Tag Archives: marketing

Is This The Way Phil Pringle Should Run His Church?

16 Sunday Jun 2013

Posted by in Pringle's Issues/Events, Pringle's Methods, Pringle's Outcomes

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SERMON EXECUTION

When key church conferences or events are weeks away, Phil Pringle executes his teachings in rather peculiar ways. To the average person it sounds like what they are hearing in a Sunday service or bible study is biblical teaching.

Unfortunately this is not the case. It is becoming more evident that C3 members are being seduced by innovative marketing ploys for Phil Pringle’s conferences and events. People need to understand that Phil Pringle can often have a rather different agenda when he is preaching. It is of our opinion that his marketing ploys are becoming more manipulative.

Consider some of these statements he has made in his book, ‘You The Leader’:

“People can become anything under the right conditions.” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, 2005, pg 267.

“I don’t approach Sundays with an attitude of, “What message shall I preach?” but rather, “What do we want to achieve in our church at this time?” That desired end result determines what and how I preach. Then, within the particular message, I ask myself, “What am I trying to achieve here? What one thing am I attempting to say? What do I want these people to have or do at the end of this time?’
Then I follow the plan.” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, pg. 234.

“What we preach is what we get. We are farmers sowing seed. If we are unhappy with the harvest we’re reaping, we should sow different seed. If we want different results, we preach different messages.” – Phil Pringle, You The Leader, 2005, pg 215.

It is unsettling to know that a pastor might be using his position and sermon time to manipulate people. This is what we have recorded Phil Pringle doing in the past.

Another False Prophecy By Pringle Alongside A Deceitful Sermon

Pringle’s ‘Get Ready For God’ Bible Study Notes, Exposed

Pringle’s ‘Financial Excellence’ Bible Study Notes, Exposed

HAS ‘PASTOR’ PHIL PRINGLE CHANGED?

You may be thinking Phil Pringle went through an unusual phase in his ministry. Not so. We have seen him behave like this for a few years now. This year we have seen Pringle misuse his power and position to market his events through his teachings. Specifically this years Presence Conference 2013 and Vision Builders 2013.

In this articles we will not give you a critique of Phil Pringle’s sermons that market people to attend Presence Conference 2013 or Vision Builders 2013. First, we invite you to look at the bizarre C3 Connect Notes study, weeks leading up to Presence Conference 2013. (Emphasis ours in underline.)

35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. John 4v35
(all references NIV)

It says: “don’t you have a saying?” We all have a saying.
– We can say one thing, but God says this: we can’t go without the presence of God.
– Moses and the people set out, but they pleaded: “Please God, don’t let us go without your presence.

The presence of God defines who you are. When people meet you they don’t just experience you, they experience God.

The church is a place of the second chance – but the church is also the house of promise.

TALK ABOUT:
* Are you ready for the hour we are about to step into? Are you willing give [sic] him all of your life?

Ps Greg French moved extensively in the prophetic after this message. We would like to encourage all leaders to have a special prayer and ministry time in your connect group this week. Remember you are a sufficient minister of the Holy Spirit! ‘..Our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit..’ (2 Corin 3:5-6)

Source: CN08Apr13 – Carrying The Presence Of God

Let’s see if Phil Pringle honestly used the single verse in the ‘bible study’ in context. Did he handle the words of Jesus accurately? Does God overwrite all our sayings to correct us? Let’s see what Jesus said:

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” John 4:34-38. (Emphasis ours.)

So what has this verse got to do with God’s presence™? It doesn’t. But what is Pringle trying to say? That God will override our sayings to say something else?

Pringle used ONLY John 4:35 to explain that, “We can say one thing, but God says this: we can’t go without the presence”. This could be true BUT Jesus in his next breath says in AGREEMENT that, “the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true“. So… what is going on?

Why did Pringle exclude this? If he kept the scripture in context wouldn’t people be able to see that God can be in agreement with our sayings?

We are assuming he wants people to think like this in the bible study:

As a reader, are you ready for the hour you are about to step into: Presence™ Conference 2013?
How is it possible to give God all your life if you do not go?
Don’t you realise that God is telling you that you can’t go without the Presence™ of God?
Can’t you see that if you say “I might not go to Presence™ Conference”, God might be telling you to do the opposite?

It’s wrong for Phil Pringle to make Jesus out to be a liar. When you read the verse in its context, the entire bible study is debunked and made pointless. This seems to indicate that Pringle is misleading his entire Connect Group network with this study to try and get people to go to his Presence Conference. Quite frankly this is despicable behaviour coming from a ‘pastor’.

But it get’s worse…

WHAT IS THE C3 VISION BUILDERS DINNER & THE C3 VISION?

Before looking at the Vision Builders marketing ploys Pringle weaves in his teachings, it is important that you understand the ‘Vision Builders’ dinner.

We’ll let C3 explain what it is.

If you do not know what the ‘Vision’ of God is to Phil Pringle, it is this. (Also watch the video via below source link.)

“Our vision for C3 Church is to see 1000 Churches planted by the year 2020 with an average attendance of 500 members.” – 2020 Vision, C3 Church Global, http://c3churchglobal.com/cms/2020-vision. (Accessed 14/06/2013.)

With this in mind, it is time to look at how Phil Pringle convinces people to sign up for the ‘Vision Builders’ dinner so they can make financial pledges to C3 Church’ building initiatives.

VISION BUILDERS MARKETING GIMMICKS

Here is what you will find advertised on the myc3church website. Ask yourself this question: Who “prepares a table” for you? God or C3?

To reduce the size of this article, we will only look at C3’s Vision Builders video and C3’s latest ‘bible study’ Connect Notes.

Here is the video.

The transcript reads:

“What a humbling thing it is to realise that God, the Creator of the universe, maker of heaven and earth, has prepared a table for you. Long before you acknowledged Him, your place had been set, the invitation extended. Taste and see that the Lord is good. It was not a place you could earn or deserve. You were lost. Dead. But now, you are found alive, caught up in his great story. And so before you is a banquet. A feast of provision. That you may play a part in the midst of darkness bringing the light.”

Like other Vision Builders dinner, Pringle encouraged people to bring their wallets to the table and make pledges to the C3 building fund. (Quick reminder: The light is Jesus, not our money.)

There is something seriously wrong with the video presentation. Do you think this advert has gone one step further than worldly marketing? How do you feel when you watch this? Who is really preparing the table? God or Pringle? Who is really asking people to give cash? God or Pringle? Who is asking you to expand in your sacrificial giving? God or Pringle?

The lines were deliberately blurred to entice and pressure C3 members to give sacrificially. But would God really want people to give financially at this event?

C3 BIBLE STUDY CONNECT GROUP NOTES

If that’s not disturbing enough, look how Phil Pringle in the last two weeks planned out the C3 Church bible study connect group notes.

CN03Jun13 – GRAND DESIGNS: PURPOSE, PLANS & PURSUIT

CN11Jun13 – GRAND DESIGNS: SPARE NOT – Ps Phil Pringle

You can see bible passages are being twisted in these Connect Notes when Pringle wants people to ask these questions:

TALK ABOUT:
* Have you ever had a time of stretching with God?
* Are you ever tempted to “bail out” or “dig up the seed” in waiting for God to grow something in you?
* Does it encourage you when God says you shall expand or His people will inherit?

Source: http://www2.myc3church.net/sites/default/files/CN11Jun13.pdf (03, June 2013.)

Here is this weeks Connect Notes questions:

TALK ABOUT:
* What is your part of God’s grand design? Are you looking to the Bible to affirm the plan of God?
* Discuss how our church leadership and vision is always exhorting us to expand and look out.
* Are you involved in the width, the length, the depth or the height of his plan? Where is God calling you? [Note Pringle’s allusion to
* How are you investing in the future of His magnificent house? How can we each step up rather than only attend meetings?

Source: http://www2.myc3church.net/sites/default/files/CN03Jun13.pdf, (11, June, 2013.)

These questions should be properly revealed this way:

* Have you ever had a time of stretching with Phil Pringle pressuring you to give money?
* Are you ever tempted to “bail out” or “dig up the seed” because Phil Pringle keeps telling you, “God [wants] to grow something in you”?
* Does it encourage you when Phil Pringle says you shall expand or His people will inherit?
* What is your part of Phil Pringle’s grand design? Are you looking to the Bible to affirm the plan of Pringle (or testing what He says to what God says)?
* Discuss how our church leadership and vision is always exhorting us to expand and look out.
* Are you involved in the width, the length, the depth or the height of Pringle’s financial plan? What is Pringle calling you to do?
* Discuss how you are investing in the future of Phil Pringle’s ministry? How can we each step up rather than only attend meetings?

What’s the answer to the last question? “How are you investing in the future of His magnificent house? How can we each step up rather than only attend meetings?” Answer: Go to Vision Builders.

Is this biblical? Do people realise they are being financially duped by Phil Pringle? Do they know what they are hearing is not the biblical context but a deceptive marketing scheme? How should members feel if they are being manipulated like this? Is this the way Phil Pringle should run his church?

Please pray that members get wisdom and and understanding so they do not put themselves under financial stress.

Pringle See Pringle Do – C3 Egging The Community With Marketing Ploys

07 Saturday Apr 2012

Posted by in C3 & Pringles Associations, Pringle's Business, Pringle's Influences, Pringle's Issues/Events, Pringle's Methods

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Jesus said “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matt 6:33) and NOT, “seek first 30, 000 easter eggs.” C3 Church came up with an ‘innovative’ way to market and celebrate Christmas this year at their church. Their website advertised an ‘Easter Egg Chopper Drop’.

The C3 Church had attached to the central picture a link to this pdf.

DL-Postcard-e-invite

This only goes to show that Phil Pringle and the C3 Movement have converted to Furtickism. This Easter Egg Chopper Drop is not innovative at all. This concept was originally Steven Furtick’s idea. Furtick writes,

“They laughed at us.
Almost everybody did.
The ones who didn’t laugh in our face must have been laughing behind our backs.

And with good reason, mind you.
We were laughing too.
It was a dumb idea, and it shouldn’t have worked.
But it did work.

Last Easter, with a fledgling 2 month old congregation of about 200, we pulled off an Easter event that made headlines.
It involved 50,000 Easter Eggs falling from the sky and thousands of dollars in prizes.
2,500 people showed up.
No one went to the hospital.
No drunk moms pulled each other’s hair out fighting over the prize winning eggs.
And we made a statement to our community:
We’re here to play ball. Happy Easter Charlotte.

We’re going to do it again this year.
The 2nd Annual Elevation Egg Drop.
Bigger and better than before.
You wait and see.

BONUS: This year, we’ve already heard of at least a dozen other churches who are going to do the event in their own cities.
We’ve been able to help many of them.
That makes me thankful.
Thankful that our stupidity is contagious and is going to help lots of other churches reach their communities with their unique (and hopefully better) versions of this Easter Egg Hunt on steroids.

I remember more than one pastor telling me what an unwise move it was.
It had never been done before, and it could flop.

True, but it could also not flop. It could be a monster success, and possibly even catch on all over the country.

Don’t you think every mammoth concept was downright laughable until it was a reality?
Inherent in any vision that has the possibility of really taking off is the possibility of really tanking, right?

Do you even think that maybe if people aren’t laughing at your ideas, you aren’t dreaming big enough?

Abraham and Sarah laughed at God’s idea.
Not a good move, guys.
But understandable.

When you think you have a good idea, and the people you trust are behind it, and you believe the best you can that God is the author of it…
Let people laugh.
Laugh along with ‘em.
And go for it.

The more the idea makes you laugh, the better the chance it’s from God.

If it fails, laugh even harder and learn something from it.
(By the way, the more expensive the failure, the more you’d better learn.)

If it succeeds, laugh at that too.
Because you know that without the blessing of God you would truly be a laughingstock.

Bottom line:
If it isn’t worth laughing at, is it really worth doing?” – Steven Furtick, http://www.stevenfurtick.com/elevation/let-%E2%80%98em-laugh/, 23/03/2007.

C3 said in their pdf,

“Come and watch as 30,000 chocolate eggs shower down from a helicopter and then hunt them down yourself!”

How much do 30,000 easter eggs cost? And how much would hiring a helicopter be? While people are celebrating this expensive ‘easter event’, remember who is paying for it: the vulnerable, poor and desperate through Pringle’s false teaching. We know he teaches that God wants to bless people financially if they give sacrificially or give money to him to unlock their financial miracle. (See archives)

So why is C3 Church doing this then? This is simply another form of advertising for Phil Pringle’s Presence Conference.

In relation to this advert, another add pops up on the myc3church.net. A massive advert for John bevere attending the C3 Oxford Falls easter services.

They also mention him in their chopper drop flyer,

“Join us for our 10am EASTER SUNDAY service, with guest speaker John Bevere.”

C3 is giving platform to a gnostic teacher who preaches a different gospel. They are rebelling against God’s Word where God says,

“Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.” 2 John 1:9-11

Read about this dangerous teacher in these articles below:

Is The Presence Conference Inviting Dishonest Men To Take Advantage of People?

What’s So Severe About Bevere?

Again, we must ask why C3 is continually promoting these delusional cult-like speakers through their manipulative marketing techniques. Why do they want to be associated with these cult-like messiahs and ‘anointed ones’ who preach false messages and gospels?

C3 Oxford Falls Papania Scandal? (Part 1)

06 Friday Apr 2012

Posted by in C3 Oxford Falls Scandals

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Any pastor or church can invite a fraud into their meetings by accident. However, when a church insists on inviting a fraud in spite of advanced warning – what should one conclude about that church?

From: http://www.tompapania.info/ (Accessed 09/06/2011)

We will now pay, not US$20k, but US$50,000 to the first person who can produce authentic certified USA government documents, that validate Tom Papania’s “From Mafia to Minister” Gambino mafia claims about himself. This prizemoney has still not been claimed! (To claim this prize, please email: mafiaprizemoney@optusnet.com.au)
Thomas Anthony Papania is a fraud! Tom Papania was NEVER a Gambino mafia boss! Tom Papania was NEVER even a member of the Gambino mafia family of New York!
Tom sells his “From Mafia to Minister” testimony tapes, CDs, DVDs, and collects a percentage of the offerings taken at the church services where he is guest speaker! Tom Papania is, therefore, obtaining financial advantage via deception – fraud!

  • View Tom’s Atlanta District Court transcripts (2-Apr-1987), “I was never a Mafia member!”
  • View Tom’s Atlanta District Court transcripts (3-Apr-1987), “I don’t want any part of joining Gambino mafia!”
  • Gangland News USA editor, Jerry Capeci, replies and says,”Tom Papania is a fraud!”
  • Focus on the Family USA, replies and says,”We have doubts about Tom’s testimony!”
  • Prisons Ministry USA, replies and says,”We have cut off all contact with Tom!”
  • Federal Bureau of Prisons, USA – Tom awaiting Atlanta jury verdict, & subsequent acquittal.
  • Gwinnett Court, Georgia, 1985: Tom Papanier’s name change documents, Tom Papanier becomes Tom Papania!
  • Sedgwick Court, Kansas, 1965: Tom Papanier the caryard burglar, and TV shop burglar – not mafia hitman!
  • Kansas Bureau of Investigation: Tom Papanier’s arrest and prison record, Kansas.

All of the USA government documents presented above are certified copies, obtained DIRECTLY from the variously listed USA government departments. The documents have been presented exactly as received. The contact details of those various USA courts and USA law enforcement agencies are also provided, so you are encouraged to make your own enquiries, should you wish to verify this information.
If you are unfamilar with the claims Tom Papania makes about himself, in his compelling “true” story, here is a brief summary… * Age 15, Tom claims he found a rusty gun, which he supposedly used to rob a nearby Mafia storefront. * Tom claims he and his friends repeated this robbery – 4 times – stealing wallets AND pants, so they wouldn’t be chased!! * By age 17, Tom claims that he had earned a trusted position within the Gambino Mafia family. * At age 19 (1963), Tom supposedly received his first contract, and was asked to shoot (but not kill) two men. * Tom claims he was arrested by the police immediately afterwards – the Gambinos had set him up, to see if Tom would “talk!” * Tom claims he kept his vow of silence, and was sentenced to 2 x 5-10 year prison terms, of which he served 5 1/2 years. * After Tom’s release from prison, Carlo Gambino allegedly sent for Tom, offering him 2 nightclubs as a reward. * By age early 30’s, Tom claims he was controlling over 40 different restaurants and businesses. * Paul Castellano took over from Carlo Gambino, with Tom claiming to work directly for Paul Castellano, from now on. * Tom arrested again, and spent another 2 years in prison. * Before release, Tom claims the prison Chaplain said Tom was “different” and should consider becoming a priest. * After prison, Tom claims he went back to the Gambino businesses, and was earning $millions per year. * At age 39 (1983), Tom supposedly opened 10 restaurants in 11 months in Atlanta, Georgia, and he was extremely wealthy. * Tom claims that in 1984, God gave him an offer too good to refuse! * In 1984, Tom claims he became a “christian” and left the Gambino mafia family.

Why does the name Tom Papania NEVER feature in ANY of the publications on the history of the Gambino mafia family of New York, USA?

These Australian churches were warned repeatedly beforehand, yet they still allowed him to speak. They were either invited repeatedly to view the evidence, or were given access to all of the evidence:

Christian City Church, Oxford Falls, NSW, February 2004

Garden City Church, Mt Gravatt, QLD, September 2004

Southside Church, Adelaide, SA, August 2005

Crossway Baptist Church, Burwood, VIC, August 2005

One CCC Oxford Falls pastor replied as follows (Monday 1st March 2004, 9:57am):

“I don’t know who you are and therefore you have no credibility in my eyes. Right or wrong about Tom Papania is irrelevant because you have no authority! You delude yourself thinking God has appointed you, but you are a self appointed crusader, unsubmitted and rebellious. You need help.”

This very same CCC Oxford Falls pastor requested a meeting, which we agreed to, however, he then cancelled his very own meeting, before it was held, and refused to communicate any further. A number of CCC pastors (including the Senior Pastor) received personal invitations to view the USA government documentation (at a time and date of their choice) that proved Papania was a fraud, but none of these pastors ever replied. Was not one pastor at CCC Oxford Falls, able to discern that Tom Papania was a FAKE, despite being warned repeatedly beforehand?

Does CCC Oxford Falls leadership have spiritual discernment?

Does CCC Oxford Falls leadership value money more than truth?

Holy Spirit, please open the eyes of our hearts!

Ex-policeman Robert E Taylor Jr, claims to have information that validates Tommy’s story. He has been asked many, many, many times to produce this evidence, but nothing appears! Not one single page of official government documentation has been produced! This is a typical email reply, from Robert E Taylor (info@taylorgroup.net):

Robert Taylor denies reality!

Don’t you think it’s time to repent, Tommy? Good Friday was for you too!

The Presence of Folly?

29 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by in C3 Culture, C3 Ministry, Pringle's Behaviour, Pringle's Influences, Pringle's Issues/Events

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Phil Pringle gives this good advice,

“We need to distrust those who flatter us. Ingenuine praise has mixed motives behind it. Insincere admiring strokes your ego and blinds judgment. Being ‘charmed’ suspends discernment. Be wise. Know the difference. Fools fall for flattery.” – Phil Pringle, The Leadership Files Vol 2, File 48. The Real Thing.

So how should C3 leaders members feel when Pringle and his church staff send out emails and adverts like this? Should they take Pringle’s good advice? Or should they fall for his marketing schemes?

(From: C3 Church Events <events@myc3church.net>
Date: Tue, Mar 6, 2012. . .
Subject: 4 Days of Presence: Register TODAY to enjoy Box Seats at Opening Night!)

Why does C3 advertise this event as the “ultimate Presence experience?” Wasn’t the point of Presence (according to Phil) to have a God encounter?

By the way, don’t forget how awesome Furtick is. His voice will equip and inspire you! You should already know Furtick’s message and voice is going to preach the gospel and glorify Jesus equip YOU! (Maybe if you touch the hem of his suit, Furtick might heal you.)

(From: “C3 Church Events” <events@myc3church.net>
Date: 07/03/2012 . . .
Subject: 4 Days of Presence: Register TODAY to receive Steven Furtick product arriving on your doorstep!)

Why does C3 think they are “privileged to be the first to host Steven in Australia?” Claims are being made that Steven and his church are a cult.

(From: C3 Church Events <events@myc3church.net>
Date: Thu, Mar 8, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Subject: 4 Days of Presence: Day 3 – YOUR friend on US)

The worst thing ANY family can do is share “the experience with friends and family.” Do you want your friends to have Pringle fleece them of thousands dollars or encourage them to empty their bank accounts to buy miracles from God in their unbelief? He has done this also in 2010 and 2009 at his miracle offering ‘sermons’.

(From: C3 Church Events <events@myc3church.net>
Date: Fri, Mar 9, 2012. . .
Subject: 4 Days of Presence: Day 4 – Dining Voucher!)

Clearly the Presence Conference is all about YOU. No? What else would C3 use to convince people to come? Surely all this indulgent-Christianity has gone too far? Surely they would advertise that it’s all about Jesus… Right?

C3 says,

“The first 200 people through the Expo will receive a Conference show bag jam-packed with discount vouchers, a free message DVD and other goodies. If you have never been to Presence before or you are coming alone, our TLC Team would love to meet and look after you. We have a dedicated meeting spot right near the Info Desk for you to connect with our friendly team over coffee before being guided to a reserved seat!”

Don’t you wonder this Presence Conference is God centered? Don’t you question who is paying for all these indulgences and freebies? What are the chances that people who empty their bank accounts to buy a miracle from God, will be the one’s paying for all the freebies, enticements and indulgences?

The way that C3 has marketed this event under the leadership of Pringle, haven’t they used “ingenuine praise” with “mixed motives?” Is the event about God or you? Or is this about C3 and Pringle’s desire to see churches be branded into the C3 movement?

Hasn’t C3 used the above marketing to “flatter us?” If you were a delegate, don’t you think hero treatment, “strokes your ego and blinds judgment” whether the admiration is sincere or not? If C3 has gone at lengths to target Christians like this in their marketing, how can Christians prevent “being ‘charmed’?” How can they “be wise” and “know the difference” when C3 is treating them like “fools” to “fall for flattery?”

Take Pringle’s advice, “Distrust those [Phil Pringle and C3] who flatter us.”

Pringle’s Entrepeneurial Business (Church) Endeavors?

02 Monday Jan 2012

Posted by in Uncategorized

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Pringle Tweets:

“RT @stovallweems: Church planters beware… http://bit.ly/vURzaZ //Good Word. If it’s God, it’ll be awesome. If not….” – Phil Pringle, Twitter, https://twitter.com/#!/philpringle/status/149218074116104192, 21/12/2011. (Accessed 25/12/2011)
 
In passing on this advice and endorsing it as a ‘Good Word’, Phil Pringle endorses the content of the article. What does the article say? Read below:

So you want to plant a church? That’s great! If you read my last post, then you know that I am big fan of planting prevailing, life-giving local churches. But before you plant, make sure you ask yourself this question:

Do I know a fully as certainly as humanly possible that I am CALLED to plant a church and to be a senior pastor?

I don’t mean to be the bearer of bad news, but I think this is a true statement:  If you are not certain that planting and pastoring a church is your life’s calling, it is very likely you will not succeed.

The demands that ministry places on you, your family, your finances, your health and your own personal faith will swallow you whole if you are not fully convinced that it is your God-given calling and destiny in Christ.  Of course there will be moments of doubt and discouragement. Everyone has those moments – I have had them, too. But no matter what is gong on, I can never deny the moment God called me to ministry. Paul wrote in Phil. 3:12b “…I press on to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of me.” Pastoring Celebration Church is the purpose for which Christ took hold of me and I am compelled by Him to keep pressing forward in that calling even in times of trial.

In a time when planting a church has a near science behind it, it’s important to remember that still it takes a LOT more than a hot venue, cool lights, and clever marketing to birth and sustain a prevailing church. Planting a church is not merely an entrepreneurial endeavor, like opening a business franchise. Even in the 21st Century, church planting and pastoring are still sacred callings from God. It will take tremendous sacrifice, relentless prayer, and what I call “Kingdom sweat.” If you are considering planting a church, make sure you aren’t looking at it like a career option. If you are looking at it as just a career option, you already don’t have what it takes. God’s true churches are birthed by His Spirit through those whom He has truly called.

Stovall

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
The comment,”it’s important to remember that still it takes a LOT more than a hot venue, cool lights, and clever marketing to birth and sustain a prevailing church” should concern us.
Clever marketing do not birth and sustain churches. The faithful preaching of the Gospel/Word of God is what births and sustains churches. Both Phil Pringle and Stovall miss this completely.
“Planting a powerchurch is not merely an entrepreneurial endeavor, like opening a business franchise. It will take…””
Planting a church should not at all be an ‘entrepreneurial endeavor‘ and is definitely not ‘like opening a business fanchise‘. However, Phil Pringle seems to think so. If you have read our article The History of Phil Pringle & The C3 Movement (The content below endorsed by Phil Pringle), you will remember this peculiar observation made by the author John Barclay:

“This was the first Friday they had attended, and Paul asked Phil to share his dream, his vision with those others who were there. In the future most would probably forget what he said – until the things of which he spoke began to happen. Some there that evening had only recently become Christians, and found the experience quite mindblowing. It was something which went beyond their previous expectations of what Christianity was all about.

One, a thin, dark-haired teenager of nearly twenty years had a sales background, and heard Phil speaking in much the same way as his own sales manager at the weekly meeting. It was almost the identical hyped-up, super confidence and ego boosting phrases used in the sales meetings to generate the enthusiasm to get out and sell.” – John Barclay, Arise, 1987, pg. 27-31.

There is a little bit of truth behind the article that Pringle retweeted. However, the article really misrepresents how the church is to start and function biblically. The church is the called out people of God. We meet as the church. The church is ORGANIC and relies on God to grow the church through the faithful preaching of God’s Word. Both Stovall and Pringle seem to think likewise.
Paul says to Timothy:
“There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them” – 2Timothy 3:1-5
Phil Pringle is not relying the power of God’s Word to sustain or grow his church. He is relying on marketing and his entrepeneurial skills to grow and sustain his business. The C3 Church is also established as a business, there business manager being Tony Moylan. Further investigation will lead readers to see that Pastor Phil is the entrepeuner who treats his church like a business and franchise, (like most Megachurches do) and relies on clever but manipulative (and even misleading) marketing for his own gain. It is sad to see that Phil Pingle carries a form of Godliness but denies it power.
If you feel led, please pray for him to repent and to return back to faithfully preach God’s Word correctly.
Note: All screen grabs were taken Before the 02/01/2012.