I too received the 'Prayer Rug' in today's mail. One look at the envelope told me it was a 'File 13'. I reviewed the contents and read all the materials and my first reaction was, " Why would someone want/need to pray for materialistic things? Cars, Money, Homes." I have been taught to achieve the things you want, you must work hard and earn them.
I felt some anger in what was obviously a 'scam'. But after a careful thought process, I realized these persons are no different than anyone else who sends out junk mail. If you respond, you are confirming the validity of your address so that more mail can follow. Don't respond and you will probably be dropped from mailing list. It makes no difference if it is a physical piece of mail or an email address. If you confirm it valid, you open it up for advertising.
An internet message says 'Click here to unscribe' and if you do that, you have just confirmed and get ready for more. Same goes with the mailings of this 'organization'. You think its a scam, then give it a FILE 13. Don't send it back.
What is really sad to me is the fact that even if they are not an established 'church', why do people need to do a mail order prayer? Don't you have numerous valid churches within your community to visit? Join? Participate in prayer? Have we become so lazy that we now have to pray thru the mail? And pray for 'things' that have no value other than how much they cost?
As for sending money, they DO NOT ask you for any. An area is made available to you if YOU wish to donate. Any funds forwarded to these individuals, is a choice made by the recipient of the mail. And I suspect most recipients feel 'you won't receive anything without paying for it so better send something' or as in the Publisher's Clearinghouse incident, 'if I send them some money, the chances of my prayers being answered will be greater'.
I find it very odd that most reports I have read about this organization complained about endless mailings. Did any of you read the small print when you signed up for consumer complaints? Did you see the small checked boxes under the name/address area? Did you uncheck those boxes before submitting your registration? Did you then read the information regarding the confirmation email sent to your email address? Did you see it states that if the email wasn't in your regular mailbox, to look in the Spam/Bulk mail? The email address I provided is a legitimate address, the one I use when surfing. The one that gets filled in 3 days with Spam/Bulk. The one I go into once a week and 'Check All' and 'Delete'.
Will be interesting to see how many emails I will receive in a few days originating from this website. I don't usually continue with any registration when this type of information is presented to me upon submission but thought it very curious that everyone slamming St Matthew's Churches for unindating them with junk mail, but yet allowing this website to do the same thru your email, IF you didnot uncheck those 4 boxes. Think about it...
As for my being included within their prayer group and receiving the assistance to gain whatever I may have checked in the letter, I think I'll do some praying on my own. Even my small single prayer will be heard by God. And I will continue to work hard to achieve/acquire the 'things' I desire. I will keep the 'Prayer Rug' and recycle the other correspondence. I will save a tree somewhere and have a very nice framed picture of Jesus. THIS will be my blessing.
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