Mega-Churches

[fluffy_rainbow]

What are your opinions of megachurches? There was an entire two-page article in our Sunday paper about a local megachurch with two enormous branches. The Pastor's image is beamed by satellite from the main church to the sister church where his 3D holographic image appears on stage. Members of the congregation say it's like he's really there. Thousands and thousands of dollars worth of technology make it possible for these megachurches to branch out and open others sister churches, but I have to wonder...is it the same as being in a tight-knit Christian community? Do megachurches appeal mainly to the social elite and Sunday morning pew warmers (ya know, the people who have little to no interest in fellowship and serving in the body, but will show up dressed to the nines every Sunday)?

 

[ZiSunka]

I'm two ways about megachurches. I think the fellowship and study opportunities must be endless, but special, close relationships must be impossible.

 

[jcright]

I guess this depends on your definition of a mega church. I think my church is big...in fact, I think it's too big. We have four services for about 3k people. I know the pastors agree. They have devised two solutions: 1) church planting (which they shoudl be doing anyway) and 2) creating small groups and encouraging the congregation to join one.Anyhow, I would be very disappointed i my church if they had a sister church with a holographic medium...that's just too much money being wasted that could be used for other things or the community.

 

[Mary of Bethany]

The Pastor's image is beamed by satellite from the main church to the sister church where his 3D holographic image appears on stage.

Seriously???

Wow. Speaking as a long-time (former) Baptist, something about that just scares me. Not to mention what jcright said about the tremendous cost that could be better used in the community.

 

[ZiSunka]

Seriously???

Wow. Speaking as a long-time (former) Baptist, something about that just scares me. Not to mention what jcright said about the tremendous cost that could be better used in the community.

No, the 3d preacher thing comes from an e-book fantasy story called Kieran's Run or something like that. I started to read it once. The setup is just like the one the OP described, branch churches with one holographic preacher, who turns out to be the bad guy of course.

 

[Mary of Bethany]

LOL! You mean I've been had??? Oh well, isn't the first, won't be the last!

 

[ZiSunka]

LOL! You mean I've been had??? Oh well, isn't the first, won't be the last!

We all fall for stuff like this sometime or another.

 

[_sunshinegirl]

Wow I have never heard about something like this before.
Offhand I would have to say I am against it.
If the church is meant to be there I think God has a minister for it [in real time].

 

[Crazy Liz]

Really? The OP is just a joke?

 

[jcright]

Even if they aren't spending that kind of money on a hologram, they might be willing to spend on other things. Carina and I were at a church and they were telling us their new organ would cost somewhere around $1M. I'm sorry, but that's just ridiculous. They even admitted it was for aesthetics reasons more so than for sound reasons.

 

[ZiSunka]

Really? The OP is just a joke?

I'm pretty sure. I've searched all the Georgia newspapers that are online and can't find any reference to such an article, and if it was really a two-page spread, it would be kicking up some hoopla by now. Why didn't AP or Reuters pick it up if it was for real? Besides, I don't think there is holographic equipment like this commercially available yet. When I searched "preacher" and "hologram" all I got was conjecture that this would someday be the way churches are, pastored by holograms, not humans.

 

[_sunshinegirl]

Lets hope that is post-trib, because I am not going to be taught by a machine.
Boom!

 

[SumTinWong]

My sisters church Kensington in Michigan has around 6,000 people but they are being spread out. In all actuality they have roughly 8000 people. Our church has 60, so what do I know about mega churches?

 

[Gold Dragon]

There are some things that megachurches can do that smaller hundred person churches can't. They have their place.

But to him who much is given, much is expected.

 

[RED that's ME]

There's pros and cons on both sides. I belong to a large church which does offer lots of stuff for the members and yes even in a large church sometimes getting close to a lot of people is limited. The more you get involved the better is it in having closer relationships with more people.

 

[SumTinWong]

The offering at the local ecumenical service that had about 500 people or so was about $2,200 dolars (that is american nt Canadian in which case i think it is $10,000. Canadaian j/k), and it all went to a local food pantry. I think the finance part would be the biggest part, and there could be many more people helped and many more services rendered in a big church.

 

[Cright]

My sisters church Kensington in Michigan has around 6,000 people but they are being spread out. In all actuality they have roughly 8000 people. Our church has 60, so what do I know about mega churches?

I used to attend Kensington CC! In fact the new building that our church is building now is about 2 or 3 miles south of there! Pratically neighbors.

...and I don't like the holographic (sp) preacher idea. Ick.

 

[rural_preacher]

My sisters church Kensington in Michigan has around 6,000 people but they are being spread out. In all actuality they have roughly 8000 people. Our church has 60, so what do I know about mega churches?

I pastor a church with about 75 members (our current Sunday morning attendance is around 60). We are in a small rural community of about 60 people with another 400 in a nearby town. So, for this neighborhood we are the megachurch!

 

[Cright]

I pastor a church with about 75 members (our current Sunday morning attendance is around 60). We are in a small rural community of about 60 people with another 400 in a nearby town. So, for this neighborhood we are the megachurch!

this kindof mega church... I like!

Yeah

 

[SumTinWong]

I pastor a church with about 75 members (our current Sunday morning attendance is around 60). We are in a small rural community of about 60 people with another 400 in a nearby town. So, for this neighborhood we are the megachurch!

Our village (yes I said vilage, not town, or city) has about 15,000 people in it at the very most and nine churches, two of them are Baptist. It would be nice if they were across town from each other but are right across the street from us. Difference in doctrine? none. Apparently there was a squabble years back and nobody has kissed and made up.