Megachurch's Mega Problem

Citing poor attendance, many of the largest church in the country are scaling down their service schedules for the Christmas weekend. Some churches will close their doors altogether due to previous low turnouts for Christmas Day services. I find it hard to understand that numbers or the lack of them would influence the decision to not have the doors open to those who place their faith first above all things.

Cally Parkinson, a spokeswoman for Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., said church leaders decided that organizing services on a Christmas Sunday would not be the most effective use of staff and volunteer resources. The last time Christmas fell on a Sunday was 1994, and only a small number of people showed up to pray, she said. "If our target and our mission is to reach the unchurched, basically the people who don't go to church, how likely is it that they'll be going to church on Christmas morning?" she said.

I find this an odd statement based on my experience in which many people who do not normally attend church services, go on Christmas to experience the celebration of the birth of Jesus during one of more elaborate and festively celebrated religious holidays of the year. If this churchs mission is to reach the unchurched closing the doors seems hardly the way to accomplish it.



You are invited to advertise your stories daily (no limits), but please read my rules. Find my rules here for submitting your piece. Thanks for sharing!

Posts of interest are:
The Knucklehead of the Day award from The Florida Masochist
Thank you for your service Colonel Grant from The Florida Masochist
Very funny from The Florida Masochist
A miracle in Tallahassee? from The Florida Masochist

I will post it here (to give credit to you) as soon as my schedule permits.