Get All Access for $5/mo

One Group Believes McDonald's Inside Churches Will Bring More Worshippers The 'McMass' project proposes an entrepreneurial way to grow church membership: Open up fast-food franchises inside.

By Kate Taylor

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Does the modern church need Big Macs to bring more worshippers into the fold? At least one religious group believes so.

Members of Christian design consultancy Lux Dei Design launched an Indiegogo campaign to open a McDonald's franchise inside a church. The "McMass Project" seeks to raise $1 million to open the first McMass church.

The reasoning behind the McMass Project is that, while church attendance is declining, McDonald's has proved to be consistently successful at getting people to come through their doors. Plus, running a McDonald's location could help provide financial support for struggling churches.

"It's time for churches to engage with entrepreneurship," reads the project's Indiegogo page. "The McMass Project is helping churches keep pace in the modern world."

Related: What Entrepreneurs Can Learn From This Goofy, Disobedient Dog

While the campaign may sound like an Onion-worthy satire piece, the founders maintain that they are earnestly trying to solve problems faced by churches. And they say the more you think about the idea, the less crazy it seems.

As the McMass campaigners note, Trappist monks have a long history of selling beer to fund their monasteries. As for franchises, the nonprofit Affordable Homes of South Texas operates a Blimpie franchisee to maintain a constant cash flow. Plus, Entrepreneur has profiled a number of ministers who operate franchises while continuing to work full-time in the church.

What does McDonald's corporate think about the campaign? We're still waiting for a response.

While the payoff may be sweet for both the church and the fast-food franchise, the McMass campaign hasn't found many funders. The campaign -- launched on Nov. 17 and closing on Jan. 16 -- has only raised $167 thus far. In other words, the group has raised less than 1 percent of its goal.

Related: A Nonprofit Director Raises Funds With a Blimpie Franchise

Kate Taylor

Reporter

Kate Taylor is a reporter at Business Insider. She was previously a reporter at Entrepreneur. Get in touch with tips and feedback on Twitter at @Kate_H_Taylor. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Starting a Business

He Started a Business That Surpassed $100 Million in Under 3 Years: 'Consistent Revenue Right Out of the Gate'

Ryan Close, founder and CEO of Bartesian, had run a few small businesses on the side — but none of them excited him as much as the idea for a home cocktail machine.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Franchise

The Top 10 Coffee Franchises in 2024

From a classic cup of joe to a creamy latte, grab your favorite mug and get ready to brew up success with the best coffee franchises.

Marketing

How Small Businesses Can Leverage Dark Social to Drive Word-of-Mouth Marketing

Dark social accounts for 70% of social media shares and is crucial for small businesses. Here's how you can tap into this hidden marketing opportunity.

Business News

'Do You Sell Cars?': Tesla CEO Elon Musk Trolls Jaguar Rebrand on X

The team running Jaguar's X account was working hard on social media this week.

Business News

'Jaw-Dropping Performance in 2024,' Says a Senior Analyst as Nvidia Reports Earnings

Nvidia reported its highly-anticipated third-quarter earnings on Wednesday.