NO Coffee and Doughnuts

I was in a church recently where the announcement was made, “Prayer meeting Monday morning at 7.  No coffee and doughnuts.  Just prayer.”  I thought that was interesting…and a little humorous.  Think about it…how often do we use food to draw a crowd?  Whether we’re trying to attract children, teens, or adults, it seems providing something to eat will help increase attendance.

With children it’s cookies, cupcakes, chick-fila, etc.  With teens it’s pizza, pepsi, and putt-putt. (I know putt putt isn’t a food but it just felt right to include it.)  With young couples it’s anything in a box or bag that can be bought and delivered in less than ten minutes.  With adults it’s big food like casseroles, fried chicken, mac and cheese, corn, okra, squash, dumplings, cakes and puddings.   These foods will generally increase attendance by at least 25%.  Well, that’s what we think anyway.

But a Monday morning prayer meeting with NO coffee or doughnuts…you’ve got to be kidding me.  I understand what these folks are doing.  They’re not against coffee and doughnuts – they’re just serious about praying.  I mean, God forbid, what if someone came for the coffee and doughnuts, but weren’t serious about praying?  Would that ever happen?  You bet your cream-puff it would.   By removing the coffee and doughnuts from the prayer meeting all you have left to do is pray.  Imagine that. 

Don’t get me wrong.  If you offer a free Zaxbys and fries buffet before church I’ll be there.  But I like the idea of a prayer meeting that focuses on praying.  Because if you have coffee and doughnuts someone has to make the coffee, make sure there’s creamer and sweetner…and someone has to make sure there’s enough doughnuts for everyone.  But if there’s no coffee and doughnuts all you have to think about is praying.  Not a bad idea.

I wonder what would happen if we came to the worship service to Worship.  I wonder what would happen if we came to Bible study to study the Bible.  Probably the same thing that would happen if we came to a prayer meeting to pray.   Something to think about.  Hmmmm…

Ok, honestly, right now I’m craving coffee and a doughnut.  M