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January 6, 2006
Go to Church, Win a House
(Filed under: Examples)We've seen churches give away Hummers and Harleys before, but a house really takes the cake.
The critics aren't impressed:
- "It's a publicity stunt. It's a gimmick and like most gimmicks, it's ill conceived. The general public is pretty immune to such gimmicks," says J. Gordon Melton, director of the Institute for the Study of American Religion in Santa Barbara, Calif. (Maybe somebody should tell Melton about the lottery--another ill-conceived gimmick very few Americans, and politicians, seem to be immune to.)
- "If giving away homes, cars, or other gimmicks is strictly a marketing device, rather than being born out of a spirit of compassion and love for others, then the tactic is morally questionable. I see little evidence of Jesus manipulating people by sales gimmicks." says Donald E. Miller, executive director of the University of Southern California's Center for Religion and Civic Culture. (Ever noticed that Donald Millers don't seem to like church marketing?)
They just don't get it, says church member Richard Murillo, whose company built the giveaway home: "Our whole intention is just to bless somebody."
Whether it's a blessing or a gimmick, free stuff seems to be a church marketing trend.
Posted by Kevin D. Hendricks at January 6, 2006 3:02 PM
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Comments
Well, although I do agree with a few of the arguments I can't help but think of how powerful Extreme Home Makeovers is. Every time I watch someone start praising God for the new house that sears and TV provided for them I think why not the church?
So, we definately could bless people by doing stuff like this.
But then again, do we want to use it as a way to get people to church or should we just do it no matter what, simply because people need it?
Hmmmm...
Posted by: s. zeilenga at January 6, 2006 3:21 PM
I just hope they actually retain their visitors and don't just let the door hit them on the way out.
Posted by: brad at January 6, 2006 7:06 PM
Extreme Homemaker? You know what that is called? Youth Missions trips, we've been doing that for years. The SAD thing is I had a post on this about a week or so ago and haven't seen too many blogs commenting on this ridiculous gimmick.
Posted by: Gman at January 7, 2006 9:07 AM
Have we missed the real giveaway? Since when was a new house better than a new life?
Posted by: Casper at January 10, 2006 4:36 AM
Seems to me if extreme home makeover is involved you already have to be blessed with a home to be made over. Isn't it about time the church gave back to the community, expecially given the increase in cover charge over the years. Besides if the giving is anything but Christ driven I'm one to believe that it will be dealt with by the almighty. I would rather see a community build rather than another mega church.
Posted by: Meshia at August 22, 2006 10:20 AM
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