Unapologetic Church Advertising...

[Rychian]

Hey all,
I thought I would throw this out there to the throngs of loyal Reds fans. As you may or may not know I just graduated from Ashland Theological Seminary in June. Since January I have been running after my calling which is planting a church. We are small but mighty right now, where total attendance between groups and sunday morning reaches around 20. Which is not bad for a 6 month old church...

If anyone is in the area and wants to check us out here is the address:
1843 Graham Rd. Stow OH 44224 --> Dangerously close to cleveland i know!
We also accept and appreciate prayers for this new venture
Anywho, we are trying some different things and some new ads are being printed today so maybe youll see them out there. If you want to catch a hint of what we are about one of our ads is a simple post card with this statement on the front:

Church doesn't have to suck...

Thank you all

Tom Asbury

[Chip R]

Good luck, Tom.

[traderumor]

Tom,

With all due respect, I may be an old codger (40) and a bit on the legalistic side, and I cherish my freedom in Christ as much as any other believer, but I hope you're kidding with putting "suck" in advertising promoting your church. I know throughout the culture it has become a synonym for "stinks" or "that's awful," or so they say (even though I think many use the word who don't normally use swear words and feel like they're getting away with something) and I am guilty of throwing it out there myself at times, but it is still a word associated with oral sex where I come from.

That will be all from the Reformed Legalist from Newark

[zombie-a-go-go]

Tom,

With all due respect, I may be an old codger (40) and a bit on the legalistic side, and I cherish my freedom in Christ as much as any other believer, but I hope you're kidding with putting "suck" in advertising promoting your church. I know throughout the culture it has become a synonym for "stinks" or "that's awful," or so they say (even though I think many use the word who don't normally use swear words and feel like they're getting away with something) and I am guilty of throwing it out there myself at times, but it is still a word associated with oral sex where I come from.

That will be all from the Reformed Legalist from Newark

Wow... they don't drink out of straws in Newark?

[traderumor]

Wow... they don't drink out of straws in Newark?

Or use vaccuums

[zombie-a-go-go]

Or use vaccuums

[Rychian]

I know, I know..
But with all due respect many churches do suck. We are using it as a shocking phrase to catch attention and tell people that church doesnt have to be a groan on sundays. So far it is working and we are catching folks who gave up on the church a long time ago.
PS --> Im a pretty conservative guy, but i am willing to use a taboo word if it means people get to know christ.

Tom.

OH and there are much worse words in the Bible --> Skubala being one of them. Check out philippians 3:8. The NIV makes the word more delicate and calls it rubbish. It is actually dung/feces and the word picture is the crap you got on your shoes as you walked the streets before sanitation. Yummy.

[traderumor]

I know, I know..
But with all due respect many churches do suck. We are using it as a shocking phrase to catch attention and tell people that church doesnt have to be a groan on sundays. So far it is working and we are catching folks who gave up on the church a long time ago.
PS --> Im a pretty conservative guy, but i am willing to use a taboo word if it means people get to know christ.

Tom.

OH and there are much worse words in the Bible --> Skubala being one of them. Check out philippians 3:8. The NIV makes the word more delicate and calls it rubbish. It is actually dung/feces and the word picture is the crap you got on your shoes as you walked the streets before sanitation. Yummy.

Definately a difference in ministry philosophy there, Tom. What is your scriptural support for such a method, or do you see that as a necessity when it comes to evangelism?

[WVRed]

PS --> Im a pretty conservative guy, but i am willing to use a taboo word if it means people get to know christ.

Just out of curiosity, what is your stance on Christian rock/Contemporary Christian Music?

I think its great what you are doing and I wish you the best of luck. I almost went to an ultra-conservative Christian college in Pensacola, FL(Pensacola Christian College if you have heard of it), but I decided against it after being down there a couple of days. Long story short, it took conservatism to extremes.

Im currently contemplating Appalachia Bible College here in West Virginia. But I am definitely considering the ministry.

[SunDeck]

Skubala

Good luck with the new venture. I never thought church "sucked", but it certainly didn't seem real relevant. But "Church doesn't have to be irrelevant" doesn't have quite the same ring, does it?

And thanks for the new word to use around my kids. I know, technically this one actually is a curse word, but being in Greek, or Aramaic, or Philipian, or whatever language it's suppose to be makes it okay.
SKUBALA! I'm liking this one more and more.

[RFS62]

Good luck, Tom. I love your attitude.

[Johnny Footstool]

It sounds like you're reaching out to those who need guidance and direction in their lives instead of the holier-than-thou crowd. Always a good thing, IMO.

[traderumor]

It sounds like you're reaching out to those who need guidance and direction in their lives instead of the holier-than-thou crowd. Always a good thing, IMO.

The holier than thou crowd are lost and need guidance and direction, too and Jesus reached out to them also. If the gospel is preached at a church, the "holier-than-thou crowd" is reached out to every week. Wasn't the rebuke Tom referenced in Matt 23 reaching out to them? Didn't he draw Nicodemus to himself? Levi/Matthew? Peter? Paul, the holierest of the holier than thou crowd?

Christ saves sinners--religious ones, pagan ones, and everything in between. The gospel isn't just for the "unchurched." The gospel is for Christians and professing but not possessing Christians too. The key is to preach the gospel, not look for target audiences.

[registerthis]

The holier than thou crowd are lost and need guidance and direction, too and Jesus reached out to them also. If the gospel is preached at a church, the "holier-than-thou crowd" is reached out to every week. Wasn't the rebuke Tom referenced in Matt 23 reaching out to them? Didn't he draw Nicodemus to himself? Levi/Matthew? Peter? Paul, the holierest of the holier than thou crowd?

Christ saves sinners--religious ones, pagan ones, and everything in between. The gospel isn't just for the "unchurched." The gospel is for Christians and professing but not possessing Christians too. The key is to preach the gospel, not look for target audiences.

But surely you can understand that one Church can't be all things to all people, TR.

For example, there are people that prefer a very liturgical, organized worship style. This suits them. I prefer something more relaxed. Some prefer an energetic, joyful celebration--as seen in many inner city churches. others prefer a more quiet, somber service.

Therefore I'm going to disagree with your "target audience" comment. I don't think Rychian is looking for a target audience, only looking for new ways to reach those who may not otherwise be reached. Do other churches "suck"? I can tell you firsthand that I have visited many churches that, were they all I had ever known about Christianity, would have done nothing to further my belief in God. There was nothing going on, or being preached, that would have made me feel that I could have--or *wanted*--to be a part of that congregation. You can preach the gospel, and STILL be an uninspiring congregation.

There are other churches that I find inspiring, for a number of reasons. I don't see Rychian as ignoring the gospel--in actuality, his stated purpose for the church comes directly from a gospel chapter--so much as finding new ways to deliver it.

And that, I believe, is admirable.

[traderumor]

But surely you can understand that one Church can't be all things to all people, TR.

Where does it say its supposed to be?