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.

You are not a computer, remember to rest

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You must take time to rest.
You must take time to rest if you want to be an effective church communicator.

Genesis 33:14 So let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the droves before me and that of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir."

Jacob was sensitive to the possibility of driving his flocks and children too hard. A present-day application is that we need to remember in our computer creation of ministry communications and marketing that human beings have limits.

The computer doesn't. You keep it plugged in and it doesn't stop. It doesn't get tired or need to stretch or take a coffee break. It will also do things perfectly again and again and it doesn't get bored.

People aren't like that. People get tired and bored. They complain and get sick. If pushed too heard they may break beyond repair.

Some recent studies have suggested that people look at themselves and other people differently after working with computers. They are harder on people and less tolerant. They push themselves beyond healthful levels in time spent working on computer projects.

This can be a strong area of witness for Christians in the computer world. We know the true value of people. They are not machines, but precious creatures of God to be cared for.

We know the true value of time and work. We know our times and success are in God's hands. We know God has designed a Sabbath rest every seven days to remind us that there is a time to stop working and trust him.

When you are tempted to work past your physical limits, remember you don't work for a god of technology that never tires but one who said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest .... I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).
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Devotions Cover The above material is from: Devotions for Church Communicators. For a complete copy of the book in print and online formats, CLICK HERE.

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The meaning of color in logos and how some famous ones were created

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Few logos have inherent meaning as this infographic illustrates.
A logo by itself means little--your church creates the meaning behind your logo.

The infographic that follows has instructive summaries about the meaning of colors in logos, but what I found even more interesting is how some famous logos were created, which you will find near the bottom of the infographic. Also, though the information on colors is interesting as the latter comments show, it isn't the most significant aspect of them or what made them memorable.

Some of the most famous, including the logos for Microsoft, Google, Twitter, and Nike (yes, the famous swoosh) were all created for very little money (or nothing) by either students or the company owners.

Comments on this infographic that may be of value for churches

This is a fascinating piece of work, but it has many topics on it. The section about colors is interesting, but the real meat of the graphic is the information that follows it--so don't quit after you look at the comments on color. For churches, one take-away value is in the famous examples, mentioned before, that were created for little or no cost by either company founders or graphic arts students. To me this says that it isn't the innate design quality of the image that is powerful, but the associations that have grown up around it. The Twitter logo is simply a blue bird. The Nike swoosh is a simple symbol. The Google logo a simple (and to some viewpoints pretty tacky) piece of script as logo. None of them are inherently powerful.

What makes them powerful and recognizable is what the logo stands for, what is behind it, what it represents when we see it. In many ways their very simplicity makes them powerful because the logo itself doesn't distract from the identity of the company it represents. For churches, following are some considerations concerning logos, not listed in any order of importance:

  • Don't assume your logo will "brand" you. Who you are and what you do will create the image your community remembers.
  • Simplicity in your logo will allow your behavior to define you.
  • Don't think you have to spend a lot of money for a logo—or that you need a professional marketing company to do it. Spend the money to feed hungry kids or provide clean water for those without it.
  • http://www.fiverr.com/ is a great resource for inexpensive logo creation
  • Search your heart, pray, ask the Lord to help you understand your unique calling in the Body of Christ and to help you find a logo that represents His work well in the life of your church or ministry
  • Have fun with the color comments below and praise our Lord for giving us this beauty to enjoy.
Note: the attribution for the logo at the start of this article: By CADTEC (Schweiz) GmbH (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons. No meaning intended from it--I simply thought it was an interesting example and wanted something free to use.
Review of the Best Company Logos: Nike & IBM are Among The Most Powerful Ones

Is your website an open door or barrier to your church?

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Church website=church door.
Your website can either be an open door or a barrier to your church--it's your choice.

Today, if we have a question about anything, where do we look up information? If we want hours of operation, products offered, staff bios? If we want to know what movie is playing, what time a concert starts, what classes are offered at a college where do we do to find out? Obviously, we go to the website. It's the same whether we are looking up information about what computer to buy or what church to attend.

We judge the organization, its people, and its products based on the website. If the website gives us winter hours and it is spring; if the sale has been over for weeks or if the hours of operation are incorrect, we aren't likely to visit the business or have confidence in it. If the business is a franchise and the website is an obvious template, with little local personalization, we won't think much about the technical skills (equated with competence overall) of the staff. Again, we judge a church the same way.

Unfortunately many church websites don't meet the minimal standards.

Though lost customers may be bad for a business, the consequences for a church are much more serious. Following is an example of what can happen and then some suggestions for change.

True story here

A couple hadn't been able to attend church for some time after moving to a new community because the wife was ill. Her health improved somewhat and they were excited about attending church the following Sunday. It wasn't easy for her to get up early, take the needed medications, and prepare for church, but they loved going to church and after checking out many churches in the area found one on the web they wanted to visit. The website told them the details, time it started, directions, and they assumed, all they needed to know.

As they walked through the doors they were met by a woman who said, "do you know what is going on today?'

"No," they replied.

"We are not having church today, we are doing a community service day. You can stay and work or go somewhere else."

When the couple asked why this was not on the website—the woman replied, "It probably should have been. I'll pass that on."

It was not a pleasant encounter and the couple left.

What if. . .

The couple who related the story to me, consulted the web again, and went to another church later that morning. They were upset at that church and may or may not visit again, but they are believers in Jesus and will eventually find a church home.

However, what if the visitors had been a couple in emotional crises? What if they were not believers in Jesus and had finally worked up the courage to visit a church only to be told that it was a day for the insiders to do a project and that they were not included? What if it was the last time a person who had been hurt by church leaders in the past decided to try one more time to attend before giving up on church completely?

Of course we can't know the situation of every person who comes through our doors and of course there are always people who won't read notices no matter where we post them, but there are things we can do to prevent potential spiritual disasters and that in addition are simply good business sense and good manners.

A primary recommendation

Keep your website CURRENT! Not only on your home page should you have any changes that differ from your normal schedule, but also on the pages that list ongoing events. For example if your service is cancelled for a work day, on the home page, if you have rotating headers, one should say "WORKDAY this SUNDAY—no regularly scheduled services.

A similar message should be on ALL listings of your service times throughout the website. This is because you never know where people will drop into a website based on the results of a search engine.  If you've done these things and a visitor still shows up – honestly apologize and ask them how you could have communicated more effectively.

A foundational to-do—learn how to create a living website

Your website is not only a static brochure, but should be a living, ever-changing communication vehicle with your community. Having said that, there is also place on your website for static information that rarely changes—staff bios, overall vision and mission of the church, etc.  Information like this is essential and having it in a consistent location is one of the primary benefits of a website as opposed to the ever-flowing river of social media.

Social media is at best an interactive communication tool useful most often with people who are already interested in or involved in your church—but it is a lousy tool to find out about the background of the staff, the beliefs of the church, or for an overview of the children's ministry. A website is the perfect tool for this factual information, but even though this information stays relatively the same, it must also be updated immediately when things change.

To make your website living, you must have a website that the church office staff knows how to modify. Before the objections start, there is absolutely NO EXCUSE for members of the church office staff to not know how to modify your website. Churches have had access to the Internet for over 20 years and most churches have had websites in some form for over 10 years. But for some reason, many church communicators, including pastors and church office staff think they can't create a website, modify an article, or create a blog and that simply is not true.

Get a grip people—if you want to communicate to your world today, you must to learn the language of the digital world. It isn't that hard, it is exciting, and can be tremendous fun. You've learned how to drive a car, use a computer, and any number of additional skills for your work and life. You can learn this.

More will be coming on this site about websites and how to create them, but in advance of that, there is an abundance of instructional videos, books, websites, and tutorials on how to create websites and blogs with WordPress— the free and easiest way to do it.

Finally, all the above isn't simply a push for church staffs to update their websites, so visitors aren't turned away; it's about doing all we can to help people find Jesus. Throughout history missionaries have learned new languages, given up family, safety, and comfort to share the gospel. Our challenge is to become fluent cyber communicators, let's not be found wanting in this.

Managing Change—advice for ministry assistants, part two

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Change and ministry assistants
More advice on how to handle change in the church office.

Ed. note:  There was so much good advice and material that takes time to think through and apply, we split the article into two parts. To read part one of this article, CLICK HERE. 

Managing Change—advice for ministry assistants, part two

• Be patient with those who do not respond well to change. When several members abused the church’s office equipment, Carol’s office initiated new guidelines for equipment use. In spite of thoughtful announcements and careful explanations, some could not (well, actually would not) accept the policy changes. Carol’s patience prevented the situation from getting out of control; at the same time, she did not cave in to those who felt they should be exceptions to the rule.

• Focus on excellence. Doing things well gives confidence. Confidence allows you to manage change constructively. Even during the most complex transitions, the value of excellence remains constant. Apply your efforts for excellence to your personal life. Be good to yourself: eat wisely, exercise sensibly, get enough rest, build some quiet time into each day. Maintain your spiritual life.

• Keep lines of communication open. The ability to hear and understand one another is always important; during times of change it becomes vital. Talk with those involved in the transition. Exchange concerns. Ask questions. Welcome opinions and insight. Brainstorm ideas for making the process work smoother.

• Clarify new policies. If the change is one that dictates how situations will be handled or how tasks will be done, monitor the system. Evaluate how it is working. Make adjustments as needed. Once the policy is working, get guidelines in print and, if necessary, have them approved by the proper body.

• Celebrate your results. Once the transition is in hand, review the steps taken along the way. Appreciate your part in making the process work. Recognize the contributions of others. Congratulations are in order. You are ready to move on to the next challenge.

Managing Change—advice for ministry assistants, part one

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Change advice by Gayle Hilligoss
Change is always scary, but the advice in the article will help you navigate it successfully.

Ed. note: Gayle Hilligoss returns to ECC after not writing for a few months and it is great to have her back. This article is so packed with good advice, I cut it into two parts. Take time to think through and apply what she says--change is constant today and this advice in your heart will keep you prepared. Your pastor leaves.

A new pastor arrives. Staff members move or come onboard. Software is upgraded. Computers crash. You gain additional responsibilities. Another assistant is hired. The church moves into a new building. Some members of the church are in turmoil. New programs are started. A birthday brings challenges. Marriage, divorce, a birth or a death causes a transition. A tragedy hits close to home. These are just some of the changes ministry assistants have faced during the past year. Regardless of the type of change affecting you, consider these strategies for managing transition. Each can be adapted to fit whatever change you are experiencing—personal or professional.

• Acknowledge that change is constant and need not be viewed as bad. Review your attitude; is your first instinct when thinking about new circumstances a negative one? Initiate a positive change by simply deciding to look for the good in any transition. See your new situation as an opportunity for growth.

• Resolve to learn from the experience. Rather than being swept up in runaway emotions that may overcome others, stay calm. Assess your strengths; identify skills you already have that will help you deal with your new situation. Then determine what new skills would be helpful and make plans to acquire those skills. Call on your past successes and failures; put those lessons to work and share them with others who may not embrace change as well as you.

• Share any misgivings with someone who has been in your shoes. Ask for insight and suggestions. Likewise, when someone is facing a circumstance you have already experienced, be willing to answer questions and give support. Mutual encouragement helps everyone do better in unfamiliar territory. Knowing someone else has hurdled what may seem an impossible obstacle instills courage.

• Keep events in perspective. There is change and then there is CHANGE. Be careful not to let either take over your life. Don’t allow your conversations to be monopolized by the present challenge.

• Stay flexible. Take the initiative by constantly stretching your comfort zone; learn new skills, take courses, meet new people, try different experiences, take calculated risks. Even small adventures are beneficial; take the long route home, try a new hairstyle, read an unknown author, ad lib an untried recipe. Stretch and enjoy!