You Had Me At Rib-Fest — Prime Time to Upgrade Church Member Benefits

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You Had Me At Rib-Fest — Prime Time to Upgrade Church Member Benefits

You Had Me At Rib-Fest — Prime Time to Upgrade Church Member Benefits

It’s like Christmas time for the church goer. If you’re in the market, planning on shopping your church membership benefits for the coming year, perhaps upgrading, this is the primetime to do so. By the volume of my email inbox, postcards, e-blasts, Facebook and twitter links, churches all over the community want ME!

The “Back to School” and “Fall Kick-Off Season” has begun. This annual ritual marks the calendar like the State Fair of Texas. And WOW, the sights and sounds and smells! As a public service to aid the discerning “church consumer”, below is my personal “Top Ten List” of some of my favs and package deals this year:

10. Fall Kick Off— Breakfast and barbecue, ice cream sundae bar all morning. (Not sure about the breakfast and sundae bar combo!)

9. Pony rides, games, bouncers, food, petting zoo, gaga ball tournament. (Definitely a kid pleaser! Need to brush up on my gaga ball skills!)

8. Worship, eat, play, connect, relate, drink, sing, engage. (Be careful at the drinking and singing!)

7. Fall Kick Off — Chili dogs, drinks, dunk tank, ring toss, jousting, root beer garden, cotton candy (A+ on the originality of jousting and root beer garden!)

6. Fall Kick Off— Carnival, beach volleyball, horse rides, and barbecue. (Beach volleyball; I like the beach!)

5. Fall Into Church —Food, games, prizes (Slim on details but catchy title!)

4. Fall Kick Off — Live DJ, retro snow, game night, small group sign-ups, appetizers and dessert, competition (What exactly is “retro” snow?)

3. Jewish Synagogue — Get inspired, educated, and motivated, dinner served, dietary laws observed (Love it! A Saturday option and dietary laws observed :))

2. Fall Vision Sermon — Encountering God, Isaiah 6, Hawaiian theme, birthday party, cake, ice cream, water balloons (Most bizarre award!)

1. Fall Kick Off 2015 — Rib-fest-activities, Rib-fest competition, ministry displays, apple pie, arts and crafts displays, inflatable’s

Seriously, I can’t make this stuff up! But being a “rib guy” you had me at Rib-fest!

To my pastor friends and church marketing buddies, thanks for letting me poke a little fun! 🙂 And lest I appear a bit too pious, I’ve been there. Thirty-five years and lots of dollars later, I’ve led the rally cry and sat in my share of dunk tanks — all for the cause!

And so here’s my question. What is the cause? I tread respectfully, but truthfully here. What is the cause? What end does National Back to Church Sunday (yes there is one) on September 20, 2015 serve?

Here’s my opinion. These “fall finales” serve as a great re-entry day for those lapsed church members who have been enjoying the hiatus of the summer. In addition, perhaps also for those church connoisseurs looking for better church amenities, better coffee, programming and playgrounds for their kids.

Sorry, but am I not right?

Now I don’t argue the total non-value of some of these big days. We all need some good reminders of commitment and participation. But my fear is that much of this borders on the risk of societal consumerism. And what about those not in anyone’s church? What is the plan for the NON church goer?

Here’s a few fun fall facts. The people in my neighborhood are NOT going to come to your church. (At least not yet.) We must GO to them! Just this past week the Barna Research Group posted this article:

2015 Sees Sharp Rise in Post-Christian Population — Is America a post-Christian nation? Not quite—but in just two years, the percentage of Americans who qualify as “post-Christian” rose by 7 points (from 37% in 2013 to 44% in 2015), bringing the number very near the halfway mark.

Luke 10 provides the account of Jesus throwing His own “kick-off” of sorts. It says, “The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields. Now go, and remember that I am sending you out…”

Notice anything? This fall as we church goers gather together for fresh vision and energy, let our vision and energy lead us to pray..to send…and to GO!

Loving Community,

Jim