From James Emery White’s Church and Culture blog:
The Subway sandwich chain has surpassed McDonald’s Corporation as the world’s largest restaurant chain in terms of units. At the end of 2010, Subway had 33,749 restaurants worldwide to McDonald’s 32,737.What is even more impressive is that Subway didn’t open its first international restaurant, where growth has been most explosive for chains such as McDonald’s, Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, until 1984. But by 2020, Subway expects its number of international restaurants to exceed its domestic ones.How did they do it?Subway has opened outlets in non-traditional locations such as an automobile showroom in California, an appliance store in Brazil, a ferry terminal in Seattle, a riverboat in Germany, a zoo in Taiwan, a Goodwill store in South Carolina, a high school in Detroit and a church in Buffalo, New York.“We’re continually looking at just about any opportunity for someone to buy a sandwich, wherever that might be,” says Don Fertman, Subway’s Chief Development Officer. ”The closer we can get to the customer, the better.”
Or, as it might be for the church. the closer we can get to the non-Christian, the better. I’m not sure what I think of White’s subsequent argument about multi-site churches as the answer, but the missional principle is clear: the onus upon Christians is to go to where are others feel comfortable, rather than concentrating at first on inviting them into our comfort zones.
Big Circumstance 
good thoughts. i like how jesus went to where the “bad” people were. he went and sat at their tables which was a sign of friendship.
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Yes, and it still outrages some church people! Or, perhaps, it touches on their fears.
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We have a Subway in a nearby town. And, for a while, our church conducted a men’s breakfast Bible study group at Macca’s (not sure why it was ‘men only’). Oh wait, it’s the Sydney Anglican diocese, that’s why!
Seriously good idea, there’s a couple of great eateries in Milton that I’d be happy to have our Sunday morning service move to.
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People are actually starting to feel comfortable in our new chuirch foyer!
We are being careful to keep it as neutral as possible…
for a church foyer.
Iincidentally we also have a subway in town (opposite The Castle Theatre)
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Well I realize not every one is perfect…..but I wonder….being a Christian organization….reaching out in non areas of the church…..isn’t going to far or well in a nearby community……A Subway at @ Valdese Nc……had some things to say about a young teenager with many disabilities…..who was attempting to order for the family…..long story short….staff and management pretty much told he and his mother where to stick it…and that they were not welcome there….just to put this as mild as I can….because their infuriating response….was uncalled for…..he is extremely intelligent with some other issues…yes society can be beyond cruel….uncaring….however…if your in a position of serving the public….and respond both through employees and management in such a way….as to cause the shut down of this child…emotionally and inreuards to eating amongst other things…shame on Subway…and what it supposed to stand for….yeah here is my e mail…robertwhitegradenow@gmail.com perhaps this will make it in the right management’s hand….and resolved before further action is taken….sincerely and respectively his Father……
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That’s an awful story Robert, I’m so sorry.
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