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.

Give your Operation Christmas Child an opportunity to give and expand the joy

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Anyone can give and everyone should have the opportunity to give, as the Apostle Paul reminded us:

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,  they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.  And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 2 Cor. 8:1-5

When most of us are working on our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, we primarily think about what we are going to give the one child. But you can not only do that, but by the addition of a few items you can also give your child the opportunity to give. This isn't hard or expensive to do.

Here's how:

You can do this by buying and putting into your Christmas child package items that are packaged together and can be broken up and shared. When you do this, you give your Christmas child the opportunity not only to receive, but to share and give to others.

The 99cent and Dollar Stores have packages of these and many other that would be great to put into your shoebox. Many of the items below don't hardly take up any more room--for example, a package of combs or a couple of toothbrushes instead of just one, take up very little additional room.

Here are some ideas of items you can buy to give your Christmas Child a chance to give:

  • Buy a package of colorful combs in various sizes and colors
  • Buy a package of toothbrushes
  • Buy pencils in a package
  • Buy hair ornaments of all kinds in a package
  • Buy several packages of gum
  • Buy soap bundled together

You can copy any of this information and expand this idea to put into a bulletin insert, email or newsletter to pass on the idea to your congregation.

As always, pray for wisdom and that the Lord will lead you to wonderful things. Pray for your Christmas child that he or she would know the joy of sharing and giving in addition to receiving this holiday season.

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If you would like more information about the Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child, CLICK HERE.

Why Marketing isn’t evil—or doesn’t need to be anyway

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As often happens, marketing is currently taking a bashing in some ministry magazines and blogs. Though I am one of the first people to decry the evils of untrue church marketing—in my mind epitomized by the commercial website headers of mostly white, all thin, happy folks—when few folks at the churches I know look anything like that—especially when you look at the church universal and the tragedy of hunger domestically and worldwide...but I digress.

As I was saying, though marketing can be used in untrue, unworthy of the gospel ways, to bash "marketing" with a broad brush as evil is like saying because Jim Jones of Jonestown massacre was a preacher that all preaching is evil.

Chapter Four: Effective Church Communication Marketing

Intro note: The following material is from the book, Ministry Marketing Made Easy, by Yvon Prehn.  A PDF of this material is available as a download, by CLICKING HERE and at the end of the article. You have permission to make as many copies as you need for your staff, congregation, or volunteers.

Some church people are genuinely concerned about marketing and wonder about the appropriateness of marketing in the church. This is a valid concern and an important one to address. This chapter presents a biblical view of respectful marketing and provides biblical and practical examples of appropriate uses of marketing in the church.

I strongly recommend you take time to go over this chapter as a staff and with the leadership of your church. If you don't and people in your church have concerns that are not answered, you can be certain they will come out and often, not in pleasant ways.

You want everyone (as much as is possible) in the church to be of one heart in your communication and marketing efforts. Yes, it takes time to explain why you are doing what you are doing, but the oneness of heart that should be the result is worth it.

Marketing misconceptions defined and defused [Read more...]

What hasn’t been said about Steve Jobs: what he did for church communications

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Steve Jobs and Apple Computers
In his later years Steve Job created incredible things, but his early work made an immense, but often forgotten impact on the church.

In commemorating the life of Steve Jobs much of the media attention this past week has focused on his recent inventions: the iPod, iPhone, iPad and understandably so because they are extraordinary devices. Though beautifully designed, at their core they are merely ways of listening digitally to music, making a phone call, and viewing digital content. Jobs did all these things with more style and features than anyone else, but he didn't invent a new way of interacting with the world in any of them.

For church communicators, however, Jobs totally changed our world

What he did has become such an everyday part of the church office, it is easy to forget what happened and if you are were not around in the days before the personal computer was invented, you honestly have no concept of the extraordinary revolution brought about through the Macintosh computer, the Apple Laser Printer. [Read more...]

Editable Halloween MS Publisher materials, a FREE preview PDF for all, editable files for members

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Cover of Overview of the Editable MS Publisher Files
Click here to download the PDF. It is an overview of the editable MS Publisher files and how to use them for effective Halloween Outreach.

The publications illustrated here cover every aspect of preparation for, what to use during and follow up for effective Halloween outreach including:

***Motivational bulletin insert
***Invitation Cards
***Case-study, volunteer recruitment brochure
***Sign-in cards
***Cards to give out as people leave your event

Click on the PDF for a free overview of all the communications with ideas on how to use them.

Effective Church Communication members can click on the links below to download the two ZIP files that contains editable MS Publisher files for all the publications illustrated. The first file has all the PR, invitation, outreach, sign up and follow up cards. The second file has the brochure. If you are not a member, this is a great time to join and have access to all these files. CLICK HERE to go to the MEMBERSHIP area.

Just download and save the ZIP file on your computer, click to open it and then you can open and edit any MS Publisher file there. You must have a copy of MS Publisher on your computer for this to work.

[mepr-show if="rule: 23971"]

 

Click here to download the ZIP file

Click here to download the Brochure for Trunk or Treat File

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Church office professionals—Commit to excellence!

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Gayle Hilligoss Picture
Article by Gayle Hilligoss

Ed. note: In the church, our ultimate authority is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. With that in mind, we should do everything we can to reflect His excellence. This wonderfully encouraging and inspiring article by Gayle Hilligoss will help you do just that.

Every ministry assistant wants to excel, to be capable and competent, to be recognized as a valuable support person. Amid the many personalities involved in the life of the church, achieving the confidence to perform responsibilities with poise and good humor can be a challenge.

Though you have no control over the style or personality of the people with whom you work, you have total control over your own personal conduct. Whether working with a new minister or continuing as part of an established team, the excellent support person can rely on these techniques. As you check over the list, look for a new strategy or two to add to your ministry skills.

• Evaluate your working style.

Scrutinize and sharpen your professional image by asking yourself: am I punctual? well-prepared? organized? well-groomed? appropriately dressed? How does the office look? Do files need to be cleaned out or updated? Rather than just doing what occurs to you at the time, make a conscientious decision about how you conduct business. Create a consistent style that shows your true self. Project quality in all you do.

• Think—and behave—positively.

Look for the good in people and in situations. Be objective, realistic, and fair in assessing the work of others. Give people the benefit of the doubt. Practice good manners. A great deal of what we do is done by habit; develop the habit of operating from the bright side. Avoid annoying habits: chewing gum, eating in the office, inappropriate language. Keep personal problems to yourself.

• Stay informed.

Keep learning by taking computer, website building, and desktop publishing courses. Brush up on the basics. Read the ministry journals your pastor reads; know what is happening in your denomination. Update skills in letter writing and telephone communication. Take the initiative in seeking continuing education opportunities to enhance your professionalism. Take advantage of webinars and online resources to expand your knowledge. Explore Facebook, blogs, and Twitter; discover ways to use these avenues to broaden your communication horizons.

 

• Assiduously avoid listening to rumors. Someone may try to convince you the new pastor is making changes too quickly. Another may opine he is insensitive to older members. Sidestep such conversations when you can; do whatever it takes not to be drawn in. You have too many productive things to do to waste time on what is always destructive.

• Develop your people skills.

Recognize yourself as a member of the team. Make it your goal to project an authentic image of effectiveness, caring, and unity of purpose. See people as your vocation. Take your work seriously, but never yourself. A sense of humor is an invaluable asset in getting along with others.

Realize true ministry is seldom convenient; often it requires going that extra mile. Strive to be the kind of person you would choose for your position. Nothing is ever gained by being at cross purposes with others. In matters of controversy, choose to be the adult.

• Communicate your support.

Being an assistant is a noble calling. Never doubt what you do is valuable. You know you are not indispensable, but your work is important. Let your ministers know by both word and deed you are supportive of them. Show your pastor your purpose is to serve. Encourage comments and suggestions on how you can extend and expand your responsibilities. Make yourself available for new tasks. Have confidence in your ability to make a positive difference as you contribute toward ministry goals.

• Move forward.

Turn loose of the way things were. Work to adjust to the way things are now. You may find the new way is even better than the old one, once you get used to it. If not, there is still no benefit in dwelling on what is in the past.

Enthusiastically face the challenge of ever-present change by committing yourself to excellence.—