There has been some discussion about churches who go for a 'TARGETED' audience. I understand the debate, but does having a 'target' and a 'focus' mean you're being exclusionary or prejudiced? I don't believe so.
Jesus said: "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." (Matthew 15:24) Is that prejudiced? No. Jesus had to free SOMEBODY to win EVERYBODY.
In World War II, when the Allies invaded Normandy, it was the largest armada of forces ever known to focus on one small stretch of French beach. But was their objective that little beach? Not at all. Ultimately it was to free Europe. But they had to have a beach head before they could free the rest.
When WE do that, some call that nothing more than niche marketing. They say 'That isn't God.' But they're not allowing themselves to look at Scripture.
It's a lot easier to see this in business. We understand it then. The same hotel chain mother company owns Comfort Inn, Sleep Inn & Quality Inn. They often build two of those side-by-side. Sleep & Comfort - or - Comfort & Quality.
Why? THIS way they have to print all different towels - brand different signs outside - put up three different billboards. Why not just build one big hotel? Because they know they'll sell more beds with THREE than with ONE. They're not being exclusionary. If you have the money, you can get into any of them. But they market to different groups.
Sleep Inn? You just want a nice bed.
Comfort Inn? You're looking for a little more room - maybe a microwave and a small pool.
Quality Inn? A bit more class than the others - you need the internet and a desk - you're a business traveler, etc.
But there is nothing exclusionary there. You can do FOCUS without prejudice. If you are exclusionary, you aren't even Christian.
What do you think?
And be blessed.
9 comments:
Well, this is just my opinion, but that's what you are asking for, so here goes..
I believe that there are what I would refer to as starter churches. I was drawn in by a huge one, Joel Osteen's. Many, many people can just live there indefinitely and they do. I am not one of those people. If I don't stay challenged and learning something and given outlets to serve, then I am ready to move on to something meatier. That is just the truth.
I believe our church, overall, is a mid to deep church. It kind of bounces around and that's ok. I think it is important to reach new people with the gospel, but I personally believe that it is just as important to challenge folks to be more Christlike and to grow.
I don't think we should exclude anyone at all. I just take my time at church seriously and I am there for a reason. Having some fun and entertaining and socializing is great, but I want to focus on God's word. That's why I am there. I could choose any church, but I like it there.
PS...I like the depth of your sermons. You make me think and I like that. Being a newer Christian, I look to you to explain parts of the bible in ways I have not yet thought of or discovered.
great post - keep leading, we're listening.
I think that it is part of our human nature to need targets or goals. It seems obvious to me that God is the ultimate master target-er. Just read through the book of Acts and you can see the targeting played out from Peter to Paul...
Years ago, I did my undergraduate research project on "How to Assimilate Young Adults into Church Bodies". As I recall, the research turned up several key ideas (along with allowing God to move):
1. Develop strong relationships with others (typically in a small group)
2. Have understandable, highly visible and attainable goals (Targets)
3. Provide broad opportunities for individuals to participate in accomplishing the goals
I believe that is not only valuable to have targets as a church, I believe it is essential for individual and corporate growth!
probably one of the things i enjoy about our fellowship is that the staff is in unity and seek the Lord our God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength.
Their is a warmth and safeness in the fellowship because the Holy Spirit is a welcome guest, although we don't alway's get words of prophecy or those times when i just don't want a worship time to end because His presence is so incredible...it's nice to know my Pastors seek to work with Him and honor Him.
i do continue to long for services where we just worship until His sweet presence overcomes everything and we can just tarry together.
one last note regarding our Target: as long as we continue to feed the sheep meals according to their Godly appetites and encourage growth 'diets'. we must ensure that those supporting the 'target' ministry are solid and deep.
CHIEF:
Thanks so much for the kind words. I agree with everything you have said here. God has blessed our congregation and staff, for which I am thankful beyond description.
I appreciate your articulate comments and enjoyed your sheep 'diet' analogy. The only addition I would make to that is (and I say this at the risk of some self-aggrandizement) - I am fairly confident that God is helping us as shepherds to adequately feed the sheep who are already in the fold on a regular basis. At some point, the sheep must rely on their own ability to feed themselves during the week - each day - so they don't come on a weekend completely starved and dependent on what the shepherd might offer up that day. This is the essence of discipleship, not primarily what is learned in the hour on Sunday. I'm sure you agree with this.
What a beautiful future to see the well-fed sheep - having been fed by the Master Shepherd in their own homes Monday thru Saturday - come to the watering hole/big gathering on the weekend to enjoy the presence of wayward, dirty and brand-new sheep and be involved in bringing THEM to maturity.
Well, as it has been for some time now, we will have to agree to disagree, PK, on this subject. I have talked to you privately and now publically and my views are the same.
Let me say this, right up front, I love you and I think the majority of your views are right on the money. I just don't think that you should minimize your calling on that hour on Sunday. I WANT new believers to be drawn to our church. Esp my family and friends...the majority of which have not accepted Christ. I was drawn to KFA, so I fully expect others to be, as well.
I think two things are happening...I am changing and maturing in my relationship to the Lord and our church is changing in the 3 years I have been coming there to entertain almost as much as preach God's word. That's not all bad, either. It IS a fact, though. You have alluded to this in many ways. You call it focus groups. I say it is semantics.
I am feeding myself during the week, but Sunday is my time to hear things from a Man of God in a way I don't even think of or sometimes comprehend the depth of. Maybe in some ways I am still a baby Christian, though I don't exactly feel that way. As holds true in all areas of my life, I am in learning mode...church too.
I don't mean this in any way to sound disrespectful, but I believe if KFA is absolutely serious about reaching the lost, then have a stronger outreach ministry as other churches I know of do. I would be there in a a heartbeat to help. Trust me, the world I live in is mostly populated with unbelievers. It makes me sad that they are satisfied with that life, but I keep loving them and showing them kindness...they are my friends and family. I would be thrilled if more people got in there and mingled with the lost....aside from the folks at Hands of the Lamb. They give of their time and hearts on a continual basis and it is a ministry that I respect and have gotten involved with.
Sorry...one of the downsides of blog posts is that they sound much worse than they are intended. I still think you are awesome.
Kathy
ANON:
First off, I didn't think your response was at all disrespectful. I understand your thoughts on this subject.
I don't believe I'm minimizing the hour on Sunday for believers. It is there for them. They get fed. They can walk away refreshed and built up. For me that is the end of that story. There isn't a pull or struggle there and we are on the same page. It will always be that way. Believers will be fed.
But our eternal inner conflict will be the other part of that story. What to do with the unbeliever present. If they're not present, why not? It would be because believers are not bringing them or inviting them.
The truth is: many believers wouldn't even notice if we stopped giving invitations for people to receive Christ on weekends. They would soon get lost in their own 'feed me' world. It's just the truth. That's not a big slam to unbelievers, it is simply our natural bent to turn inward on ourselves. So our problem is not one of getting fed as Christ-followers. Our problem is keeping our focus on those outside the Kingdom. It is God's call to us -- it's how Jesus operated and it's how He calls us to operate. It matters not whether you work in the world all day long or not. Jesus calls us to reach out. If church is an oasis for you - that's wonderful - but you can see that it isn't long before that's all it becomes. And others who used to be like you - lost - desperately need an oasis - like you do. That's what I'm called to keep in front of us. And lucky for you, as long as I'm your pastor, you'll have to keep dealing with that because it's what God has called me to do here. LOL.
As far as organized evangelism goes, I do understand other churches are engaged in that. I don't criticize that approach. It is simply not what God is calling us to at KFA. I do not believe it is particularly scriptural to 'organize' evangelism. My belief is that evangelism should be organic - one believer ministering to one believer in relationships - not so much door-to-door or out on street corners. It is why we probably won't see a Pastor of Evangelism at KFA anytime soon - -because evangelism should not be minimized to a person organizing us around special events to do it. It needs to become LIFESTYLE, not event-driven. I DO believe if particular believers want to do that, they could organize themselves to do it rather than ask the church to do it for them.
My thoughts in a very big nutshell here. HAHA. Be blessed.
My post will be very short this time and that is unusual for me...lol. I plan on you being my pastor for a long time and I feel blessed to have the privilege of knowing you.
I understand what you are saying about believers bringing others to church. Why is it so hard to get people to just TRY it? I'm not looking for a lifetime commitment from my friends and family, just to give it a try and see.
BTW, Mom is coming with me for Easter again!!! I am so excited about that...I'm glad she likes it there. Now, if it could turn into more than just holidays...we'll see. I am super excited that you are giving the sermon, too. She hasn't heard you speak yet.
Kathy
One last thing...IF my friends and family came to know you, as I have, I am certain they would come to our church. You are an awesome pastor and you are just a regular person, with a lot of great qualities. Wish they could meet you for a while.
PS...I told one younger girl at work that when I was in HS, I wanted to be a singer and dancer. She said it would be like Ghandi being in a band...lol. She does like to tease me, but seriously, people have this image in their minds of Christians and no matter how we really are, they don't always shake it. She is very fun, though, and I told her she is my adopted daughter, since my own grown kids are so far away. I just found it all rather amusing.
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