my head hurts Im giving this one to my hubby--- Im out

1) What is your criteria for this being a success?
2) How many people attend your events?
3) How many NEW people attend with each event?
4) How many of those new people return to later events?

1) well it certainly isn't numbers or dollar signs, but it is the message of the gospel being heard. it's about people knowing that they can do better for themselves if they just let God take charge and COMPLETELY submit to him. everyone has a testimony and we are called to always be prepared to give an account for the joy that is in us.
2)we have had as much as 400 and as few as 10, but once again numbers are not a game we like to play
3) don't have an exact figure on that, because why?  numbers are not an issue. there are new people every time but more importantly...
4)people always come back

whenever the gospel is preached, however it's preached people will hear something they need to hear. 
i guess it's more a matter of how you measure sucess! your right not everyone is gifted with the ability to preach or teach and no one is asking for a sermon, but the bible is very clear that we should be able to speak about the great things that God has done for and thru us.

thanx,
shawn

i recall at our largest event the prayer rooms were full and overflowing into the halls of the church and the kids were lined up all the way across the stage praying.  as far as finding out who was a new beleiver i leave that up to them to express. it's not like we get on the mic and take a survey that tends to make new beleivers embarassed sometimes wouldn't you think.

and further more i'm sure your familiar with the parable of the lost sheep and the whole rejoiceing over one new beleiver than one hundred who are already saved. Numbers was not about how many people paid to get into the show.

let me ask this how many of the questions youve asked us could apply to the events you do. how often do you give people a reason or a chance to respond as a new beleiver. or is that the difference between a rave that happens to be thrown by christians  and a rave ministry event?  just food for thought.

PRAISE THE LORD FOR A VOICE OF REASON!!!!

BROTHER THANK YOU SOOOOOOOO MUCH FOR "Getting" what we are trying to do!!!

its really hard to have what we feel is a very effective ministry challenged because we aren’t packing huge venues wall to wall every time we set a foot out the door--  But hey, thats not a thing that we  really concern ourselves with, we feel taht God sends the ppl that are Supposed to be at that particular event, its about people, its about getting to have A WORSHIP SERVICE where people can seek a personal relationship with the LIVING GOD... and we just don’t feel like that can happen if its just a rave/concert we truly feel that there should be a time of subdued reverence where the fullness of the GOOD NEWS can be heard without any frills without any other distractions-- when its just THE WORD OF GOD and/ or What GOD has Done in someone’s life (testimonials).........I know that for some esp. those w. a strong walk a concert/rave setting is a great place to worship for me I connect w/ God So personally through music. HOWEVER........lets look at what might happen for a young person coming into a  Christian concert/rave setting with his or her friends for the first time- they might be so distracted by all that’s going on around them that they may not get " THE MESSAGE" that the DJ/ Band is trying to convey if there is not that Pause where the word of God is literally SPOKEN!!

Roman 10 13-15 (NLT)
13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[g]
 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”[h]

Ya'll it don’t get much clearer...in fact it has only been at the past few Christian rave events, that we have been to that I have noticed that its JUST MUSIC and yes the content is there in SOME tracks but its been our experience that its more over instrumental and what kind of message is that??? I’m sure all of you have been to Christian Concerts.... and you will notice that between songs the bands ALWAYS glorify God with their mouths THEY SPEAK THE GOSPEL! that’s what we are saying that’s what our ministry is about...its the MINISTRY that God gave us we have seen miracles worked through many young people  through this format and we will not be changing anything about Audio Baptism Ministries anytime soon-- for who are we to Question a FORMULA set before us BY JESUS?

on an end note: in discussing this last night Shawn and I have decided that its not accurate to call our events..Concerts/ Raves/ Shows, or even events-- they are infact Emmegent Worship Services and we will be reffering to them as such from here on end as to not confuse what we are doing with anythign less than what it REALLY IS.

Well... considering that Cstone is actually my first event, I don't have any numbers for you. Here's what I can tell you though.

The Dance Club at Cstone typically will pull in 200-300 people a night. Most of them are there as part of their youth group or Tastyfresh. During each night, many people actually step outside and talk about various issues in their lives and how it relates to them spiritually. This actually encourages and inspires everyone who attends. The spiritual aspect happens naturally there as 200-300 people are gathered in God's name to fellowship with like minded believers and to worship him through dancing. Since the event is geared toward this rather than reaching people for salvation, we don't and won't have that number.

Here's an open confession too about the Dance Club: Every year, one person can be spotted there who is high during the week. This is normally one of the kids there with some youth group. So, I'll say there are people there who are not Christians. Could we do better? Maybe... sure. Maybe I will this year, but it won't be a sermon or anything in the traditional sense of that. Prayer is a focus of that.

So... what's the big difference between the secular raves and what happens at Cstone? Attitude and the reason behind why it's being done. That's it. Not everything has to be a direct call to salvation, but those of us involved do need to be sensitive to those we see who need it and act one on one.

My goals this year are to get solid numbers on how many attend the dance club. This is to help determine where it needs to go NEXT year and to serve as a baseline to show growth in the future. This is a rebuilding year. I'm expecting a lot, but I want to see bigger things happen in the future. Honestly... I do hope that we find a way to the Gospel in more directly to the show, but I do not feel that doing that should be the main goal. The main goal for the dance club is worship and fellowship. It always has been and should remain that way. We are the ministers of music not the sermon givers.

I want people to make connections with others so that through the relationships these connections form, they grow stronger in Christ and come to know him better. Some call this lifestyle evangelism. It's slow, takes longer, but the end results are just as valid and often times you reach people who were thought to be unreachable. If this happens on a regular basis (numbers again - 10 this year, 50 next year, 200 and so on. ) I will be satisfied. Will God? I hope so. After more than 6 months of prayer, this is the direction I know we need to take for this year.

Here's the thing. I've been running this site for years, attending events, listening to what ppl have said works and doesn't work.

BTW, I think you feel that I'm challenging you on this. I'm not. I've just asked some questions that's it. I can do that right?

I've been to events where the music is stopped and someone preaches. People leave.  They just leave. It will vary by region, but this is what happens here.

I've got to run and pick up my wife, but I'll get back on this.

But... I was using challenging it in the sense of not saying you were wrong, but just as a point of critique.


Anyway...

yeah... you're going for a different audience than what we have gone for typically in the south. Yer hitting up your youth group. We hit up the college and 20 something club scene. It's a totally different world there.

BTW, saw the other thread. I'll just leave things to the ppl there and get back to my work. Good job on focusing the debate now within the confines of the rules here. I hope you get the answer your seeking. Just remember that some of us have different goals and audiences in mind.

You don't have to compromise your message, but... you may need to alter your performance. The two are seperate things. Plus, you may want to look into lifestyle evangelism as a new method. Hellfire and brimestone doesn't work all the time if you get my drift. Sometimes you have to show people Christ's love by first learning to love them. It takes time, but God will open doors for you to share individually with others.

ooh i just noticed this... id love to come where do i sign up? :-)