Everything that Dave does is superfantabulous! There has never been a minister in the history of the entire COG to have planned better church picnics than he did.
In previous years, only about one third of the brethren, and sometimes only 15 or 20 percent, typically attended the annual summer picnic. Mr. Pack felt it his duty to make picnics so much fun, with so much going on, that there would be higher attendances there than at services. This was because he wanted members to be able to include their non-member relatives in one positive, happy Church function a year that cast the members in a good light in the eyes of their relatives.But, to enhance the occasion, the decision was made to have one picnic for both congregations midway between the two cities, while recognizing that this extra driving could actually reduce attendance—if the picnics were not made to be very special. Also, new people were more likely to come to functions. Big, exciting, fun announcements were prepared for weeks in advance, building up anticipation and letting out new details each week.Even with the extra drive, higher attendance than services the day before would still occur because some brethren did still bring their non-member relatives. This level of participation was almost unheard of in other congregations. It became a reason that brethren from surrounding areas sometimes came, something that did not generally please their pastor—they were looking for a better picnic or social elsewhere.The congregation enjoyed the fruits of these improvements. And some who had stopped attending returned to Church.“After we transferred from an area it seemed that invariably the specialness of these occasions was quickly lost under the hand of succeeding pastors who did not seem to care. Sadly, I would hear that attendance was beginning to drop back as before. But never all the way.“Looking back, I have to admit that subsequent pastors were sometimes in an awkward position trying to ‘match’ what had gone before. But my job was to bring an event that mirrored the joy of Acts 2:42-46.“I think this is still the picture at The Restored Church of God Headquarters picnics today.”
One LCG minister made waves in his local congregation by browbeating the brethren into attending his local picnic. He basically told people, "If you don't come to the picnic, you are Laodicean and will go into the Great Tribulation."
ReplyDeleteThis pushy minister is now a bigwig at LCG HQ.
Pack picnics are better because he is the BEST WEINER EVER!
ReplyDelete'And some who had stopped attending returned to church.'
ReplyDeleteThis happened in my congregation when the moral standards dropped off with the Tkach changes. These 'returned' members were generally predatory.
The biography quote: It became a reason that brethren from surrounding areas sometimes came, something that did not generally please their pastor—they were looking for a better picnic or social elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteThe congregation enjoyed the fruits of these improvements. And some who had stopped attending returned to Church.
Who would of known that a mere gathering for food and games would move God's people to seek a better picnic and as well move the lost sheep to return to the flock.
The lesson here then is: The COG with the best picnic obviously most definitely is God's true church. I will now have to add to my prayer list all those stuck in a COG that have a bad picnic.
Well, the picnics are where everyone is on review for the pastor in a non-church setting. Or, did we think Dave was just there to enjoy touch football and lunch on the hamburgers and baked beans? Hell no! He’s busily at work watching and evaluating peoples’ attitudes and loyalties, and the behavior of their children. If you skip the picnic, you get an automatic F. Best to go, and maintain a really low profile. Smile a lot, even if it kills you every time you think of “common”.
ReplyDeleteBB