The $1 Million McMass Project: First Ever McDonald's Church May Increase Attendance (Video)
Churchgoers could soon have the option of gorging on a Bic Mac and hearing the Gospel in the same establishment, if one religious group has its way.
A religious group in the U.S. is on a mission to build the first ever "McMass church," in which a McDonald's restaurant will be built inside of the church to boost attendance.
The McMass project, led by entrepreneur Paul Di Lucca, is a multi-denominational group that is seeking to raise $1 million in order finance the unusual project.
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According to Lucca, who is a creative director at the Christian branding agency Lux Dei design, church attendance is on the decline throughout the U.S. and in order to increase numbers, religious leaders must think outside of the box to appeal to modern-day Christians. He believes that although the McDonald's restaurant idea may sound "insane" to some, it is one that will work in achieving his goal of growing the church.
"Christianity is unable to capture modern audiences," Di Lucca told NBC News. "There's a lack of innovation and lack of design thinking in Church communities."
Last week the McMass project launched an online campaign via the crowdfunding site IndieGoGo to raise $1m within the space of two months.
In an online video designed to market the idea, the group states a number of facts about the decline of local churches with the hopes of raising awareness.
"In the U.S. alone 3 million people leave the church each year," the group states. "In 2013 as many as 10,000 churches closed down across the country … The solution? To build Mcdonald's in churches."
As of Friday afternoon, the project had raised just over $100.
Di Lucca is also hoping to raise money by selling unique merchandise, which consists of stickers, t-shirts and baseball caps. The hashtag #feast4jesus is emblazoned on the front and back of the merchandise as is "McMass project" alongside a cross embedded in Mcdonald's famous golden arches.
"It's time for churches to engage with entrepreneurship," the group states on its IndieGoGo site. "By combining a church and a McDonald's we can create a self-sustaining, community-engaged, popular church, and an unparalleled McDonald's restaurant."
The project garnered mixed reactions on social networking sites. Some critics have accused the group of trying to merge ministry with business, while others are seemingly impressed with Di Lucca's unconventional idea.
Last month an Oklahoma pastor came under fire for hosting the very first "Beer and Hymns" night at his local church in an attempt to boost attendance.
Pastor Evan Taylor, of East Side Christian Church in Tulsa, was criticized for his unusual approach to ministry but said his controversial decision to serve ice cold beers at church ultimately succeeded in boosting numbers at his church.
"I totally see people's side on that and I hear what they're saying and I hear their concerns [but] historically, Luther wrote hymns in pubs and Jesus drank wine with hookers," Taylor previously told The Christian Post. "To people that don't like it, it might not be for you and not every church service is for everyone, which is why there are 1,000 different churches on every street corner you look at."
