how many did you all have attend

[Merrie]

It is good that more people do have access to the internet services now.

I'm sure a lot of people, especially in today's economy, would have difficulty affording the trip. Seems we are all busier, too.

What's sad to me is the change in the church itself. We used to plan our vacation time around that week at the assembly. It was a time to fellowship as well as a time to hear the business and sermons.

Anyone remember the district fellowship meetings we had in the 60s and early 70s? With many of the small churches that we had, those district meetings, state convention and the assembly were a chance to be part of a greater church community than what we had at the local church level.

Oh. well. I said 'we'. I guess I shouldn't even comment since I'm not part of the church anymore.

With all the changes, problems in the church, and hurts received from the church, it is still my heritage and I am trying to understand, forgive, pray for and love the people who helped get me to the place I am now. God is good.

[soulsearcher]

Missouri used to own their campground &
had the state convention every year at that facility. 2 cheap/run down
motels in town & a bunch of half finished cabins were the only accomodations.
Only 2 restaurants in town. If you were ever there -
it was in the middle of no place & conditions were less than ideal.

Attendance ran in the 700's. They sold the campground, combined
Missouri with Kansas, and moved the convention to civilization
(a nice hotel with a convention center). Even after combining 2
states together - I believe our highest attendance has been
between 300 to 400. (And it has never been broadcast online -
possibly taped a few times with camcorders).

I've pondered a lot of reasons for the decline. Possibly the extra
expense of the higher priced motels. Possibly the extra driving
(it was moved away from the bulk of the church population).
Possibly just the fact that bulk of the membership is senior
citizen age and don't get out as much - especially to a more
metropolitan area. I still often wander if attendance would
have been higher had they left things alone?

Regardless - it seems to me to be a trend for the most part.

I for one have no desire to stay at home and watch the Assembly via television or the internet. Even though I'm an ex-member of COGOP, being there in person is still a must.

The above bold-quote by Pianoman is something to consider. IMHO there has been so many changes in the organizations structure that the Assembly is hardly recognizable to some. Many long for the traditional Assembly of the past.

It's funny. The tabernacle on Keith Street was the "new" tabernacle to me. Just as we out-grew the old tabernacle on Central Avenue, we out-grew the one on Keith Street. Many of you will remember the frustration of not being able to find a seat. Out-growing the facility was the main reason I knew for our moving the Assembly from Cleveland. Yes, I was aware of the cost of maintenance and repair, but also of the enormous task of enlarging the existing tabernacle, which was discussed every which way and finally deemed too daunting.

[Full Quiver]

If the Keith St. Tabernacle sat 10,000, which is the number I have always heard, then CoGoP did not outgrow it back in 1990 considering that it is believed that only about 12,000 were here in Nashville this year (15 years later).

[Pastor Gary]

If the Keith St. Tabernacle sat 10,000, which is the number I have always heard, then CoGoP did not outgrow it back in 1990 considering that it is believed that only about 12,000 were here in Nashville this year (15 years later).

Interesting, huh? We have grown to some 1.3 million members worldwide in recent years, but most of that growth has been outside our traditional areas of strength... African continent, former Soviet republics, etc. and most of those folks do not/can not/ will not attend an Assembly --- ever.

[soulsearcher]

What do you call 12,000 to 17,000+ attendance to a building that seats 10,000? Those were the figures for many years before 1990.

[Pastor Gary]

What do you call 12,000 to 17,000+ attendance to a building that seats 10,000? Those were the figures for many years before 1990.

That almost sounds like M.S. Curry crowd estimates.

[one love]

If the Keith St. Tabernacle sat 10,000, which is the number I have always heard, then CoGoP did not outgrow it back in 1990 considering that it is believed that only about 12,000 were here in Nashville this year (15 years later).

there used to be over 17,000 people come to the assembly easy.

There is a lot about the building and reasons for it going, I would not really blame it on structure alone (there were fire code issues but so are most buidlings that are made in certain time areas, that is why they have grandfather clauses) , it was not that old at all. Old buildings are 60-100 years old. it was how old was that building when it was brought down?

[Pianoman]

Interesting, huh? We have grown to some 1.3 million members worldwide in recent years, but most of that growth has been outside our traditional areas of strength... African continent, former Soviet republics, etc. and most of those folks do not/can not/ will not attend an Assembly --- ever.

Pastor Gary - I'll be honest - God himself only knows how some of
those folks have sacrificed to make it to the U.S. for the Assembly.

I've never been to an Assembly that I didn't drive to - and if the tables
were turned & we had to go to another country - I most likely wouldn't
attend (unless God truly impressed it upon me & provided the means).

During my later teen years my parents stopped attending church for
awhile. My sister & I still attended and absolutely could not wait for
the next convention or youth function. We had relatives from church
that would save their aluminum cans for us & we would comb up &
down the highway and collect them - and every year before state
convention we would cash them in & use that money to go to convention.
At that time - it was our only means to go. We didn't go to see friends
(we honestly at the time didn't have that many from other churches) -
we strictly went with an expectation to be fed & ministered to.

I cringe now when I think of some of the old klunker cars we drove
1/2 way across the state - but God was always faithful to provide &
keep us safe. I can't say I've always had the hunger that I did back
then - but I'm sure glad somebody does!

We were talking about this very issue in a recent fellowship meeting
with other churches in our district. With the growth in other countries -
it would certainly seem that at some point it would only be fair to
move the Assembly to another country so more people could attend.
One wanders how long it will be until they start sending missionaries
to the U.S. (I've already heard of a few that have come).

[RamboPreacher]

I want to hear/read some official or semi-official word. I am sorry, but I believe the estimates here are way overboard, in my opinion.

[KBevangelist]

I want to hear/read some official or semi-official word. I am sorry, but I believe the estimates here are way overboard, in my opinion.

Yeah I agree. However I dont think they took any did they?

To me there was no more than 7000 and thats being generous

KB

[soulsearcher]

To me there was no more than 7000 and thats being generous KB

I agree, KB.

[soulsearcher]

That almost sounds like M.S. Curry crowd estimates.

Well, of course - - if you count the turkeys and the buzzards.

[Brenda]

I believe it was the last time I was at the Assembly in Cleveland which was around 1985 or 86'.
We got there after service had started one night (Fri.or Sat.) and had to park down by the houses and walk all the way across the parking lot to get into the Tabernacle.
We got in there to find no seats, people were sitting in the Isles.
I stood for so long and then we left.

I should of known better than to wear high heels. But that was the norm back then.

[DeWayneTN]

Since we are taking a trip back, can I quickly share one of my favorite old tabernacle stories? I was with my friend Ronnie who was a nut and we peeked in door 14 to see what was going on. Our friend Jon was standing in the aisle in front of the door and Ronnie went over and pinched him on the butt. The guy turned around and it wasn't Jon. Flabbergasted, Ronnie said "I'm sorry - I thought you were another guy!"

[scooter]

Thanks rambo for he honest assessment.
.

Response: So the estimate is honest if its low?