Shop, a church is a business. They need their practices evaluated just as any other business does. They have to find ways to increase their revenue and build their membership.

A shopper would be there to evaluate the physical church, not the spiritual church. I'm Christian and I would find that difficult to do, separating the two.

@Shop-et-al wrote:

This is terrible. I should not say it. But what do shoppers need? Some would argue that shoppers periodically need a reminder that there might be more than being human. This is arguable. But the human condition usually involves periodic pit stops. If church shops include restroom evaluations, such as for cleanliness , functionality, and accessibility, then shoppers might personally test the facilities instead of flushing with a shoe or the half-square of tissue that is not used to test other things in the restroom. If there are any shoppers who would at least put up with a church service in order to be paid for going to the bathroom, such shoppers might do the church shops. Do the church shops include restroom evaluations? Do you think I need absolution for this terrible post?

Perhaps, if Faith Perceptions had been around while the Priests, Cardinals, Popes and Fathers of a Religious Group were molesting Altar Boys and Girls as well as Nuns, there would not be an incidents where they are and were charged as Pedophiles. All religions have there secrets, until someone exposed them for whom they are or whom they want to be perceived as being.

While, Faith Perceptions, may not be looking for Pedophiles Clients or attendees, it may want to see, if the teaching of the religion dogma exhibits that type of behavior.

The Clients of Faith Perceptions sound like they wants to know what is happening with their Faith based establishments. So, who knows whom their Clients are? Shopping is a business.

Yikes

Someone who visits a church on a shop is not likely to see any of those behaviors on a one-time visit, sojo. If regular parishoners don't see it, what makes you think a shopper will see something that likely occurs behind closed doors? Not even sure the Catholic churches get shopped. SMH at that rather odd post overall.

Most shops are about compliance. Once is not enough to initiate a complaint. The likelihood of returning to a Client retail is not a one time visit. Unless one has shopped specific religious establishments one cannot for sure say or indicate it does not get shopped.

I never said it did. I said "not even sure the Catholic churches get shopped" which does not indicate anything one way or another. Anyway, when I attended the IMSC conference in Indiana a few years ago and Faith Perceptions gave their presentation, I was under the impression that the shopper visits the church only once and it is not a shop that gets repeated by the same shopper, similar to the way that new home sales video shops operate: one and done. Now if you are a shopper for Faith Perceptions, sojo, and know something different, then please enlighten us.

If you are caught working on Sunday you will be fined 20 shillings.

@ChurchMysteryShops wrote:

@Irene_L.A. We get that! Our research encompasses regular church attendees and non-church goers so if you do want to give us a shot - please sign up!

Please read my thread, I said NAY meaning no thanks, I am Jewish and don't sit in a church setting for money or anything else.....you seem a bit desperate and not respecting peoples choice (said with respect). Telling us about your program is fine, not accepting a no is desperate. I see you found a way to change your name, good luck.



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They are, and they do. Other people can do that, as qualified financial experts, professional administrators, consultants, expressive church members, mystery shoppers, the health department, or serious seekers who might consider a given church when selecting a church home.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

Shop, a church is a business. They need their practices evaluated just as any other business does. They have to find ways to increase their revenue and build their membership.

A shopper would be there to evaluate the physical church, not the spiritual church. I'm Christian and I would find that difficult to do, separating the two.

The health department?

For the Friday Fish Frys.

I thought that was Catholic churches? I didn't know other churches observed Lent.

Of course with Lent being well past, around here no one is doing them.

I think all Christian churches observe Lent, but in various degrees. For instance, my faith (African Methodist Episcopal) doesn't put ashes on your head on Ash Wednesday, but we do give out palms on Palm Sunday. Some members fast during lent also.

Some churches have kitchens where food can be stored, heated, or prepared. These are not used for typical weekly services, but they may be used for special events, small group functions, etc. One chuch has a soup kitchen, which requires a professional kitchen installation and compliance withh relevant rules and regs. I would think the liability is huge, but people are served (feed my people) and there are many donors for the cause.

I have been slowly reading this thread over a week or so. I want to state upfront that I am Jewish by birth but agnostic by upbringing. I have my own church which includes not getting up early on any day if I can help it. It also includes getting paid for any work that I do with a fee which I feel satisfies my needs. No one has mentioned the fees for this shop. I personally would not mind the concept of doing a shop in a church building depending on what it entails. I have other issues since I will not be having fun and will not be there to enjoy or get some spiritual or religious guidance during the service and will come away with only the fee in payment. How many hours will this entail and is it worth my time? I read on this thread that at one time a requirement was to go to a local restaurant and ask church related questions of strangers. That would be a definite deal killer for me. I would not in any way want to be seen as a representative of whatever church this is. My other main hesitation, without really have been in church services often in my life, is that for a job like this I would imagine I would have members of the church approach me as a new possible member and try to convince me to join. This type of conversation would not be akin to telling a salesperson that I have reservations about purchasing their product. I am not interested in getting into a debate on a religious topic and how I can be saved no matter how much you are willing to pay me.

Hi sandyf. OP shops churches, not cults. You stand up and say that you are new so people can give you a warm welcome, not to mark you.

Asking strangers questions about the church, is that evangelism? A lot of churches do that as a part of ministry. There's nothing wrong with it.

Speaking for Sandy who I know...I think she was talking only about her concerns over doing this job without knowing anything of this religion, she didn't mention cults? Representing it fairly when not knowing what to expect is intimidating, however, Interesting conversation and I'd like to know what kind of Church as it wasn't mentioned...could it be "Born Again", inquiring minds want to know. Many different Christians in the world today.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

Hi sandyf. OP shops churches, not cults. You stand up and say that you are new so people can give you a warm welcome, not to mark you.

Asking strangers questions about the church, is that evangelism? A lot of churches do that as a part of ministry. There's nothing wrong with it.

I did not mention cults or evangelism. I was not even thinking of either of those things. I was thinking of this being a main stream church of some sort...such as Catholic, Protestant, Episcopalian, etc. I have been to churches with friends, including sometimes even Jewish churches (which are called temples sometimes but let's just put them in the broader category of churches). Yes, you are welcomed. I have been welcomed and if I am with a friend to mark an occasion or whatever I do not mind chatting with people I meet and having them then sometimes mention the upcoming this or that and either turning them down or even deciding to attend but as a job or this is not something I would be interested in doing. While I have no problem shopping a retail store, that person is getting paid to offer me a chance to purchase something and it is one person I have to speak with. They are probably not invested in the product with their entire spirit. A person approaching me in a church is approaching me with good intentions on their part and a belief system that they hope I adhere to or want to adhere to. If you think this only happens in a cult you have not been to many of the church functions I have been to over the many years I have lived. Or perhaps when it happened to you, you were open to the concept and interested in hearing all about it as a member of a similar institution. Having a conversation with someone about their belief system is very different than having a conversation and even turning down a person about some object they are selling for a job. And going next door and asking questions of strangers I do believe puts me in a position as posing as someone who has some interest in the church..either positive or negative. Again, it can lead to all sorts of debates on the topic of religion, a debate which it is difficult to stay objective about. No, I do not want to do this for pay.....and feel perhaps I will step on someone 's deep held beliefs or be perceived as someone with deep held beliefs that I do not have, no matter how nice and pleasant they are about it. But if the job pays at least 3 figures I still might do it. Not interested enough even to sign up with the company and look up the fee.

Nope. I was raised Baptist (I am agnostic now). I had never heard of a fish fry on Friday for Lent until I moved up north. Not many Catholics where I grew up.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

I think all Christian churches observe Lent, but in various degrees. For instance, my faith (African Methodist Episcopal) doesn't put ashes on your head on Ash Wednesday, but we do give out palms on Palm Sunday. Some members fast during lent also.

I mentioned cults in reference to her comment of being recruited as a visitor.

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

Speaking for Sandy who I know...I think she was talking only about her concerns over doing this job without knowing anything of this religion, she didn't mention cults? Representing it fairly when not knowing what to expect is intimidating, however, Interesting conversation and I'd like to know what kind of Church as it wasn't mentioned...could it be "Born Again", inquiring minds want to know. Many different Christians in the world today.

But you observed Lent as a Baptist, right? The Friday Fish Fry is peripheral.

@JASFLALMT wrote:

Nope. I was raised Baptist (I am agnostic now). I had never heard of a fish fry on Friday for Lent until I moved up north. Not many Catholics where I grew up.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

I think all Christian churches observe Lent, but in various degrees. For instance, my faith (African Methodist Episcopal) doesn't put ashes on your head on Ash Wednesday, but we do give out palms on Palm Sunday. Some members fast during lent also.

Joining this forum 7 (or so) years ago, many of us felt Politics and Religion were off limits so as not to leave anyone out, or offend different beliefs....guess that's changed...does that mean I can talk Politics, "asking with a smurk on face".

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We should put our Senate in the shops you would like to see shopped so we can talk about politics

Irene, what's the difference between a synagogue and Temple?

Especially leader of "Make America Great Again"...haha

I would not want to shop him as he would ask to be tickled

@honny, they mean the same thing, with the word Synagogue the "old Fashioned" word for Temple, but means the same thing, Jewish place of worship, with Temple being an American word and Synagogue said in Isreal.

Uh, no. We did not observe Lent.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

But you observed Lent as a Baptist, right? The Friday Fish Fry is peripheral.

@JASFLALMT wrote:

Nope. I was raised Baptist (I am agnostic now). I had never heard of a fish fry on Friday for Lent until I moved up north. Not many Catholics where I grew up.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

I think all Christian churches observe Lent, but in various degrees. For instance, my faith (African Methodist Episcopal) doesn't put ashes on your head on Ash Wednesday, but we do give out palms on Palm Sunday. Some members fast during lent also.