A local church (when I say local, I mean another church in Texas) is doing a creative outreach this Easter Sunday. Bay Area Fellowship of Corpus Christi is giving away millions this Easter Sunday. That’s right, millions. Bikes, guitars, TV’s, gift bags and cars. Yeah, I said cars. It’s part of their message this Sunday called the Ultimate Giveaway. Read more about it here.
God did give us a free gift in his son, Jesus. The gift of grace through this amazing sacrifice is the most valuable and priceless gift ever given and it’s worth getting excited about. Bay Area feels that giving away millions of dollars in gifts not only illustrates the example (obviously not to the same degree) of God’s divine giveaway, but also is a high profile lure to get people to come in and check out what’s going on at Bay Area Fellowship this Easter weekend.
I have no doubt that the house will be packed this weekend (expecting between 15,000 to 20,000). I have no doubt that Bay Area Fellowship will grow as a result. I have no doubt that there will be an energy and excitement that will be hard to describe.
What do you think? I know that opinions on something like this vary from one extreme to the other. I ask this becasue Bay Area’s “stunt” has been highly criticized, but this same strategy is followed (not to the same dollar amounts) in children’s ministries everywhere. Prizes are given away on a regular basis to first time visitors, regular attendees or for earning Bible Bucks for bringing friends, bringing Bibles or memorizing scriptures. I hear very little criticism about these techniques as a method to reward kids or lure kids to come to church, but when the same thing is done on an epic scale, people are up in arms.
Is this the same thing? Is it different? Was this a really cool idea or did Bay Area go to far? What do you think?
Whatever it takes to get them is what you have to do to keep them.
.-= chad swanzy´s last blog ..PINCH AN INCH =-.
I’m sure Bay Area’s punch is not in the gift though. They’re strategizing the switch for the bait.
.-= chad swanzy´s last blog ..PINCH AN INCH =-.
LIke the analogy to Kidmin give aways…
Churches spend money on mass mailings, adds etc. to invite people in, if they are strategic in spending add money on giving stuff away and it’s working keep doing it.
For kidmin regular attenders I just want to make sure I’m creating some internal motivation to bring friends with the external rewards they’re getting.
@Davidprofitt
I totally agree with what Chad said and was going to say the same thing.
Do I think it’s wrong or unethical?…ehh
Do I think it will result in life change or consistent attendance? probably not, however how can I put a price on an opportunity to hear the gospel of Christ?
I am more interested in seeing the results, wish I knew more of the motives, reasoning behind it. I would’ve loved to have been in that brainstorming session for sure.
.-= J.C.´s last blog ..Vote for Kenny! =-.
I know people knock these things in kids ministry “Prizes are given away on a regular basis to first time visitors, regular attendees or for earning Bible Bucks for bringing friends” but then this is what we do at our volunteer metings, heck I walked away with nearly $100 at the last one. is this why I do it or why I’ve done it in the past..no… but it was fun. And sorry Chad but Gateway has chenged in every possible way since I came to Christ here, but I stick around not because of the building/ the music/ or parties/ but because this is where my family is no mater how disfunctional.. . so before I came to Gateway, probably 3 years before, I darkened the door of another church…out of desperation.. I did not connect and never returned. Then i showed up at Gateway because it sounded “fun” and here I am 6 years later. so dare i say “whatever it takes to get your foot in the door” but beyond that, how real, how relational, how caring or how plastic the people are (or will you see Christ, or plastic dashboard Jesus?) is what matters.
toni… my statement was not in affirmation of the giveaway but instead a statement of fact for which your comment only agrees supports my position. i think you misunderstood my words. you came for something you continue to find here. without connection and a sense of community, family, or belonging you’re affinity would be challenged. i agree and am glad you’re here.
.-= chad swanzy´s last blog ..PINCH AN INCH =-.
schweet, I love you too man. Honestly I’m Glad I don’t have to make those types of decisions. it would be hard for me to define “over the top” when our actions could lead to just one person really loving God.
To me it seems like much more of an issue of stewardship than anything else. I don’t have a problem with giveaways if they are intended to recognize and/or reward – or even if it’s just for the “fun factor.” That said, it seems like at some point you go beyond the point of good stewardship. I think the real question is when you cross that line.
.-= Wayne Stocks´s last blog ..On Missing and Being Missed =-.
Hey Kenny,
If I remember correctly, we are to reach all people with the Gospel? Doesn’t that say something in the bible somewhere? As long as it is within your budget, and nothing inappropriate, why not do it. We are called to be creative in our issuance of the gospel, and what better way of telling people about the Gift God gave us by bringing them in with gifts we can give them, and give them a great tangible lesson in the process. Much love my friend, GO TEAM KENNY, The Texas Titan!
I think Bible bucks are awesome! Go to http://mybiblebucks.com to see how you can do biblebucks in a whole new way. 🙂
Ha! Go Sam with your Bible Bucks for the next generation!
I say kuddos to Bil with one “L” for once again being so stinking creative! This is personal to me as Bay Area Fellowship was my home church for 10 years of which I was the Children’s Pastor there for a little over 5 years. I can tell you straight up that Bil spends countless hours in prayer and through the 12 years since BAF opened it’s doors there have been thousands who have come to Faith! Bil has NEVER lost sight or strayed from the vision that God gave him well over 12 years ago. Bil will do WHATEVER IT TAKES to reach the lost no matter the cost, no matter the criticism, no matter what! Bil is a man of GREAT FAITH and it’s this Faith that leads him to take the risks that he does, not for self but for Christ!
Can there be life change through something like this? HECK YAH! My husband’s life was radically changed through BAF that no other church had been able to do! Not only my husbands but literally thousands, I know because I was there 10 years and I’m humbled that I got to see first hand thousands of peoples lives that were radically changed! Hmmm, wonder what the brainstorming session would be like? Well….I was in many of them as I was part of the Pastoral team that lead the direction of the church. Our sessions always started in prayer and ended in prayer, prayer that we would NEVER back down to all that God was calling us to do and be no matter the risk. We knew we were doing what God had called us to do and just because it didn’t fit “in the box of ministry” didn’t matter to us. Our first calling is obedience to God and that is how Bil leads his life and the team he has surrounded himself with.
Bil’s motive is simple. Reach the lost no matter the cost. This man weeps for the lost; he can’t sleep because of the lost! Bill WILL NOT STOP until the day God brings him home. You cannot put a price on a life! They are praying for 1,000 to come to FAITH through The Ultimate Giveaway!
I had 10 amazing years at BAF. I’m humbled that God allowed me to lead an amazing Children’s Ministry and to be part of an amazing team! I’m thankful for the opportunity that Bil Cornelius gave me and everything I know in ministry comes from his incredible leadership and coaching throughout the years.
So, keep pressing forward BAF, keep focused and don’t come down from the wall…..there is still much work to be done!
Thanks for the blog Kenny. For those who don’t know I am the Director of Multi Site Ministries at the church were talking about. I completely understand why people may not be on board with this but what I can tell you is God showed up last night for the first service. 4000 people showed up and filled up the sanctuary, the Element Student Room, and the Atrium.
Bil’s message was completely about Salvation and how it’s the ultimate gift. When Bil prayed the prayer of salvation, which he had just spent the entire message explaining, you could feel the Holy Spirit in the room. Bil asked even the believers to pray it out loud so no one would feel uncomfortable, and it was incredible. In that room was about 2800 people praying in unison, the prayer of salvation. I was in tears and so was about half that room. It was one of the most moving experiences of my Christian life!
We will offer a prize to get people to come anywhere else, why not offer a prize to get people to come to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some criticized us saying that the prayers weren’t real and that people prayed the prayer just because they happened to be there and hoped to get something out of it, or that what about discipleship and on and on, and to that I humbly say, please read Acts 2, because last night gave me at least a small peak into what that must have felt like!
Thanks for the great post and the support bro! And to our critics, we love you all, and someday we can hash this out over coffee with Jesus, but in the meantime we will keep doing anything short of sin to reach those far from God! Stole that one from Craig Groeschel!