The Chick-fil-A Church
Slate Magazine has an interesting read on Buckhead Church, LifeChurch.tv and a few others.
Most Sunday mornings at Buckhead Church in downtown Atlanta, one person is conspicuously absent: the senior pastor, Andy Stanley. A nationally known evangelist, Stanley is usually 20 minutes away at North Point Community Church, the suburban megachurch he has led for 13 years. To the 6,000 or so faithful at Buckhead, he appears only on video, his digital image projected in front of the congregation in life-sized 3-D. The preacher is a hologram.
Read the rest of the article here.
Hologram.
Now that would be rad.
Los
RAIN IT DOWN
One day…One day!!! Its coming
The hologram line made me laugh when I read it earlier today .
the 3-d hologram is coming i saw that sysco is working on it now…
we are a partner church and just call him flat stanley (like the kids book) which is working pretty good so far.
I didn’t realize you all projected video of Stanley. 3-D video, that’s new! =)
wow just read it… persecution is promised. thank God we don’t make decisions based on the media… – a fellow multi-venue-ite
There are too many thoughts for me to post them here. It’s true that our culture is becoming so technology driven it is hard to not see the appeal of the type of gigachurch described here. I just don’t know how wise it is. I have doubts and I have reasons to believe. While I hate sitting on the fence about anything, some of the costs of setting this kind of facility up leaves me uneasy. I am not trying to be a protester here but if you desire to hear more about my personal struggle with it here. Not a plug, I just don’t want to write a novel.
Careful, Slate. Your ignorance is showing.
lame. what these people don’t understand is that ministry happens in the relationships – in the small groups and campus leadership. so what if the sermon is on the big screen? i don’t personally like it all that much, but who’s to say God can’t or doesn’t use it?
i’ll probably never attend a big church like BC, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad or that God doesn’t work there. i was there at the night of worship and it was powerful to experience God on such a deep level with so many other people.
let’s pray God is glorified through whatever means necessary, and that these mega/giga/septupla/whatevera churches never lose sight of the need to encourage and facilitate relationships.
jayson is right…cisco has been working on it. it’s crazy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcfNC_x0VvE
Every time I describe Buckhead Church to friends and family from smaller churches I see a doubtful look in their eyes. But then I introduce them to everyone I know who has experienced changed lives and a renewed relationship with Christ because of the efforts of Andy and the Northpoint/Buckhead/Brownsbridge teams.
There is always room for honest and open criticism. But criticism of Buckhead Church and other multi-site churches is one thing while criticism from someone who has clearly never been to any of the Northpoint churches or seen the impact they are making in lives is another thing entirely.
same thing we’ve gotten in jax, fl—you guys keep it up carlous.
My wife hates it when I do this…so I’ll do it here instead!!
Take this model to an extreme. As in, complete extreme. Imagine for a moment that there is only one pastor in the entire world and EVERY other church is a video church. Anybody have a problem with that?
The fact-checking leaves something to be desired, but I thought the point about the potential for the medium changing theology was really interesting.
Los, does the HD system really cost $250K?
Don’t get me wrong. I am a HUGE, HUGE fan of Andy and all that God is doing in and through NPMI. So much so that I’ve been trying to get a job there for the better part of a year (That’s the only way my wife will agree to move to Atlanta).
But let’s tie a couple of recent blogs together and see what sticks…shall we?
In response to this post, http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/?p=5669#comments, one “Ron” quoted Andy Stanley once saying, “you don’t give up on getting your hair cut because of one bad haircut” (in reference to small groups).
Questions:
1) How bad does the haircut have to be?
2) How many bad hair cuts do you need to get before you go somewhere else or give up altogether and start cutting your own hair (the only plausible explanation I can think of for the flowbie)?
3) Don’t the same questions apply to the broader church too?
4) How “bad” does your local church have to be to consider leaving it altogether to watch a live web-based (or TV) service?
By the way, Barna also predicts (can’t find the exact stat/quote, which is dangerous, I know) that mega-churches won’t exist in the future. Essentially, he argues that the house church will be re-established.
Seems that the video venues could be ushering in that era. Again, going back to the questions above, why go to any church (building) when you can watch online, TV or DVD? That’s what many small groups (including ours) do already…and it’s GREAT!
I was an Atheist when I first attended North Point Community Church. NPM and Andy Stanley played a significant role in my conversion to Christianity. But I’m not convinced having a live preacher 100% of the time had much to do with it. I believe a video would have been just as effective. Jesus worked in my relationships with the other people and in the environments created by NPM such as small groups, etc. I’ve never had a direct relationship with Andy even though his teaching and insight have been extremely influential to my growth.
That being said I think the article in question was very well written and represented both sides fairly. The only thing I would add, because I Capitalist at heart, is that if smaller churches go out of business it is because the competing product (cost-to-value) is superior. Also, this creates an opportunity for the churches that “went out of business” to innovate in the marketplace. Instead of doing the same old thing, try something different to reach the people that the “franchise church” is not equipped to reach. McDonald’s may put the local burger joint out of business, but I still get a hankering for BBQ once a week. Feed that hankering!
Something I hadn’t considered before reading the article is that Paul wrote his letters to the churches, and then a leader at the church would read the letters out loud to the congregation. That is a striking parallel to the video church model. Same thing, newer technology.
peace|dewde
http://dewde.com
3-d video, hologram? where are we? the future? (cue brian regan voice here)
this was the lamest ‘persecution’ article ever. laughable.
ya.
ya.
but they don’t mention anything about the campus’ having their own pastors.
So is there a chance that someday the holographic version of Andy Stanley could be preaching in my living room? Awesome!
holy-gram
So, I’m gonna be that guy. I have LOADS of opinions on this subject. Hailing from the center of the universe and without question the greatest city on the face of planet and having 2 years of developing and launching a “video” venue I can tell you that it is the most impersonal worship experience one could ever have. Maybe I’ve just seen a poor example, if so, then I’m not sure how we made the Top 25 innovative churches of America. I can honestly say that I will never work for or attend a church that offer’s this as a lazy pathetic substitute for biblical church planting. My personal experience and opinion are that the video venue is for pastors who are a)full of themselves and need a massive ego check or b)lazy and unwilling to train the next generation. Come on people, the last thing an unbeliever who spends their week in our city wants is a canned video projected onto a screen. Why? Well because every New Yorker, no matter how rich or poor walks past more people in 1 day than reside in roughly 75% of American towns and cities, yet they know NOBODY. Why in the world would they ever want to sit down, be challenged by God and see the man delivering that message 1 time a year, even then he the man doesn’t have the balls to talk to anyone, he would rather escape out the back. Again, maybe another experience would ease my mind, but I doubt it. My last huge fear is that the video venue has the potential to ruin the next generation of pastors and teachers that God is raising up. I even saw it take it’s toll on the OLD generation, guys who had been teaching for a combined 50 odd years not allowed to be on the Big Screen, when in reality we had enough teachers to have a live teacher in each venue each week and nobody get burned out. In closing, you mock the 3d comment, well to the lost that’s how it seems, they don’t know any better, they don’t get your church language and they certainly couldn’t give a rats a@&! what Lifechurch.tv.com.org or Robb Driscoll Piper are doing. They see it how it is, a High Def image of a dude, made to look like he is walking and talking right in front you. It’s pretty weird when you simply it. They are not idiots, and they probably have more social awareness than 90% of Christians. If you put down your purpose driven, catalyst, willow creek Ray-Bans long enough you may just see it from their perspective. I don’t get it, but maybe that’s my Brooklyn attitude coming out. Keep up the fight! God I miss Chick-Fil-A
Just like Madonna and the Gorillaz at the Grammys!Dimensional Studios is at the forefront of this technology with their Musion Eyeliner 3D projection systems. I can’t wait to see a holographic Andy Stanley!
I don’t know much about the other churches mentioned (and even my knowledge of NPM is limited to my involvement with a NPM International Partner where I am member and occasional communicator (for the record we are not a ‘video church’ although we do use video messages about 10% of the time)).
I just did a quick statistical analysis of the last 13 ‘series’ from the NPM website (http://www.northpoint.org/messages), and Andy only preached 61.5% of the sermons listed. The other guys (with the exception of possibly only Louie Giglio 7.7%) can probably be considered “next generation of pastors and teachers that God is raising up” and Andy is personally mentoring them in their role as communicator, pastor and church leader.
Just a thought here, but if Andy is teaching his body of believers to love Jesus and love others….and it works, then what is the stinkin’ big deal. People have experienced life change….as you can read about above. They have been lead into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and have become a more devoted follower. Just because they have a $250K Hi Def system doesn’t mean it doesn’t engage somebody in worship. What’s the answer? What do you do to lead people to the person of Jesus Christ…..WHATEVER IT TAKES! Basically anything short of sin.
I am a member of a megachurch that has just lauched their first satellite campus. With God’s grace, is going to continue to grow. NewSpring church in Anderson SC, pastor Perry Noble. These churches we are members of are not “our” churches. These are Gods churches and we are members of the body of Christ. We must not focus on how many members we are up to and how much money we have coming in, then we start to take your eyes off of God. Example: Matthew 14 28-34. Peter was asked by God to walk on water toward Him and Peter took his eyes off Christ. Peter was afraid. He began focus on his fears and Peter began to sink.
We need to keep our eyes focused on Christ, and praise Him for what He is doing in the communities. Praise Him for what He’s doing in His churches across the state and world. Not criticizing the churches for their technology that their using to spread His word. I think God is using our resources to His ability. I know their are pastors that fear the smaller churches are failing and not growing any longer. We must pray and have faih that God will use the churches where we serve to grow no matter how hard things have gotten. People do not see that this technology being used is not making the pastor famous but making Christ famous. Most of the pastors of these megachurches are being criticized every way they turn. I think most of those pastors would say, “bring it on.” Amid all the criticizing and persecuting of these megachurch pastors, God is being made famous. That should be our goal, making His name famous and praising what God is doing and all He has done in these churches. God is going to spread His word one way or the other. The best thing for us to do is jump in there and do just what He wants us to do. Share His word and leave everything else up to Him. He actually is big enough to handle all of our selfish issues you know!
It’s about relationships, not religion. And Northpoint Ministries has clearly equipped me to improve my relationship with Jesus.
I’m willing to bet we would have read more objective reporting had the author taken the time to visit one of the campuses. As with most things in life, it’s easy to judge when looking from the outside-in. But from the inside you see just how beautiful this community is.
Jesse,
Yes anything short of sin. I believe your thoughts here too. But, we are also called to the poor and needy. It makes some peoples souls hurt to see all of that money going to a high-def system, when there are kids, heck, people starving all over the world!
I think what the Andy is doing is wonderful, but some people might say he could do it for a little cheaper, and use some of that money for more outreach. I don’t want to get into it, because I see both sides of the battle. I am still praying for what side I am on!
Andy,
Thank you for your thoughts sir, I see exactly where you are coming from. It is tough. Just a couple of thoughts. I would love to see what NPMI gives in the area of Benevolance every year, I have no doubt it is mind blowing. I really want to give Andy a little more credit than that. Also, needy is a term that usually relates to material things, and our socio economic status, but for the community in which they live, they may be also reaching out to the very needy banker named Bob, who makes six figures a year, we also have to meet him at his need as well. When Jesus was here on earth, he did hang out with people who were less fortunate but he also hung out with the politicians and tax collectors, who were well to do. I don’t think it’s about picking a side, I think it’s about doing whatever it takes to reach EVERYONE in your community. Know what I mean?
What! I didn’t know you guys served Chick-fil-A at Buckhead . . . I’ll be there next week!
I’m sure someone can figure out how to build one from this. http://www.eyeliner3d.com/musion_eyeliner_mechanics.html Doesn’t look too complex.
Jesse, I understand that the banker needs to be reached, too. But the model that most megachurches follow is targeting JUST the bankers. It’s not a coincidence that whenever they discuss planting churches it’s in mid-to-upper income neighborhoods, not the inner cities – or Darfur. And they’ll spend a thousand bucks on a J. Crew fan for every one they spend on a Jay-Z fan.
Flat-Stanley! LOL, that’s great.
I find it funny that people get so bent out of shape about it. If you don’t like it…don’t go there…if you do…go. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to go to church where I can hear Andy. He’s a great communicator and my family has learned a lot from being there. Some of the most influential messages for my marriage and career have been from a video pastor, so who are these people to say that it’s wrong. God does move at Buckhead. Through the worship, through the group of believers showing up on Sundays, etc, but mostly through small groups. Our small group has seen so many amazing things in the last 12 months. Reason…because God is big enough to move at the biggest video church or the littlest podunk church on a dirt road in the middle of no where.
A couple of replies-
A video venue can be cheaper to launch than a church plant. Reason: video venues can be in mobile locations…schools, town halls, movie theaters one day a week, then the focus for the other 6 days is small groups and homes to foster more interpersonal connection.
what many people don’t get is this….it is difficult to feel a personal connection at many megachurches. and even more difficult to get a neighbor to drive 45 minutes to be herded around like cattle. much less get their teenage kid to goto a youth group in the next county…. the video venue allows for deeper community with less overhead. and it also allows for MANY more people to become personally involved in church growth and spreading a gospel movement.
Has read with the pleasure, very interesting post, write still, good luck to you!