Do people know we are here

[Margies3]

My experience from years of walking with the Lord is that the general public is usually much better acquainted with where "mainline churches" (Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, etc) are located than with where they can find Apostolic churches.

One really good reason for that is that the mainline churches spend alot of time and energy and money ministering to the needs of others. Physical needs, financial needs, etc. They're reaching people on the level where they live.

That draws in 2 kinds of people: First it draws in those who have the needs. And Second it draws in those who want to help. I see this all the time. People really do want to help their fellow human beings. If you can get them into a church by asking them to get involved with helping out a needy family for Christmas, then chances are fair to middlin that they will stay after the project is over. It's not a guarantee. But I know I've seen a large number of people who've been "hooked" that way.

The other way to get people involved (I've seen this in one of the area mega-churches) is to offer support groups for every little thing - grief counseling, leaving the gay life-style, divorce groups, parents of teenagers, on and on. Again, some will come because they need the group. Others will come because they'll want to become part of the leadership of a group.

[Withdrawn]

Originally Posted by Margies3

My experience from years of walking with the Lord is that the general public is usually much better acquainted with where "mainline churches" (Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, etc) are located than with where they can find Apostolic churches.

One really good reason for that is that the mainline churches spend alot of time and energy and money ministering to the needs of others. Physical needs, financial needs, etc. They're reaching people on the level where they live.

That draws in 2 kinds of people: First it draws in those who have the needs. And Second it draws in those who want to help. I see this all the time. People really do want to help their fellow human beings. If you can get them into a church by asking them to get involved with helping out a needy family for Christmas, then chances are fair to middlin that they will stay after the project is over. It's not a guarantee. But I know I've seen a large number of people who've been "hooked" that way.

The other way to get people involved (I've seen this in one of the area mega-churches) is to offer support groups for every little thing - grief counseling, leaving the gay life-style, divorce groups, parents of teenagers, on and on. Again, some will come because they need the group. Others will come because they'll want to become part of the leadership of a group.

Sister, I find this to be true as well. It's the older denominations that we would refer to as "dead" churches that are really doing what Jesus called us to do. Their doctrine is dead, but their works are alive. We are just the opposite, it seems.

You make very valid points! God bless you, sister!