BARTLESVILLE, OK — Dozens of local residents were welcomed into the faith this week after Cornerstone Church purchased a golf simulator.
After years of preaching the Good News, pastor Jason Calhoun decided to mix things up with a new tactic: buying a $100,000 simulator for people to come swing golf clubs indoors.
"That's how the Kingdom of God will really expand, I'm telling you," said Calhoun to the Board of Elders, as he pitched the idea. "You rope 'em in with playing Pebble Beach in a room with air conditioning. Then you hit 'em with the Truth."
Within days of the purchase, the church had welcomed 38 new members. Attendance at the men's Bible study quadrupled, with several men arriving three hours early to prepare their hearts. For the first time in church history, the volunteer team had too many people asking to help stay to lock up at night.
"The transformation has been incredible," Calhoun said. "These men used to complain if the service went five minutes over. Now, they're calling their wives to say they can't come home for lunch because they've got to get up to church."
At publishing time, six of the new members had fallen away after learning the Baptist church down the street had purchased two simulators.
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