From: "Richard Hong" 

>> OTOH, Jehovah's Witnesses as door-to-door sales reps have definitely
made that church grow. But would you want to sell door to door? Ugh.

Randall,

Actually, their door-to-door work on strangers is incredibly ineffective.
I've known some JWs who admitted that they never, in years of trying, ever
won a convert that way.  They do it because they believe that it is their
duty to try.  Where do they get their converts?  Personal contact with
friends.  Historically, the number one way to get someone to church is have
a friend invite them.  But in a new geographic location, you don't have the
base of people to do the inviting.


>> I think you have to go for lectures to larger groups so individuals don't
feel quite so personally engaged. <<

I hear this, and at the same time it seems fundamentally contradictory to
the same need these people express about wanting to not feel lost in the
crowd or anonymous.  And how do you market a lecture to a larger group in a
suburban environment?  One idea is those ubiquitous discussion groups that
Barnes & Noble or Borders are willing to host, but you seem to be
indicating that you think it's too personal.

Rich

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5