Innovation

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A Comprehensive Guide to Online Only Worship in the time of COVID-19: Lessons from Darkwood Brew

A Comprehensive Guide to Online Only Worship in the time of COVID-19: Lessons from Darkwood Brew

Updated: 3/31/2020 at 10:20 am To all the churches that have taken your worship online at least once, WAY TO GO! Now that you’ve gotten that far, let’s look at how to make the experience even better for your participants. Many churches have been doing online...

Innovation
The Harsh Cost of “We’re Not Ready for That”

The Harsh Cost of “We’re Not Ready for That”

In 1996, now megapastor Craig Groeschel was an associate pastor at a United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. As I did, Craig studied business in college before choosing a life in ministry. In his book, Confessions of a Pastor, he alludes to presenting his church leadership with a plan to use modern marketing techniques. In 1996, marketing was a dirty word in the church, though obviously we have softened to the idea A) because it’s effective, and B) because when Jesus is the message, how can marketing it be wrong! The first time I heard this story (admittedly second hand) it was said that the answer Craig got was, “We’re not ready for that.” Evidently Groeschal disagreed. He decided to leave the United Methodist Church and open up his own church in his two car garage. This church became Life Church, which now has over 24 campuses and claims to be one of the largest churches in the United States.