I often hear “preacher types” and religious folks say we don’t need to “market” church, or “add” any excitement or as they say “entertainment” to that OLDE TYME RELIGION.  They say that “the church has been around for thousands of years”.  “Jesus said HE would build the church”.  “We have the BEST message…we have the gospel…the church will never die!”

Let me just say that I AGREEthat the good news of Jesus Christ is the only thing that really matters about church.  I agree that putting ALL your energy into flashy lighting, great music (whether it be from guitars or pipe organs), big promotions or productions(whether they be rock concerts or traditional Christmas cantatas), is an exercise in missing the point.   I don’t think we can be “skillful” enough in our promotion to bring everyone to the church…or “incompetent” enough by turning the greatest story ever told into a boring “bible trivia” lesson to drive everyone away from the church.   BUT…

I just drove past my favorite Ice Cream store yesterday and they were closed.  Out of business. In August.   The had THE BEST ice cream.  Second to none.  They had a great shop.   I actually considered purchasing a franchise a few years before they came to town because our family loved their ice cream so much!  Now they are gone.

I’m not sure what happened.  Maybe their location was wrong.  Maybe their prices were just too high for the current economic situation of most people.  Maybe they didn’t “market” their product enough.  I just know that sometimes having “the best product” isn’t enough to keep people coming through your doors.  Unless you are relentless in sharing your product with your community, having the “best” may just not be enough!

Yeah…I realize that not EVERY ice cream place closed down. (and I’ll probably be able to lose that last 5 pounds I need to…)  And yeah…I realize that Ice cream shops aren’t churches.  But it’s still something we have to think about if we want our little ice cream shop (actionchurch) to keep going.  We can’t just rely on having “the best message”.  Sometime the best is NOT enough…