Church Marketing Doesn't Have to Stink
As I finished up some work at home yesterday afternoon and the girls were watching their one afternoon show, there was a knock on the front door. This is unusual...normally when people come to our house, they come to the door in the carport. Clearly, this was a "first-timer."
I opened the door and there stands a man in a suit that parked his black SUV in between our house and our neighbor's so his friend, who was also wearing a suit, could visit them. I knew without him saying a word what he was here to do...
He tells me what church he is from, hands me a flyer inviting me to their Easter show, and then his last line sealed it...
"We're handing out these flyers because it's what Jesus wants us to do and we think He wants you to come to our program."
So Jesus called you to ignore the piles of rubble that people used to call homes while you invite them to your Easter show? I'm having a hard time with that one...a really hard time with that one. Did he give the same speech at every visit? I can't imagine that going over very well.
It would have been a thousand times better if he would have at least asked if we were okay...or at least acknowledged what happened less than 48 hours before his visit. Granted, our house is fine and we are fine...but a few houses down is a different story.
The most angering and saddening part of it all for me is that this only cements what so many think about Jesus: He only cares about heaven and hell and couldn't care less about every day life. That perception wasn't formed in a vacuum...it was formed out of experiences like I had yesterday.
I bet if that church sent teams of people into the hardest hit neighborhoods to help collect belongings, clear debris, cook meals, provide gift cards for groceries, and provide ears to listen and shoulders to cry on, they wouldn't have enough seats for their Easter show. And the best part of it all...the people who were served would have already seen Jesus in action and the show would fill in the blanks.
thanks for this. :)
Posted by: jeff g | March 18, 2008 at 11:46 AM
That's a sad story that's all too true. And just think of the reactions of the people who he talked to who weren't involved in a church. *sigh*
Brad Ruggles
www.bradruggles.com
Posted by: Brad Ruggles | March 18, 2008 at 11:52 AM
AMEN!AMEN!AMEN!
Posted by: david | March 18, 2008 at 01:09 PM
Jay, I'm with you 100%. The days of the cold call knock on the door died about the time disco did. Glad you and your family made it through the storms.
Posted by: Cliff Marshall | March 18, 2008 at 03:54 PM
I can't decide if that makes me want to cry or throw up!
Posted by: Jamie | March 18, 2008 at 05:03 PM
Un-freakin-believable!
I don't think the complaint about churches being all about the numbers is about the size of a church. It's about stuff like this. Stepping over the obvious damage around you to hand out a postcard and then drive away.
Posted by: Jason Salamun | March 18, 2008 at 05:40 PM
This is very encouraging. Not the fact that these guys care more about their program than their neighbors, but the fact that this disturbed you. God is on the move in Columbia and it's exciting to see leaders like yourself react like this.
Posted by: Greg Dodson | March 18, 2008 at 11:33 PM
I'm with you on that one brother!! The least you can do is to ask "is there anything we can do?" and pray with you!! Ah, but you see he wasn't dressed for that was he?
Posted by: Technonana | March 18, 2008 at 11:40 PM
You're so right...and I'm a church marketing guy!
It has to start with the person not the postcard. I think too often it's about focus, is our focus on simply filling up seats or seeing lives changed?
We should try to fill the seats, but not so that they will simply be filled.
Good post!
Posted by: michael buckingham | March 19, 2008 at 09:25 AM
brad - i fear the same thing...i'm a Jesus-follower and i was ticked. what did those who are not Jesus-followers think? yikes!
cliff - you're so right. we don't have permission to invade people's territory just because we have a cool postcard and a cool program to invite them to.
jamie - both would be appropriate!
jason - i knew you'd get fired up about this! :-)
greg - thanks for those encouraging words and your prayers for this great city!
technonana - no, he wasn't dressed for doing ministry...he was dressed to sell vacuums! :-)
michael - thanks for commenting and sharing your thoughts...especially since you are a church marketer. are you related to marcus? :-)
Posted by: jay hardwick | March 19, 2008 at 10:35 AM
I read your story with amazement. I reference it on my blog, too.
Posted by: MarketingTwins-Randy | March 20, 2008 at 02:25 PM
Wow - what a great testimony about how churches can miss the mark on some many fronts. Most have great intentions but need to re-tool their thinking. Thanks Jay for helping us remember that Jesus is ALL about the every day life.
Posted by: MarketingTwins-Donny | March 20, 2008 at 11:26 PM
donny and randy - thanks for chiming in and linking, too.
Posted by: jay hardwick | March 21, 2008 at 09:54 AM