Comments on: Why I Don’t Do Gas Buy-downs

By: Chase Delperdang

Chase Delperdang — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:12:56 +0000

The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21 Century Church by Frost and Hirsch

By: Think Before You Engage in Servant Evangelism

Think Before You Engage in Servant Evangelism — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 15:44:35 +0000

[...] book, “101 Ways To Reach Your Community” by Steve Sjogren with Jonathan Dodson’s appropriate cautions. A lot of Steve’s suggested, especially introductory servant evangelism events are [...]

By: chrismarlow

chrismarlow — Tue, 06 May 2008 23:51:52 +0000

This is such a tough tension. I think many people don’t understand that evangelism must be rooted in proper theology. It’s not just about being creative.

I want people to understand the murdered Jesus who calls us to give up our lives and follow him. That may sound harsh-but I think we need to up-the-anti a bit. Our communities are looking for a redemptive hope that can bring personal and corporate transformation.

This is why we (Vista) canceled out Easter Egg Hunt. The whole church world decided to do a helicopter drop. I just felt so uncomfortable spending so much money on an event that primarily entertains.

Now…I still respect folks that are doing these types of events. I know they are trying hard and just wanting to connect in suburbia, which is quite hard on many levels.

By: Kez

Kez — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:05:02 +0000

Great post!

By: The Bishop

The Bishop — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:47:55 +0000

We did a block party for our neighborhood when we planted our simple church. Instead of games and give-aways, we hosted it as more of an open house with free food and a seasonal theme (it was in December). It allowed us to actually sit with our neighbors and share conversations over a meal. I think the goal is to engage the people, and not to feed their desire for more stuff. Jesus even said to use your money to make worldy friends.
Good thoughts, Jonathan. Focus your resources on building kingdom relationships, and not just enabling our consumeristic desires to be fulfilled.

By: Jacob Vanhorn

Jacob Vanhorn — Fri, 02 May 2008 04:27:18 +0000

Jonathan, you continue to integrate theology so well into your communities actions. I think it honors God deeply to think so critically. Thanks for keeping me sharp.

By: jamesmclean

jamesmclean — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:47:45 +0000

this is a great post, we need to be careful when saying “whatever it takes” to get them to church. God does have a way that He wants to do it and i don’t believe appealing to American materialism is one of those ways.

By: Steve Gentry

Steve Gentry — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:24:59 +0000

I appreciate your comments. I’m beginning to understand more and more how we, as church planters, are beginning to feed the consumerism that is overtaking our culture. With gas buy downs, egg drops, Game System give-aways, and now some are throwing the idea around of car give-aways; we are creating nothing but a consumer church-goer mindset.

It’s almost like giving someone a beer to attempt to get them to come to an AA meeting. Do the ends justify the means? Do the means we are using create a mindset that causes it to be almost impossible to get the means that the Gospel demands?

We don’t understand that building an army of 100 people who are committed to the demands of a missional lifestyle is better than 1000 who are simply there to consume their need for significance.

I’m just throwing around thoughts here…

By: jdodson

jdodson — Thu, 01 May 2008 02:14:16 +0000

What do you think Zac?

By: jdodson

jdodson — Thu, 01 May 2008 02:13:20 +0000

It depends on how the block party is approached and in what context the block party is held. Again, these are personal opinions regarding Austin City Life, so it’s not a one size fits all kind of answer or opinion.

If the block party is sponsored by the church with signage, cards, info booth and food, jumping houses, Xbox/prize give-aways and hoopla I am not very supportive for many of the reasons listed above….consumerism, buying people off, etc.

However, if the block party is orchestrated through an HOA because you serve on the HOA and are cultivating community in your neighborhood in ways that are not to just get people in the door of your church, that is better. What I am even more supportive of is having a block party in partnership with a social non-profit and fundraising for that cause, promoting that cause, developing relationships, and not advertising the church all over the place. Church doesnt need to be hidden but doesnt need to dominate. Relationships and cultivating community comes before building up my church numbers.