Yesterday I received emails from two total strangers about our church.
The first email was pretty harsh and proclaimed that I was “shortchanging the Gospel” by making church and Christianity “sound fun.” The author ended her email by stating, “I am obviously not your target audience.”
The second email was the polar opposite. Here’s an excerpt:
“I’ve been reading about your church. I am not really sure where my religious views fall, I really just mix alot of ideas up, but I am not a Christian. I do however find your church to be an amazing example of what I feel church of any religion should be. You inspire me to give church another chance.”
Here’s the thing…the first email was a blistering critique from a seasoned, lifelong Christian. I could get bent out of shape by what she thought, but to her own admission, she is not who we are trying to reach.
The second email was from a person that is on the fence with God and the church and made a total heart connection with our style and strategies. This person epitomizes our target audience.
At the end of the day you have to know who you are and you aren’t. In some ways, I actually saw the critique of our church as a compliment because it confirmed that we are successfully projecting ourselves just the way we planned. When you know who you are(n’t) you can take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’ :-)
{ 14 comments }
rock on Shaun! you are SO right…..and i find it really funny that by the 1st emailer's admission, Christianity and Church should sound NOT fun. OOOOH WHERE DO I SIGN UP???!!
Where do followers get the notion that Church cannot be fun. Jesus was absolutely FUN. He was a magnet of fun that attracted everybody to Him. Fun loving guys are ones who draw a crowd, not the dull and boring folks.
Keep on ticking. We have the same things happen to us…..we love it, cause it means we are going after who we say we are going after. Keep up the Kingdom work
I think it was Perry Noble… maybe not, but it was a good quote whoever said it… If you don't have any critics, then you probably aren't saying much!! Rock on, Shaun!!
“…made a total heart connection with OUR STYLE and strategies. This person epitomizes our target audience.”
So the person is interested in the style of your church not neccesarily your message. Shouldn’t the “target audience” be everyone who doesn’t know Christ…not just those who are impressed by your style? Based on your wording, it seems like you’re spotlighting your church’s unique style as the catalyst to draw people rather than Christ.
BTW, I’m not trying to be facetious or disrespectful at all. I know e-tones can be misinterpreted.
When someone is really in the word at the moment, you can always tell because it seems they have this certain joy that is so apparent. There is just an unspeakable joy in knowing and loving the Lord. We all have ups and downs in our spiritual walk (well at least, I know I do), I'm surprised that a seasoned lifelong Christian has yet to experience that and would consider the joy of the Lord to be "watered down gospel."
I see a courageous as a church that was started by a team that is so full of this joy, that they want to bring it to the world. I would be surprised if the writer of the e-mail has actually attended the church. I would not consider the messages watered down in the least. I have been a Christian most of my life, yet I always feel convicted when I hear a sermon. That is one of the main reason I attend (the people are also great too). The church I attended previously always talked about the blessings the Lord has for me and never taught what is required of me as Christ Follower; it was more of a feel good seeker service type deal. At Courageous I feel convicted, and I feel like I"m being provided with the teaching I need to take my spiritual walk to the next level. Courageous is full of kind people who are excited to share the love of the Lord…but don't get it twisted, it's not a "feel good" service….the truths of the Bible (not just the ones we like to hear) are being taught. There is a difference between hospitality (one of the great things about Courageous) and having a seeker service with watered down gospel (not the case at Courageous).
Amen! We can't be caught up in caring what people think… we must be caught up in caring what God thinks. As long as you're doing what God has called you to do, that's all that matters!
With your embarking on an initiative that will be drawing more people to Christ, as seen in the second e-mail you received, the enemy will be working diligently to thwart this movement. Sadly, the enemy will use any means including people who identify as being Christians to criticize your style. Given the extreme resistance and criticism Jesus encountered by "church folks", which resulted in his death, resurrection, and ultimately our salvation, I would say that the leaders of the Courageous Church are in EXCELLENT company.
Continue with your endeavors to win souls for Christ and to transform people's lives through acts of love in the name of Jesus.
Stephanie
I think one of the big mistakes churches make it trying to attract everyone to their church. There is a reason that there are thousands upon thousands of churches in Atlanta alone. Each church has it's own DNA and their own "target demographic."
WHY someone would send an email criticizing you when they're not who you want is beyond me. Some people just love to condemn and put down.
The fact that what you're doing is not only attractive to unchurched people, but that they can admit it too, is incredible! That's exactly what the church SHOULD be like. People should be getting saved every week. They should be inviting their friends that don't like "church" but the reality is, we tend to ge too comfortable with the status quo. I'm glad to see you guys breaking that trend! Keep doing what you do!
Amen Shaun! One of my biggest regrets as a church planter is not getting that SO MUCH SOONER! I'm a slow learner but cheering you on in every way! Be confident always in who you are in Christ Jesus and keep remembering that it's not about us, it is all about being His slave. :-) In His Grip, Lin
Hi Miss T,
I'm not sure how long or to what extent you have been following the Courageous Church, but just to clarify, my understanding is that Courageous Church's target audience is people who are on the fence about turning to Christ, those who have never attended or who were disinterested with church.
On a spiritual level, my understanding is that yes, Christ is the one who saves people, transforms hearts, and renews minds, but He does use people to plant seeds and do His work in the world, which is what Courageous Church is doing. Yes, they are using a unique style to plant seeds, but Courageous Church's style is inspired by Christ and rooted in the Word, which Pastor Shaun has emphasized in all of his sermons.
I am not a spokesperson for the Courageous Church, but as someone who follows them closely, I hope I shed some light on things for you. I totally agree with you that sometimes e-tones can be misinterpreted and I appreciate your expressing a different perspective.
Stephanie
Great post, exactly what I needed today!
It's all about spreading the Good News, and reaching people that need to develop a relationship with Jesus.
Courageous Church has done more in its short existance than some churches that have been around for decades. You're not afraid to try new things, and I'm certain that those ideas are prayed about first.
Courageous is inspiring a lot of people. Keep it up brother!
Greetings____Your vision and ministry are a breath of fresh air. I am not a member nor have I ever attended your services. I am a PK and have been in church all my life. Too many of our churches have lost its zeal (enthusiastic diligence) and have become of no effect. They are too busy having chuch that they have forgotten the real purpose and goal of reaching souls. They are lost in the traditions of men (Col: 2:8). ____The joy (enjoy have fun) of the Lord is our strenghth and we are commanded many times in the bible to rejoice in the Lord. Church and Christianity should be fun. I am praying for your ministry and let's pray for the first emailers deliverence that they may find joy and freedom in Christ.____Please stay focused that you may be the ministry that God is calling you to be and don't get drawn away by the lust of fame, & money. __
Shaun,
We deal with people like the author of the first letter at my church as well. They simply cant' understand a church that operates "outside the box"…. so they think it must be a cult, etc. (believe it or not, I have heard that 12Stone "must be a cult"!!!)
But from what I know about you and your church, you are TRYING to reach people who are spiritually unresolved (just like we are at 12Stone) – and that is what the Church should be ABOUT! After all, it's not about the "comfort level" of those who already know the Lord…. it's about reaching those who DON'T!!
I would view these two letters as guideposts that you are on the RIGHT PATH!!!!