Video of LifeChurch.tv Tulsa’s Innovative Movie Environment
If you enjoyed the pictures of the Indiana Jones environment created by LifeChurch.tv Tulsa to promote their “At the Movies” sermon series, then be sure to watch the following video hosted by their worship pastor, Derrick Henslee.
The design is actually very financially efficient. They…
- borrowed a lot of items,
- recycled trashed materials (e.g., wood),
- used low cost materials (e.g., butcher paper),
- rented premade items from set designers,
- and used a lot of resources they already had.
Enjoy the tour!
Sarah Said,
July 8, 2008 @ 2:12 pm
Really really neat looking you have lots of talented people, but I think it’s a little over the top for church. I’d feel like I was at MGM studios, not church. I have mixed feelings about making it so elaborate.
James Said,
July 8, 2008 @ 2:46 pm
I guess I see it a bit differently. To me, this is done in excellence, not indulgence. I appreciate that today’s seeker society (believer and non-believer alike) are accustomed to receiving a message through this type of delivery method.
Therefore, if this allows a person to drop their filters and go into receptive mode, then more power to you!
Derrick Henslee Said,
July 8, 2008 @ 11:13 pm
I think some of the greatest comments I heard in the lobby this weekend from new guests were things like, “I can’t believe this is a church.” or “it’s amazing that a church would do this.”
For this series (which is first run only due to licensing issues) our people really get excited to see what we do to the lobby. That in turn gives them plenty of ways to invite their lost friends/family/co-workers/neighbors. There is a lot excitement and we already saw 1,000 more people on this first week than last year at this time.
God truly uses this series and our people to reach people. This is just another tool for them to use to invite them.
dan Said,
July 9, 2008 @ 10:27 am
I’d like to elaborate on what I wrote in response to the previous post about this.
From where I sit, the “big” ministries are continually upping the bar of how the “Come To Us” theology is played out. As a former big-ministry guy, I know what goes into programming, set design, production in music/design/video, etc. – it is extremely time-consuming to think up the next big idea that will draw people to the building.
And there in lies the point of my concern: In an age of so-called new thinking about ministry, why does the Church think that shuffling the chairs in this Come To Us arena is new or different or even constructive?
I guess I’m disappointed more than anything. Disappointed that this is “it.” More of the same, Come To Us theology where the Church stays huddled between 4 walls, listening to a speech and a singalong. God will not be mocked, so I am not about to suggest shutting the whole thing down. But I would like to suggest that big production not be given the kind of light it currently is given. There is real, tangible “Go To Them” CHURCH happening on street blocks, at bars, in coffee shops, at parks, and in all kinds of places where a movie set won’t fit.
POSTSCRIPT: Please note I am not calling for division, or slandering LifeChurch.tv. I am simply speaking criticism where it often is not spoken. The Church of American is filled with Yes Men/Women whom offer no constructive (note: not destructive) criticism. I’m with the Body of Christ, a follower of The Way. Glory to God!
Jesse Phillips Said,
July 9, 2008 @ 12:25 pm
THANK YOU DAN!
I agree. Dan, most people don’t realize they’re using “Come to Us” theology, or the “Go to Them” strategy.
Or if they are using the “come to us” method, they think that’s the only method out there, or the best method.
More and more people are realizing that it’s not a good method. I wish we could discuss the benefits and drawbacks of both, in a very big and public discussion!
Let’s start a new week long, once every 5 years conference where we all get together and discuss and debate these things a lot. want to?
Kent Shaffer Said,
July 9, 2008 @ 12:58 pm
@Everyone
Good discussion.
I agree that a “go to them” strategy is much better than a “come to us” strategy. But I also know that each strategy reaches some people exclusively that the other strategy does not.
Ideally, I think a church should have both strategies. Although I think “come to us” methods should be used with moderation (which can be very subjectively defined).
@Jesse
I like you conference idea, but perhaps it should be yearly.
Mo Said,
July 9, 2008 @ 6:00 pm
How does anyone know what kind of theology LifeChurch has by their lobby design? Oh, I see, because it doesn’t have some old grey headed men checking the dress code of everyone that walks through the doors, it’s wrong. Hmmm. Ok
I wasn’t raised in church & didn’t go until & was in college AND one of the many excuses i used was that church was BORING. That’s prob why I’m on staff at a church I consider not boring. BTW, it’s not LifeChurch.
Good job, LC!
dan Said,
July 9, 2008 @ 6:49 pm
@ Mo,
Brother or Sister, you have misread the criticism dealt to LifeChurch.tv, and I urge you to humbly re-read what was written - without ego, and without your heart on your sleeve.
The response you’ve provided is sarcastic, and not in the tone of respect everyone else has had. There are differences of opinion here, and as Followers of The Way, we need to keep a respectful tone, even when we disagree.
@ Jesse & Kent
If we had such a conference, whom would moderate? I volunteer the dream team of Ravi Zacharius, Brennan Manning.
Michael H Said,
July 9, 2008 @ 11:57 pm
I have to agree with Dan. Trust me, I respect what lifechurch.tv does and all the time those people put into setting this up. I honestly believe their hearts are in the right place and it does bring in some lost people that hopefully were saved.
But in my opinion it just keeps this machine going… this mentality that you bring people to church to get saved. WE ARE the church. We should be going to THEM. All these gimmicks seem to serve the purpose of bringing people to the church building. They dont equip believers to go out into the world and be the church to the culture its in. If anything it ends up making christians lazy. I could go on and on… but best to keep this short
Chris Said,
July 10, 2008 @ 2:58 pm
Hey guys i really think this is a great discussion. The interesting thing about this topic is that you are both correct. I have been in the ministry for 21 years, 15 of which were in a tradtional setting and now here as the campus pastor at lifechurch.tv in Tulsa. The thing I love most about our campus here in Tulsa is that we do both. We have times during the year where we do a series that gets our people excited so they “go” out into real life and invite people to come and check out this crazy place we call lifechurch.tv. We also do lots of things in our community to reach out. We have a mission project at least once a month and sometimes more. So the question everyone should ask is… are you a part of a place that does minisry the way Jesus did. Yes Jesus went to the people and Yes they would come to him. That is the heart of who we are at lifechurch.tv and that is why we will see approx. 1000 new faces in the month of July. The coolest part about the series is we will see people’s lives changed for a lifetime just because we hung some paper and built a waterfall. So in the end it is not about who is right or who is wrong. The question is what have you done to change lives lately!!
Dan # 2 Said,
July 10, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
Amen Chris!
Kyle P. Said,
July 11, 2008 @ 12:06 pm
@ All,
Very thought provoking discussion. I’d like to add my two very small cents….
I agree wholeheartedly w/Dan’s comments/critiques of the modern Church’s “Come to Us” mindset. I think this hurts the heart of God because, after all, He is a “Go to Them” kinda guy.
With that said, I’d like to challenge all of you to consider LC.tv/Tulsa’s lobby decor as a “Go to Them” catalyst. While it’s true, people have to physically show-up, however they usually don’t unless someone from our church invited them. When they do come they are immediately greeted with a golf cart offering them a ride to the door and then friedly greeters. When they enter the lobby they see the effort the church has made to make them comfortable, and yes, to disarm any preconceived notions about “churches.” Rather than a stale, “churchy” environment, they are greeted with an awe-inspiring, fun, and creative landscape. After all, isn’t our Father awe-inspiring, fun and creative?
I think LC.tv/Tulsa’s lobby transformation is the epitome of a “Go to Them” theology.
dan Said,
July 12, 2008 @ 12:27 pm
@kyle & chris,
What strikes me as I read our discussion is that we assume that the weekly gatherings in a building are an evangelical tool, or worse yet, a *primary* evangelical tool.
I see the gatherings of The Church to be a place of worship and group study of The Word. A time when Followers can get together, interact, group-study the Word, bare the ugly stuff about what’s going on in our lives, ask for the prayers and support of The Body, and give accounts of how the Kingdom expanded in their ordinary lives since they last met.
That is not possible in a typical weekly church celebration thing. The model is to sit in rows or “in the round”, facing someone who will download info that you can’t interact with in real-time, and you might get a minute to shake the hand of someone sitting next to you. Is that really a healthy model of Church?!
At the end of the day, no matter how LC, Willow Creek, Mars Hill or whomever dresses up the expensive building and infrastructure, it will always be Come To Us. The core idea is still comet-to-us, butts-in-seats.
That’s the crux of the problem a growing number of Followers of The Way have - God is too creative for that model to be the sole or even best idea.
Right now there are wildfires of house churches in parts of China, and I think there is enormous truth in what is happening there: That when the Body of Christ gathers together intimately, worships and studies the Word interactively, led by elders, then real Church happens.
We find ourselves living out ordinary lives loving the people we literally live next to. We basically live 1 Jn3:18, hungry for the next opportunity to be love to someone, and tell them why.
Maybe certain come-to-us places like LC work. I hope so - I sincerely do. It just touches a nerve within me when I see yet another Come To Us model crop up. It’s hard to see authenticity in well-polished media production.
Josh Said,
July 14, 2008 @ 3:33 pm
I really appreciate that we all have opinions about what WE think is the correct theology of how to reach people. However what we need to do is not criticize how different churches do things but pray that they are following what God is telling them to specifically do. We have got to get away from the mindset of our church is better than yours and move to the mindset that we are all on the same team fighting against the same enemy, the way we do things shouldn’t matter and we should celebrate together that we are all reaching people to further the kingdom. After all we are supposed to be unified through Christ not divided.
dan Said,
July 14, 2008 @ 9:06 pm
@ Josh
Given that not much constructive criticism happens amongst The Body these day - or for the past 20 years - I can understand how you would see this exchange as deconstructive criticism.
I assure you, for my part, it is not deconstructive.
Constructive criticism is good and sorely, deeply needed amongst The Body. There is a lot that needs to be called out into question.
This dialogue is good, and I’ve really enjoyed the many email exchanges outside of this feedback thread I’ve had as a result of it!
Derrick Henslee Said,
July 20, 2008 @ 1:29 pm
@dan
I really appreciate your viewpoint. There is definite authenticity in the model you’ve described as being the way it should be. I wonder though, how much of the church in China’s success is due in part to the government outlawing public church meetings?
The come to us model still works believe it or not. If you fill a place of meeting with people who love Jesus and want others to know Him, then give them tools for them to use to invite others…it still works quite well.
I think there’s room for both models. I don’t believe that one is right over the other, but I do believe that we are to be united in Christ and support others when God leads them to do a work of ministry and it flourishes.
Obviously God has laid it upon your heart to adopt a primarily go to them philosophy. I think that’s great! I personally was introduced to Jesus in a “come to us” church. I wonder where you met Jesus? The model works well and God is still using it here in the United States. Let’s all just support each other and be friends….deal?
Randall Said,
August 4, 2008 @ 1:18 pm
“I wonder though, how much of the church in China’s success is due in part to the government outlawing public church meetings?”
Can you please define success?
Wendy Said,
October 13, 2008 @ 12:24 pm
I GO to LifeChurch.tv (my husband used to even work there)…and I can tell you without a doubt that this is one of THE BEST church organizations I have EVER been a part of! Why? Because they are RELEVANT!! There have been SO MANY PEOPLE LED TO THE LORD DURING THIS ONE SERIES ALONE (”At the Movies”), IT’S NOT EVEN FUNNY.
Let me be clear: I’m not meaning to bash anyone in any way or come across rude. But you people have no idea… From the inside out, LifeChurch.tv has a philosophy…doing ANYTHING short of sin to REACH PEOPLE. Why do people have a problem with this when thousands of people are experiencing life change every week due to the exercising of the creativity God has given us?? Granted, I know that this is not everyone’s “style” or “idea” of how a church should be…but Jesus did say “come to me…” What better way to get people to church than by using our God-given brains to think of innovative ways to at least get them through the door?? Why would God give us such resources within ourselves if He didn’t expect us to USE THEM? Yes, I agree…there should be an effective “go to them” ministry as well (LifeChurch.tv is ALL about the micro-missions philosophy). But once you go to them, and then they come to you (after begging?), will they STAY? “Bring in, Build up, Train, Send out…REPEAT).
First, ask yourself how effective your church is being. Again, I am by no means bashing anyone, but you have NO idea of what the inside culture of this church is really like, and the deep evangelistic heart it owns. Anytime someone does someone differently there will be eyebrows raised…but you seriously don’t even have a clue as to how effective this one series alone is in bringing people to the Lord who have traditionally done everything in their power to stay away from church in the past.
I can’t help but wonder…Jesus used so many illustrations in his ministry to paint a picture for the people to make it easy for them to understand…do you REALLY think if He was walking around on earth today that He would NOT use technology or the resources we now have as a way to draw people to Himself? “Church,” by the way, has nothing to do with what the building looks like (Jesus taught on the hillside, in the temple, and performed miracles in people’s homes). “Church” is wherever there are people gathered together for His name and to glorify Him.
In the end, if someone is walking through the gates of heaven, does is REALLY matter how they got there?? Chalk one up for Jesus!!!