As a child, my mother, sisters, and I attended a small Baptist church (which I now know called itself a "missionary", not "church", whatever that means). And every June, it held a Vacation Bible School, open to all. And every summer, my friends from around the neighborhood attended "Bible School" for the cookies and Kool-Aid, then went home and never attended a church service.

I realized even then that the church wasn't gaining members, simply gaining visitors when it was giving away things. Meanwhile, my sisters and I sat through every Sunday sermon in that small, crowed, stuffy building and I could never clearly hear what the pastor was saying.

The "come for the good stuff, sit through the sermons" approach never worked. And belittled what Jesus taught. For that reason, among many others, I share what I have with charities, rather than with churches; I don't consider them trustworthy with the little I have to give.

Thanks for sharing this, Dan.