To De or not to De ?
I had two conversations this weekend that I am finding hard to get out of my head probably because they touched on a subject close to my heart, the nature and growth of the church.
The first conversation with an experienced pastor , related to the 'science' of church growth. We discussed such things as how many times a visitor needs to be 'touched' in order for them to feel welcomed by the 'group'. This 'touching' apparently, the experts tell us, helps people within eleven minutes of entering the meeting /building to decide whether not they will return.
The other conversation, with a young Christian leader, concerned church planting by means of demographic targeting. The demographic group in question was the so called 'missing generation' of 20 /30 somethings. My friend informed me that in church planting circle the US, demographic targeting of this particular group is all the rage.
One of the questions banging around in my head is, by using demographic targeting are we planting church or a 'modified church experience' that is being passed off as church? (More on this later)
The first conversation with an experienced pastor , related to the 'science' of church growth. We discussed such things as how many times a visitor needs to be 'touched' in order for them to feel welcomed by the 'group'. This 'touching' apparently, the experts tell us, helps people within eleven minutes of entering the meeting /building to decide whether not they will return.
The other conversation, with a young Christian leader, concerned church planting by means of demographic targeting. The demographic group in question was the so called 'missing generation' of 20 /30 somethings. My friend informed me that in church planting circle the US, demographic targeting of this particular group is all the rage.
One of the questions banging around in my head is, by using demographic targeting are we planting church or a 'modified church experience' that is being passed off as church? (More on this later)
posted by tony at
10:58 PM
1 Comments:
I understand the need for specifics in church, relating to age-group, but I'm not convinced about targeting. Who is around us that needs to be reached, and set free? Having said that I live in a mining town and not Auld Reekie. Are we at risk of loosing the sense of family by aiming for the kids only, parents only, older families only, grandparents only...?
If loads of people "touched" me in a new church I went into, I think I'd be put off. I remember being in an Anglican church once and was almost forced to go forward for communion elements or "just go for a blessing". The person did not know the state of my heart before God...!!! Sorry, but it put me off, miles off. I did not want to ever go back there again.
Just some rumblings...
Post a Comment
<< Home