Tulsa Church Uses Coffee To Lure Parishioners

Sunday, December 24th 2006, 3:32 pm

By: News On 6

Many people filed into churches throughout Green Country for Christmas Eve services, but not everyone was there for the hymns and readings. News on 6 reporter Chris Wright says at one church, some people showed up for the coffee.

Sunday's Christmas Eve service at the Kirk of the Hills was certainly a traditional one. There were hymns sung and a holiday sermon given, but the church used an untraditional method to advertise its services.

10,000 postcards were sent to every home within a 3-mile radius of Kirk of the Hills. Anyone who brought a postcard to the service Sunday received a $5 Starbucks gift card.

"We're trying new things every year, just trying to get more people out, coming to the church, knowing the true meaning behind Christmas," Communications coordinator Emilie Bartel said.

About 20 people showed up for the 11 AM service with the postcard. Even more were expected to pick up gift cards at the four other Christmas Eve services.

The church says the Starbucks gift cards are to entice people who normally might not come to Christmas Eve services.

"The way that we look at it is this is the Lord's house, we invite everyone to come in from whatever walk of life. We just want them to come in, feel the love of Christ, and then experience what that's like in a church context," said Dave Block with Kirk of the Hills.

Kirk of the Hills has sent out postcards before, but never allowed them to be redeemed for gift cards. And while it may not be traditional, the church believes anything that brings people together on Christmas Eve is worth a try.

"It's a particularly hard season on people who are alone, so coming to church is a way of not being alone on Christmas Eve, so we want to reach out and get as many people as possible," Pastor Tom Gray said.

Kirk of the Hills says if the Starbucks gift cards prove to be an effective way of bringing people to the church, they may become an annual tradition.