What ONE THING do you need to do? a devotion for church communicators as you start the New Year
This past year the father of one of my friends died. My friend shared with me that in the time they spent together as death approached, he asked his father, “Is there anything you need to do?” What a kind and wise question to ask a loved parent in the twilight of life—to be there [...]
Educational tax deductions for church communications training and resources–don’t forget about them for yourself!
This suggestion comes with the important advice that any final decision on whether or not you can claim the resources suggested here as a tax deduction needs to be made with your tax consultant, but it seems like they should apply. Here is an excerpt from: http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc513.html (go to this link for the whole listing [...]
Year-end giving– links to donor resources–and a suggestion for your communication ministry
Before the year closes out many people want to make the most of their charitable giving contributions, below is a link to the IRS site that explains charitable giving guidelines and might be useful if people call or email the church office with questions. Here is the IRS LINK overall for charitable giving: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=251223,00.html For [...]
Church Communication tools to help people grow to Christian Maturity, a key goal for the New Year
We need to do more in our church communications than reach out to people to get them to church the first time. You probably had lots of people visit for the first time during the holidays, but you don’t want them to come week after week and leave with only nice feelings about the Christian [...]
Be proactive, not reactive in your church communications as you look ahead in the New Year
The start of each year is a good time to evaluate your church communications effectiveness. The materials on this site can help you with training and forms that will measure how effective your specific communication programs are. However, your church may need more than charts and forms to significantly increase the effectiveness of your communications if you measure effectiveness [...]
ebook: Grow Your Church through Seasonal Celebrations, special edition
In our increasingly secular, post-Christian society, it is sometimes difficult to get our unchurched friends to come to church. But no matter what their opinion of a “church service” few people can turn down a holiday event that is free, for family and singles and where everyone has a great time. Not only can these [...]
Tips for a productive New Year in the church office, part one
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 [...]
Out with the old. In with the new–tips for a productive church office, part two
The start of a new year is an appropriate time to evaluate performance, to identify personal practices hindering professionalism, and to replace old habits with new and better ways to work. As Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote, “Now is the day, and now is the hour.” Here are three more good habits to acquire in [...]
