'Give Us a Shot': N.C. Church Hands Out Shot Glasses at Bars

[rossid]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,322443,00.html



CHARLOTTE, N.C. — To get people to attend his new church campus, Robbie McLaughlin is sending his message out to where the people are.

Next Friday, staffers from Next Level Church of Matthews will go to bars in the Ballantyne area of Charlotte to hand out shot glasses which ask patrons to "give us a shot" and bear the slogan, "Real church for real people."

The idea is to draw people to the Ballantyne campus, which opens next month.

McLaughlin is the pastor, and said he is confident that it will be controversial, but he said the goal is not necessarily to impress people who already go to church. He said it's to impress people who don't.

Next Level is a nontraditional church that encourages members to dress casually and snack on coffee and doughnuts during services.

McLaughlin said the idea has caught on, and in two years, the church has grown from a handful of members to more than 700.


http://www.nextlevelchurch.org/

http://www.nextlevelchurch.org/pwsite/page.php?linkID=11851

[Pouye]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,322443,00.html



CHARLOTTE, N.C. — To get people to attend his new church campus, Robbie McLaughlin is sending his message out to where the people are.

Next Friday, staffers from Next Level Church of Matthews will go to bars in the Ballantyne area of Charlotte to hand out shot glasses which ask patrons to "give us a shot" and bear the slogan, "Real church for real people."

The idea is to draw people to the Ballantyne campus, which opens next month.

McLaughlin is the pastor, and said he is confident that it will be controversial, but he said the goal is not necessarily to impress people who already go to church. He said it's to impress people who don't.

Next Level is a nontraditional church that encourages members to dress casually and snack on coffee and doughnuts during services.

McLaughlin said the idea has caught on, and in two years, the church has grown from a handful of members to more than 700.


http://www.nextlevelchurch.org/

http://www.nextlevelchurch.org/pwsite/page.php?linkID=11851

That is great! The next step is to do what Jesus did:
Jesus went to the bars and hung out and drank with people there!:

"That night Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to be his dinner guests, along with his fellow tax collectors and many other notorious sinners. (There were many people of this kind among the crowds that followed Jesus.)" Mark 2:15-

And in continuation of the story from the parallel passage in Luke 5:30-

"But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus' disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?”
Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don't need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call sinners to turn from their sins, not to spend my time with those who think they are already good enough.”

and...

"For John the Baptist didn't drink wine and he often fasted, and you say, ‘He's demon possessed.’ And I, the Son of Man, feast and drink, and you say, ‘He's a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of the worst sort of sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by what results from it.” Mat. 11:18

Can you imagine the stir in the headlines if the pastor encouraged the staff and those in the congregation who were mature Christians to maybe once a month (at random times) hit a bar/pub and actually order a round of drinks to DRINK WITH those in the bar/pub? That would stir things up a bit! But it would be more Christ-like than anything I've seen lately in church!

Rock

[cheewiee]

Rock,

How about a church that actually has a service in a Bar...

http://www.mosaicchurch.tv

Our Sunday Night Service is Uptown Charlotte at the Visualite Theater....

[Valpo]

Funny enough, I plan on doing this stuff once I have my own congregation, go meet the people where they are, they can't hear you from the pulpit if they aren't in the pews on Sunday. Nothing wrong with this approach at all, as Rock said, mature Christians enjoying fellowship over some adult drinks, no problems with this at all.

[RevZeek]

Have I told y'all recently that you are amazing? :D
I was just having a conversation with someone Friday about this church. Also a church called Revolution church in Charlotte...I don't know too much about them however. Anyway, I think it is an awesome idea and am glad that Rock put it so eloquently as usual!

[phil_ur_friend]

Breaking the ice,
Creating common ground,
These are all things (at times) involved in bringing God's LOVE to His people.
No pretense.

Sometimes, a cold pint is the only (accepted) common ground present.


When in Rome.


Cheers.
Phil, your friend

[Evanescence]

Rock,

How about a church that actually has a service in a Bar...

http://www.mosaicchurch.tv

Our Sunday Night Service is Uptown Charlotte at the Visualite Theater....

You know what...I MIGHT have this chruch in my first book...Answering the Call !!!!!!!!!!!

Looks real familiar !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pastors name?

[Evanescence]

Rock,

How about a church that actually has a service in a Bar...

http://www.mosaicchurch.tv

Our Sunday Night Service is Uptown Charlotte at the Visualite Theater....

Whoa !!! I know that pastor...he's in my book....wait...is that you Chewiee...Naheem ?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Howlin' Wolf]

this is an excellent idea. as long as once he gets them to come to church, he doesnt water down the message with some cream puff seeker crap.

[Evanescence]

mesage in a bottle...

[Evanescence]

Where's Chewee at? You there old man? :P

[cheewiee]

Whoa !!! I know that pastor...he's in my book....wait...is that you Chewiee...Naheem ?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Naeem, yes that's my pastor.

[Evanescence]

Whoa!!!!!!!!!!

Did you know all this time? I mean about my book and who I am?

[cheewiee]

Whoa!!!!!!!!!!

Did you know all this time? I mean about my book and who I am?

I am not naeem if that's what you are thinking, He is my Pastor.

[Evanescence]

I am not naeem if that's what you are thinking, He is my Pastor.

OH...OK. Well your avatar looks a little like him...and Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater, LOL...

I thought your english was pretty good...wondering how that fit in with his past. he did the interview for my 1st book on pastors.....pretty cool guy!!!!!!

[cheewiee]

OH...OK. Well your avatar looks a little like him...and Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater, LOL...

I thought your english was pretty good...wondering how that fit in with his past. he did the interview for my 1st book on pastors.....pretty cool guy!!!!!!

You can see his testamony.... it delves into his past, I will send you that link.....

[Evanescence]

You can see his testamony.... it delves into his past, I will send you that link.....

Its already in my book !!!!!!!!!!!

[cheewiee]

Its already in my book !!!!!!!!!!!

Well in case you or anyone else is interested in seeing How Christ took ahold of this Muslim's life.....

http://mosaicchurch.wordpress.co m/encounter/

[Jason]

Well in case you or anyone else is interested in seeing How Christ took ahold of this Muslim's life.....

http://mosaicchurch.wordpress.co m/encounter/

*bookmarks*