New York City Church
Posted on April 15th, 2007 by catalyst into the N.Y.C.C. categoryA reader writes:
Hello from a lurker.
I recieved a fund-raisng mailer concerning the New York City Church (the Ed Schefter thing) today, and I decided it was worth de-lurking.
At one time I attended a church that brought in the Eternity play. I discovered the City Business Church blog while looking for information on who City Bible Church was and what the Eternity play was about. As a matter of fact, the information I found was a final straw in leading me to decide to stop attending my former church.
Apparently, Ed must have obtained (been given? stole?) this church's mailing list, because I received this fund raising letter about New York City Church from him today. (My former church is going to get a nasty letter about releasing private information.)
However, I thought you could get good mileage out of the letter. It is pretty classic. I'm trying to figure out how best to get the contents to you. But, in the meantime, the letter lists a New York City church website which should provide you material for your blog for months to come.
This letter makes me happy for so many reasons. But mostly, I think because the reader is right, the New York City Church website should provide blog material for months to come.
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April 15th, 2007 at 6:30 am
I just love web sites that force the content pages into a little window - about 80% of their web page is devoted to graphics and menus, with the content appearing in a small 3″ x 5″ window in the lower right (on my 17″ monitor). That’s totally lame.
Also have to ask about the ‘honesty’ in putting together a web site for a brand new church with lots of bright shining faces as if it had been up and running for awhile … did they hire models from some NY agency for the pics? People from Portland posing around various NYC landmarks to give the impression that they’re New Yorkers? Reading the “Team” bios, looks like everyone is from OR/WA - so have ALL those guys moved to NYC? Or are they part of the “Team” by phone / satellite? Who is actually in NY now, and, have they even held a meeting there yet? Any native NYer members to take pictures of?
April 15th, 2007 at 7:06 am
I especially like the “pastoral endorsements” page. I’m surprised they don’t list the holy spirit, but I suppose that would make their resume a bit too much?
BTW - Don’t forget to stop by PES’s blog and say hello:
http://www.fraboom.com/nycc/
I wonder if members of this church are as welcome on his blog as he is on this one. haha.
:)
April 15th, 2007 at 7:11 am
GAG
April 16th, 2007 at 12:12 am
Did you read the part on the website about him?
If I were going to a new church, the first thing I would do is go to the website and read all about his achievements and how much money he’s made and how his PLAY won some award that means nothing to me.
Because I know everyone really cares about all that, I mean. If Jesus were to make a website, I’m sure he’d list everything he did and the awards he won for you know… healing sick people and raising people from the dead.
April 16th, 2007 at 7:38 am
In the brief scan of his bio, he clearly states that it has been his lifelong dream to be one Broadway. I think more than one person here pointed out this ambition when the church plant story first broke. Is that a good reason to start a church in NYC? To quote Seinfeld, “This city would eat you alive.”
April 16th, 2007 at 11:14 am
I feel so cheated in life. I only have “Low-Octane children”.
April 16th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Here we go again —townhouses in D.C. –this in NYC
what about a pad in Hollywood?
April 19th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
I can’t believe they are going through with this. We have enough people here whoring the gospal we don’t need anymore.
April 19th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
CBC branching out is the equivalent to Starbucks opening a new store. Profit, profit, profit!
April 19th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
I think CBC likes to be compared to Krispy Kreme rather than Starbucks-
West Campus FAQ’s
Posted on December 27th, 2004 by catalyst -
(These are real questions and answers from City Bible’s website.)
Why will people come to the new West Campus?
Krispy Kreme donuts have just opened a new store by our house! I don’t have to go to Seattle or wait until someone brings me these unique and wonderful delights! It’s a new store, but it’s offering a brand that I know about and trust. This is how we see our new location. We are a trusted “brand” of church with 53 years in our city. We have a proven message, a proven track record, and we will serve the West Campus exactly how we serve here. The difference will be that people can come and will come because it is closer to where they live. We will reach people who would not otherwise drive the distance to our NE location. (Does anyone know if they include Jesus in their brand?)
Where will my tithe go if I attend the West Campus?
The same place the tithe goes for those attending the East Campus. We are one congregation rather than two seperate churches.
(Thank God, I was worried it might go to the poor.) Read the first answer again. They compared their church to a Krispy Kreme store. Krispy Kreme sells donuts; what are they selling? Jesus?
April 19th, 2007 at 4:40 pm
They are selling a sugar coated version of the gospel.
April 19th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
23 Wall Street-location old JP Morgan Building.
Oh hell no…….no no no. Why here? These people know NOTHING about the city. They will NOT get the traffic they are expecting. They will get traffic but not the naive people they want. They need to take this project out to Long Island and spare themselves some money and heartache.
April 19th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Jennifer says….
Don’t give them any ideas!! Or do you consider Long Island to be banishment? “Please bring me your torch. The tribe has spoken.”
April 19th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
It would be cheaper for them and they would have more room and they would be away from cool places.
April 20th, 2007 at 4:43 am
Yes. But Long Island City Church doesn’t sound as cool as New York City Church. This church is less about reaching people in NYC than it is about impressing their friends in Portland.
April 20th, 2007 at 8:36 am
“Yes. But Long Island City Church doesn’t sound as cool as New York City Church. This church is less about reaching people in NYC than it is about impressing their friends in Portland. ”
I know. It’s pathetic. They are in for a huge surprise.
April 20th, 2007 at 9:18 am
Like everyone else, they need to learn their lessons the hard way. so it sounds like it’s just what the doctor ordered to bring ‘em down off their high horses.
April 20th, 2007 at 9:23 am
another case of portland cbc moving to YET another state to show ‘em how it’s done since they know everything so well! ya, THAT will go over well in the big apple!
April 20th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Long Island City Church—that actually would make the church in Queens as there is a town in Queens called Long Island City.
I put in 10 years in the city and will say there will definitely be some culture shock. Nothing is easy in the city and if they go in with a “We are here to save you” attitude it won’t fly. I would venture to say they do not know what they are in for, but that would be true of many good things in life.
If there time is anything like mine was, it will be exhilarating, heartbreaking, the hardest thing but the best thing ever.
Bill Wilson over in Brooklyn is in my opinion the best example of a NY church. Wildly successful in terms of reaching people–they employ very ordinary (read noncharismatic) people and put their funds into their kids rather than their buildings.
I hope if the Wall Street crowd fails to show up, that the team will put their efforts into the orphans and widows.
KM
PS. to Ed: I’m pretty sure you read the blog–how could you not? Go with humility brother and with a servant’s towel. If you don’t approach the city with humbleness, you will surely leave that way. Don’t try to make NYCC a replica of CBC or even the vision you have in your head for the perfect church.
In teaching we learn to wait until we meet our class and then take our cues from them as to the lessons we’ll teach. If we don’t know their needs, HOW WILL WE KNOW WHAT WILL REACH THEM? Love the sheep, not the call. Love the sheep, not the city. Love the sheep, not the prestige of pastoring in such an awe-inspiring great and horrible place. And if you’re not sure how to do that, get ready for God to teach you, as only He can.
April 20th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Yeah the typical CBC model with not work here like the above poster said. You have to modify it. The noncharismatic churches work the best here. The charismatic ones (few) get backlash. Keep it simple and REAL. Anything odd and you will scare people away, like my old church did when they tried to copy the florida and toronto revivals. The backlash almost destroyed the church and the school the church has.
April 20th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
Good job KariMichelle on your message to Ed
I hope and I can pray he reads it. Everything you are saying is right on.
My sister in law –a very few strong-willed person went there to take the city on
and she came back totally humbled.
Either you change or it changes you!
How I want every pastor to do exactly what you said and love the sheep
not the call, or the city, or the Mercedes. Good one.