Effective Church Communications

Effective Church Communications provides Timeless Strategy and Biblical Inspiration to help churches create communications that fully fulfill the Great Commission

Effective Church Communications provides Timeless Strategy and Biblical Inspiration to help churches create communications that fully fulfill the Great Commission.

Tips for a productive New Year in the church office, part one

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Gayle Hilligoss Picture
Article by Gayle Hilligoss

The start of a new year is a good time both to reflect and to project—a time to look back and consider what you’ve experienced and learned, a time to look ahead to where you will go next. One sure sign of personal progress is the realization that you not only know smart things, but that you do those smart things. You will know, feel, when it happens. The difference is beyond measure.

• Put first things first.

Sometimes we stay so busy doing the good that we neglect the best. Pray for wisdom to know what is truly important to you. Then give your time, energy, and love to those things first. Unless you make a deliberate effort to set priorities and to stick with them, your days will be filled 
with other people’s priorities and not your own.

• Respect time.

Understand that time is the most precious resource you have; without it you have nothing. Spend your hours and your minutes wisely. Plan your days rather than just letting them happen.• Stay calm.

Know what matters—and be passionate about those things. Know what doesn’t matter—and don’t let those things get you down. You know you are becoming more mature when you control your emotions instead of allowing them to control you.

• Take care of yourself.

Your body is a gift from God; being as fit as you can be is a testimony in itself. Eat wisely, exercise, get suffcient rest, schedule regular checkups. Don’t allow lesser activities to keep you from a daily walk. Commit to some healthy extras: swimming, biking, whatever you like. Few of us do all we could or should. But we can!

• Nourish your mind.

God’s world is a wondrous place. Learn something new every single day. Today, look at a flower and be amazed. Tonight, go outside and gaze at the stars. Tomorrow, visit the library and check out books on a subject you know nothing about. Or use the Internet to travel a new part of the world. Talk with someone—and not on a cell phone. Think new thoughts. Grow wise.

Now you know smart things. And you can do them!

_________________
To read the three more tips, click here.

Holiday Stress Relievers

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Holiday stress reliever ideas
Here are some ways to minimize stress this holiday season--read and relax.

Over-focusing on responsibilities, tasks, chores, and pressures is especially common during the holidays. Often “you” is who gets lost in the process. As a result, all that running, all that concern, has no positive payoff. Instead of the blessed time you hoped for, the holidays become a stressful time of bad tempers and tired tootsies.

Ideas for a tranquil season—

• First things first.
Resolve not to allow busy-ness interfere with your daily prayer time. In the final analysis, most of us find time to do what is really important to us. This season brings opportunities for sharing like no other does; there is nothing wrong with jumping in with both feet. You can try out cbd oils to help you feel better. Check out discovermagazine.com for more information. Ooze carries the ultimate smoking accessories. Choose from the best selection of water pipes, hand pipes, glass attachments, and the best smoking accessory prices online, also you can get an Ooze discount code. [Read more...]

How to correctly use numbers in print

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How to use numbers in print
To communicate clearly with numbers we need to use the correct format.

Think about the documents you produce: newsletters, bulletins, reports, letters, programs—and more. Looking over publications at an associational meeting, I was struck by how many numbers are used in our printed materials. Expressing numbers in print can be tricky.

Even the reliable Gregg Reference Manual concedes, “The rules for expressing numbers would be quite simple if writers would all agree to express numbers entirely in figures or entirely in words.”

Gregg identifies two distinct usage styles. The figure style uses figures for most numbers above 10, while the word style uses figures only for numbers above 100. Since there are exceptions to both styles, be ready to use each style as the situation demands. You may want to formulate a style sheet for your documents.

Some appropriate guidelines based on the most-used figure style:

  • Spell out numbers from 1 through 10; use figures for numbers above

Exception: When numbers need to stand out for quick comprehension—as in the statement of this rule—use figures.

Exception: Some authorities suggest spelling out only single-digit numbers—1 through 9—and using figures starting with 10.

Exception: Use numbers when referring to numbers as numbers (such as, think of a number between 6 and 10).

Exception: Use numbers with U.S. highway designations (State Route 5; I-95), with emphatic references to age (the class for 3-year-olds), with periods of time (a 3-month study), specific measurements (a 4- by 6-foot rug), and page numbers (page 7).

  • Spell out a number above 10 when you intend it to be indefinite:

I have a million things to do today; he has a hundred excuses.

  • Spell out numbers at the beginning of a sentence:

Forty-five assistants attended the session.

  • Spell out fractions:

Remarkably, one-third of the attendees were from our state.

  • Spell out most ordinals:

It was the organization’s thirtieth anniversary.

  • Spell out references to ages that are not given as statistics:

My daughter just turned thirteen.

  • Spell out periods of time:

The pastor called fifteen minutes ago.

  • Spell out measurements that lack technical significance:

The box weighed at least ten pounds.

  • Use the same style to express related numbers. If any are above 10, put them all in

There are 24 pens in the package, but only 3 are red. The old package had 12 black, 6 blue, 6 red.

But: Our six volunteers prepared 104 box lunches, 9 pies, and about 1000 cookies—all in one morning. Figures are used for all the related items of food; six and one are spelled out since they are not related and are not over 10.

  • When numbers run to five or more figures, use commas to separate thousands, etc. The comma may be omitted in four-digit whole numbers except in columns with larger numbers requiring

These guidelines are meant to cover our most commonly used situations. You will find extensive rules in

The Gregg Reference Manual; Tenth Edition.

Note Taking that Works

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Take notes effectively
Take notes effectively and make the most of learning opportunities.

Whether recording instructions or jotting seminar notes, whether using pen or PC, every assistant needs a system—an organized method of arranging information so it can be retrieved and used as needed. Most notes are, after all, taken not just for the sake of getting words on paper, but for the purpose of recording data or ideas to be referred to later. We need notes that do more than sit on a page; we need notes that work.

  • Get ready

These instructions are written from a pencil and paper point of view, but can be adapted for use on a tablet or laptop. The first step in this system is simple, but essential: Use light lines to divide your note page into three columns. The left column can be narrow, 1 or 2 inches. Make another narrow column on the right. That leaves 4 inches or so in the middle column. Just right!

The first column is used to note major ideas or topics. The middle column is for points that develop and support the key facts noted in column one. Use the third column to jot down how you will personally apply the information. This is the place to record your “memos to self.”

  • Actively listen

In attending a meeting, your primary objective is to comprehend what is being said so you can put information into practice later. Taking notes should never detract from your reason for being there, to listen, and learn. So, first, get in sync with the speaker and grasp the intention of the message. This allows you to know what you want to take from this meeting. Be sure to note the date, the topic, and the name of the speaker at the top of your page. This information can be very handy later.

  • Organize as you note

As you listen, jot major ideas in the first column of your page. As these ideas are developed, either by the speaker or by your own thoughts, note these points in the middle column. Make an effort to enter your notes in outline form. Organization makes notes easier to use later.

  • Be stingy

Effective notes are as much a result of knowing what to leave out as of knowing what to put in. Use as few words as possible to nail down what you want to retain. Capture thoughts with phrases, not sentences. Some note takers use texting “shorthand” for notes. Some develop their own code—initials and numbers that denote actions to take or people to notify. Ease into this practice so, though concise, your cold notes will not leave you wondering, “What did I mean by this?”

  • Make the application

Use lulls in the speaker’s message to build on the outlined points in your middle column. As thoughts occur to you on how you can personalize concepts and apply them in your own situation, record these important revelations in column three.

As soon as possible after the note taking session, go over all three columns and clarify any points that are fuzzy; expand on the ideas most relevant to you. Use a colored pen to underline or highlight ideas to implement.

  • Use what you've learned

Even the most organized and insightful notes are worthless unless they are used. Based on the information they contain, keep your notes where you can refer to them as needed. If you didn't originally take digital notes, you may want to get them on your computer. In some cases, the good ol' file folder or a notebook is your best choice for accessibility. Do what works for you—no apologies.

SEEING OLD THINGS IN NEW WAYS: Selling your ideas

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Share your idea
Sharing your ideas takes tack and planning--and the advice here will help.

“I have some ideas on how to increase office effectiveness, but am not sure how to get our office manager to consider them.”

  • Pick one idea. Try looking at the situation from the office manager’s side of the desk. Anticipate as many possible reservations and concerns as you can. Formulate reasonable answers. If you hit some uncertainty you may want to run the idea by an appropriate person, someone with expertise on the subject. Seek to understand the big picture before you ask to be heard.
  • If you still think the idea has merit, practice how you will present the issue to the office manager. Rehearse being concise. Resolve to stick to the issue and not get diverted.
  • Ask for a time to discuss it with the office manager. How you ask is important. Try something like, “I’d like to see what you think about an idea. When will it work for you to get together for 30 minutes?” If you are prepared, it won’t matter if the meeting takes place immediately (you are ready) or at a later time.
  • When you meet, present your idea in a brief, clear, positive way. Ask the manager’s opinion. Some of your questions to the manager might be: What do you think? Do you see ways we can use this? Are there modifications that would make the idea even better? What can we do to get this in the works? If your pitch is successful, the manager may be ready to try a version of the idea.
  • Even if the manager is not sold on the idea, listen for points of agreement and build on those as you can. He or she may be willing to try the new idea for a limited time—ask. In the event the idea is turned down completely, take it like the pro you are. Thank the manager for meeting with you. Try another time with another idea. Tenacity often pays!