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.

FREE Facebook Size Valentines Day Social Media with Verses about God’s Love

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Valentines Day Facebook images
One example of a set of Valentine's Day images, Facebook-size, that you can use to share God's Love.

Valentine's Day is a wonderful time to share God's love with people and here is a set of Facebook-size, social media images you can use to do that.

You can use the files in two ways and the links to each option are below the images. Either you can download a ZIP FILE of the images in jpg format or you can click on the Canva Link if you want to link to them in Canva and perhaps modify them for however you want to use them.

These were created using the A.I. "text to image" command in Canva. CLICK HERE to go to a video where I demonstrate how I created the backgrounds.

CLICK the following link to download the ZIP file of the images: https://www.effectivechurchcom.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Facebook-size-Valentines-Day-Background-with-Verses.zip

CLICK the following link to go to the CANVA file:  https://www.canva.com/design/DAFY1KLpCQI/Z0TNsDdQQW-pFWHMWAzXug/edit?utm_content=DAFY1KLpCQI&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

 

Last minute gifts or inspiration at any time TOTALLY FREE HUGE collection of verses and inspirational sayings

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FREE Bible Verses and Sayings in both print and social media format at Bible805Images.com
FREE Bible Verses and Sayings in both print and social media format at Bible805Images.com

We all need encouragement and joy and that is where something as simple as a message on the wall or our desk or an encouragement sent through social media can inspire us and give us hope.

Inspirational sayings also make fantastic Christmas gifts. And because the ones I'm sharing below (and many more)  are FREE (which I greatly encourage you to take them as) or PWYW, (pay what you want) you can download and print them up in bulk for meaningful gifts for a church class, small group, or volunteers. I've done that many times with the church groups and individuals in my life.

I created the Bible805 Images shop so that you can do the same. In it I'm giving you Bible-inspired images (verses and sayings) I created that you can download and share directly on social media or print out, put into inexpensive frames, and share at every imaginable size and resolution, from 5×7 to standard 8.5×1/A4 sizes, to large posters, 24×36 or 30×30.

Below is a sample of some of them (there are MANY more), and below that some of the Christmas images.

Please do tell people about Bible805Images.com. It truly is free and will stay that way--this isn't a marketing trick to make you buy some expensive ongoing subscription or service.

These short verses and sayings might be just enough to encourage someone who needs it or to cause someone to about Jesus in a way they haven't before.

ESSENTIAL Christmas Communication advice and free tools to implement it

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FREE CHRISTMAS TEMPLATES, CLICK HERE
All the work is done for you with all the materials here, simply download and use!

Suddenly, Christmas is almost here and there is much to do.

At the link HERE is a large collection of templates on every aspect of Christmas, all are free and you can either print them out as is or you can modify them in MS Publisher. CLICK HERE for a huge group of Christmas templates.

In the midst of all the practical, tangible organizing and work that needs to be done, I want to literally plead with you to do these things during your Christmas outreach, no matter what other activities you have going on.

The activities you have planned I’m sure will give your congregation and visitors a great experience and these suggestions will give your events lasting impact.

I have Three actions listed and then so as to not add more to your incredibly busy schedule, some free tools to help you implement each of them.

#1 Share a CLEAR PRESENTATION of the Gospel, of what it means, and how to become a Christian.

Jesus came to earth to save us from our sins. That is the point of his birth and we need to make it clear to the people who visit us who may not know that is truly the reason for the season.

To help you do that, I have a handout that has helped many over the years available as a free, reproducible download for you here: https://wp.me/pDky9-6En

#2 Tell people what you regularly do, when you are not holding your special Christmas events and INVITE them back.

Visitors in our post-Christian world DO NOT know what churches do on a regular basis. You must tell them and invite them with specific information and times.

The free templates and materials that will help you do this: https://wp.me/pDky9-8l1

#3  Give your congregation the best gift you can to help them grow in their faith in the coming year—schedules and encouragement to READ THROUGH THEIR BIBLES.

The link following will take you to free downloadable schedules you can give out to help your people read through the Bible in the coming year. The www.Bible805.com website also has a free eBook you can download and share for motivation, plus podcasts and videos on why and how to read through your Bible in Chronological order.

For Free through the Bible Schedules: https://wp.me/pazrJD-cZ

Other links of Christmas interest

Nicene Creed for Christmas

FREE flyer of the Nicene Creed for Christmas, click on the image to go to it.

You can download and use this in any way you want from social media to bulletin inserts to posters. It uses one of the Oldest of Christian Creeds to remind us of why Jesus is the reason for the season

 

SEVEN EXTRAORDINARY WAYS GOD PREPARED THE WORLD FOR CHRISTMAS The Real Advent, 7 Extraordinary Preparations God made in real history

There are many positive things about traditional Advent, with candles, hot chocolate, and devotional readings that focus our hearts on the true meaning of Christmas. As beneficial as these aspects of Advent are, Advent became even more meaningful to me when until I did some in-depth historical study about all the extraordinary things God did to prepare the world for His Son, Jesus.

The results of that study are incredibly exciting and not only in preparation for Christmas, but I trust that listening or looking at this content will also give you trust and assurance in how God works through history.

This content goes over the 7 Extraordinary Preparations God made in real history that when you look at them all together are an amazing testimony to the power of God and the reality of the divine origin of Jesus.

This topic is so important, I also created a podcast, two videos, notes, a printout of maps, a free encouraging printable, and more all linked for you at: https://wp.me/pazrJD-jh

 

Charging for Fall Festival outreach events, what’s wrong with that?

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Who in this group gets a meal and who doesn't at your alternative Halloween event? It should be ALL of them.

There may be legitimate reasons for charging for some events, for example, if you are bringing in a professional Christian comedian or speaker—someone has to pay for their time and expenses. However, in most instances, I believe strongly that it communicates an incorrect message if a church charges (or even asks for donations) at a ministry event.

Fall Festival mixed message

I recently looked at an advertisement for a Church Fall Festival. It was going to be an alternative Halloween event, which is always popular with the community. I was told that in years past this church put on the event as free community outreach, but this year things were different. The person showing me the invitation card was concerned and here's why:

The invitation said: "Fun, games, food, candy for all!" and in big letter, "No entry fee"

In much smaller letters it said, "There will be a small charge for a hot dog meal;  candy is free."

and

"There will be a charge for professional photos at the event."

What's wrong with that?

Times are still really hard for lots of folks and it was not only a very confusing message, but I think one unworthy of the gospel. Let's look at the food charge first and then the photography one. The text continues below the video.

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Follow the example of the Apostle Paul—make Halloween a great time for Evangelism and FREE materials to help you do that!

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Or how to use everything that is bad about Halloween as a tool to share the gospel—

If there is a holiday that causes controversy in the church, it is Halloween. Some churches welcome it as a great time to do community outreach with alternative Halloween events; others shake their fingers and condemn churches that even mention the term.

It’s always easier to curse the darkness than to flood it with light, but taking our cue from the Apostle Paul who used the pagan idols in Athens as his bridge to sharing the gospel, I'd like to challenge you to use this time of year to share the gospel.

Following is a brief video of the material that follows and after it the text of it and at the end of the blog, FREE Downloadable materials for you to use in your Halloween outreach. Please make the most of them and don't miss this opportunity!

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