Raw, but c*nsored blabbing and blogging of a young journalista
and local news producer in Southern New England.
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Sunday, January 16, 2005

PRAY NOW! OPERATORS ARE STANDING BY!: "Saint Matthew's Churches" ... and Freethought

Who Is Saint Matthew's Churches?

A presumably multi-million dollar operation where "the Great Commission" (Matthew 28:16-20, according to Saint Matthew's Churches) only means the money that goes in the pockets of the so-called "church".

I got a letter in the mail, a direct marketing appeal, the other day reading "TWO HOMES ARE ABOUT TO BE BLESSED... THEN IT MUST GO TO ANOTHER DEAR FRIEND." It, what?

A paper-printed "prayer rug" that I, "Someone Connected With This Address," was exhorted to use and return, within 24 hours, with an easy-to-check-off response letter saying what I wanted the church to pray for. It promises that God will bless you with "spiritual, physical and financial blessings of all types".

I'm not religious at all so this was getting nowhere with me but I found the entire process to be extremely suspect -- I should return this thing? In an envelope that has my apartment complex's address on it? (Direct mail appeals often get muddled by my mail carrier, so though I live in apartment 206 I'll get the mail-ad addressed to 201 -- the carrier probably thinks, it's all the same crappy message/advertising, so what does it matter?)

I decided to look around for more information on this shady deal. Google and other clicking provided:

• "St. Matthew's Churches' Mail Ministry is Highly Lucrative" which is the best article exposing the way the church/company works. Supposedly the Church employs full-time pray-ers. Hilarious!


• Christian Today: "Prayer Rug Scam Promises Blessings For Money"


• Rip-Off Report.com (badbusinessbureau.com): Saint Matthews Churches aka Prayer by Letters


• Chaotic Not Random: "Follies in Marketing, Vol. 3"


• callalillie: "Now THAT'S Mail II"


• Internet Infidels Discussion Forum: "tracts of local origin," which included one entry suggesting sending the senders some "non-tracts."

Fun fun.

Other clicking that is actually non-religious:

• No God needed at http://www.secularity.com/


• Fight back against the Fish with Ring of Fire Enterprises (favorite: Reality Bites car emblem)


• http://www.EvolveFISH.com/ which also sells the fighting Fish


• The Freedom from Religion Foundation's "non-tracts" which I'm getting so tickled by reading that it deserves a second link. Hoo-ha!

If my great-aunt Vera whom I love very much finds this entry I wouldn't be surprised if she starts praying for me. Let's see, how can I return the favor? I hope (for I don't pray, I hope) she isn't too disappointed and doesn't spend too much time on praying about it. I hope for all the best for her and all my relatives, especially those who are working through disease or ailment.

My parents, on the other hand, who abandoned the church ... I think it was long before I was born ... will probably get a HUGE kick out of this.

Labels: Originally published

... Scribbled by Bill T ... 1/16/2005 09:03:00 AM ... Email this entry ...
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