Is easier than ever to shout.
You can announce it, logo it, strap line it, get the endorsements, write the accompanying book, flyer it, create the facebook event, tweet it, retweet it, put it on google plus, and the rest. For almost free (in terms of money anyway), practically instantaneously, to atleast a semi-professional standard.
Event promotions have some problems though:
Because it is easy, it’s common. We’re overwhelmed with invites, and harangued by hype. Lots of noise is being created, but unless you have a personal connection, you’re very unlikely to breakthrough. In fact, the bigger the claims and the louder the noise the more people you’ll actually turn off.
The second problem is – how do you know it’s going to be amazing? I mean, really? What gaurantees about a future event can you actually give me? Things like power cuts, tube strikes, and the common cold still seem stubbornly oblivious to the commitments we’ve made. The scope for over promising and under delivering is huge.
And, if that does eventually happen – you hype me into a meeting and it doesn’t meet expectations, why should I trust you when you then try to tell me the gospel? Why isn’t that just more hoopla and dissappointment?
Thirdly, was event promotions really what you were called to? Is that your ministry? No problem with holding meetings, no problem with doing them excellently, no problem with letting people know about it. It’s just if you put ourself on a medium that means you have to pour yourself in promotion – than that is actually what your ministry becomes. I haven’t been able to find ‘tour promoter’ on the spiritual gift list.
In fact, the New Testament seems fairly free from THE JESUS CHRIST INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY TOUR – youwillnotbelievehowmanypeoplearegoingtoshowforournextmeeting.com Rather than, ‘we are here, it will be great’, it seems to be, ‘it was amazing, where are they next?’
Finally, if all the stops are pulled out this year, what are you going to do next year?
How about just pouring yourself into doing some good meetings / ministry? How about being secure enough to let the promotions take care of themselves?
Yes, it might mean the numbers are smaller initially, but atleast you won’t have made promises you can’t keep, or lost respect it will be difficult to get back. You’ll also still be able to use words like awesome, amazing and unmissable to speak about Christ.
I guess I’m asking, please stop trying to sell to me. I want a walk with Jesus that can’t be bought, and to learn from fathers, not forecourt salesmen.
Amen massively. I’ve only recently seen this side of Christianity, with a few Christian magazines lying around where I live, and starting to listen to some Christian radio. The worship music and talks can be a great encouragement, but I’m beginning to see the industrialisation which has taken place in so many areas of Christianity.
I’ve got to think, if you really believe in your ministry, why not just give it away on the internet for nothing, as do many so many church leaders around the world? Also shows you’re rooted in a church which doesn’t just like your chat but your life… enough to sit under your leadership.