Church of No Shame

This story isn’t amazing because of what this church is giving away for Easter. There are other churches giving away much more extravagent gifts, including a house.

What is amazing (and by amazing I mean what makes we want to vomit, although I guess I sort of appreciate his honesty) is this church’s “evangelism philosophy.”

Presenting the evangelism philosophy of Crossing Church in Elk River, MN: Having trouble getting people to come to church? No problem. Bribe them!

Seriously. This isn’t me reading into what they’re doing. The pastor says as much himself…….

KARE 11, ELK RIVER, Minn. — The Crossing Church in Elk River has many seats to fill Easter weekend and they have a very unique way of doing it. They are bribing people with 3D televisions and Nintendo 3DS portable video game consoles.

“I have no problem bribing people with crap in order to meet Christ,” Pastor Eric Dykstra said.

The bribes maybe working. While other churches are struggling with attendance Crossing has grown from just 200 people to more 3,000 in just six years.

There is hope their $8,000 giveaway this weekend will bring in more. But Dykstra says the prizes are more than just gimmicks. They are tools to get people in the door.

“It’s awkward to say ‘hey come to my church.’ It just feels weird and you don’t want to twist somebody’s arm so to kind of alleviate some of that weirdness what we’ve done is said hey if you bring your friend to church they might potentially win a 3D television, a 3DS or a 3D movie ticket package,” Dykstra said.

Dykstra expects between 5,000 to 6,000 people to attend their Easter worship service.

***He may not have a problem bribing people to meet Christ, but Jesus did: “Sell everything you have, give it to the poor, then come and follow me.”