Handing out things for your church

[Lamb]

Have you ever handed out things (brochures, business cards, pamphlets, etc) for your church to let others know they're welcome to attend? Did it work in getting visitors?

 

[Albion]

Have you ever handed out things (brochures, business cards, pamphlets, etc) for your church to let others know they're welcome to attend? Did it work in getting visitors?

Yes, occasionally it has been done.

No, it made no noticeable difference.

 

[tango]

Our church has flyers and business cards we are invited to take and hand out. I prefer a more personal invitation - it's not difficult to find a church if you're interested in attending, and if someone isn't interested there's no need to give them a card or flyer that will most likely end up in the trash.

I haven't been aware of any particular increase in numbers since the flyers and cards appeared, other than a gradual return of older people who were staying away because of covid.

 

[Messy]

Yes
One guy got saved by others going door to door, which was awesome. It was an old man who not long after that died.

 

[Josiah]

Yes.

No.

 

[Faith]

Have you ever handed out things (brochures, business cards, pamphlets, etc) for your church to let others know they're welcome to attend? Did it work in getting visitors?

No, I never have, but my church does mail things out to us and possibly others in the community, but I’m not sure.

 

[Faith]

Have you ever handed out things (brochures, business cards, pamphlets, etc) for your church to let others know they're welcome to attend? Did it work in getting visitors?

I think most people dislike getting stuff in the mail from various churches. I know I do unless it’s my own or one I’ve already been to. Twice I’ve gotten letters from JWs about how the world is going to end soon and I only read part of them, then tossed them in the trash.

 

[Albion]

I think most people dislike getting stuff in the mail from various churches. I know I do unless it’s my own or one I’ve already been to. Twice I’ve gotten letters from JWs about how the world is going to end soon and I only read part of them, then tossed them in the trash.

I tend to feel that way also, but worse (in my humble opinion) are the folks who just stick their stuff where they think someone will come upon it. For example, leaving it in a public bathroom, in a store's dressing room, on a library shelf, or somewhere else like that.

 

[tango]

I tend to feel that way also, but worse (in my humble opinion) are the folks who just stick their stuff where they think someone will come upon it. For example, leaving it in a public bathroom, in a store's dressing room, on a library shelf, or somewhere else like that.

Do you feel the same way about the Gideons putting Bibles in hotel rooms?

 

[Faith]

I tend to feel that way also, but worse (in my humble opinion) are the folks who just stick their stuff where they think someone will come upon it. For example, leaving it in a public bathroom, in a store's dressing room, on a library shelf, or somewhere else like that.

I dont think I’ve ever stumbled upon it left in random places but once a library book I was reading had religious comments in the margins that someone had written. I didnt like that, either.

As far as Gideon Bibles, they don’t bother me but I usually bring my own Bible along on trips.

 

[Messy]

They leave a paper from the reformed church in the paper baskets from the retirement home my dad is in and I think it's awesome. Those old ppl need Jesus.

 

[Albion]

Do you feel the same way about the Gideons putting Bibles in hotel rooms?

No, because we expect that. And also, this practice has the permission of the hotel management, those Bibles aren't accompanied by religious pamphlets or flyers overtly seeking to recruit the hotel guest, and the Bible is common to all Christian denominations as well as being, allegedly, the most widely read book in world history.

 

[Albion]

I dont think I’ve ever stumbled upon it left in random places

I'm surprised.

but once a library book I was reading had religious comments in the margins that someone had written. I didnt like that, either.

Well, THAT is really going too far!

As far as Gideon Bibles, they don’t bother me but I usually bring my own Bible along on trips.

 

[tango]

No, because we expect that. And also, this practice has the permission of the hotel management, those Bibles aren't accompanied by religious pamphlets or flyers overtly seeking to recruit the hotel guest, and the Bible is common to all Christian denominations as well as being, allegedly, the most widely read book in world history.

The permission issue makes sense - without permission flyers of just about any description are essentially litter.

Beyond that I can't help thinking that it makes little difference whether we are trying to convert someone to Christianity or to a specific denomination. I'd certainly hope that any church producing a pamphlet would prefer someone become a Christian and attend a different church, than not become a Christian at all.

 

[Messy]

The permission issue makes sense - without permission flyers of just about any description are essentially litter.

Beyond that I can't help thinking that it makes little difference whether we are trying to convert someone to Christianity or to a specific denomination. I'd certainly hope that any church producing a pamphlet would prefer someone become a Christian and attend a different church, than not become a Christian at all.

I'm happy when I see people from other churches do it. The flyers I put in ppl's mail boxes, that was just the Gospel. Not a name from a church. I don't even know a church I can tell em to go to. They're old. I want em to go to heaven.

 

[Albion]

The permission issue makes sense - without permission flyers of just about any description are essentially litter.

Beyond that I can't help thinking that it makes little difference whether we are trying to convert someone to Christianity or to a specific denomination.

Well,. sure it does. For one thing, having a Bible in a drawer if the occupant chooses to read something from it--or not--isn't the same as a pamphlet challenging the reader to join or believe something that;s rather specific..

In addition, the Bible, as noted, is a common feature of all Christian churches. And a most important one, at that.

That means that while placing the Bible may not appeal to every last person, we know it has a relationship to a majority of Americans and hence, a much larger percentage of the people staying in that hotel room than, say, people looking for a new church to join, people wanting to know how to understand the Book of Revelation, or when the next lecture series will begin at some local church.

 

[tango]

Well,. sure it does. For one thing, having a Bible in a drawer if the occupant chooses to read something from it--or not--isn't the same as a pamphlet challenging the reader to join or believe something that;s rather specific..

In addition, the Bible, as noted, is a common feature of all Christian churches. And a most important one, at that.

That means that while placing the Bible may not appeal to every last person, we know it has a relationship to a majority of Americans and hence, a much larger percentage of the people staying in that hotel room than, say, people looking for a new church to join, people wanting to know how to understand the Book of Revelation, or when the next lecture series will begin at some local church.

Sure, but if there's a flyer in the drawer inviting people to come to the forthcoming meeting at the Seventh Church Of The Apocalyptic Lawnmower the visitor has the exact same freedom to read it or not read it, to attend or not attend etc.

The relevance of the Bible to a large number of Americans is meaningless given the Gideons are about reaching the people who aren't familair with the Bible. The large number of Americans who do assign significance to the Bible probably already have at least one in their home and are therefore not the primary target of the Gideons.

 

[Messy]

Seventh Church Of The Apocalyptic Lawnmower

Finally! I have found my church! Where is it?

 

[Albion]

Sure, but if there's a flyer in the drawer inviting people to come to the forthcoming meeting at the Seventh Church Of The Apocalyptic Lawnmower

...and I was careful to rule that out in my earlier comments. Then again, I've never encountered such a thing in a motel room, whereas the presence of a Gideon Bible is quite standard.

Incidentally, when it comes to Christian volunteers who do distribute religious materials to the public, it would be hard to find a group who are more inoffensive than the Gideons are.

the visitor has the exact same freedom to read it or not read it, to attend or not attend etc.

The relevance of the Bible to a large number of Americans is meaningless given the Gideons are about reaching the people who aren't familair with the Bible.

Alas, that statistic includes a lot of people who already consider themselves to be Christians and do have some limited knowledge of what's in the Bible but aren't churchgoers and don't make the faith a significant part of their everyday lives.

 

[tango]

...and I was careful to rule that out in my earlier comments. Then again, I've never encountered such a thing in a motel room, whereas the presence of a Gideon Bible is quite standard.

I don't dispute the presence of the Gideon Bible is standard, the question is where we draw the line between what's acceptable and what isn't. Some would argue, not inherently unreasonably, that if the Gideons are allowed to leave Bibles in a hotel room there's no reason why a comparable group shouldn't be allowed to leave copies of the Qu'ran or the Gita or whatever other text they choose. Obviously with the hotel's permission.

Incidentally, when it comes to Christian volunteers who do distribute religious materials to the public, it would be hard to find a group who are more inoffensive than the Gideons are.

I don't think anyone would dispute that, except for the kind who find the mere presence of a religious text bothers them in ways that transcend their freedom to simply not read it.

Alas, that statistic includes a lot of people who already consider themselves to be Christians and do have some limited knowledge of what's in the Bible but aren't churchgoers and don't make the faith a significant part of their everyday lives.

Sadly true, although that group probably don't feel any desire to read the Bible in the hotel room because, you know, they are Christians (their uncle went into the church, don't you know) and don't need anything more than that. Besides, their own Bible is a leather bound one WITH red lettering.