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.

4 ways to overcome the fear of being too pushy about Christmas evangelism

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Prophet Elijah preaching judgement
You don't have to be like the Prophet Elijah preaching judgement, but don't be afraid to share the true message of Christmas.

True story that prompted this blog:

As part of the process of planning their upcoming Christmas outreach, the communication team from a church, that will remain unnamed, asked me how they could get a better response from people who attended their Christmas outreach last year.

The presentation itself was not the problem. It was an almost Broadway-quality musical drama paired with a gourmet dessert buffet. Each night was full with visitors from the community and their response was enthusiastic.

But the following Sunday almost none of huge turnout for the Christmas program showed up for church and as far as they knew, nobody became a Christian because of the event, even though they did it as an evangelism outreach. Why, they asked me, didn't more respond? [Read more...]

“What you win them with is what you win them to” a challenge to remember in holiday outreach

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Keep your celebrations focused on Jesus
Celebrate, but be sure your holiday celebrations don't present an incorrect view of the Christian faith.

ed. note: On Monday, I shared a flyer that challenged you to tell people more about Jesus at your holiday events. I just found this related article and I hope you find the challenges in it useful. I don't want to sound like a Grinch in reminding you of the serious messages we need to communicate at this time of year and take away all the fun. But to paraphrase a challenge I heard years ago, "We will have all eternity to celebrate, now is the time to work." If being a Grinch causes one church to clarify the Christian message as they celebrate Christmas and if one more person comes to know Jesus it will be worth it.

As many churches plan their seasonal outreach celebrations, they often focus on putting on a big program for the co3mmunity. It could be a play, serious or humorous. It could be a concert consisting of anything from the choir presenting a formal choral arrangement to the music ministry doing a special seasonal musical to hosting a visiting Christian Rock group.

There is absolutely nothing inherently wrong with these events and if you follow the advice of Effective Church Communications and are conscientious about connecting with people at your events, explaining what is going on at the church, explaining the Christian faith,  linking them to more resources, and inviting them back, these events can be effective ways to grow your church. But something else is going on that we need to consider if you want your event to have a positive impact on your congregation beyond the event itself because. . .

"What you win them with is what you win them to."

Seasonal events don't stand alone. How we celebrate them reflects both the core beliefs of the church and the effect of them on the spiritual growth of church members. [Read more...]

2016 A bulletin insert or flyer to remind people of why Jesus is the reason for the Season

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Because He didn't stay a baby, Christmas flyer
We need to remind people that Christmas is only the start of the Jesus' story of Salvation. CLICK on the picture to download a PDF of this flyer.

I cannot imagine the astonishment, bordering on horror, if Anna and Simeon (read their stories in Luke 2:22-38) who, like many devout Jews had spent their lives anticipating the coming of the Messiah if they could see how we celebrate his birth today and often Jesus.

It isn't only the secular world that is guilty of this.

Think about how your church celebrates Christmas. Many Christmas-related events that churches hold—singing carols, community outreach and gifts, children's programs—might sing some Christmas carols, and refer to Jesus briefly, but how many churches clarify the incredible meaning of God incarnate? Of the centuries of prophecies that foretold his birth? Not only that, but how many churches use this time as an opportunity to let people know that Jesus did not stay a baby, but that he grew up to become Savior of the world and if anyone in the church or visiting would like to know more about that, that the church has information, links, and classes, seeker groups and every imaginable resource to help them do that?

Enough piling on of guilt—here is a handout that you can use to help people realize that Christmas is the not the whole story, but only the beginning of the chapter of God come to earth in the person of Jesus to save people from their sins.

This handout is a start to help you church communicate that extraordinary message, you need to fill out the back with links you share about how to become a Christian and about upcoming activities at your church that designed to help people explore the Christian faith. [Read more...]

Connection Cards for Christmas, to make sure your guests return to church, designs with spot color

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FREE Christmas Connection Card
Click on this image to download the FREE PDF file.

ed. note: some of these feature spot color printing, perfect if you have a digital duplicator.

After all your hard work to get people to come to your Christmas events, you want to make sure you make a connection with them so that they will return to your church after the holidays. To do that you need to capture names and contact information.

These Connection Cards for Christmas are a simple-to-create, but very useful tool. The one to the left is free for everyone, just click  the image to download the PDF, print, and use.

At the end of this article is a link to a ZIP FILE that has ready-to-print PDFs of all the images below, including two versions that can be printed with color separations if you have a digital duplicator. [Read more...]

PLEASE be clear about the finances of Christmas events

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Christmas events should be completely joyful without any hidden agendas or costs, no matter how well intentioned.
Christmas events should be completely joyful without any hidden agendas or costs, no matter how well intentioned.

I hope I am not being too harsh in this and the related article. The true situations that have inspired both are quite upsetting to me. I want to just shake the folks who made the decisions in both instances and ask, "Don't you realize we are in a recession? Don't you realize the extreme financial distress many people are in?"

I don't know if the decision makers in either situation have ever had to decide whether to feed themselves or to feed their child; whether they have been in a situation where they have no idea how a medical or dental problem will be taken care of, or if they will live in a home of their own for another month—but many people in our churches today are struggling with these issues. The financial amounts may seem small to whoever made the decisions, but no financial amount is small to many people today.

I imagine the decisions were made in an unthinking way, with no intention to hurt anyone and with that hope in mind, the following situation (and the article that follows) is shared so that no one in your church will unintentionally hurt anyone else. Read on for the specifics.....

Be very clear about financial obligations in Christmas invitations

True situation here: a church created a ticket for a Christmas concert. It stated that the event was free. That's great. However, on the back, it listed the "Benefit Charities" for each performance.

What does that mean? Is it free or not? Will they be taking up an offering? Will that feel awkward?

After checking into the situation some more, I discovered that:

  • The event was free.
  • Each performance the featured charity would be highlighted.
  • The refreshments served at the event, coffee, beverages, and cookies would be for sale and the proceeds would go to the charity.

The church was also strongly encouraging church members to invite unchurched friends.

Beyond clarity, think through the possible outcome of your decision

Please consider what might happen if:

  • A church member doesn't know about charging for goodies, he has only seen the tickets.
  • The church member has been laid off work, but could really use a night out.
  • The church member invites a neighbor who has several kids because he knows they also really need a night out because the dad has been laid off and mom's salary barely pays for the house payment. Special times or treats aren't in the budget.
  • They show up at church and the kids see the goodies and rush over to the table. "Not so fast.....those cookies are $1. each. It is going to charity you know," says the person entrusted with the cookie table.
  • The church member has no cash with him, since his layoff  he intentionally doesn't carry any so he won't be tempted to spend foolishly. The neighbor has a dollar in his pocket. The kids don't know what to do.

Hard to say how this will end.

May the Lord help us be sensitive to needs

I imagine somebody thought it would be a really nice way to help out some charities because giving is down and that is a good thought.

But there might be alternative ways to do that such as donation baskets by the goodie tables.

Charging for goodies at special events is not a good idea no matter what the motivation. Even many people who can afford it don't always bring cash in these days of debit cards. At best, charging for goodies is being an unthinking host and at worst it might mean causing embarrassment and pain to someone already in the worst financial situation of their lives.

People are hurting today, please please pray and think through sensitivity and how you might give,  not only to charities but to the people closest to you who are in need.