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Letter to Editor
June 29, 1936
Atlanta Daily World
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
What is this article about?
A letter to ministers critiques uncomfortable, lengthy church services focused on hellfire preaching and urges making them inviting, ventilated, and modern to attract young people and sustain the church, emphasizing timeless faith in contemporary ways.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
Preach The Gospel 'Mr. Minister,' But Make Services Inviting To All People
I visited morning service at a certain church last Sunday.
It was about two-thirty before the pastor let his weary members go.
He preached on a burning hell. He told them of the agony of lost souls in a furnace of brimstone and fire, etc, right in his church here seemed to be a furnace of brimstone and fire, with the sun blazing down on the roof.
He scolded his members who stayed away from church. and said that God's church would stand forever
I agree with him that the church of God will stand forever. but if the pastor does not make his services attractive and inviting. the church will be empty with the road to hell crowded.
The pastor should remember that the smallest fish and bread stand has an electric fan to keep people comfortable in hot weather
Pastors should suggest and assist materializing plans that will bring about better ventilation in their churches. They must prepare for the summer months just as they do for the winter ones if they are to have church the year around.
This old time worn-out statement, that is made by the pastors that the church will stand despite all is of no value to the people when they are not making church services attractive to young people
The pastor dwelt lustily upon the old time religion and the slave background of our parents. He told how they went down in the valley and prayed. The pastor must remember that they went in the valley because they did not have a church in which to worship. They did not care to have hostile, masters listening to their humble supplications to God.
A pastor in these days should explain to a congregation that when he says. "give us that old time religion" that he means that old time faith and fervor, not a religion in an old style; we want the old time faith and fervor in an up to date and educated way.
Make your church services interesting. attractive, and comfortable to all people. If you do this, I have faith that the church will prosper and God's Kingdom also in this new day just as it was in the days of that good old time religion
I visited morning service at a certain church last Sunday.
It was about two-thirty before the pastor let his weary members go.
He preached on a burning hell. He told them of the agony of lost souls in a furnace of brimstone and fire, etc, right in his church here seemed to be a furnace of brimstone and fire, with the sun blazing down on the roof.
He scolded his members who stayed away from church. and said that God's church would stand forever
I agree with him that the church of God will stand forever. but if the pastor does not make his services attractive and inviting. the church will be empty with the road to hell crowded.
The pastor should remember that the smallest fish and bread stand has an electric fan to keep people comfortable in hot weather
Pastors should suggest and assist materializing plans that will bring about better ventilation in their churches. They must prepare for the summer months just as they do for the winter ones if they are to have church the year around.
This old time worn-out statement, that is made by the pastors that the church will stand despite all is of no value to the people when they are not making church services attractive to young people
The pastor dwelt lustily upon the old time religion and the slave background of our parents. He told how they went down in the valley and prayed. The pastor must remember that they went in the valley because they did not have a church in which to worship. They did not care to have hostile, masters listening to their humble supplications to God.
A pastor in these days should explain to a congregation that when he says. "give us that old time religion" that he means that old time faith and fervor, not a religion in an old style; we want the old time faith and fervor in an up to date and educated way.
Make your church services interesting. attractive, and comfortable to all people. If you do this, I have faith that the church will prosper and God's Kingdom also in this new day just as it was in the days of that good old time religion
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Religious
Social Critique
What themes does it cover?
Religion
Social Issues
What keywords are associated?
Church Services
Pastor Advice
Ventilation
Old Time Religion
Modern Worship
Hellfire Preaching
Congregation Comfort
What entities or persons were involved?
Mr. Minister
Letter to Editor Details
Recipient
Mr. Minister
Main Argument
pastors should make church services attractive, inviting, comfortable, and modern by improving ventilation and focusing on old-time faith and fervor in an up-to-date way, rather than lengthy hellfire sermons that drive people away.
Notable Details
Preaching On Burning Hell During Hot Weather
Comparison To Fish And Bread Stand With Electric Fan
Reference To Slaves Praying In Valleys Due To Lack Of Church
Distinction Between Old Time Religion Style And Modern Faith