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Megachurches and FFA Attendance (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Clifford
- Start date
General Malaise
Footballguy
I bet there's some mega hot poon in these pews, amirite?
sublimeone
Footballguy
General Malaise
Footballguy
General Malaise
Footballguy
sublimeone
Footballguy
I'm just confirming there are a lot of good looking women at the mega church I've been to.
G
Guest
Guest
pollardsvision
Footballguy
Clifford
Footballguy
How many in your congregation? One building or multiple? Do you advertise either traditionally or non-traditionally?
McGarnicle
Footballguy
My mom has to go see Charles Stanley whenever she comes to visit. I used to go with her but now just drop her off there. It started to feel more and more weird and cultish as I was weaning myself off the Christian mythology. Plus he gives my wife the creeps.
We run around 2800 each weekend. But see over 5,000 different people a month. We have one campus that continues to grow. We do not do a lot of advertising. We have run adds before movies but that was mostly for the new youth community center we built. Feel free to post any other questions.
I just like the candid nature of the discussions. But yes you are mostly right....insight into the minds of heathens?
Clifford
Footballguy
Do you see yourself in competition with other churches in your geographical area for congregation? What activities does your church engage in to attract new people to the church, or does your church engage in any activities?
We don't really see ourselves in competition. There are plenty of people around here that we can reach. We try to help out other churches as best we can. As far as activities and community involvment- We built a 4 million dollar youth center for students in the community. It is free for them to come and hang out. It has a skate park, rockwalls, gym, game room, cafe, etc. We give a lot of time and money to local charities and community service projects. We also do community events like Trunk or Treat at Halloween and an Easter Egg hunt with over 50,000 eggs. We try to a church that gives to the community, not takes from it. Everything we have done is financed by the congregation here.
Clifford
Footballguy
Good for your congregation. Sounds like a great project for the community.
You mentioned you had done some light advertising. Do you think a church should spend money on advertising to gain members?
I'm asking all these questions because a lot of people I know are deeply involved in a local mega church. One was never a practicing Christian and another has left her family church to join it. My friend who was never a church guy before has tried to get me to attend one thing or another. He often couches it with "it's not all about God" or something similar. Which in my mind inspires questions like why not and if it's not is it actually a church?
You mentioned you had done some light advertising. Do you think a church should spend money on advertising to gain members?
I'm asking all these questions because a lot of people I know are deeply involved in a local mega church. One was never a practicing Christian and another has left her family church to join it. My friend who was never a church guy before has tried to get me to attend one thing or another. He often couches it with "it's not all about God" or something similar. Which in my mind inspires questions like why not and if it's not is it actually a church?
Jayrod
Footballguy
One possible explanation:
Mega churches do a lot of community outreach events that are not directly/outright preachy (small churches too, they obviously just have less funds). There is a mega church that I occasionally attend that recently did a bunch of service projects in the area (food shelf, habitat for humanity, etc). They attendees were all wearing church T-shirts but I don't think they were actively proselytizing. This church also hosts AA meetings. I'm sure that is just the surface of things that this particular church does or is used for.
SaintsInDome2006
Footballguy
There is a megachurch now in the old basketball arena in Houston, where the Rockets used to be.
That's pretty huge.
That's pretty huge.
Yankee23Fan
Fair Tax!
That is Joel Osteens church I believe. If you want to call it a church.My church gets about 900 week so not mega under the OP definition but it is the largest church in the region. We are getting ready to birth a new church and just built a youth center on our campus. I guess its possible to do all the community outreach stuff that we do and not believe but that seems odd to me.
Clifford
Footballguy
I find the practice of trying to recruit very odd. I think if you want to go to church you find one in your community that has an approach that resonates with you. An organic growth pattern dependent wholly on location and spiritual affinity. I don't get the idea of a church making a conscience effort to grow and spending the congregations money to do so.
ETA. Church my friend goes to is Church of the Highlands, a multi-city church with over 20,000 members.
Also if you want to read some crazy twilight zone #### about corrective morality...
http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2013/08/after_inappropriate_relationsh.html
ETA. Church my friend goes to is Church of the Highlands, a multi-city church with over 20,000 members.
Also if you want to read some crazy twilight zone #### about corrective morality...
http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2013/08/after_inappropriate_relationsh.html
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Yankee23Fan
Fair Tax!
Why? The bible says to go make disciples... i don't find advertising for a church that weird.
Clifford
Footballguy
I thought that was supposed to about showing people Christ's way, not getting people to join your church instead of so either church?
Also that was said at a time when Christianity was brand spanking new. Evangelism was important to get it off the ground. I seriously doubt there are many people in Alabama who have never heard of Jesus.
I strongly disagree with the practice of evangelism, but this is not really about converting people, it's about drawing followers.
Also that was said at a time when Christianity was brand spanking new. Evangelism was important to get it off the ground. I seriously doubt there are many people in Alabama who have never heard of Jesus.
I strongly disagree with the practice of evangelism, but this is not really about converting people, it's about drawing followers.
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Clifford
Footballguy
Not all institutions try to grow. Especially ones whose sole focus should be serving their community. Their growth should be an organic byproduct of the growth of the community.
How can one church serve multiple cities? Sounds like a chain, not a church.
To Pastor and those that attend: what is the appeal? Why do you want to pray with 2-20k instead of a much smaller group? Why fight traffic to attend church? Why put yourself in such an impersonal environment? Granted Church of the Highlands is a more extreme example, but still.
How can one church serve multiple cities? Sounds like a chain, not a church.
To Pastor and those that attend: what is the appeal? Why do you want to pray with 2-20k instead of a much smaller group? Why fight traffic to attend church? Why put yourself in such an impersonal environment? Granted Church of the Highlands is a more extreme example, but still.
GoFishTN
Footballguy
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
It sounds to me like your mind was made up before you started the thread, Clifford.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
My aunt - former very devout Catholic - was in a pretty bad place after my uncle died unexpectedly about a decade ago. She joined a support group and ended up switching over to a local megachurch through some people in the group. It looks to me, on the surface at least, that it's done her and my cousins a lot of good. I've met a handful of her church friends here and there and they seem like nice people. Not sure what about the megachurch "saved" her, so to speak, that a "regular" church couldn't, but it seems to work for her. She probably just needed a change of scenery and the megachurch did the trick.
Fla\/\/ed
Footballguy
Officer Pete Malloy
Footballguy
In a Mega church it is easier to make a bigger impact on the community. The resources and manpower are much greater. Smaller churches are very good, but they often are just struggling to keep the doors open because of economy of scale.
As far as the evangelism aspect, That is the basis of Christianity. We believe and know that there is a very real Heaven and Hell. We want as many people as possible to be in Heaven with us. (This is the nutshell version) This video actually says it better than I can. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4a4AU9FYyc
As far as the evangelism aspect, That is the basis of Christianity. We believe and know that there is a very real Heaven and Hell. We want as many people as possible to be in Heaven with us. (This is the nutshell version) This video actually says it better than I can. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4a4AU9FYyc
Clifford
Footballguy
It's not that I don't disagree with it for myself but I get it. I don't get the appeal of going to a much larger, more crowded version of it.
There is no question they do a lot of good for a lot of people. As a public service engine they are really unparalleled and that's great news about your aunt. Or the rec center example.
Maybe that's what it is all about and why they are so popular now. It's still just interesting as a societal phenomena. Definitely feel it more here. I was at Chick Fil A and when I tried to pay the kid at the counter handed me a Church of the Highlands card. Listed three different locations just in Birmingham. It's kind of everywhere.
There is no question they do a lot of good for a lot of people. As a public service engine they are really unparalleled and that's great news about your aunt. Or the rec center example.
Maybe that's what it is all about and why they are so popular now. It's still just interesting as a societal phenomena. Definitely feel it more here. I was at Chick Fil A and when I tried to pay the kid at the counter handed me a Church of the Highlands card. Listed three different locations just in Birmingham. It's kind of everywhere.
glvsav37
Footballguy
I think your having a hard time separating "recruiting" and "Advertising"
I don't think that all adverting is about recruiting, or monetary gain, or anything other then gaining awareness to the business/church/services/etc.
I think that especially in a faith based setting, having advertising, or identity that shows you are there gives people an opportunity to make a life decision and make a spiritual change.
Say a church places targeted advertisements in places like cabs that service bar districts, well the chances of them being seen by an alcoholic is high—usually alone, late at night and with no other interaction inside the cab. That could be a moment when he decides to change his life and try and attend a meeting or service.
Granted, usually that person could turn into a donation down the line, but the church needs to put a lot of work into it first.
just my $0.02—and I'm not a practicing christian
I don't think that all adverting is about recruiting, or monetary gain, or anything other then gaining awareness to the business/church/services/etc.
I think that especially in a faith based setting, having advertising, or identity that shows you are there gives people an opportunity to make a life decision and make a spiritual change.
Say a church places targeted advertisements in places like cabs that service bar districts, well the chances of them being seen by an alcoholic is high—usually alone, late at night and with no other interaction inside the cab. That could be a moment when he decides to change his life and try and attend a meeting or service.
Granted, usually that person could turn into a donation down the line, but the church needs to put a lot of work into it first.
just my $0.02—and I'm not a practicing christian
Clifford
Footballguy
To your first point that is kind of what I thought. I'm sure you've heard a lot about mega churches being part of the reason small churches are hurting and if you feel like commenting on that I would be interested to hear your opinion.
To the second, as a preventative measure against this thread going to hell, let's just say I respect your opinion and it obviously has a very strong basis in the scripture.
ragincajun
Footballguy
I go to HPC. I grew up catholic, went to private school, and was an alter boy. I was around Catholicism my entire life. I just felt like it was the same ole stuff. My wife and I started to attend HPC and we were amazed at the amount of outreach they do. That is what keeps me coming back. The issue linked above shook the church a bit but it's still going strong.
glvsav37
Footballguy
there might be a sense of being able to hide in a large church. You can stick out in smaller churches, just like a parties or any other social gathering.
People who are exploring spirituality may not want to be confronted or want to be included right away.
On the flip side, those who are deep in their faith may like the huge gathering, like we enjoy going to a sporting event. HD TVs are great, but you cant replicate the experience of going to an amazing game live
ragincajun
Footballguy
Also for me the lead pastor is a dad about my age so I can relate to what he preaches about. That is the other big thing.
Still trying to get used to the difference in songs, I.e. Band.
Still trying to get used to the difference in songs, I.e. Band.
Jayrod
Footballguy
My church is now "1 church in 2 locations".
And the massive growth just...happened. The pastor is a phenomenal preacher and a lot of good people have made it a better place. The youth pastor stayed around for 20 years and the place just kept growing because people were drawn to it by a thousand different reasons.
Sometimes churches just grow because it is a good place to be. Should they start telling people not to come?
And the massive growth just...happened. The pastor is a phenomenal preacher and a lot of good people have made it a better place. The youth pastor stayed around for 20 years and the place just kept growing because people were drawn to it by a thousand different reasons.
Sometimes churches just grow because it is a good place to be. Should they start telling people not to come?
shader
Footballguy
Early Christianity had a church in each community and actively preached to people everywhere. Of course at the time there was only one denomination. But that is the biblical standard a Christian should be following.
