incentives for people to stop by and give them money). Google "easter sale".

I'm not sure that means they are desperate; I think it means they are becoming more market savvy. And perhaps a bit more cynical (or is that just me?).

[billiefan2000]

mad maybe you are right

it means they are becoming more market savvy

[Lanzy]

I see nothing wrong with using a gimmick to get people in. When I was in the market for a new car, I first went to the dealer offering free BBQ. Selling god has got to be hard, so you need butts in the seat for whatever reason.

[slingblade]

This can't be a surprise? Churches have done this all my life.

"Bring your mom to church this Sunday and receive a lovely rose to honor her."

"Kids, bring a friend to Sunday School and receive a free candy bar. One per visitor you bring!"

"Attend our Christmas services, and receive your choice of a nice ham or turkey for your dinner."

"Kids, bring friends to Sunday's Easter Egg Hunt on the church lawn and get your very own New Testament, free!"


Nothing to see here, folks. Move along and shake your heads.

[madurobob]

I see nothing wrong with using a gimmick to get people in. When I was in the market for a new car, I first went to the dealer offering free BBQ. Selling god has got to be hard, so you need butts in the seat for whatever reason.
I've surely never tried, but I'll bet selling god is easier than selling cars. And, people probably have a better opinion of god salesmen than they do of car salesmen ;)

But its got to be getting increasingly difficult to sell Sunday morning church with the increasing competition. Not long ago in my town you would have been hard pressed to find any retail outlet open before noon on Sunday and certainly no organized entertainment. These days the only store you'd notice not open by 9:00AM Sunday is Chic-Fil-A. And there are NFL stadiums and NASCAR tracks opening before Noon on Sunday - OMG!

So, when you see competition taking butts out of your seats it only makes sense to fight back. Me, I'm waiting for the strippers. Once there are strippers in church I'll go.

[billiefan2000]

I've surely never tried, but I'll bet selling god is easier than selling cars. And, people probably have a better opinion of god salesmen than they do of car salesmen ;)

But its got to be getting increasingly difficult to sell Sunday morning church with the increasing competition. Not long ago in my town you would have been hard pressed to find any retail outlet open before noon on Sunday and certainly no organized entertainment. These days the only store you'd notice not open by 9:00AM Sunday is Chic-Fil-A. And there are NFL stadiums and NASCAR tracks opening before Noon on Sunday - OMG!

So, when you see competition taking butts out of your seats it only makes sense to fight back. Me, I'm waiting for the strippers. Once there are strippers in church I'll go.

mad you will probably have to wait a couple more years, I was reading at

http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/?p=360

and it is probably right (quoting the article)

It is only a matter of time before we see couples in bed, “on stage”, in churches to celebrate sex.

Two years ago I predicted that we would have the equivalent of pagan temple prostitutes in evangelical churches.

Except in church, it will be married couples (for now) demonstrating it all in public.

I give it 3-5 years before we have the real thing in church somewhere.

[m_huber]

mad you will probably have to wait a couple more years, I was reading at

http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/?p=360

and it is probably right (quoting the article)

It is only a matter of time before we see couples in bed, “on stage”, in churches to celebrate sex.

Two years ago I predicted that we would have the equivalent of pagan temple prostitutes in evangelical churches.

Except in church, it will be married couples (for now) demonstrating it all in public.

I give it 3-5 years before we have the real thing in church somewhere.

Well, the "real thing" does happen in church, just not on stage... at least, not when the congregation is there.

[billiefan2000]

Well, the "real thing" does happen in church, just not on stage... at least, not when the congregation is there.

funny you mention that


I just saw this story at

http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2008/3/21/police_couple_break_into_church_to_have_sex.html

Couple Break Into Sanderson Florida Church To Have Sex