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 a Biblical Perspective to help churches create communications that fully fulfill the Great Commission. Our tools constantly change; our task doesn’t; we can help.

Sample of an EFFECTIVE church calendar postcard

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church postcard sample
You don't have to be fancy to inform people about important events at church. Postcards are a great way to do it!

This isn't a fancy publication, but I think if more churches would send out something like this, the impact for the Kingdom of God would be tremendous!

I'm saying that because we know many people today for good and bad reasons (have to work or choose sports) don't always attend church on Sundays. But that doesn't mean they may not want to attend other events at the church at other times. However, in most churches, if you aren't there on Sunday, you miss out knowing what else is going on because you didn't get the bulletin. Some churches may post it online, but if you don't have access to a computer or don't bother to check out the church website regularly, you won't see it.

The wonderful effectiveness of POSTCARDS

Postcards get taken from the mailbox, read quickly and often are then posted on the refrigerator serving as a continual POSTER of what is going on at the church.

A postcard like the one below, created by Ebenezer United Church,  is incredibly effective in how it reminds people of what is going on at the church. Below is a picture, at the end of this article a download for members of Effective Church Communications. Click on the image to see the printed side more clearly and then ECC Members can download the PDF file below.

Like the example above showed, you don't have to be fancy

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Great Sample of Prayer Ministry Brochure and Prayer Calendar

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2016-prayer-brochure-
This brochure is a great example of how we can be inspired to more than design in what we share in the Great Idea Swap.

This sample illustrates one of the main reasons we do the Great Idea Swap and that is to not only share great layout and design ideas, but to inspire us with what other members of the Body of Christ are doing in ministry. This brochure is an inspiring example of what Bonnie Kyle created for New Life Church for their month of prayer.

There are so many good things about the brochure including:

  • Clear explanation on the one side of what it's about and the guest speakers
  • When opened, a well-written history of the prayer month, plus a calendar that would be perfect to post on the refrigerator.

Below is a picture of the brochure. You can see it more clearly if you click on the image. At the end of this article, Effective Church Communication Members can download a PDF of the brochure.

We only have until Sept. 30 for collecting samples for our Great Idea Swap and WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please take 5 minutes right now and send us in a copy of bulletin you are did this week and perhaps one other sample (or more if you have time). Bulletins, flyers, newsletters, holiday PR, special ministry brochures, we'd appreciate any and all of them! [Read more...]

Effective Volunteer Recruitment Communications Samples: advice and PDF examples

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Ideas for volunteer ministry
Some churches do an incredible job of recruiting, encouraging and training volunteers and here is an opportunity to learn from them.

Every church needs a committed and enthusiastic team of volunteers if all the ministries and needs of the church are to work as a healthy representative of the Body of Christ.Recruiting that team, training, and keeping them functioning well are some of the major responsibilities of church communicators. Following is some overall advice and then some excellent PDF samples (click on the image for the full PDF download) of volunteer communications. The samples include a fantastic overall volunteer handbook, two volunteer recruitment and job listing booklets and one of the most complete ministry description brochures I've ever seen for church ushers. This is an extremely useful collection of volunteer equipping sample materials.

Advice for creating effective volunteer communication materials

Unfortunately, creating the communications support to keep these ministries functioning well is usually not at the top of any church communicator's list. It isn't nearly as much fun as doing a flyer for the summer picnic or any other primarily design-oriented piece because for volunteer communications to be truly effective requires: [Read more...]

Effective Church Communications ranks on PAGE 1 of Google Search! and advice for your church to rank well

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ECC on Page one of Google SearchNot only one time, but 3 times!

This morning I decided to check to see where we are in terms of Google Search, so I entered in the generic "church communications" and this is what came up—3 listings on page one! To the left is a screen grab of it.

I was very happy to see that because I don't buy ad space, use paid SEO (search engine optimization) services, or do any of the dubious key word loading and all sorts of things that some recommend to get a site listed in even the first 5 pages of Google search.

What I work very hard to do is to provide church communicators with worthwhile, useful content. Google has stated repeatedly that is what they are honestly looking for when they rank websites.

I trust the results affirm we're doing some things right.

How this applies to your church

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A tourist brochure provides design inspiration for a church information brochure

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Tourist brochure provides inspiration for a church information brochure
Tourist brochure provides inspiration for a church information brochure

Ed. note: This is from our archives and it still represents one of the best examples of a newcomer brochure that I've ever seen. It's based on a tourist brochure, is incredibly creative, and should provide some great inspiration for newcomer materials you create for upcoming fall events.

We know that for people to come to our churches who may have grown up without going to church that it can be a very scary experience.

This PDF shows a wonderful way you can make them feel welcome. Think about how visiting your church might be like visiting and entirely new country (which is what it is for many people). Think about how you might do up a tourist brochure  and in an upbeat way show them around.

Our traditions and sometimes the language we use, can be very confusing—so have fun and help out your guests!

To download the PDF click here or on the image.

PLEASE —if you do up something like this for your church, send me a PDF of it  and I'll share it on this site so others can be inspired. Send it to yvonprehn@gmail.com.  Thanks so much!

note: this PDF is from Yvon Prehn's archives and is the only format of this article available presently. Not the greatest quality to be sure, but shared with the belief that the content is useful.