I see and hear your heart in this email. I understand where you are coming from but I also know what I have experienced in doing big outreaches is also true. I live in a small rural community of 3,000 in the Bible Belt. Our church does the big Easter event in our community (and the trunk or treat, movie night, back to school event, etc). Our events are sometimes at our church but the Easter event is usually at the town baseball fields or high school football field. I have found that some people won’t go to a event at a church, but they will go to an event in a public location that is sponsored by the church. Through the event, they or the kids may connect with someone or want to find out more and end up visiting. It could be the lure of a prize or a candy bar from kids church when they are a new visitor or maybe a parent knows that they can sit with someone they just met rather than attending and sitting in a service alone. Regardless, our church has gained new members that wouldn’t have visited our church on their own but because of the event, came to check it out and bring their kids. Some of those visitors (not all) became active members who expanded our circle by bringing their friends and family. Bright and shiny event? Yes. But sometimes that is what it takes to draw someone near. It might be the carrot on the stick and that is okay because expanding the kingdom is what it is all about regardless of the method. I believe, community can be created and exist within the bright and shiny. And please know, I wore my jeans on Sunday because I felt in my soul what you wrote previously this week in making people feel comfortable. It all matters. ❤️
Happy Easter to you, Cory and all the family, Shannan. We made it to church this morning after a week away. Was really encouraging to remember that there's no church apart from ordinary church, and that all this too is part of the story.
I see and hear your heart in this email. I understand where you are coming from but I also know what I have experienced in doing big outreaches is also true. I live in a small rural community of 3,000 in the Bible Belt. Our church does the big Easter event in our community (and the trunk or treat, movie night, back to school event, etc). Our events are sometimes at our church but the Easter event is usually at the town baseball fields or high school football field. I have found that some people won’t go to a event at a church, but they will go to an event in a public location that is sponsored by the church. Through the event, they or the kids may connect with someone or want to find out more and end up visiting. It could be the lure of a prize or a candy bar from kids church when they are a new visitor or maybe a parent knows that they can sit with someone they just met rather than attending and sitting in a service alone. Regardless, our church has gained new members that wouldn’t have visited our church on their own but because of the event, came to check it out and bring their kids. Some of those visitors (not all) became active members who expanded our circle by bringing their friends and family. Bright and shiny event? Yes. But sometimes that is what it takes to draw someone near. It might be the carrot on the stick and that is okay because expanding the kingdom is what it is all about regardless of the method. I believe, community can be created and exist within the bright and shiny. And please know, I wore my jeans on Sunday because I felt in my soul what you wrote previously this week in making people feel comfortable. It all matters. ❤️
Amen to all of this. A good reminder for Easter and every day to be present and accept what comes, see Jesus in it all. 💗
Happy Easter to you, Cory and all the family, Shannan. We made it to church this morning after a week away. Was really encouraging to remember that there's no church apart from ordinary church, and that all this too is part of the story.