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I think I'll do a church shop or two ... right after I'm finished with the bar shop and the adult toy shop.

Good for the soul and all that.

Wow. That's really not funny.

Well, you know what I think is funny?

That someone has figured out that megachurches are businesses, nothing more.

And they've designed a mystery shopping program so the businesses... err, churches... can get feedback and target their marketing to improve their bottom line.

Did you look at the website?

It isn't about the bottom line. It's about reaching out and being effective in ministry.
Yes, I looked at the website and applied. I think it would be interesting.

Hmmm.

Something tells me that the Carpenter from Nazareth wouldn't necessarily approve of "marketing strategies" and "logo design" and "brand loyalty" (all direct quotes from the website cited above).

Here's a WSJ article on this firm from 2008:

[online.wsj.com]

But we can agree to disagree. I wouldn't touch this with a 10 foot pole. Ethics and all that.

I do too and I can definitely see ways that churches can improve their images. You need people for churches plain and simple and if you go into a church as a visitor checking out the church and you don't feel welcome ...well then off you go.

Unfortunately because I all ready attend church I am not eligbible.

Liz

MissyH71
Perfect
You 10 foot pole this one and we all can get them. Not a problem.
They would want an open mind for the shop.

CANADA -

Another way to look at is that I'm not willing to sell out to a megachurch looking for "brand loyalty" and "marketing strategies" for $35.00.

How many shekels is that, anyway?

Sell out? But you will sell out to that adult book store or liquor store?
I am not joining their church.
There is NOTHING asking to join their brand loyalty. Obviously not a shop for you.

MissyH71 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CANADA -
>
> Another way to look at is that I'm not willing to
> sell out to a megachurch looking for "brand
> loyalty" and "marketing strategies" for $35.00.
>
> How many shekels is that, anyway?

Judging from the testimonials on the website many of the churches that are using this service could hardly be called megachurches.

Like everything churches cannot survive with people (who I guess are customers in a sense) so it makes sense for churches to get an objective opinion on what they can do to make themselves more welcoming to those looking for a new church. Goodness anyone who goes to a church regularly knows that its very hard for a regular member of the church objectively look at what is going on and further more it is often not taken very well when a regular suggests something "new" By having a company come in and look at how things are going they can then present that in a less threatening way.

Liz

LOL

@ Liz - Why did the image of "Buddy Christ" from the movie Dogma just pop into my head?

And - Canada - I was actually lumping the XXX store, the late nite bar shop and the megachurch (which around my area have Starbucks and Subway franchises built in, no kidding) in one category.... businesses I wouldn't touch with my 10 foot pole.

I'm out of this thread; just wanted to point out the ethical issues some (not all, obviously) may find with this website and MS company.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/27/2012 06:45PM by MissyH71.

Actually this is funny

To quote Jimmy Buffett, "religion's in the hands of some crazy ass people." In other words, religion is good, some of the people running the show, not so much.

MissyH71 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think I'll do a church shop or two ... right
> after I'm finished with the bar shop and the adult
> toy shop.
>
> Good for the soul and all that.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.

I applied for the fun of it, but received a rejection e-mail earlier today. For shame, I was looking forward to answering questions like:

"Was the communion waffer tasty?"

or

"Was the baptism water heated to a pleasant temperature?"

haha, oh well. Maybe next time.

_________

“We are all connected; To each other, biologically. To the earth, chemically. To the rest of the universe atomically.”
- Neil deGrasse Tyson

MissyH71 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think I'll do a church shop or two ... right
> after I'm finished with the bar shop and the adult
> toy shop.
>
> Good for the soul and all that.

For what it's worth, the sarcasm was not wasted on me and I chuckled.

I know there's an unwritten rule to not discuss politics & religion on the forum, since they are polarizing subjects, but when an MSC targets churches it's hard to avoid. Perhaps there's room for a respectful discussion.

I have to say I would not be comfortable shopping any religious outlet because, as I have stated before, I consider lying to be a part of MSing. I feel like it would be disrespectful no matter if I agreed with the principles of the church or not.

I feel bed enough leading car salesmen and apartment rental agents on....

I've done some of these shops for them, it was a couple years ago. You go to the church and answer questions about overall friendliness, ADA accessibility, I had to time the sermon etc etc. Unfortunately, I never did receive payment and said to hell with it. Never shopped for them again. It would be interesting to see the results if my church got shopped, I'm the minister.

Her Serene Majesty, Cettie - Goat Queen of Zoltar, Sublime Empress of Her Caprine Domain

Cettie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
I never did receive payment and said to hell with it.

Pun intended?

Of course, I'm used to being sent to hell by my fundamentalist sister. Even so, they never paid me.

Her Serene Majesty, Cettie - Goat Queen of Zoltar, Sublime Empress of Her Caprine Domain

I just recently sent them an inquiry about their shops and was told they don't have any here in Calif., but was invited to submit an app in the event they ever did. Now that I've read these posts, I think I'll pass untill I read something totally different about them.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart..."

What is the world coming to when the religious MSC stiff's you?

I'm guessing the MSC was not religious at all.

I've just scanned these posts (trying very hard not to get caught in the back splash) and am really, really curious. What does one shop exactly?

I am not even going to make jokes.

And, if I wanted to shop a church, would I have to convert first?

I think it would depend what you are converting from, Jersey.

It could be like a bank shop where you say you are not a customer, and see how they handle it. Perhaps you go into the the confessional and report how many Hail Mary's are required for a particular sin.

Sorry...the topic is just begging for humor :^)

Conversion would be from that carpenter's religion. No offense to anyone, really, but I am happy with what I have (I am really a spiritual mutt, with Jewish/Buddhist tendencies.)

So...the only Hail Marys I know were the ones attempted by the Patriots during the Super Bowl.

Yeah Blue!!!

SteveSoCal Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think it would depend what you are converting
> from, Jersey.
>
> It could be like a bank shop where you say you are
> not a customer, and see how they handle it.
> Perhaps you go into the the confessional and
> report how many Hail Mary's are required for a
> particular sin.
>
> Sorry...the topic is just begging for humor :^)

Please don't think I am a bad person, but I was reading quickly. When I read Cettie's comment I left the "r" out of sermon. I almost choked to death. I was thinking, I know she has some good stories, but what kind of churches is she going to? Again, it was an honest mistake in reading.

Nobody is going to think your a bad person for that. We love someone who can give us a good laugh and that almost made me spit out my coffee

I just laughed so hard I scared the cat right off my lap.

Her Serene Majesty, Cettie - Goat Queen of Zoltar, Sublime Empress of Her Caprine Domain

I just looked at the site. IMHO there is something very wrong with marketing for churches. just reeks of something. IMHO. Of course, I don't think a church or a religion should be proselytizing at all but that just mho.

Wow, this means two MSCs are doing churches. I had only seen them at Guest Reflections where they indicate they need someone in the Terre Haute IN area between the ages of 19 and 30.

Being a night owl, I would not get up early for these :-)

There is no question but that religion is big business in the US, so it is a natural extension that they would be looking to increase "market share". That does not equate to a meaningless message. "Some of my best friends . . ."

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/02/2012 09:23PM by Flash.

but it wreaks of competition. why the need. each will find his/her own way. I don't need to be sold. Ergo, the church (synagogue, mosque, temple, ashram) does not need to tailor/improve its message. it is what it is. IMHO.

In theory I wholeheartedly agree. In reality there are many that can stand to improve their image and any loss of parishioners has been because of their own "less than Christian" activities and underhanded dealings. I do not trust anyone who puts a "spin" on the Bible, Torah, Koran or any other holy book in order to further their own agenda or line their pockets.

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