Come to church and win a car II
Further to our previous post, Careforce now has a brochure (pdf) on their site about the “win a car” promotion. The picture on the brochure is of a second hand Ford Laser, but it is not entirely clear that the car pictured is the one that is being used as a “door prize”. It would certainly be different from the mention of a Lotus which was mentioned to us.
December 13th, 2006 at 8:21 am
My offer to meet is always open to meet - but why bother? - these guys are not open to change. They never return my periodic emails.
I would prefer to discuss in a cafe and discuss intelligently - rather than look like the guy from current affair that turns up with a camera. That would achieve nothing.
Mind you meeting in person has already achieved nothing (as you said it would) …
Next time I see Phil in one of the trendy cafe’s or wine bars around town again, I will not hesitate to tap him on the shoulder and say “Hi”.
April 11th, 2007 at 11:22 pm
It’s back.
Come To Church And Win A Car III.
http://www.ineedarevolution.com/easter/
“COME TO REVOLUTION CHURCH - win a CAR!
Join us at either Revolution location as a first-time guest in the month of April, and you’ll have a chance oto win the Revolution street team car - a 2005 Scion xB. You won’t believe the kickin’ sound system!
[Must be 18 years or older to enter and must be present at the “all church picnic” on Sunday, April 29th in order to win.]
HEY 1st-5th GRADERS - win a Nintendo Wii!
All 1st-5th graders who attend a morning service at either location on Easter Sunday will be entered to win a Nintendo Wii. Winner will be announced in the “Blast Off” class, and they’ll walk away with their brand new Wii.”
TV news coverage on Come to Church and Win A Car is here.
http://www.stupidchurchpeople.com/2007/04/happy-stupid-easter.html
“The epitome of what makes church people stupid. “Go to church and win a car!”…”
April 12th, 2007 at 8:24 am
link doesn;t work Lance
April 12th, 2007 at 8:53 am
I just love the pastors resposne on the stupidchurchpeople blog when people were critical of the car giveaway.
“Hey everybody,
Your attacks are wonderful. Keep them coming. Meanwhile, we are providing clean water to people in India, clothing and feeding the poor through our partnerships and Long Beach, and leading many people into a relationship with Jesus for the first time in their lives.
Keep the conversations going. Your negativity just fuels us even more.
God bless,
David Trotter
Lead Pastor
Revolution Church
http://www.iNeedARevolution.com
April 12th, 2007 at 10:03 am
That’s disgusting, but then again:
“Come to youth this Friday! We’ve got skate ramps, Playstation, XBOX, Volcom giveaways, dance comps, skate comps, multimedia, and great preaching!”
Sound familiar to anyone here under 25?
It’s not quite a car, but it’s still the same premise. I’m glad I work in advertising, it really helps you see through all the bullshit.
Jake
April 12th, 2007 at 10:07 am
Jake from CCC? Not Jake who used to work with National Mutual?
April 12th, 2007 at 10:16 am
Um… Jake ex CCC. No, never worked with National Mutual. There’s only a handful of Jake’s there, but I’m afraid I don’t know which one you’re talking about.
April 12th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Jake Betlam I am talking about - I worked with him for a bit - or at leats I did my training and we botrh worked with Nat Mut at the same time, just in different offices
April 12th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Yeah, I thought you might be referring to him
April 22nd, 2007 at 1:00 am
“IN A new building in the Sunshine Coast hinterland a woman spoons froth off a cappuccino. On her left, a teenager has her nails buffed while a silver-haired grandmother deliberates between shades of pearl and puce.
“I’ll take the pearl polish this week,” says the elderly woman. “And I’d love another coffee.”
It’s ladies’ day at the Kings Christian Church, west of Maroochydore, and groups of women are seated around “pampering stations”.
As Pastor Steve Penny dons a headset and prepares to take the stage, the women receive free manicures and premium coffee in the church’s new $4.5 million Champions Centre.
Those who enter the stunning building are greeted with the smell of leather and freshly laid carpet. Plasma screens advertise church events. Stainless-steel light fittings are suspended above white granite tiles.
A wood-panelled lift runs to an administration area on the second floor and large doors lead to an auditorium-style sport and conference centre. The “makeshift church”, a community centre where services will be held until a multimillion-dollar Worship Centre is built, has a main stage complete with big screens and sound equipment.
There are coloured lights and speakers, a private film and sound suite, video-conferencing equipment and technicians.
The church, which has its own brand and business plan, records all services.
“Anyone who misses a service can get it on DVD,” said Pastor Penny, 57.
“We don’t have it yet but we will soon so you can download it, podcast it and listen to it on your iPod.”
Church has changed, using technology and other incentives to make services more appealing.
The Assemblies of God, which has more than 1200 churches across Australia, and other pentecostal Christian groups conduct services with bands, bravado and big screens.
As well as free coffee and manicures, they offer massages, outings, car giveaways and fireworks.
The Assemblies of God is flamboyant. Members of the congregation rise from their seats and move to the service, singing, clapping and “feeling” the spirit.
They’re an energetic group who generate enough money to offer newcomers the chance to win whitegoods and cars.
Services, television advertisements, religious music and motivational material are recorded, edited and packaged on site by the church’s production arm, Kingsmedia. The denomination’s love affair with entertainment and technology is obvious.
“We use multimedia at Kings, it’s phenomenal, we’ve got screens bigger than you’ve ever seen and they’ll change again because we’re building two more screens . . . so we’ll have five media screens all linked up together across the whole place,” Pastor Penny said.
“If you came you would switch on and say, ‘Man’.
“You would see the message in a way that I think appeals.”
Pastor Penny’s church and others including Garden City Christian Church in the south Brisbane suburb of Mt Gravatt and Hillsong Church in Sydney have been accused of using gimmicks and giveaways to entice followers from old-fashioned denominations.
At some Assemblies churches, pews have been replaced with more comfortable theatre-style seating, crucifixes swapped for CD sermons and preachers’ voices amplified and set to electric guitars.
Even the collection plate has been usurped. Those who want to donate can do so online or via eftpos.
But according to Pastor Penny, today’s churches are all about youth. The Vietnam veteran, who once travelled Australia as a motorbike stuntman, says young people expect the latest equipment.
In 2005, Kings became the first Australian church to video-link congregations, with Noosa churchgoers beamed live into Kings and vice-versa.
Officials expect to turn heads at the Champions Centre official opening and six-car giveaway next Sunday. The cars, which have been advertised on TV, will be handed out before free pizza and ice cream.
There will be jumping castles, buggy rides and fireworks at the “Event Spectacular”.
Pastor Penny said the giveaways were a means of expressing the church’s interest in the community. He said money spent on cars was donated by members and would ultimately come back to the church.
Critics of flashy measures such as big screens and TV ads didn’t understand how modern churches operated.
“The way we do the presentations on multimedia, that to me needs no justification, we’re a visual generation like never before,” he said.
“The way you do the message is very important and the other issue is the cars, that’s not a new thing for us, we’ve been giving away cars for years as part of our church since we started.
“In our opening weekend we wanted to make a statement to the community.”
TO some the statement is appealing. Glossy pamphlets circulated on the Sunshine Coast encourage newcomers to enjoy “The Kings Experience”. Visitors can make the most of free fishing, camping, bushwalking, gym visits and fine dining, motorbike riding, four-wheel driving and women’s shopping trips.
Kings brochures include coupons for beauty treatments, clothes, interior decorating, meals, discount shoes, kitchen renovations and more.
At Garden City Christian Church the list continues. Members can play group golf, enjoy family movie nights or join the Xbox gang – a group of teens and twentysomethings who play computer games on church big screens between services.
Garden City Christian Church Pastor Bruce Hills said the church used big screens and music to get the message across but didn’t offer expensive giveaways.
“We do have the big screens and the latest cameras but that stuff is just a means to an end,” he said.
“In the past it was all smells, bells, rules and rituals and we want to take the cringe factor out of church and make it a comfortable place for people.
“We’re trying to say God is relevant, our message is relevant, it’s just presented in a 21st-century way.”
It seems the public are lapping it up, though few want to admit they mix faith with freebies.
“I changed churches because I enjoyed the free coffee after the service,” said an elderly Kawana Waters resident, who didn’t want to be named.
“They were also giving out free massages so I thought why not?”
An 18-year-old woman from Nambour said she enjoyed free raisin toast before and after services. “That and the fact Pastor Steve talks about Jesus and relates it all to real life so it’s easy to understand,” she said.
But the money has to come from somewhere.
Assembly of God churches ask members to reach into their pockets. Donations come in four forms – a tithe, or “heaven tax”; mission donations; a building fund; and for community care.
Pastor Penny said no one was forced to give, and the money went to a good cause.
“The first way people give is a tithe, one-tenth of your income to support the ministers that do the work of the ministry and that’s what people give their 10th for,” he said.
Marcoola mother-of-three Jenni Hamilton said she worked three jobs and donated one-tenth of her income each week.
The 48-year-old said she and her husband made “up to or less than” $1000 a week but happily donated a tithe and usually extra to the missions.
“God has given us a beautiful life,” she said.
The part-time bakery employee, part-time teachers’ aide and Coles casual employee said the expensive sound and lighting equipment was a worthwhile investment.
“The big screens and equipment bring children to the church who wouldn’t normally come,” she said.
“My daughters’ friends who’ve never been to church in their lives come and feel at ease because it’s fun.”
Archdeacon Richard Gowty, of St Mark’s Anglican Church at Buderim, said Kings had a reputation for offering material incentives.
The priest, whose modest church has a congregation of more than 1000, said he believed the Kings’ philosophy contradicted “the way Jesus encouraged people to join his church”.
Archdeacon Gowty, 63, said Kings spent too much time encouraging members to donate. “Obviously we run on contributions from members, but Kings devotes a lot of time and money to imploring people to give and have all the mechanisms to allow them to give,” he said.
“They tell people if you are generous in supporting the church then God is going to bless you and you will prosper.
“But nowhere does Jesus promise a pain-free, prosperous life if you follow Him.”
Brisbane Catholic Archbishop John Bathersby said churchgoers of all denominations were encouraged to donate.
“If we erect an expensive statue or beautiful piece of art we ask people to contribute,” he said.
“I don’t see a difference in asking people to help buy 21st-century tools which attract young people.”
When Pastor Penny took the reins in 1999, Kings was a humble affair, a small collection of followers who met in an old water park.
“They rented an old restaurant on site and the rent was late and the owner threatened legal action,” he said.
“It was a challenging time.
“God talked to me about coming to this church so in the past 7½ years it’s grown from 150 to 1500 people. God’s been very good to us.”
So have congregation members such as entrepreneur Joshua Hunt. The multimillionaire Kings regular, who recently bought Fitzroy Island off Cairns for $20 million, is part of Kings’ “Boardroom” men’s business group.
The church, which bought the old water park and 6.4ha of land to create a Kings campus complete with lake, wedding chapel and three-level mega-church, has been active in its charity work at home and overseas.
Every year, 450 Kenyan children are sponsored as part of a $250,000 overseas aid initiative.
Kings members regularly hold big breakfasts to ensure Sunshine Coast children go to school well fed.
They take donations for troubled youth, offer counselling to everyone from young mothers to divorcees and ensure members feel supported.
But even devout members admit the church is big business. Caloundra resident Nicki Ross, 41, said the church had to spend money to make money.
Mrs Ross’ mother, 70-year-old Veronica Ross, isn’t so sure. Visiting Kings for the first time on Tuesday, she looked unsettled.
The traditional Christian, on holiday from Zimbabwe, said the church seemed “very American”.
Pastor Penny said an impressive church was vital. Work on the Worship Centre, which would seat 2500 people, would soon be under way.
In the interim, members of the “100K Club” – those who give more than $100,000 a year – will meet at “courage breakfasts” which, Pastor Penny says, “offer inspiration and encouragement to those who give”.
From http://www.news.com.au/sundaymail/story/0,,21595894-5007190,00.html
April 22nd, 2007 at 1:34 pm
WOW!! church is FUNNNNN……
“to take the cringe factor out of church & make it a comfortable place for people” sigh….
Subjective thought…..that all depends of what makes you cringe and what makes you feel comfortable.
April 22nd, 2007 at 7:34 pm
Just been to church and after the sermon which was about the power of the resurrection, the mike was opened up to the congregation. A lovely man pointed out that the hope of Jesus is so potent and inspiring to others when we’re in the valley, rather than on the mountain top. It got me thinking about all this prosperity stuff and how churches that only offer the “mountain top” lollipop Christianty are so off the beam. Not only is it consumerist, downright distateful and misprepresenting Jesus, it robs the resurrection of its power to reach out and truly grab others deep down in their souls. When we are at our least, God shines through us.
May 2nd, 2007 at 6:48 pm
“LARA Dormain fought back tears as she received the keys to a new family car yesterday.
The single mother of three boys from Little Mountain gratefully accepted the car – a 1980 Chrysler Sigma – which was one of six vehicles the Kings Christian Church handed out to Sunshine Coast families who are doing it tough.
The giveaway wrapped up a huge weekend of celebrations for church members, who officially opened the doors to their new Champions Centre on Friday night.
More than 1300 people from around Australia turned out for the official opening ceremony which featured impressive multimedia presentations and local artists and performers lighting up the stage.
Saturday’s open day saw hundreds calm their curiosity with guided tours of the new facility while a kids’ carnival, with face painting and jumping castles, kept the young ones occupied.
Kings Christian Church associate pastor Artie Shepherd said guests’ main reaction to the new building had been a resounding “wow”.
Yesterday’s car giveaway and a repeat performance of Friday night’s celebrations for a more local audience last night wrapped up the weekend’s festivities.
Mr Shepherd said officials were “ecstatic” about the weekend.
“But we don’t want to settle down and think ‘yeah we’ve done a great job’, we want to keep on finding ways to help people,” he said.
Kings Church pastor Steve Penny said the church had only just begun its quest to help those in need.
“My dream is to build affordable housing for the community in the future,” he said.
But one car was enough to change the lives of the Dormain family.
The single mum said the family had never had their own car and had always relied on push bikes or public transport to get around.
Her eldest son, 15-year-old Dylon, has been in remission from leukaemia for 11 years and the strong treatment he received as a small child continues to pose health problems for him to this day.
Youngest son Jai has been in and out of hospital and undergone numerous operations for various medical reasons.
Dylon’s regular check-ups and Jai’s operations were done in Brisbane and without a car, the family had to endure day-long trips on buses and trains for what sometimes turned out to be a 10-minute check-up.
“Even though we have moved Jai’s treatment to Nambour, it takes us an hour to walk to the bus and then two hours on the bus to get to Nambour, it was just crazy,” Ms Dormain said.
“Not having a vehicle also impacted on my employment. I used to work out in Landsborough on the farms and ride there on my bike, but now that I live in Little Mountain there is no way I could ride a pushbike out there to work.” “I’m still pinching myself, it will absolutely change our lives,” she said.”
From http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3731761&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=
May 2nd, 2007 at 7:34 pm
Much as I object to church flashiness… that particular story’s kinda nice.
May 2nd, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Seems like a family that could do with a car. However, still the “trumpeting” the story, does not sit well with me.
I may be being cynical here but it does seem like a marketing strategy.
May 2nd, 2007 at 8:32 pm
A 27 year old car! “the car – a 1980 Chrysler Sigma”
At least give away something that is going to last more then a week before breaking down and then costing this family more money then they have it keeping it going.
May 2nd, 2007 at 9:42 pm
I was thinking the same thing! What kind of gift is that? That car might have set the church back $1,000 while the spectacular building, multimedia presentation equipment, kid’s carnival etc is where the real money got spent. A 27 year old Chrysler Sigma is just a financial burden waiting to happen.
May 3rd, 2007 at 9:38 am
I like the changes to the family - but also fear the changes will be short lived as she plunges into more financialk woes tryiung to keep the car regiostered and fit for the road - and when she comes to the church asking for help for this , she’ll be helped a couple of times an then thought of as a burden and irresponsible!
If you’re going to givfe someone a car, especially an unemplyed person with no real means to keep iot on the road - give them a brand new car that they can sell to get a less expensive newer car and use the exceess money on clothes for interviews, insurances etc.
May 3rd, 2007 at 11:33 am
It’s funny…when I start to pick this situation apart I find a voice inside my head saying, “come on, she got a car. at the end of the day the church did what it’s supposed to and when was the last time you gave anyone a car?” and I hesitate to criticise. But i fear that voice is the voice which was cultivated thorugh years in aog. So many times if you criticise something you’re accused of not being on board or having an attitude, or being jealous (like Lewis has only recently accused lance) or pulling down the “good” work the church has done. At the end of the day this woman feels blessed by the church, which is a good thing. But I can’t help feeling that the way in which something happens does matter - the fact that this was so commercial and such a marketing strategy and a misrepresentation of what Jesus is about…that really does matter.
now all I have to do is find a car I can give to someone
May 3rd, 2007 at 11:38 am
When I was going to primary school in the early eighties my mum drove us in a Chrysler sigma which was about that vintage. I had forgotten about that ugly yellow rustbucket until now.
May 3rd, 2007 at 11:41 am
maybe she should dig it up and then you guys could have your own giveaway
May 12th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
What is better that coming to church and winning a car, a pastor riding an elephant of course.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/photos/popup.asp?SubID=458&page=9&css=%2Fphotos%2Fpopup.css&pubdate=4/29/2007
The Rev. Jim Lavender begins an outdoor service at Discovery United Methodist Church in Richmond, Va. atop “Minny,” a 32-year-old elephant, Sunday. The elephant was brought in to attract people and to illustrate the message of the children’s sermon, “How Big is Your God.?” Behind Lavender is associate pastor Raymond Rowley and at lower right is elephant handler Bill Commerford.
May 12th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Come to church & win a SH1T BOX!!!!
YES! WIN a ROAD TURD!
The MIGHTY 1980 Sigma was a piece of STEAMING CRAP when it was NEW & is now VERY OLD PIECE OF STEAMING CRAP!
Yes! We will HUMILIATE THE POOR, contrary to Scripture, by throwing them our sCRAPs while WE drive home in our NEW AUDIs & BMWs paid for by YOUR TITHES! Don’t forget to THANK US as we speed by! WE are SO BLESSED.
These ROAD TURDS are HAND PAINTED with CHEAP BRUSHES by our WORK FOR THE DOLE SLAVE LABOUR!
Just think of it! You will be the STAR of the DOLE QUEUE when you SPLUTTER to CENTRELINK and MEET THE HOMIES that painted it for you! They will also do YOUR WARRANTY WORK when you least expect it as a sign of their APPRECIATION to us for allowing LOW LIFES like them to work for their betters! WE are SO BLESSED!
Yes! Come to KARAOKE CIRCUS CHURCH and win SIX! SIX! SIX! SH:T BOXES!!! With a total value of LESS THAN $4000!!!!*
That’s right! God has BLESSED US with OVER $100,000 worth of ADVERTISING in exchange for 6 TURDS! We as SO BLESSED!
Please remember, if you drive your NEW SH:T BOX back here when you are scrounging 2 day old bread from us, please follow the CAR PARKING MINISTRY’s directions to park WELL AWAY from the building because WE don want TURDS like that near our cars because WE ARE SO BLESSED!
* price based on a 1984 model with head damage (just like you) because we COULDN’T FIND ONE OLDER.
http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/private/MITSUBISHI/SIGMA/details.aspx?Model=SIGMA&__Nne=20&__N=4294964597+0+4294964470+834+285+257&Make=MITSUBISHI&State=All%20States&silo=1003&state_id=0&distance=25&Cr=6&seot=0&__sid=1125941AE419&R=1131498&__Ns=pCar_PrivateSpecialFlag_Int32|1||pCar_ImageCount_Int32|1||pCar_LastModifiedDate_DateTime|1&trecs=7
May 12th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
“Yes! We will HUMILIATE THE POOR, contrary to Scripture, by throwing them our sCRAPs while WE drive home in our NEW AUDIs & BMWs paid for by YOUR TITHES! Don’t forget to THANK US as we speed by! WE are SO BLESSED.”
Beautifully, beautifully, beautifully ranted.
May 12th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
HBK that was brilliant
May 12th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
Last Update 05-May-2007
Vehicle 1984 MITSUBISHI SIGMA GK SE
Price $600
Kilometres 122,362
Body 4 door 5 seat SEDAN
Colour Gold
Interior Colour light brown
Transmission 3 speed Automatic
Drive type Rear
Engine 4 cylinder Petrol Carburettor 2.0L (1995cc)
Reg Plate 201PAC
Reg Expiry JUL-2007
Road Worthy Certificate No
Vehicle ID 4143778
Brief Comments Auto, p/s, cd, 4 new tyres, 2 months reg, drives well but head is damaged
Long Comments power steering, Kenwood CD, 4 new tyres, new battery, 3 months rego, 2 owners since new, velour interior, low kms. Has been a great car. Still drives well but head is damaged. Replace the head or engine and it will be a great car again. Everything else is in good condition. Can drive away.