Former drug addict to open $58M megachurch

[tjplaw]

After eight years of planning and five years of fighting with the city, a church bigger than a super-size Costco store is about to open its doors.

On Sunday the Christian Faith Center, the Northwest's newest megachurch, will open its doors with Pastor Casey Treat at the helm.

This will be the largest Church in the Pacific Northwest.

Story Link. (http://www.katu.com/news/9508847.html)

Praise Jesus.

[4everHis]

Interesting story. While I agree that churches should be an imtegral part of a community, I have a really difficult time with this mega-church thing. And, he uses a helicopter to shuttle between two large churches....??????

He also says he's big on entertainment.
Bigger is always thought of as better but like I said, I have a difficult time understanding the need for this size mega church.

[LambofGod57]

This church has actually been around for years. I heard they have over 5000 members last I knew and I think they have a school too.

[Servant]

He's had commercials on tv up here for years.

[tjplaw]

I posted this story because I feel that God is really blessed this ministry that's all.

I've never been to this church, I live at least 150 miles away, I thought that it was a good story how a man addicted to drugs, turned his life around, became a Christian and started a church.

So he has a school!
So he's big on entertainment, at least he's providing a place for kids and adults to learn and fellowship.

I don't know about any helicopter, but, who cares.

One day I will have to make a decision and quit posting at this website.

[garvsgrl]

I made a decision once to stop posting at this website but then came back a few months later to give it another try. I think I'm with you and rethinking my decision again. :decision

IN HIM

[tjplaw]

Ya, I've already made the decision, this is my last post here.

[jesuslover1968]

The church holds a production studio, a cafe, two espresso stands, a book store, bible school, private school, sanctuaries for families, teens and youngster and even a game room for kids.


This is a little excerpt from the article...Uhm, why would anybody be fooled into believing that this man built this church for God? Apparently people haven't read how Jesus overthrew the money-changers tables....:rolleyes

This isn't a church, it's a marketed money-making scheme. Just think of all the poor people in that very congregation that 58 million dollars could have helped. It's a total waste of money and sounds totally ridiculous and frivolous. I doubt very seriously that it's God's will to build such churches.
I read a lot about the church, the helicopter and the size of the congregation, but I didn't read anything about the condition of the congregation's souls...I guess that seemed less important in the face of a whole 58 million dollar church...Ugh! :mad

[Grace]

, I thought that it was a good story how a man addicted to drugs, turned his life around, became a Christian and started a church.



It is only a good story if he is truly serving the Lord & not his own pocketbook or other self interest. From the article:

"Our competition is not other churches. It's Disneyland, Qwest field, the mall and to attract people we have to entertain," Treat said.


The Lord's Word is the attraction & anything else........is just meaningless entertainment.

[Gary]

The cynicism here is astounding.

I agree with tjplaw and garvsgrl. I have thought many times about closing my account here permanently as well.

Every thime someone comes along and does something "big", you immediately think it's for personal profit, and jump on the bandwagon.

This person is exactly correct. The competition IS Disney World, TV, Movies and so forth. If you want to draw street people in to hear the Lord's Word, you have to "Draw" them in.

There are way too many people around here that think that if it ain't old and boring it's "of de debil". You rant away on modern gospel music (gospel rock is evil. If it ain't the "Old Rugged Cross" it ain't worship:rolleyes). If it ain't a littel tiny corner church with nothing but a old Wurlitzer organ it's "too flashy and not worshipful". Anything big and ambitious has GOT to be for personal profit, yet you are the same people that will praise the new "Creation Museum" that so obviously IS for profit, and will jump to Kent Hovind's defence ("he's doing wonders in prison reaching others for the Lord":rolleyes).

Harry Potter is evil because it contains magic and the supernatural, but "Christian" supernatural novels by guys like Frank Peretti, are okay.

How about cutting people a break. I can understand exposing false teachers that have been PROVEN false (Benny Hinn, WOF, etc), but the level of back biting a person trying to reach people on this board is amazing.

[carmen]

I don't think the level of cynicism "here" is any greater than the level of cycnicism anywhere else :):

Everyone on ANY site is not going to be in agreement on any given topic. This is a discussion board, set up for the purposes of fellowship and discussion. If everyone WAS in agreement on every topic, it would be a pretty boring place :laugh

IMHO, debate on everything from Harry Potter to mega-churches ought to be open and welcome, while always performed with Christian charity no matter one's views. Iron sharpens iron, and if one has a different opinion on a thread, they ought to be able to express it without being criticized for having that different opinion.

Without saying I agree or disagree with any given opinion on this church (or other mega-churches), I do feel that legitimate issues were raised here as part of the board's purpose of discussion and sharing :noidea It seems to me that they deserve more than being summarily dismissed as divisive or attacking in nature just because they didn't automatically endorse the church.

Those that wish to close their account here, please feel free to do so. We will miss you greatly and hate to see you go. However, generalized attacks on the entire membership here, through the use of threats to leave because people "here" don't always agree with one another don't assist in the cause of Christian love either.

Our second greatest commandment is to love one another as ourselves. I don't think any of us did too well on that in this thread; hopefully as family in Christ, we can do better in the future. Hopefully we can all cut each other some slack and attack the arguments as opposed to the people posting them :):