Ministry News

To Market Or Not? … That Isn't the Question Anymore

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Tuesday, 30 June 2009 10:58

QUOTE: "Unfortunately, so much of what I see in the church today is already being driven by the perceived needs of the consumer and not the glory and honor of Jesus Christ, which can lead and has led the church down a slippery slope of theological compromise. My advice is: Look at the stats, but stick to the Scriptures and let the Scriptures inform the ministry philosophy and practice of reaching out and into the community." —Troy Dobbs, pastor of Grace Church of Eden Prairie in Minnesota, when asked about the importance of churches marketing themselves via social networks to reach people. Yet according to religious demographer John Mayer, executive director for City Vision in Minneapolis, churches market themselves whether they know it or not: "People see it as too worldly or gimmicky for the church to be marketing itself. But most of the same people who say it is sacrilegious also expect their church to have a Web site, a listing in the phone book or an ad in the phone book. To me, this is marketing." [startribune.com, 6/14/09]