Church marketing sparks resistance

Dear Amy: Please tell me what can be done about my boyfriend’s overly religious mother, who repeatedly invites us to attend her church?

She has invited us ever since we started dating, but now the pressure is really on.

Her very small congregation (15 to 25 people) is actively looking to expand.

The pastor has tasked every church member with contacting family, friends and neighbors as a way to garner new congregants.

Now we both receive frequent phone calls and mailers from her about church events and tent revivals, etc.

I am about ready to stop taking her phone calls.

Both of us have said that we’re not interested numerous times. We are both agnostic, and I am from a nonreligious family.

The last time this subject came up, I told her that if I ever felt the need to go to church, the first place would be my grandparent’s church.

Any thoughts? — No Church for Me

Dear No Church: I have a suggestion for you: never walk into a used car lot alone, because you are unwittingly ripe for the plucking.

The mistake that you seem to have made with this woman’s earnest marketing technique was to ac- tually dangle the prospect of church.

When you said, “If I ever felt the need to go to church” what she heard was, “I’m thinking about it!”

You should say to her, one time: “It worries me that you keep asking me to attend your church. I respect that you are religious and love your church. But I’m not a Christian. I don’t go to church, so I hope you’ll stop asking.”

Remember that mailers can be recycled.

Phone calls can always be dodged.

Readers can send email to askamy@amydickinson.com or letters to “Ask Amy” P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY, 13068.