Here is a link to see the letter that SPEC sent to "Lurker" recently. And this is a copy of the email Mr. "Lurker" sent to us explaining the letter: I have my own thoughts on this letter…which naturally, I will share. Later. In the mean time, if anyone has any other info on NYCC or CBC please send it over. Any info such as: CBC's current church constitution and by-laws or perhaps any NYCC's "team commitment" forms that may be out there (e.g., Would you submit to E. S as your senior pastor?" "Do you commit to tithing your income to NYCC once you get a job there?" etc.) Good Times. There are 4 jpgs:
1. Front side of the letter (with identifying information blanked out.)
The letter was sent to my home address, but my former church's
name was included in the address, so I know that my address
information had to have come via their mailing list. I had left the
church by the time the Eternity play arrived and never attended the
play, so my address information could not have been obtained via
Eternity in any way.
Also, note that the form letter addresses me as "Pastor." I was a
mere peon at a large church. I can only assume that everybody
on the mailing list was addressed as "pastor".
2. The back side of the letter.
3. The pledge card, including handy-dandy credit card possibilities.
4. The envelope the letter arrived in (note "Not For Profit" stamp and
Oregon return address), plus the return envelope (note "Place stamp
here").
City Business Church
It is not by grace that one enters the kingdom of heaven, but by tithing. – Damazio 3:16
the jpegs flash legible for only an instant and then go blurry.. any other options ?
Try clicking directly on the page. That makes it readable again for me.
I would never submit to a pastor with the last name Shafter.
Sheesh.
Nice job with the spelling of “apart.”
It sounds like he’s describing a vacation trip he’s going on, rather than humbly describing a church plant.
If you’re going to raise money for something, your letter should have some selling points on what it is you hope to accomplish with the money that you are asking for.
Here’s what I got out of it:
* Eternity is moving to NYC.
* We have a cool building on Wall St.
* Wall St. people need a new church
* 9/11
* Did we mention we’re on Wall St.?
Why would anyone, on the mere basis of this letter, give them any money? They give no reason for moving Eternity’s HQ to NYC, why they are starting a church there, or what they hope to accomplish in having it in that specific spot.
They plan on scaring a bunch of gay stock brokers.
Reason: It’s his lifelong dream, so why wouldn’t you partner with them!
Selling point: If you sow, you will reap! (italicized note at the end of the letter)
Yack, yack, yack!
Check out his website and go to More Stuff and then NYCC interns. He is trying to raise a slave army of unpaid interns who have to work for him all day and work at night to support themselves! Brilliant! He was obviously trained well by Frank.
Someone should tell Ed they already have an Eternity play in NYC.
It’s called Hell House.
Here’s an article about the play.
Red Seven,
I don’t even know what a hot rout is.
Boy! Living Life is GAGging and Grey Sheep is Yacking!
This place is a real barf-o-rama lately.
Isaiah 28:8
[Comment ID #25032 Will Be Quoted Here]
Wow, look at that schedule. Monday thru Friday classes, and “outreaches” all weeknd. Oh, look, you are permitted to have a job on weeknights! For two years! Sounds like a recipe for burnout and ending up on the streets homeless.
So what happens when some NY / Broadway critic shreds Eternity? Real world plays fold almost overnight after a shredding. Does Ed blow off the critics and continue his beg-a-thons to sink money into the money pit that will be NYCC? Is Eternity and NYCC symbiotic?
Bottom line, Eternity isn’t an effective way to evangelize. Sure, it gets quick numbers, but they don’t stick around. I’m surprised the play is still being performed, because it simply doesn’t work.
I was just thinking that we should have our friends over at Popsurfing drop in and give us his review of Eternity when NYCC is up and running.
Haha… …not a bad idea.
They are sooo dumb. We already have a HUGE church out in Long Island that does the production of Heavens Gates and Hell FLames and has been doing it for 20 years and I know they cannot top that or come close to it. They do other plays too.
“Bottom line, Eternity isn’t an effective way to evangelize. Sure, it gets quick numbers, but they don’t stick around. I’m surprised the play is still being performed, because it simply doesn’t work.”
It doesn’t. The people are not saved they are scared. Once that feeling goes away they go back to their old lifestyles. People don’t get saved through fear tactics, concerts, ski trips, and so forth. True salation can only be gained by hearing the word and prayer. That’s it! That other stuff is just emotionalism, and is okay for entertainment purposes but not for salvation.
“So what happens when some NY / Broadway critic shreds Eternity?”
Well this would be an off-Broadway play inside of a church so they wouldn’t be subject to real critics, just some drones they can muster up to say nice things.
The blatant GREED in this amazes me.