Single Focus Atlanta, Christian college ministry based in Marietta, GA, is leading a very unconditional Bible study as a way to reach out to the “unreached” people, who wouldn’t normally be interested in Bible studies. In addition to holding regular Bible discussions at the house of the memebers, Single Focus, a nondenominational group founded by Nelson Foster, has been holding Bible discussions at popular restaurants in the town for the past four years.
Director of the ministry, Rick Lamborn, testified about the success of evangelism by holding Bible studies at restaurants: "We've seen a few of the waitresses become Christians. One of the former managers here became a Christian. So it's worked. The whole object, in reality, is that this is just to get inside the door.”
"We're about reaching the lost, and I think we're called to do that," he said. "Our attitude is to go where the un-churched and the de-churched are."
Not everyone agreed at first about holding Bible studies at popular restaurants where loud music is being played with the majority of people come to drink and socialize. Charles Bailer III, who joined Single Focus two years ago, said, “Somebody comes up to me and says, come to a Bible study at Hooters. And my first reaction was ... I can see McDonald's or another restaurant, but why Hooters?"
However now Bailer enjoys doing Bible study at the restaurant and says he appreciates the casual atmosphere.
Kristin Brooks, a 20-year-old Kennesaw State University student, said she values the weekly sessions at Hooters, for their "practical life lessons" and opportunities for evangelism.
The Rev. Dennis Rogers, a Southern Baptist and member of Single Focus' board of directors, added that the spirit of the group is to go where conventional ministries do not. He said, "It's something Jesus would've done because he looked past what people may think and looked at what people's needs are."
Such unconventional way of holding Bible studies has also drawn much criticism from other Christians. Still, some say Single Focus' presence at the restaurant doesn't fit with Christian ethics.
"Everyone thinks it's hypocritical," said Victoria B. Pierce, president of the National Organization for Women's Cobb County chapter. "Why would any church group go there?”
Terry Erickson, director of evangelism for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, a national campus ministry organization, similarly questioned whether such study could be effective.
"The whole idea is wanting to go where people are at, but the question is, can the place where you're meeting, can it enhance what you're trying to accomplish or does it distract?" he said. "I think someone who comes to Hooters is looking for something else."
posted on September 14, 2004 03:26:05 PM new
Notice the one in the lavender top on the right side of the black guy. She must work there. Look at that cleavage!!!
Would you like them to approach you if you were at Hooters, or any other place?
Bigots are miserable people. Prevent Bigotry through Education.
posted on September 14, 2004 03:51:00 PM new
And just what does the ladies cleavage have to do with anything, yeager?
I think it is an effective way to evangelize to the secular public. As far as I can see, there is nothing wrong with it: they are not chanting, holding up signs or getting arrested. Just reaching out to the public.
Of course, there will be people who feel uncomfortable about this: and I cannot wait to see what some of them will post here.
In Christ,
Rick
Romans 8:16-18
"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: "I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I do not accept His claim to be God." That is one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic....or else he would be the devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."
posted on September 14, 2004 04:04:25 PM new
What is she trying to do? Is she trying to excite the male customers or what? I thought christian ladies were suppose to dress like that, ladies.
If I went to any restaurant and went with the intention of eating there, I wouldn't want to be bothered by these thumpers. They have no right to bother anyone who doesn't want to hear from them. This is another example of how the bible thumpers think everyone like to think like them.
I would ask them to move on. If they didn't I would complain to the manager.
Bigots are miserable people. Prevent Bigotry through Education.
posted on September 14, 2004 05:39:25 PM new
No, tweleve, it shows how anti-religious cousin it is.
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~~ Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues(forces)of life..Proverbs 4:23~~
posted on September 14, 2004 05:53:19 PM new
I think it's brilliant! I wouldn't mind joining that group myself.
Yeager:
What makes you think they bother anyone? Why would you even think they would initiate a conversation with a patron?
If they are all sitting at a table looking into thick books and happily talking, some people might ask them what they are doing. That's the entire goal. It specifically mentions waitresses and the store manager- these people would be interacting with restraunt patrons anyway. If a curious customer walks by and asks, I certainly don't see how that's bothering anyone.
To put it simply: They're FISHING, not HUNTING.
Yeager, the only bigot I see here is you. Everyone knows you have an agenda against anything involving religion.
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We do not stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing -- Anonymous
posted on September 14, 2004 06:55:27 PM new
If I went to any forum and went with the intention of interacting there, I wouldn't want to be bothered by homosexuals.
Gee, yeager, I only had to change a few words to demonstrate your bigotry through absurdity.
posted on September 14, 2004 08:23:40 PM new
Parklane, the absurdity lies in the fact that you wouldn't know if a person was a homosexual unless they told you. With the religious, they let you know right away.
posted on September 14, 2004 08:58:01 PM new
Replay, how many times have you gone into a restaurant and listened or cared about what the people at the next table were talking about, unless they were loud enough to draw attention to themselves?
posted on September 15, 2004 04:22:22 AM new
"Kristin Brooks, a 20-year-old Kennesaw State University student, said she values the weekly sessions at Hooters, for their "practical life lessons" and opportunities for evangelism".
How are they going to evangelise unless they draw attention to themselves? Sitting at a table with their heads bent over the Bible isn't going to do it! Maybe they wear special "stop me and ask" t-shirts!
posted on September 15, 2004 05:49:17 AM new
parklane, why did you have to change this into another gay thread. That's all you seem to have on your mind. Talking about gays!!
Well, I really don't care if they go to Hooters or not. But you have to ask yourself why did they target Hooters. Why not Denny's or Perkin's or the Big Boy? Why not the local diner?
Yes, they have every right to go to Hooters and read the bible if they want to. Just as anyone could to there and read the newspaper or a magazine. But just as kraft said, how many times have you gone into a restaurant and listened or cared about what the people at the next table were talking about, unless they were loud enough to draw attention to themselves?
If 2 people were quietly talking about their recent stock purchases, or reading a portfolio, you anyone go to this person and ask "what are you reading?" or "what are you talking about?" The person would very likely tell you that it is a private matter.
A couple of years ago, while at a local restaurant there was a rather loud woman who seemed to want everybody there to know about here stocks. She of course was only making an ass of herself.
I think that if I was approached by these bible thumpers, I would ask them what they thought of the pedophile priest, and if they are going to heaven when they die? That should spark a good discussion.
Bigots are miserable people. Prevent Bigotry through Education.
posted on September 15, 2004 05:54:37 AM new
Also, a couple of years back, Hooters opened here. Of course the local church community tried to control this issue too. Local bible thumpers packed the township hall and spoke against it. Guess what? Hooters opened and is doing a thriving business. The religious right can't seem to get the simple message. Just because you don't like it, doesn't mean it's wrong.
Bigots are miserable people. Prevent Bigotry through Education.
Prevent Bigotry through Education.
