It has always intrigued me to hear the competitive language some churches have adopted when referring to other churches in the area. Some marketing techniques are more akin to those used by a car dealership trying edge out the competition.

Of course, most churches would never call another church “the competition” outright. It’s just more of an unspoken posturing, the unconscious “sizing up” that happens when you see an ad for another church or read about a special event they’re hosting.

Sure, we know that we’re all on the same team but we don’t always play that way, do we? Especially when a new church pops up down the road that might pull some of “our” people?

Some churches get it though. Pastor Jeff Moore and First Presbyterian Church in Aurora, Illinois made this video to play at the grand opening of a new church launching in their community.

[ht: Todd Rhodes & Dave Ferguson]

I love this. Instead of feeling threatened or worrying how many people they were going to “lose” they celebrated the win of another church coming along side them to help them serve their community.

Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be?