Attendance has dropped in many of the mainstream churches. Church leaders are thinking of all kinds of ways to get people back into the church and to entice new people to come to their churches.
A church in Michigan has a very unusual ministry outreach. What's this new thing at the Michigan church?
TATTOO PARLOR
According to the Christian Post, The Bridge, a non-denominational church in Flint Township, Michigan, recently opened a tattoo parlor within its building.
Church members say "Serenity Tattoo" is showing people living alternative lifestyles an avenue toward the gospel. It's just one of many unusual ministry efforts that the congregation believes is helping to increase the church's attendance. It's their way of evangelizing.
Pastor Steve Bentley said he began The Bridge in 2009 to reach the estimated 300,000 people in the church's community who have never attended a worship service. He said, "Opening a tattoo parlor is just the latest shape that the original mission of appealing to the unchurched has taken."
Other non-traditional outreach efforts The Bridge is involved in include:
- poetry slams
- pro wrestling events
- mixed martial arts classes
- a motorcycle group
The Bridge occupies one third of an old strip mall, spanning about 33,600 sq. ft. So it has lots of space to be creative in its evangelism tactics.
Pastor Bentley believes that regardless of the tactic, all that matters is leading people to glorify God.
Ryan Brown, manager and main artist of Serenity Tattoo, is making sure that his parlor's ink reflects the gospel of Jesus Christ. (See PHOTO on left).
Comments