Want to Get People Back to Church? Show Them This Funny Video

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Peter Guirguis • 45 Comments

Update: For those of you who were wondering if this is an effective outreach tool, you can check out the results from the Back to Church folks  by clicking here.

What a great way to invite people to church!

Our pastor first shared this video on Facebook and after I saw it, I found myself cracking up :-) .

There are many people who think that church is boring, irrelevant, and will add no value to your life. But of course, we know that nothing could be farther from the truth. That’s why I like this video.

It’s a fun and creative way to show others that church is cool.  It also can be used as an outreach tool.

More about National Back to Church Sunday

National Back to Church Sunday is on September 16, 2012. It’s a national campaign  in order to get people to come to church.

It seems like it’s strategically targeted for the fall since that is when students are going back to school, programs are resuming from their summer breaks etc.

You can register your church so that you can be found by those who will be visiting the site.  You can go to backtochurch.com for more information.

Some fascinating statistics

Additionally, when you visit their website you’ll find two staggering statistics:

  1. “Only 2% of church members invite an un-churched person to church. 98% of churchgoers never extend an invitation in a given year.”
  2. “82% of the unchurched are at least somewhat likely to attend church if invited.”

Wow!

It’s great to see that the church community is thinking  outside of the box when it comes to getting non-Christians or backsliders back to church.

What do you think of the video? Do you think it’s an effective way to get others to come to church?

  • kurt bennett

    I like it! I can’t wait to get it out to my social networks.

    • http://dev.notashamedofthegospel.com/ Peter Guirguis

      I’m glad you like it @google-cf48607196665e6107f1d0662285d6f1:disqus :-) Maybe you can see also if your church would want to or participate in the campaign?

  • User321

    This isnt what church is about. Sad. You cant celebrate the eucharist like this.

    • http://dev.notashamedofthegospel.com/ Peter Guirguis

      I believe that the point was to try to appeal to non-Christians and so this group of people were trying to get creative @78c03941ef88f32ffdd60f6db1a95a54:disqus

      • Lawgrace77

        We have to remember who church is for- believers. Creative video however church to an unbeliever is boring etc because they don’t have the Holy Spirit. So we try to do entertaining things to draw them in but in the meantime believers who go to fellowship and sit under a shepard to learn the Word of God start to starve because those things are being replaced by worldly entertaining things. The gospel gets compromised. I know I sound critical and I’m not looking for a fight on this. Just look to the book of Acts and see who church is for. I’m live in an area where there are many churches busting at the seams with goats and not true followers at Christ. They use worldy things to draw them in and water down the gospel so they don’t make anyone upset.

        • http://dev.notashamedofthegospel.com/ Peter Guirguis

          Thank you for expressing your opinion @lawgrace77:disqus I definitely do value it and that’s what this online community is for. It’s for expressing yourself and you have done so very graciously and I appreciate it :-)

          I do understand your point about churches not preaching the Word of God and so the flock ends up being starved to death. That is a terrible tragedy and it should not be so.

          What I’m saying is that this video should not be shown to the church but that it should be shown online to people who do not come to church. When you take a look at the book of acts like you are saying, yes the church was full of believers. But we also know that there are tares among the wheat that need to get saved.

          We also see in the book of Acts that the evangelistic outreaches were not done inside the church but were done outside of the church. So why not use this video outside of the church as an evangelistic outreach?

          • Lawgrace77

            Okay I can she this being used outside the church for sure. Why do we never see videos or church signs that say something to the point of “solid biblical preaching/ teaching here”. Has far as watering down the gospel well the gospel offends and someone seeing a well don’t catchy video like this should be disappointed when they show us to a biblically sound church that looks different from the world. Holy set appart. We have to look at reasons first why people left the church (root is sin) and what is the cure to get people back to church- the gospel. The body going into there neighborhoods and bringing the gospel because we know the power to save is in the gospel (Romans). I think we have to be careful what we draw in unbelievers with. Come for the entertainment but stay for Jesus but e bible tells us that the world hates Jesus. Thanks for the reply. Have a great day.

          • http://dev.notashamedofthegospel.com/ Peter Guirguis

            Tthank you also for replying, I think you have some really great points here. I do agree that people leave the church because of sin and the problems in the church are all grounded in sin.

            In my opinion, I think that if churches have a sign that says, “solid biblical preaching/teaching here” then it would be fine if you want to bring Christians into your church. This sign or slogan will not attract nonbelievers.

            I’m saying this from my experience, of evangelizing and sharing with the lost. That’s just my opinion but I think that the best way to go is to ask for God’s counsel and His guidance in everything :-)

            God bless you :-)

        • http://twitter.com/AgnosticismMe Agnosticism Me

          .. (sorry posted twice, didnt show my first comment, you can delete this one) heheh

          • http://dev.notashamedofthegospel.com/ Peter Guirguis

            That’s a good question, let’s see if @lawgrace77:disqus will have a free moment to answer your question.

            @twitter-595305614:disqus

        • http://twitter.com/AgnosticismMe Agnosticism Me

          Explain to me:
          1) What part of the gospel gets compromised exactly ?
          2) How are they watering down the gospel exactly ? Christian Strippers??? Did they open a bar on the church grounds? What are they doing?

        • Mike

          Wow, I know this a old post but… The Church is for Believers? That is just plain wrong thought. That is like saying Christ is for saved people or Church People. The church is FOR PEOPLE. We are the church. We need to be careful that we put ourselves in God position and start judging other local churches. I humbly suggest we read Acts again and the Gospels for that matter.

          • Lawgrace77

            Mike sorry let me explain. The church as in believers is not what I’m speaking about when I used the word church. Church as in where believers gather is what I’m speaking about. Everyone is welcome to come to church and see what Christians do there ie. worship, get taught God’s word and take communion. With all that said I agree lets stay in the word so we don’t go down a path and start looking like the world as there are many “churches” that don’t look any different from the world and that is just the way it is. So please all Un-believers come to church and hear the word of God and be convicted of your sins that leads to repentance and faith. I would like to see a “come back to church” video like that and get away from silliness. This video does have a catchy beat to it and honestly I find myself singing it in my head often!

    • http://twitter.com/AgnosticismMe Agnosticism Me

      Wow.. so you would rather bicker about your insignificant trivialities (how/what you feel church is supposed to be) than doing everything in your power to “save” souls?

      I think this is more about your comfort zone than anything else, disgusting..

      • http://dev.notashamedofthegospel.com/ Peter Guirguis

        it seems to me like you are quite passionate about saving souls :-)

        With that in mind, what do you think we should be doing in order to save people’s souls?

        @twitter-595305614:disqus

        • http://twitter.com/AgnosticismMe Agnosticism Me

          I am not exactly in the souls saving business anymore, I am agnostic, not even sure I believe in god(God) anymore.

          But I do however respect what you’re trying to do here (and what the video is trying to do)

          I am not going to give up on finding the truth.

          • http://dev.notashamedofthegospel.com/ Peter Guirguis

            Oh that’s fantastic! I’m so happy to hear that you are trying to find out the truth.

            Just the other day I was talking to a gentleman on Twitter and he was an atheist. He didn’t even bother with searching for truth and he had such a bad attitude about life.

            But you sound very pleasant and intelligent at the same time :-)
            @twitter-595305614:disqus

          • http://twitter.com/AgnosticismMe Agnosticism Me

            Thanks, heheh, I believe there must be absolute truth out there, but unfortunately I couldnt find it yet.

            Many years ago I thought I had all the answers, but over the years
            I started to honestly look at myself and my limitations and came to the conclusion that I actually know nothing.. Sad..

          • http://dev.notashamedofthegospel.com/ Peter Guirguis

            Wow, that is so profound. I can so relate!

            I used to believe in God, then something happened in my life where I got really angry at him, so I decided that I don’t believe in God. I was an atheist for a few years in my life and then I began to become a seeker to try to find truth. Then finally, I believe that I found it.

            I can so resonate with your story. I would love to hear your side of things. Are you on twitter?

          • http://twitter.com/AgnosticismMe Agnosticism Me

            Yes I am on twitter, I am actually planning to write a blog post about my “fall from grace”, a loooonnnnggg story hehe :) I’ve actually got a degree in theology, grew up in a christian home (my father holds multiple doctorates in theology, amazing man – runs an university)

          • http://dev.notashamedofthegospel.com/ Peter Guirguis

            That’s great! I just checked out your Twitter account and I remember that I began following you last week :-) thanks for following back.

            When you do create your blog post, can you please tweet it to me? I’m @petenaotg on Twitter.

          • http://twitter.com/AgnosticismMe Agnosticism Me

            Will do ;)

  • http://chr1stl1ke.wordpress.com/ Rigo Campos

    Awesome video! They point out different churches but how about the Hispanics? They did not get any love. lol Very nice brother thanks for sharing this! Now let’s go back to church! Yay

    • http://dev.notashamedofthegospel.com/ Peter Guirguis

      LOL, that’s funny Rigo :-) But you are right.

      Didn’t you just love how they were so creative and how they thought outside of the box? Cool stuff…

      • http://chr1stl1ke.wordpress.com/ Rigo Campos

        Yeah I agree, it was good. good stuff brother.

  • Greg

    This video was great! This is another example of reaching out to people using relevant tools. We (the body of Christ) need to be able to reach out to people on their turf, in their culture, in ways that are meaningful to them. The trick is to do this without compromising the Gospel.

    I know of a local church that is dying, why? This church wants to bring in young people as most of the congregation is older. The problem is that this church does not want to change…churches that are inflexible will die.

    So to, we must adapt and change in order to bring people to Jesus. Just because Jesus does not change (thank God!) does not mean that the method of delivery should not change. Case in point, read 1 Corinthians 9:19-23…verse 22, To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.

    Ok I’m done now….
    Thanks for this Peter!
    Blessings
    Greg

    • http://dev.notashamedofthegospel.com/ Peter Guirguis

      Thanks @disqus_HWkK3SEPhx:disqus
      for the very valuable feedback! And of course, I totally agree with you. I’m so glad that you are so open-minded and that you’re able to make a distinction between the delivery method and the message.

      As we know of course, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. But there are definitely ways to be creative and to reach a generation for Christ.

      Blessings my brother :-)

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  • http://www.facebook.com/dommbelle MrsDomJones

    It was def funny…..I don’t like rap at all…lol. But this video was cute. I’m only 26, but I don’t like trying to outreach in this way……I’m so old school….lol.

    • http://dev.notashamedofthegospel.com/ Peter Guirguis

      LOL – ha ha, yeah I hear you – it’s not for everybody I suppose :-) @mrsdomjones:disqus

    • Alex Isreal

      THANK YOU! I’m 30ish AA in my 30′s..I see churches that support this kind of “outreach.” They’ll draw crowds, but those churches suffer (especially the youth) when they embrace/mimic world. We’re losing our children to the world as they sit in the church pews! The Holy Spirit draws and lives are transformed, both by the Word of God, which should come FIRST. Re. video:”Jesus” nor “God” not mentioned ONCE as reason to go back to church?!? We must be like Jesus Christ instead of the world.

      • http://dev.notashamedofthegospel.com/ Peter Guirguis

        Thank you Alex for sharing that feedback and for your insights. In my opinion, I think that this video is a good out reach tool only. It’s good to reach people in their homes or at work because many people once they hear the word “God”, then they are immediately turned off.

        Once they are drawn into the church, That is when the gospel should be preached and when the powerful Word of God should be given without compromising the message a single bit.

        I believe that some of the churches that you are referring to in your comment are ones that give a watered-down message in their churches and that should never be the case.

        @0aef7f6d8027f993349d9079942ee79e:disqus

  • http://twitter.com/gruumsh Klaus Brune

    @peterguirguis:disqus @78c03941ef88f32ffdd60f6db1a95a54:disqus @lawgrace77:disqus
    I think I have to join in the side that says I’m a little bothered by this video.

    First, I do appreciate the desire and passion and effort to meet people where they are at, to get them to a point where they’re ready to receive what Jesus has for them.

    However, I’m wondering, is something like this going to be effective? Is it actually even DAMAGING?

    Consider some of the most rapidly growing religious movements in our time, Islam and Mormonism and Scientology and all the eastern religions from which it springs. People are looking for something serious and meaningful and something that will give them HOPE, even to the point of where they’re willing to follow a long list of arduous rules and performing repetitive and time-consuming tasks on a daily basis.

    THOSE people, and probably atheists as well, will look at a video like this, and our church may very well become an object of ridicule, not something they will want to come and check out.

    Then there are the people who ARE attracted by a video like this. I’m wondering what are they coming to church for, exactly? To be entertained? We’re just one big social club?

    This led me to thinking about why I attend church… Number one and first and foremost, to HONOR GOD. When I feel LEAST like attending, that is when I will make the most concerted effort to get there. (2) This isn’t like going to a nightclub or a Mason’s Log meeting or even Weight-Watchers or AA – This is my FAMILY. Of course I want to be with my family as much as possible. For support and encouragement as well as enjoying each others company.

    So we’re back to the whole entertainment thing. You know what I miss sometimes? Just singing. Skip the instruments and the band and just get back to all praising God together in one voice. I want to hear my fellow brothers sisters around me lifting their voices in praise, even if they’re singing off key, not another well-executed guitar riff.

    But back to the video. On the other hand, it’s good to break people out of misguided preconceived notions. Yes, going to church should be a JOYFUL experience, and people should be EAGER to go, not something they’re doing out of a sense of duty or because just the fact that they’re attending regularly makes them a “good Christian”.

    I also feel I should address the issue of being all things to all people. The Apostle Paul wrote that, but it really needs to be taken in the context of ALL that Paul write and did. This is the same man who wrote…

    “For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness–timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were VERY PLAIN. Rather than using CLEVER and PERSUASIVE speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.
    – (1 Corinthians 2:2-5 NLT)

    This he wrote to the Corinthians, which just happens to be the town Paul visited right after Athens, where he gave possibly the most eloquent of his speeches that we have recorded in scripture (Acts 17:22, the one about the “Unknown God”), where he made a special effort to bend over backwards to meet all of those scholars and philosophers on their own level. And while we have a record of a few people who got saved, apparently the rest of them just wanted to argue with him some more, and I find myself wondering why we have no mention of a church in Athens in scripture.

    I’m not saying all of this to stir up some controversy. Obviously we cannot be all things to all people all the time, and if this video gets people going to church just so they can find out what it’s REALLY about, and meet Jesus there, then that’s a good thing. BUT, how many people are being turned away in the process? Tough call.

    • http://dev.notashamedofthegospel.com/ Peter Guirguis

      I agree with you Klaus. It is a tough call. I don’t believe that you can please everybody. At the same time, I know of people who first came to church for the wrong reasons and they ended up getting saved.

      I know of a friend of mine who used to come to church just so that he could check out the girls. In the process, he heard the gospel being preached and he ended up getting saved.

      I think that this tool is a good thing just to get people in the door and after they are in, then the gospel should be preached with an unompromised message.

      That’s just my opinion, but maybe we need to seek the mind of the Lord more on this topic?

  • Don

    Very well put Klaus. I have concerns. Romans 14 addresses the issue about sin when it is not apparent. Regarding this video ask yourself: does it honor God? Would our heavenly Father be pleased with this? Is it encouraging to others or perhaps cause them to sin over it? With a clear conscience and a pure heart can you hear Him say well done my faithful servant? It appears boastful, pride, has no substance and mocks the church and the faith it stands on. This church video has not impacted the world; the world has impacted the church. Likes and dislikes are worldly especially when your yardstick is if it is humorous, creative thinking outside the box, and appealing. Sin is very appealing. We are in the world not of the world. Use the Word to penetrate, actions to demonstrate, and let The Holy Spirit draw a person. That is the yardstick by which a chistian evangelizes. I am ashamed of this video and I did not even make it.

  • TheSeminaryWife

    I see in the comments a lot of talk of “once we get them in the doors, they can hear the Gospel.” why has church become a place we must get people to, rather than a Body that brings the Gospel to those that have not yet heard. While I found the video funny, I think it stems from the mentality that we must “get people to church” instead of living out the Gospel amongst our neighbors and friends. Sure, it’s not a bad idea to invite them to worship with you and your spiritual family, but if our focus is on getting them in our doors, I think we are missing the point.

    • http://dev.notashamedofthegospel.com/ Peter Guirguis

      That’s a very good point that you make. I think that the church can use some improvement in getting the message of the Gospel out to where the sinners are as opposed to bringing sinners to the church.

      But do you think there is a place for us to invite nonbelievers to church? That might seem like a trivial question but there are Christians who believe that church is for believers only.
      @accb0e2fd3687d03a20ce5ed839058da:disqus

      • TheSeminaryWife

        I would say the sinners are already IN the church, since we are there. :) I think the Gospel is something we need to be preaching to ourselves daily. If that is the message being preached, then I think any Sunday is a good day to invite someone to church; if its a place where they will hear a message that says ALL people need Christ daily (including the man in the pew next to the unbeliever who looks and acts like be has it all together, and therefore sees sharing the Gospel as something he must do for “all those heathens out there.” The heathens are still in here! We are just redeemed heathens.)  
        I think we think of “outreach” as something we must do from within the safety and comfort zone (our comfort zone) of our church building. But I think we do outreach from with the Body of people. Send groups from your church out into the community where it’s comfortable for those not familiar with Christ. Doing a funny video that “resembles” a funny thing the secular world would do is only funny to us within the church culture. I don’t think it will actually reach out to anyone. We laugh because are “in the club.” We get the humor. I just don’t think we can consider this outreach. But yes-inviting someone to church is almost always a good idea! I just hope it’s not the only thing I do in relation to my unbelieving neighbor.

        • http://dev.notashamedofthegospel.com/ Peter Guirguis

          I think it would be interesting if there was some way to measure to see if this is actually an effective tool or not. I do agree that sinners are already in the church because we are there. But we are just saved by our faith in Jesus Christ.

  • Greg

    Interesting discussion! There have been many good points made here. This video is not for everyone that’s for sure. I can understand some being bothered by it, yet I still think that is only another tool in the evangelistic tool closet.

    This video strikes me as being aimed at the younger crowd, and they think a lot different then any of us (usually) that are older. That is not a bad thing, it just is. I’m still going to say that we need to be flexible, if you cannot reach someone according to the way that they think…you are not going to jive with that person.
    Say you are speaking to an elderly person, you are not going to talk to them the same way that you speak to someone who is 18 are you?

    The message needs to fit the recipient. The Gospel must be taught unashamedly without compromise, but that does not mean that you cannot change your vernacular, and the method of delivery.

    As to this video being God honoring….God looks at the heart…I believe the people who made this video, their hearts were in the right place.

    Just my thoughts
    Blessings
    Greg

    • http://dev.notashamedofthegospel.com/ Peter Guirguis

      I think that you put it perfectly Greg! you definitely touched on all the important subjects and you are so right, God doesn’t look at the outward appearance but He looks at the heart.
      .
      I did also update this post when somebody on Twitter sent me a link to past results from a previous years campaign. According to the Back to Church people, they were able to measure that a few thousand people did come back to church.

      I think that once they are in church then that is the perfect time to hit them with the powerful Word of God :-)
      @disqus_HWkK3SEPhx:disqus

  • http://johnmarkharris.net/ John Mark Harris

    Soooo… I’m guessing you didn’t pay the $20 for this video? Thus the “For Preview Only” in the bottom left corner (Ex 20:15)

    • http://dev.notashamedofthegospel.com/ Peter Guirguis

      John, before you accuse people of stealing, I would suggest that you first politely ask a question first and do some investigation.

      No, putting this video on this blog is not stealing and is allowed by the producers of this video. They put it up on YouTube and put the watermark, “for preview only” so that it can be circulated in Christian circles and become popular.

      You need to purchase it if you want to use it in your church as well as get other outreach media sent to you.

      Next time, please think before you just type a comment. Your comment was highly offensive and I find that its comments like yours that gives Christians a bad name.

      @johnmarkharris:disqus

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  • http://twitter.com/Pearlebaby Pearle Johnson

    lol love it

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