I’m taking a break from blogging. I need to allocate my time to finish my Judson Press book on associate pastor ministry. However, don’t be surprised if you see me throw something up that is juicy. Expect me back sometime around January 1, 2011. Peace.
-Alan
Original Post:
Above, is a picture of a guerrilla marketing campaign for Shelters of Saratoga, a ministry that First Baptist Church supports. We just had Shelters of Saratoga at our mission fair and we send groups to serve there. I found this pic on Twitter. This is a great way to get the word out about this ministry and to bring visibility to homelessness in Saratoga County.
A few questions:
Send me your pics if you happened to grab a shot: blog (at) onthebema.com
New #Palio guerrilla marketing awareness campaign for Shelter… on Twitpic.
UPDATE 1:30 PM: via Twitter: @ps_saratoga 1:39pm via Web
@alanrud It’s a coordinated effort that will be replicated in about a dozen locations downtown to mark Homeless Awareness Week.
Thanks Post Star for the update!
UPDATE: 2:51 PM:
From the Skidmore College website:
I want to tell all the families in the Capital Area about a wonderful event going on tonight. If you are looking to support a great cause and searching for a family event then come to TreePaad tonight! One of my church members, Colleen Pierre (Malta Mama) is helping to coordinate this family event to raise money for To Love A Child. This organization helps children impoverished children and their families throughout the world. Colleen’s husband was born in Haiti, was there in January and survived the earthquake, and still has family there.
KidsGiving is a children’s charity event benefiting local non-profit, To Love A Child and co-hosted by Malta Mama. The event is taking place TODAY Friday, November 12th at TreePaad in Malta. In addition to all the fun at TreePaad, KidsGiving will feature crafts and games for kids, live music, a silent auction, world handicrafts, a bake sale and more. It’s a great opportunity for kids to learn about how to help underprivileged children in Haiti and Zimbabwe and to raise money for an amazing charity organization.
Tickets are $12/child, and kids 2 and under are $8. Your ticket price includes two hours of unlimited play at TreePaad (including laser tag, rock climbing, and the other ‘extras’). Contact Colleen (colleen@maltamama.com) for tickets or stop by TreePaad to purchase.
Me and my family will be going tonight! I hope I can see you there!
For years we have heard reports and studies tracking how churches are dying and God is slowly “disappearing” from Europe. Personal stories persist too. Despite what Fox News and other news outlets like to spin, there are counter reports that suggest otherwise. In 2007, the Wall Street Journal reported that churches are growing in the face of modernization:
Most scholars used to believe that modernization would extinguish religion in the long run. But that view always had trouble explaining why America, a nation in the vanguard of modernity, is so religious.
One study, by Christian Research, who published a widely-respected Religious Trends survey discovered:
…that Church of England attendance has held steady for the past decade (not including Fresh Expressions), the Catholic Church has held steady for the past five years, and Baptist Union attendance has actually been growing.
Secularism is often also thought to contribute to empty churches and forgotten stories of God’s people. However, it is not an issue concerning if people in the United Kingdom believe in God, it is their participation. The following graph shows some surprising facts about Christian belief in the UK:
The decline of giving to churches was well documented during the Great Recession. Larger churches particularly struggled with giving. The graph here shows regional declines in giving. Many churches struggle with a vision on stewardship. Many churches guilt their people into giving or force the concept of tithe.
Viewing giving through the lens of stewardship is helpful for churches and Christians. Having a theology stewardship is key for churches to build a fruitful plan for giving. If we start from the idea that everything we have comes from God then we can see our money, possessions, talents, and time as gifts. Americans are very possessive when it comes to our property.
However, churches often ask the question, how can we encourage giving? Cynthia Woolever gives three ways pastors and churches can encourage giving:
Facebook is a treasure trove of information – including when relationships end. A recent New York Times article tracked what break ups occur based on Facebook user information:
In a recent TED Talk discussing the project, Mr. McCandless explained that most breakups occur three times in the year — in the weeks leading up to spring breaks, right before the start of the summer holidays and a couple of weeks before Christmas. His research also found that people tend to break up with their significant others on Mondays, presumably after a weekend grapple. Thankfully, the lowest day of the year for breakups is Christmas.
I wonder if couples break up so that one of them does not have to buy the other a gift? This goes to show that you have to be careful with the information you share online. Believe it or not, statistics are being gathered on what you share, how you play Farmville (I refuse to play that game), and how many pictures you share.
I would like to get my hands on some Facebook religious affiliation statistics and blog the results.
Maybe this is a good time to make all your info on facebook private. Go! And share less information about yourself. Someone is reading about you right now!
