Preparing for the Chreasters.
Pastors have an affectionate term for those parishoners they see only on Christmas and Easter. We call them Chreasters. :)
Our funny friends at LarkNews.com have a humorous piece on how Chreasters are approaching this phenomenon of attending church only twice a year. They are all geared up to make their visit and disappear, but this time they'll be more intentional about avoiding the push to make them come to church more often. I personally think it is amusing to see all the work churches put into cantatas, plays, dramas, special servies etc. in an attempt to reach that small percentage of attenders in a typical Christmas or Easter church service that is unsaved.
While you can always have a testimony or two of people who were reached for Jesus using these methods, I have always thought that it was a gargantuan effort for poor return. I know, what price can you put on a soul? I prefer year round friendship evangelism. Especially since most of the statistics continue to prove that those who come to Christ, and stick around, come as a result of a friendship made and not a special service, musical or play.
We'll get our share of Chreasters this year. I hope they will find a friendly congregation that will embrace them beyond just the 90 minute service. I also hope that our congregation will take the opportunity to invite those friends they have been sharing their faith with to come to our services. That will be a lot more effective than just expecting walk-ins to connect with the gospel and the church.
Our funny friends at LarkNews.com have a humorous piece on how Chreasters are approaching this phenomenon of attending church only twice a year. They are all geared up to make their visit and disappear, but this time they'll be more intentional about avoiding the push to make them come to church more often. I personally think it is amusing to see all the work churches put into cantatas, plays, dramas, special servies etc. in an attempt to reach that small percentage of attenders in a typical Christmas or Easter church service that is unsaved.
While you can always have a testimony or two of people who were reached for Jesus using these methods, I have always thought that it was a gargantuan effort for poor return. I know, what price can you put on a soul? I prefer year round friendship evangelism. Especially since most of the statistics continue to prove that those who come to Christ, and stick around, come as a result of a friendship made and not a special service, musical or play.
We'll get our share of Chreasters this year. I hope they will find a friendly congregation that will embrace them beyond just the 90 minute service. I also hope that our congregation will take the opportunity to invite those friends they have been sharing their faith with to come to our services. That will be a lot more effective than just expecting walk-ins to connect with the gospel and the church.
posted by jawbone at
12:10 PM
8 Comments:
I was asked my our New York, Long Island newspaper, Newsday to comment on "Chreasters" for publication. Here's what I wrote:
I try to deal with "seasonal worshippers" by the best model available to me, the Biblical Jesus. Of course the natural response might be, "where are these people the rest of the year?" But Jesus, instead of rebuking the multitudes for wanting to fulfill their natural desires for entertainment, food, healing, etc., instead, used whatever the occasion, to boldly proclaim the coming of His Kingdom. It was at these events that the people heard "Truth." Truth is compelling to those who find the "life" around them to be less life and more of an existence. The Truth of the coming Kingdom of God, when fully embraced, can be life changing, thereby lifting a mere "holiday event" to one of transcendence.
So, we welcome the worshippers whatever the season or reason.
Pastor Dennis Hodulick<><
By
Anonymous, at 9:21 AM
I do not believe that these great events should be primarily geared to the unsaved. I feel that there are long term benefits to the members that attend and participate. It allows the body to come together and work on a short term project while forging friendships that can last a lifetime. It is also a great way for newer members to plug-in and meet new people. It also benefits the regular attenders by allowing us to relax and focus on the true reason for the celebration of Easter and Christmas.
Also, we should not forget the testimony or two of people who have been reached for Jesus using these methods.
Brad
By
Anonymous, at 4:58 PM
I WAS ONE OF THOSE THAT WERE INVITED TO ATTEND ONE OF OUR MAJOR
PRODUCTIONS, WHICH WAS AWESOME.
I WAS LED TO CHRISTIAN HILLS FOR A CHRISTMAS CANTATA. I HIGHLY DISAGREE WITH YOUR BLOG THAT WE PUT TO MUCH EFFORT INTO THESE PRODUCTIONS. I CAN NAME MANY PEOPLE WHO WERE SAVED BY ONE OF OUR FAMOUS PRODUCTIONS, ANOTHER WAS MY DAUGHTER. MANY PEOPLE WHO WERE SAVED AT ONE OF THESE EVENTS HAVE LEFT OUR CHURCH, BECAUSE OF THIS TYPE OF ATITUDE.
I AGREE WITH BRAD, MANY PEOPLE WERE BROUGHT CLOSER TOGETHER AND LOOK FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO USE THEIR GIFT'S.
THOMAS G. KANE
By
Anonymous, at 12:49 PM
Many in our churches today relegate evangelism to "the professionals", and the "big events" that are supposed to "save people". I believe it is far more important to be evangelistic on a day to day basis. Why does it a take a large scale production for us to invite people to church? Do we not think a regular Sunday service is powerful or adequate to accomplish God's work? Because, guess what? The week after Christmas that same visitor is going to have to come to a "regular" church service in order to grow and learn. I think many of us have forgotten that the Christmas story speaks of Jesus coming humbly into the world, not accompanied by fanfare, and that entrance was good enough.
Natalie
By
Anonymous, at 3:18 PM
PUTTING ON PRODUCTIONS HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BY PROFESSIONALS AT CHRISTIAN HILLS, IT HAS ALWAY BEEN DONE BY THE BODY OF CHRIST.
I DID COME BACK AFTER BEING INVITED TO ATTEND A MAJOR PRODUCTION, I WOULD HAVE NEVER STEPPED INTO CHRISTIAN HILLS IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE CHRISTMAS PRODUCTION.
THESE KINDS OF EVENTS HELP BRING THE CONGREGATION CLOSER, AND IT DOES EDIFY CHRIST, THAT IS WHERE I REALIZED WHAT GOD WAS ALL ABOUT.
ONE PERSON MAY HAVE BEEN SAVED THAT NITE, AND BECAUSE OF THAT MY WHOLE FAMILY SERVES CHRIST. I AM THE FIRST GENERATION CHRISTIAN. IN FACT I CANT COUNT HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAVED BY ME SHARING WITH THEM. TWO AWESOME FRIENDS TOOK THERE TIME TO INVITE ME, WHEN THEY KNEW I WOULD NEVER COME TO A REGULAR SERVICE. I BELIEVE THEIR ARE ALOT MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE JUST LIKE MY SELF. I WAS LOST. I THANK GOD FOR THE CHRISTIAN HILLS AND PASTOR ARNESS FOR PUTTING ON THE PRODUCTIONS. THIS IS GIVING THE GLORY TO GOD, IN ALL THINGS
IN CHRIST
TOM KANE
By
Anonymous, at 8:52 PM
PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLOGY TO ANY OF YOU WHO MAY BELIVE THAT BECAUSE I TYPE IN CAPS I AM AM UPSET OR YELLING. THAT IS NOT THE CASE I ALWAYS TYPE IN CAPS BECAUSE MY TWO LEFT FINGERS ON MY LEFT HAND DO NOT WORK.
IF I OFFENDED ANY ONE I HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS. I WILL CONTINUE TO TYPE IN CAPS, NOT BECAUSE IM STUBBORN BUT THAT IS HOW I DO IT. OTHER WISE YOU MIGHT SEE ALOT OF EE'S AND SSSS OR A FEW WWW'S :) AND ALOT OF MISSPELLED WORDS.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON, AS HE HAS ME AND MY FAMILY.
THANK YOU,
GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. WE ARE ALL BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST, AND OUR GOAL IS TO SERVE HIM.
IN CHRIST,
TOM KANE
By
Anonymous, at 10:11 PM
Let me give some incite to this "juicy" topic. I cannot speak for other churches, but I can testify to own my experience as a member of the choir for years at Christian Hills Church. And once again I find myself on both sides of the fence on an issue. I agree that we cannot in any way, shape or form rely on special events for evangelism. It is absolutely a lifestyle. On the other hand, I agree with Pastor Hodulick on how Jesus used the spiritual mishaps and misunderstandings of society as an opportunity to reveal Himself.
You have to be careful not to be presumptuous of these ministries and events if you weren't there to experience the process and the spirit behind it. You can't just look at it as evangelism. The cantatas that I was involved in were completely centered on Christ and chock full of glorious praise to God. I remember Doug Hunter having to stop in the middle of rehearsals at times because the Holy Spirit would start to move and minister. We were a unified group of believers, full of the Spirit, coming together for one purpose...to glorify our Father. We were preparing for a special time of worship dedicated to Him. No one can tell me that God does not take delight in that. These events were designed for His pleasure. You'd have to ask God if it was too much work for so little return. Also, these events were never a substitute for friendship evangelism at Christian Hills. Back then Christian Hills Church was the epitome of friendship evangelism. If anything, these opportunities were icing on the cake. It was certainly a great tool in getting that family member or coworker you've been inviting for years to come to church. Jesus didn't come to earth with fanfare, but he certainly delights in being honored with it.
Tim Dodge
By
Anonymous, at 3:10 PM
It's a shame that "an attempt to reach that small percentage of attenders in a typical Christmas or Easter church service that is unsaved" means so little these days. Is that what the Great Commission tells us. If you touch one life, you may have touched a hundred. When you look at the lives that a Christmas and Easter production have touched throughout the years at Christian Hills they can tell you story after story after story of how it has changed their lives. Those people touch someone else’s life and that person touches someone else’s life and that person touches someone else’s life, and the chain continues on. If you can get someone into the church one time, maybe just maybe someone live could be changed. You never know how many lives have been touched. I can’t tell you how many people told me how they were touched by the production when Pastor Doug Hunter was at Christian Hills. It was a joy for my family to be part of that. The church was packed with people that didn’t normally come to Christian Hills, but there were a number of people that because of that product they stayed at Christian Hills. It may not bring that person to Christian Hills, but it may have that person return to their church. At Christmas and Easter time it seems peoples hearts are more open to the message of God. We need to constantly bring the word of God to the people in any and all ways possible. When you stand before the Father on judgment day, how do you want to answer the question, “Did you may every effort to bring people to my house?”
When you put on productions like this you also feed the faithful.
By
Anonymous, at 3:22 PM
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