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Easter Ad Campaign Reaches Unchurched at Record Numbers

Started by markvans · 10 months ago

Rod Billings is the pastor of Journey Community Church in suburban Chicago. Started in the late 90s, Journey saw steady growth. By 2000, there were close to 3200 in attendance every week. But then things started to taper off.
“I don’t know what it was,” sa ... Continue reading »

11 comments

  • David Brush

    1 year ago

    Because Buddy Christ knows it's all about You; your car, your house, your needs, your comfort. I know that Christ says, "come to me all that are weary, and I will give you rest." But since when is Jesus a fix-all to grief that comes with living a self-centered life? Church marketing bugs me....
    reply
  • Steve Treichler

    1 year ago

    And to think...

    I've been busting my hump to find out what Jesus wants us to do...

    How could I have gotten it so backward?
    reply
  • Steve Treichler

    1 year ago

    Dude,

    That was an amazing piece of satire. I actually did a google on it to see if it was true before I noticed the "satire" comment. However, I am REALLY scared that I actually thought that it could be true... That's it! I could be true. Too many of us pastors are drinking the red kool-aid and bowing at the "success" or die god and missing the kingdom message all together - and it scares the shit out of me as a pastor as well... God, please keep us from this!
    reply
  • Ben Sternke

    1 year ago

    hahaha - "this post is a work of satire" - sounds like the words of someone who's had to explain that one too many times ;)

    Brilliant piece of satire, though, because the first half sounds like it could be a real report in a newspaper about some suburban Chicago church. It's brilliant, and it cuts (which is what satire is supposed to do, right?). Ouch!

    Keep up the good work. God's peace!
    reply
  • toddh

    1 year ago

    Yeah... sadly enough it's too true to life to be called satire anymore...
    reply
  • Mark Van Steenwyk

    1 year ago

    Hey Todd...long time, no see. How are you doing?
    reply
  • Mike

    1 year ago

    At last a church that deals with my 401k.
    reply
  • mountainguy

    1 year ago

    "Oh people - that have you done
    locked Him in His golden cage.
    Made Him bennd to your religion (...)
    (...)
    So lean upon Him gently
    and don't call on Him to save you
    from your social graces
    and the sins you used waive."

    From Jethro Tull's "My God"
    reply
  • Jason Barr

    1 year ago

    "I'm Jesus, and I approve this satire."
    reply
  • Travis Keller

    1 year ago

    sounds like a jesus who would use the political rhetoric of the 2008 presidential campaigns. the church is his campaign headquarters.
    reply
  • Lee Picton

    1 year ago

    Beautiful work. Sounded just like a marketer's dream until it got to the part about a Jesus that "gives people exactly what they want." So I cottoned to the satire JUST before the disclaimer. It is, however, getting harder to tell the difference from some real congregations having "rock" bands, "preachers" in T-shirts, video screens - Jesus as entertainment, dude. JESUS! Brought to you by (sponser of your choice)! And the fundies can't understand why we atheists laugh at them more each day?
    reply

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