One church is having a problem. Outreach magazine looks at a growing church who can’t get permission from their city to move to a bigger location. Why, you ask? Well, the city, making an economic decision, knows that giving up a bigger space to a church means they miss out on the tax revenue of a for-profit business.
The article looks at the troubling question, “Would the community weep if your church were to pull out of the city? Would anybody notice if you left?” And then looks to answer how you can make that a resounding “Yes.”
Marketing yourself as an opponent of the city you’re in isn’t going to get you much of anywhere, so check out what Outreach has to say about becoming the Church, serving your community and partnering with those around you.
Peter
June 24, 2008
Convicting, definitely convicting. This is a question that we’re pondering a little right now and wondering what we should do about it. (Not in the sense of whether or not to act, but what specifically to do.) I’m going to have to review this article a little more and check out some of the ideas and related. I might look into spear-heading something like that just so we are relevant. It’s been on my heart more and more lately.
Mike
June 24, 2008
WOW!! I was at Whiteboard Sessions not too long ago and heard the same quote which was quoted a couple weeks ago at our church. Would the community feel like a hole was in their heart if your church left. We have been getting after it in our community so much as to where the Chief of Police came to meet our Pastor and thank him for what we have done to make a difference. I guess it helps to continue to move forward helping and let God take care of the Politics of getting bigger spaces that we as churches need to be more effective.
Mike
June 24, 2008
WOW!! I was at Whiteboard Sessions not too long ago and heard the same quote which was quoted a couple weeks ago at our church. Would the community feel like a hole was in their heart if your church left. We have been getting after it in our community so much as to where the Chief of Police came to meet our Pastor and thank him for what we have done to make a difference. I guess it helps to continue to move forward helping and let God take care of the Politics of getting bigger spaces that we as churches need to be more effective.
GeoffreyBrown
June 24, 2008
It sounds great!
The article doesn’t mention the suspicion, perhaps occasionally tinged with resentment on the part of the government or civic association, that a church can be greeted with when it offers to help.
At times like that, sometimes the only thing to do is to do it yourself.