A Day of Arggggggs
Argggggg #1
Mr. Harrison belongs to a new breed of church consultants aiming to equip pastors with modern marketing practices. Pastors say mystery worshippers like Mr. Harrison offer insight into how newcomers judge churches — a critical measure at a time when mainline denominations continue to shed members and nearly half of American adults switch religious affiliations. In an increasingly diverse and fluid religious landscape, churches competing for souls are turning to corporate marketing strategies such as focus groups, customer-satisfaction surveys and product giveaways
Others say that church shopping has become necessary for churches seeking to compete in an increasingly mobile and consumer-oriented society. “My competition is Cracker Barrel restaurant down the street,” says Pete Wilson, pastor of CrossPoint Church in Nashville, Tenn., who regularly enlists a secret shopper to evaluate his 2,000-person congregation. “If they go in there and are treated more like family than when they come to CrossPoint Church, then it’s lights out for me.” [From The Mystery Worshipper - WSJ.com]
Argggggg #2
pop-rock band
what if I like alt-country?
“church for people who don’t like church”
What if I’m one of those crazy people who actually like church?
community service, Bible study, drama, and popular music
Sure hope that’s not the order of priority. And what about the preaching of the word?
Argggggg #3
Heard from a good friend about a pastor who told a senior, and founding, member of his congregation that he “doesn’t do seniors”
All three of these examples cause me to scream “Brothers, We Are Not Professionals“