tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601946653328882528.post3159815359847283621..comments2023-09-15T08:54:19.379-04:00Comments on New England Pastor: No Longer Seeking the SeekersShawn Bracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10603380405719498288noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601946653328882528.post-27472307685167877842008-07-08T21:45:00.000-04:002008-07-08T21:45:00.000-04:00Hey Marty,Thanks for getting back to us. I totally...Hey Marty,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for getting back to us. I totally understand what you're saying about the situation. No worries.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing a little bit more about your background. It always helps me understand the context of people's thoughts!<BR/><BR/>God bless.Shawn Bracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10603380405719498288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601946653328882528.post-49720149835868534282008-07-08T20:02:00.000-04:002008-07-08T20:02:00.000-04:00Sorry for the absence. I hadnt been back here to ...Sorry for the absence. I hadnt been back here to see if I was responded to. <BR/>Charles, when I said "poor reporting" I was not referring to Shawn's blog, but to Christianity Today's article, which was indeed poor reporting, as they came out and apologized in an apology article. Good reputation or not, doesn't make it good reporting.<BR/><BR/>Shawn, I've been in Central Mass for 10 years todayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601946653328882528.post-44541640110159531042008-07-01T17:56:00.000-04:002008-07-01T17:56:00.000-04:00Joelle,Thank you for the link. Yes, Hybels's admis...Joelle,<BR/><BR/>Thank you for the link. Yes, Hybels's admission about their failures has never been the issue. His - and Willow Creek's - response to the data is what is up for debate. <I>Christianity Today</I> seemed to imply that Willow Creek was going to stop having "seeker friendly/sensitive" services, but, in fact, that is not true. <BR/><BR/>What amazes me about Bill Hybels's video that Shawn Bracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10603380405719498288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601946653328882528.post-34906469680069774542008-07-01T14:03:00.000-04:002008-07-01T14:03:00.000-04:00Hmm. I didn't watch the entire YouTube clip, but I...Hmm. I didn't watch the entire YouTube clip, but I know I watched Bill Hybels's admission on video (if this is the same thing you're blogging about - which I'm not certain it is, since I didn't see the Christianity Today article). But a video was taken at a leadership summit. See video at http://revealnow.com/story.asp?storyid=49. The short of it is that they surveyed their attendees at Willow Joellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01570854172212498647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601946653328882528.post-46008811799942510292008-06-24T03:12:00.000-04:002008-06-24T03:12:00.000-04:00Willowcreek is an interesting church. Imagine comm...Willowcreek is an interesting church. Imagine commissioning a study to see if you are accomplishing your mission; (They had over 10,000 members at one point, but were targeting non-believers as a target audience.) Publishing the study; and then working towards plans to move their church in the direction of their mission.<BR/><BR/>I wish all SDA churches would consider this. Can you picture an duncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02231998802925233578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601946653328882528.post-77183456845101536072008-06-18T12:15:00.000-04:002008-06-18T12:15:00.000-04:00I was not offended by the "jab" that Marty shared....I was not offended by the "jab" that Marty shared. Maybe <I>Christianity Today</I> is, but I cannot speak for them!!!<BR/><BR/>Thank you all for your thoughts.<BR/><BR/>And, Marty, you have enjoyed your time in New England so far? It is a very difficult field to work in! Where were you before here?Shawn Bracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10603380405719498288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601946653328882528.post-81644587972621916992008-06-17T16:46:00.000-04:002008-06-17T16:46:00.000-04:00Marty, I don't think you can call this "poor repor...Marty, I don't think you can call this "poor reporting". One would be right to assume that Christianity Today would be a reliable, or at least reputable, source of information. So your jab is wee bit, I don't know, unkind?<BR/><BR/>Dingo, I like how you worded it. Since our life is growth and maturation, why should church be any different.Charleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12413657503068245221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601946653328882528.post-78907917244344037012008-06-17T14:10:00.000-04:002008-06-17T14:10:00.000-04:00Misinformation aside, the discussion touches on so...Misinformation aside, the discussion touches on something that came up for me in "Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them".<BR/>By Thom S. Rainer. He points up the need for more Bible/doctrinal teaching in churches, citing input from the formerly unchurched that such features played a huge role in attracting them to churches.<BR/><BR/>After mulling that around and Dingohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18408885936544008374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601946653328882528.post-68419134547895542372008-06-17T13:27:00.000-04:002008-06-17T13:27:00.000-04:00Of course, I just thought I'd share the info with ...Of course, I just thought I'd share the info with you. Actually I just received this link where CT responded to what had happened. I respect your opinion, and that's fine, I would just rather not have poor reporting be the focus of the proof of why you feel that way. Thanks for what you do in New England!<BR/>I love this place!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601946653328882528.post-3832328944537485052008-06-17T09:23:00.000-04:002008-06-17T09:23:00.000-04:00Hi Marty,Color me "misinformed"! Thanks for the li...Hi Marty,<BR/><BR/>Color me "misinformed"! Thanks for the link. I guess that's what happens when a person takes <I>Christianity Today's</I> word for it! That ought to teach me. I'm sure there are a lot of others who are equally misinformed.<BR/><BR/>Of course, this new information doesn't necessarily change my reflections on the overall incongruity with this type of "doing" church and my own Shawn Bracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10603380405719498288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601946653328882528.post-44370375987209900902008-06-17T08:03:00.000-04:002008-06-17T08:03:00.000-04:00Sorry man. You've been misinformed, as Pastor Bil...Sorry man. You've been misinformed, as Pastor Bill Hybels clearly states in this interview.<BR/>http://youtube.com/watch?v=fkEAO0PlJIY <BR/>Enjoy!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601946653328882528.post-60871775942943030172008-06-16T21:19:00.000-04:002008-06-16T21:19:00.000-04:00Marsha,I agree with you wholeheartedly. Every serm...Marsha,<BR/><BR/>I agree with you wholeheartedly. Every sermon should provide hope and the picture of a loving heavenly father. I try to present all of my sermons within this context (though I probably fail from time to time).<BR/><BR/>I guess my point is, if we just preach on "forgiveness" every week, then we may be neglecting some deeper issues that need to be addressed. Of course, those deeperShawn Bracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10603380405719498288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3601946653328882528.post-87783163043144879002008-06-16T19:05:00.000-04:002008-06-16T19:05:00.000-04:00But aren't we all seekers? I feel pretty strongly...But aren't we all seekers? I feel pretty strongly that all sermons should have an element of hope for the sinner, encouragement for the downtrodden, and provide an opportunity to draw closer to Jesus in whatever capacity is needed.<BR/>Regardless of megachurch methods, the need that I have is to seek and find Jesus on Sabbath morning. While most of the "work" that is accomplished during mhbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00725768933848168181noreply@blogger.com