Comments on: How Will Gas Prices Impact Your Church? http://akronsection.wordpress.com/2008/06/20/how-will-gas-prices-impact-your-church/ Just another WordPress.com weblog Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:06:14 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Paul DiGregorio http://akronsection.wordpress.com/2008/06/20/how-will-gas-prices-impact-your-church/#comment-14 Paul DiGregorio Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:17:35 +0000 http://akronsection.wordpress.com/?p=8#comment-14 There was definintely some good insight in this article. Since this is the comment section let me offer my take. In many if not most of our churches (particularly the A/G) a large portion of our adherents travel a good distance to get there. I've known 2 families in 2 differnent churches over the years that would travel in excess of 45 minutes 2-3 times a week. While we might want to call that committed some might think they need to be committed. The point is that in the time it takes many of our adherents to get to church they are passing by a number of very good churches (and yes some are A/G) So what does this have to do with the effect of gas prices? Maybe this will bring us back to supporting our community church. We talk about wanting to reach our communities for Christ but how can we do that when the majority of our people don't even live in the community? (Some pastors don't even live in the same community as their church.) Their kids aren't in the schools, they don't shop there.They don't hang out at the local Starbucks. How can they really get to know and relate to the people if their only exposure to them is for a couple hours a week in church or a couple times a year for an "outreach"? Maybe this challange is a "blessing in disguise" Maybe this will cause Christians to discover their community church and get to know the people in their community better and be able to better minister to them. Instead of running out of town so they can be "better fed" or experience better worship, as member of their local church they will be better able to fulfill the great commission. After all is that what it's all about? It's not supposed to be only about us and getting our needs met. One other thought. Maybe we as established churches should also more warmly embrace church planting. The more churches the easier it will be for those who want to be to get there. These church plants aren't and should not be considered our compeitors. Did you ever wonder why Starbucks has several stores so close to each other or even across the street from each other? They want to make it easy for their customers to get there. That's what church planting helps to do. How we do ministry constantly needs to be evaluated and redefined and varies from church to church. Let's not let this new challange frustrate us but stimulate us to adapt to our everchanging society. There was definintely some good insight in this article. Since this is the comment section let me offer my take. In many if not most of our churches (particularly the A/G) a large portion of our adherents travel a good distance to get there. I’ve known 2 families in 2 differnent churches over the years that would travel in excess of 45 minutes 2-3 times a week. While we might want to call that committed some might think they need to be committed. The point is that in the time it takes many of our adherents to get to church they are passing by a number of very good churches (and yes some are A/G) So what does this have to do with the effect of gas prices? Maybe this will bring us back to supporting our community church. We talk about wanting to reach our communities for Christ but how can we do that when the majority of our people don’t even live in the community? (Some pastors don’t even live in the same community as their church.) Their kids aren’t in the schools, they don’t shop there.They don’t hang out at the local Starbucks. How can they really get to know and relate to the people if their only exposure to them is for a couple hours a week in church or a couple times a year for an “outreach”?

Maybe this challange is a “blessing in disguise” Maybe this will cause Christians to discover their community church and get to know the people in their community better and be able to better minister to them. Instead of running out of town so they can be “better fed” or experience better worship, as member of their local church they will be better able to fulfill the great commission. After all is that what it’s all about? It’s not supposed to be only about us and getting our needs met.

One other thought. Maybe we as established churches should also more warmly embrace church planting. The more churches the easier it will be for those who want to be to get there. These church plants aren’t and should not be considered our compeitors. Did you ever wonder why Starbucks has several stores so close to each other or even across the street from each other? They want to make it easy for their customers to get there. That’s what church planting helps to do.

How we do ministry constantly needs to be evaluated and redefined and varies from church to church. Let’s not let this new challange frustrate us but stimulate us to adapt to our everchanging society.

]]> By: WB http://akronsection.wordpress.com/2008/06/20/how-will-gas-prices-impact-your-church/#comment-12 WB Sat, 21 Jun 2008 02:39:36 +0000 http://akronsection.wordpress.com/?p=8#comment-12 I felt the insights in the article were excellent. I agree with Josh, however, that the challenge of "hard times" (in whatever form) only tends to refine our motives. Historically, the church has thrived in hard times (persecution, oppression, economic depressions) and did poorly when lavishing in riches in the Laodician "comfort zone." Hey, I used to pray for great weather on Sundays, now I pray it's moderately miserable enough to keep people from running off to outdoor entertainment instead of coming to church. Who knows, maybe the $4 it costs someone to drive to church will will seem like a deal compared to the $20 it will cost them to go to the beach! (Pretty shallow - but just trying to be positive!) I felt the insights in the article were excellent. I agree with Josh, however, that the challenge of “hard times” (in whatever form) only tends to refine our motives. Historically, the church has thrived in hard times (persecution, oppression, economic depressions) and did poorly when lavishing in riches in the Laodician “comfort zone.” Hey, I used to pray for great weather on Sundays, now I pray it’s moderately miserable enough to keep people from running off to outdoor entertainment instead of coming to church. Who knows, maybe the $4 it costs someone to drive to church will will seem like a deal compared to the $20 it will cost them to go to the beach! (Pretty shallow – but just trying to be positive!)

]]> By: joshua moraghan http://akronsection.wordpress.com/2008/06/20/how-will-gas-prices-impact-your-church/#comment-11 joshua moraghan Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:50:57 +0000 http://akronsection.wordpress.com/?p=8#comment-11 rising gas prices?? just another opportunity for followers of Christ to evalaute how we "do ministry." if the way we "do ministry" is working - meaning people are coming to Christ and being brought into Christlikeness - then don't fix anything. on the other hand, if the way we "do ministry" is not working - people are not coming to Christ and being led into Christlikeness - rising gas prices or not, we need to reevaluate! rising gas prices?? just another opportunity for followers of Christ to evalaute how we “do ministry.” if the way we “do ministry” is working – meaning people are coming to Christ and being brought into Christlikeness – then don’t fix anything. on the other hand, if the way we “do ministry” is not working – people are not coming to Christ and being led into Christlikeness – rising gas prices or not, we need to reevaluate!

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