Over the years many churches, like many other businesses, have faced the same problem. How do you market your product and increase your customer base. To be honest this is where churches never cease to amaze me. In the past I’ve seen Christian martial arts exhibitions, catchy billboards, and other assorted gimmicks.
But pastor Robbie McLaughlin of the Next Level Church in North Carolina has come up with yet another stunt that I kind of respect. Like many marketing experts, McLaughlin did his homework and found the target audience he was looking for. Gone are the days of handing out useless fliers to random people on the street, McLaughlin decided to go after people drinking their sorrows away in the local bars and taverns. And instead if handing out useless pamphlets, McLaughlin went with something more useful… shot glasses!
And they aren’t just run-of-the-mill ones either. Oh no sirree! McLaughlin has these beauties custom outfitted with the church’s name and logo. He even came up with the catch phrase, “Give us a shot.”
Personally I wish I lived in North Carolina so I could get a set of these things. I have an idea! Let’s all write Pastor Robbie McLaughlin and see if he’ll donate some to the readers of this fine blog. If enough of us drop him an email on behalf of religiousfreaks.com, I think we can score some :) Here’s his email: robbiem@nextlevelchurch.org
But I digress as usual. Let’s get back to business. Do you all think this is just another sign that churches are getting desperate or a sign that they are changing with the times? Personally I don’t have an issue with this so long as the shot is free, or at least discounted ;)
Cheers!
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January 15th, 2008 at 12:06 am
You read my mind Gas, I’ll see what I can do about getting a few glasses. It looks like they’re located in Charlotte, and of course thats a solid 4 hour drive from Raleigh. But if I manage to get some, you’ll definitely be getting one.
January 15th, 2008 at 12:09 am
Hahaha, thanks Irishthunder! I think if enough of the readers email him we might just get lucky. It’s a long shot (pun unintended), but I really want a set of these!
January 15th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Next level church: where religion meets capitalism :)
January 15th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
You’re a jackass.
January 15th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
elaborate please?
January 15th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Because he wants to flood the poor guy’s mail box. That’s bad manners.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
@koning_robot:
I highly doubt his inbox will be flooded by my quest for religious shot glasses. As a matter of fact I think he’d actually get a kick out of readers from this site contacting him, as he obviously has a sense of humor.
If there were more interest in the article I would consider contacting him for an interview. That might be interesting. Might be a good way to get the shot glasses too ;)
Everyone needs to lighten up a little bit. That’s for sure!
January 15th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
I think this just goes to show how little some people really care about religion. I think that’s excellent.
January 15th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
What next, condoms that have ‘try us for size’ or ‘its a long hard road to salvation’ imprinted down the side?
*shudders*
January 15th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
we can only hope jayman, we can only hope
January 15th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Maybe they can start passing out these:
http://www.divine-interventions.com/baby.php
January 15th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Howdy all,
Not quite inline with the current discussion but something I believe is tangentaly applicable to the theme of this site and this story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV5UTHRx0a4
Cheers
Simon Bond
January 15th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Simon, Andrew
you made my day.
January 15th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
*steps in room* what’s up Alcari? did i speak too soon?
January 16th, 2008 at 10:33 am
I love this discussion.
January 16th, 2008 at 11:05 am
I actually go to school in Charlotte. On their website, they are talking about taking their 125 core staff/volunteers and going to bars and restaurants (Chili’s was used as an example) and handing out those shot glasses. Apparently they are going to be doing it this Saturday, the 19th. I am totally going to try to take a few friends and get some of those glasses. I know of the Ballantyne area they speak of.
January 17th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Fantastic! I live in Chralotte. Looks like I’m heading to the bars on Saturday! If I’m lucky, I can score a few of these babies.
January 17th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Sid, you lucky bastard.
January 17th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Sid, if you score more then a dozen, you got to share with those who are too far away. It goes for everyone who close enough and get to score lots of these shots.
Some people live in the holes like Cincinnati, OHIO.
Cheers!
January 17th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
More then a dozen? Does Sid look that depressed? :p
and some other people life all the way on the other side of the ocean, in the Netherlands.
January 17th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
@Sid:
Don’t forget who your friends are ;) I’m gonna email the pastor and see if I can score some of these shot glasses. If I manage to get them I’ll have to arrange for a little giveaway :)
January 17th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I emailed him too, I’m hoping my social engineering skills aren’t too rusty. I told him I was a pastor at another church.
January 18th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Hey Alcari!
I am a simple soviet person. Anything less the a litre is not considered drinking at all. Just a tasting. So no, I did not mean it to sound like Sid is depressed. I just wanted for him to have fun for those who are unable at the moment.
All I say, if people score them enough, I want one. I’ll pay for shipping.