I was just looking over a recent "free" e-book I downloaded thinking it might have something useful for me to pass on to ECC readers. It didn't really say anything new, so I'm not passing it on.
In addition to the e-book's lack of usefulness as a whole was the strong emphasis in most of it on how when you are selling something how important it is to create a sense of urgency. Though I understand the theory behind this and goodness knows I have responded to more than I should have to appeals like this, I really dislike them.
I dislike them primarily because in most instances they simply aren't true.
As anyone knows who subscribes to Vista Print or any other online service or company, the urgent sales price TODAY ONLY will be repeated once again in a week or two. And then a week or two after that.
I am finding that unless it is an item I have wanted for some time (e.g. a truly large discount for all the themes from www.studiopress.com and a sale price I hadn't seen before) I have become callous to the appeals.
The application for church communicators in general is to be clear and honest about deadlines—people become callous and turn us off if we attempt to force a sense of urgency that isn't real. Always be honest in communicating deadlines in your communications.
The one deadline that is truly urgent
As I thought about it, I realized that though many marketers falsely use a phony deadline to create a sense of urgency, we may forget we have a real deadline that our audience may not know about and that "with gentleness and respect" we need to communicate it to them.
That deadline of course is that Jesus is coming back and when He does the eternal destiny of every person on earth will be decided based on that person's relationship to Jesus.
The work you do today—making sure the dates are correct and descriptions complete for the bulletin or social media; gently answering questions you've been asked a hundred times, being sure to enter addresses and send out follow up—though all these actions may seem routine, they may help someone take a step toward coming to know Jesus as Savior.
As you do your work today ask the Lord to give you a sense of urgency. Not a false sense, not a guilty, burdened feeling, but a joyful strong heart that rejoices that you are working on communications that aren't pushing people needlessly, but helping them to make the most important decision of their lives.
2 Corinthians 6:2 for He says, "AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU." Behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME," behold, now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION"
John 4:35-37 "Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. "Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. "For in this case the saying is true, 'One sows and another reaps.'
2 Timothy 4:1-2 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
