Churches aim to turn casual worshipers into regulars by adding perks to Easter message

Sun-Sentinel ^ | April 16 2006 | Lois K. Solomon

[twippo]

Hordes of people will go to church today. But many will not go back until next Easter.

To lure those casual worshipers into regular attendance, pastors have brainstormed some flashy approaches for today's services.

In Cooper City, Flamingo Road Church will offer $10 Starbucks coupons to newcomers. At Spanish River Christian Church in Boca Raton, an elaborate stage show will transform the story of King Tut's death into a Christian parable, complete with three pyramids that revolve to become three crosses. Trinity International Church in Lake Worth will drop candy from a helicopter to waiting children .

[Graybeard58]

But do they have music by U2?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1615777/posts

[PetroniusMaximus]

This is what churches do when they have lost the presence and power of God.

[CWOJackson]

"...Church will offer $10 Starbucks coupons to newcomers."

What is wrong with this picture?

[twippo]

Give it some time, they'll get there.

[Old_Mil]

You build a multi million dollar building. You buy your head motivational speaker a 5000 square foot home in a gated community and the company car is a Mercedes. You have to come up with something to keep thousands of behinds in the pews.

On streets and highways all throughout America you'll find far more cars on the road at 9pm on a Saturday night than you will at 9am on a Sunday morning.

The reality is that there are far fewer Christians in American than we would sometimes like to believe.

[twippo]

It gives an illusion that there are so many Christians in a community because the churches are so big. But what is happening is that a few megachurches are taking the majority of the people, who may not all be born-again. They're self-perpetuating, because the size alone attracts people and they tend to be in their childbearing years. The top church where I live is Bob Coy's Calvary Chapel, which has about 15,000 attendees.

[CheyennePress]

It's one thing to do something a bit different every now and then. One of the most powerful religious services I've ever attended was a Good Friday modern dance performed at my church with props and video. Just very moving, emotional, and in my opinion, probably the closest to feeling what was transpiring before me at a worship service.

There wasn't anything gimmicky about it. It was wholly sincere. Megachurches can be that way. Or they can feel like self-help clinics and social hour.

I personally prefer the traditional liturgies of good, mission-based churches. Being a young single, I prefer larger churches, but come family, I don't think it will matter.

Then again, I've been a member of a church where we hangliding, surfing, hiking, and rock climbing together. Honestly, those were some of the best Bible study sessions I've had. We all got very close. Again, not gimmicky.

These Starbucks coupons are just the wrong way to go about things.

[alpha-8-25-02]

BLESSED RESURRECTION DAY FROM THE SAINTS AT THE LITTLE CHURCH IN THE WOODS.

[Wilhelm Tell]

This is what churches do when they have lost the presence and power of God.

I hate the "relevance" fad. The mainstream Protestant churches become "relevant" by embracing Marxism, homosexuality, etc. The evangelical mega-churches become "relevant" by turning every service into a circus of American pop culture. Everywhere is noise and chaos.

[jobim]

Oh, the wisdom of the Catholic Church.

It's a mortal sin to miss Mass on Sunday. No need for Starbucks coupons or pancake breakfasts. Come, or sin.

This, by the way, doesn't necessarily fill the pews, but it precludes any gimmickry in getting people to go to church.

[kittymyrib]

I guess preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection for the salvation of the sinner, just isn't exciting enough these days. Happily, my church will not be dropping candy from a helicopter today, but we will have Holy Communion.

[joesbucks]

Oh, the wisdom of the Catholic Church. It's a mortal sin to miss Mass on Sunday. No need for Starbucks coupons or pancake breakfasts. Come, or sin. This, by the way, doesn't necessarily fill the pews, but it precludes any gimmickry in getting people to go to church.

I thought Bingo was the outreach mission of choice.

[Coldwater Creek]

I belong to a huge mega church. What we offer is the Gospel and every service is packed. Maybe these other "churches" should just get back to the basics.

[Coldwater Creek]

And, BTW our pastor drives a pickup!

[AD from SpringBay]

Nothing like a little bribery. Maybe they got the idea from the brand new, lost, and just in time for Easter Gospel of Judas. The whorish church of Babylon strikes again.

[manwiththehands]

Free coffee! Candy for the kids! Woo hoo! It's all about me.

[csvset]

I think King Of The Hill covered this topic last week.

[mombonn]

will drop candy from a helicopter

Reminds me of when Les Nessman did a Thanksgiving turkey drop.

Hope the candy drop turns out better!

[CWOJackson]

That was a great episode. I wonder what the velocity of this candy will be in the target zone.