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.

When you need some help for Church Communications: a FREE e-book–Divide your communication team into 2 production levels

By Leave a Comment

There is never enough time to get all the work done that needs to be done in church communications. One way to solve this problem is to have volunteers do some of the work. However, many church office administrators and church leaders aren't comfortable doing this because they are concerned about the level of quality that volunteers product. Or they worry that they won't really be able to control what volunteers do.

Click on image to download this free ebook.
Click on image to download this free e-book.

This e-book has a solution to this challenge: Divide your communication team into 2 production levels.

When you do this, you can have one level that you have strict control over and one that you can flex with a little more, but that still helps relieve the huge burden of communications that need to be produced. CLICK on the image to the left to download a FREE e-book that will detail this process. It is free for everyone and please pass on the link to others.

When you do this, you can have one level that you have strict control over and one that you can flex with a little more, but that still helps relieve the huge burden of communications that need to be produced. CLICK HERE or on the image to the left to download a FREE e-book that will detail this process. It is free for everyone and please pass on the link to others.

Why technical expertise isn’t enough for a church website

By Leave a Comment

Though technical expertise is important in the creation and administration of a website and though there are many technical experts in churches who also have great hearts for and an understanding of ministry, there are many instances where relying on technical expertise alone can have some negative effects on a church website. From the many interactions my ministry has with church website creation and function, here are some cautions to prayerfully consider.

A clarification first

Technology encompasses many tools and without the tools of technology, I wouldn't be writing this article. Technology isn't the bad guy—the problem is with people who misuse technology, who hide behind their expertise in a tool for a variety of reasons.

The purpose of this article isn't to judge motives of the people involved in making technology decisions about your website, but to caution church leaders and the technology experts in the church to honestly evaluate if the attitudes and controls over your website in the name of technology are serving the church.

This is a still a new ministry area for everyone involved and most people involved in technology in the church are doing the best they can—which is why the following cautions use the vague term "technology" as the descriptor of the perpetrator of the problems and not less helpful terms like "controlling webmaster" or  "tech-savvy, arrogant kid." Truth be told, sometimes the biggest problem with a church website is one person with the attitude that their technological expertise gives them the power and permission to make ministry decisions.

This is a challenging situation in many churches today where senior leadership isn't comfortable with technology and allow themselves to be intimidated by those with expertise in these areas. But no area or person should be out from under the authority of God's Word and the command to fully fulfill the Great Commission. The following suggestions aren't intended to incite power struggles in the church, but to encourage everyone involved in the ministry of the website to approach it with prayer and humility and an honest desire to use it to reach out to people and grow them up as disciples of Jesus.

Technology goals don't always align with ministry goals

When you evaluate how your website is working and what makes a good website, don't stop at asking if the technology is functioning smoothly or if it looks contemporary. Far more important, when people come to your website, does it answer these questions:

  • Why does your church exist?
  • What are the driving values, the key ministry issues and concerns?
  • What are the major ministries at your church?
  • What is available for kids, seniors, singles, or seekers?
  • Do you have a specific audience you minister to and if so, who are they?
  • Can a visitor to your site answer these questions, or know where to find the answers to them from their first few minutes at your site? If not, why not?
  • Are all of your schedules, times, calendars up-to-date and correct?

Your website might function flawlessly in load times and be technically perfect, but if it doesn't immediately let people know the purpose, goals, times, dates, and components of the ministries of your church and have places where they can go on the site to find out more information and connect with the ministry—you have work to do.

Technology cautions aren't always volunteer friendly

If a church website is useful, or has the most basic credibility for people to look at it and trust it, it HAS to be up-to-date. If your website isn't up-to-date (every week, every day, on a continuing basis) it probably isn't the fault of the system used to create your website. More often than not, in many churches, the problem of a continuously outdated website is the responsibility of a tech-savvy person who is the only one allowed to update the system.

No church website can serve its people if all the content has to be entered by one person. The systems used to create websites are all (or should be) cloud-based and any volunteer or ministry leader at your church should be able to create content, recruit volunteers, explain programs and keep times and events updated. Volunteers in various ministries should be in charge of keeping all these things up-to-date. Once entered, then a person in the office can skim over them to make certain all is OK and publish them on the website.

There is a BIG difference in time and complexity in the management of a church website between making one person in the church office responsible to get all the content on the website and to keep it continuously updated and allowing a team of people to update content and schedules and to have the church finally OK them before they are published. To expect one person to keep a website updated with content and all the calendars is an impossible task. It might take some time and effort to train volunteers in the various parts of your church to create their own content and calendars, but it will be worth it if you truly want to serve people in the various ministry areas.

If this isn't a priority in your church website ministry, you may need to take a look at the stated purpose of your website ministry. If you want to serve people with it (and not just create a wow site), making sure it is always updated and current should be an obvious priority.

Technology and design values aren't always the same as ministry values

Why did you design and built your website the way you did?

Was it designed to primarily to serve your people or to reflect a cutting-edge, latest and greatest design trend that a tech person told you was the way websites were being designed today?

A lot of current web design is created for one purpose—to sell something. It starts with a big scrolling header with splashy, upbeat images and artwork and then more images in smaller boxes. This might be eye-catching, but much of it is ultimately cold because there is little behind the pictures.

  • Ministry values on a website make important content obvious. They explain; they serve; they are more concerned about meeting needs than trying to impress.
  • Ministry values use images for a purpose, to underscore, to teach, to add meaning. If the images are of events involving the congregation they contain captions that explain what is going on. They invite people to join in and not leaving them on the outside looking in with no idea what is happening or how they can be part of it.

Is your website meeting pastoral and ministry needs of your congregation?

No matter what the technology used to build your site or the design of it, this is the important question to ask when you evaluate the success of your website.

It's an easy question to answer by simply looking at your website statistics.

  • Do your people come to your website often?
  • Do they spend time on the site?
  • Do they recommend it to their friends?
  • What is the percentage of your congregation that visits your site?

Your website visitor numbers will answer these questions and are readily available (if you are a pastor or staff person who doesn't know where to find them, ask the tech person who created your site).

Your website numbers don't lie. If people aren't coming to your site or interacting with your social media, it's because they don't find them useful. Advertising the website more or talking about it more from the pulpit are necessary, but that won't help if there isn't content on the sites that people want or find useful. If they've come to the site more than a time or two and couldn't find updated information on when an event or ministry was taking place that was important to them, you've taught them that your website can't be trusted.

Pastoral and ministry values are reflected on a website that does whatever it takes to serve the people in your church and in your community. People are looking for answers to life. Christians are looking for ways to grow in their faith. If your website is meeting needs, your numbers will reflect it.

What technology can't do

Technology can't create content.  Lack of current content that ministers to the needs of your congregation and the audience you are trying to meet is what all the issues above have in common.

A ministry-oriented website needs lots of content and that means lots of people creating it. Once again, if one person is holding on too tightly to the control of what goes on the website, especially if their area of expertise is in technology and not Biblical teaching or ministry, ministry content creation won't happen.

Sometimes it's easier to rely on technology than on the hard work of creating content for a website.  Many churches are still in awe that they have a website, grateful for anything online, and thrilled that anyone would work on it. That isn't enough.

We have to change that attitude if we want to use our church websites as the extraordinary tool they can be for the kingdom of God. Challenge your people (and yourself) to create complete, Biblical, constantly up-to-date content. It doesn't have to be brilliant prose or a witty video. Here are some ideas:

  • Explain everything--terms, programs, anything that is obvious to you. You can be certain that visitors and new people will appreciate it.
  • Interview people in the church, have members share how they are living the Christian life.
  • When you ask for volunteers for anything, have complete information on the website about the ministry, volunteer requirements, scheduling, anything else that might be helpful.
  • Tell people what is going on, why they should attend, and how they can grow as a Christian because of the ministry. People today are busy--give them a reason to fit your event into their schedule.
  • As a leader of the church or in any ministry, share how you feel about your ministry, what your prayers are for your people. That is creating social media with meaning. Nobody needs to see one more selfie on a church website, but they do need honest content.

Create biblical-based content that will change, challenge, inform and inspire. When you do that, no matter what technology you use to get it on your website, it will be successful in what matters most—helping people find and follow Jesus.

 

SEEING OLD THINGS IN NEW WAYS: Selling your ideas

By Leave a Comment

Share your idea
Sharing your ideas takes tack and planning--and the advice here will help.

“I have some ideas on how to increase office effectiveness, but am not sure how to get our office manager to consider them.”

  • Pick one idea. Try looking at the situation from the office manager’s side of the desk. Anticipate as many possible reservations and concerns as you can. Formulate reasonable answers. If you hit some uncertainty you may want to run the idea by an appropriate person, someone with expertise on the subject. Seek to understand the big picture before you ask to be heard.
  • If you still think the idea has merit, practice how you will present the issue to the office manager. Rehearse being concise. Resolve to stick to the issue and not get diverted.
  • Ask for a time to discuss it with the office manager. How you ask is important. Try something like, “I’d like to see what you think about an idea. When will it work for you to get together for 30 minutes?” If you are prepared, it won’t matter if the meeting takes place immediately (you are ready) or at a later time.
  • When you meet, present your idea in a brief, clear, positive way. Ask the manager’s opinion. Some of your questions to the manager might be: What do you think? Do you see ways we can use this? Are there modifications that would make the idea even better? What can we do to get this in the works? If your pitch is successful, the manager may be ready to try a version of the idea.
  • Even if the manager is not sold on the idea, listen for points of agreement and build on those as you can. He or she may be willing to try the new idea for a limited time—ask. In the event the idea is turned down completely, take it like the pro you are. Thank the manager for meeting with you. Try another time with another idea. Tenacity often pays!

SEEING OLD THINGS IN NEW WAYS: Getting your desk organized

By Leave a Comment

Organize your desk
Organize your desk to work more efficiently.

“One look at my desk tells me I need to get the office organized, but there is always too much to do to take on the major overhaul I need.”

You are looking at the process of getting organized as a big, difficult job that will take time you don’t have to spare. Replace that mindset by seeing organization as a way of doing things that will save you time. And effort. Being organized really is a way of working “smarter rather than harder,” cliche as it is.

Not to make too fine a point, but outer disorganization is often symptomatic of inner chaos. See your goal not as attacking clutter but as creating order inside and out. Recognize how much time you waste paper shuffling, looking for things, and redoing work done to hastily. Imagine how competent you will feel in your new, orderly environment.

There will never be a perfect time to begin the process. Start now. Just as the forester must make time to sharpen his ax, so you must make time to prepare the tools of your trade. Make time every day to take at least one step toward organization; this is best done by eliminating lesser priorities from your agenda.

  • Start with that desk that’s bothering you. Create a simple standing file for any paper files you must still handle. As often as we’ve heard that computers create paperless offices, a lot still crosses many desks. If you have enough paper to warrant it, sort it into colored file folders clearly labeled: Today, Youth, Newsletter, whatever. As papers come to you, immediately put them into the appropriate folder. Yes, this technique has been around awhile—because it works when used.
  • Many church offices become depositories for all sorts of stuff that others seem not to know what to do with. See if storage space can be designated someplace away from the office. Enlist volunteers to organize the materials there. Put a notice in the newsletter or on the website periodically, letting people know when the room will be cleared; give them opportunity to claim any material there or to tag it to have it saved. When people bring things to the office, direct them to the storage room.
  • More is not better. Pitch what you don’t need. The fewer things you have around you, the easier it is to organize and use what you have. Establish a permanent parking place for all your supplies and equipment. Even in this tech time of 2015, having scissors, stapler, and tape go missing can still be an issue. If these things have a tendency to disappear from your office, borrow a trick from the post office and use small chains to anchor them in the appropriate places. Never loan your personal equipment; keep a separate set as loaners. You may want to label each piece: Thanks for returning me to the office.
  • Pare down your activities too. Disorganized people are more likely to load their days with low-priority tasks and not investing their time in jobs that move them toward their goals. Assistants who always try to do everything for everybody, regardless of how mundane the task, simply are not being as effective in their jobs as they might be. Far better to do less and achieve more.

___________________________________

Note: while you are cleaning out your desk, please think about sending some samples to us to share with other church communicators in the Great Idea Swap. Click here to find out more! We all can learn from what we share!

SEEING OLD THINGS IN NEW WAYS: The staff meeting dilemma

By Leave a Comment

new perspective on your staff meetings
Take a new perspective on your staff meetings and accomplish more.

Try this group exercise at your next church staff meeting: Have everyone move to a different part of the room and exchange seats. Ask for their impressions. Many will express amazement at how much their viewpoints change by simply seeing things from a different angle.

The writer of Ecclesiastes observed:

That which has been is that which will be,

And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.

Some might read these profound words and see them as an accurate description of the way things are done at their church. The philosophy can be discouraging—unless we give ourselves the gift of a new perspective, the gift of seeing old things in new ways.

You can apply the technique to all sorts of circumstances at work and at home. Let’s explore how seeing things in new ways applies to this challenge shared by a ministry assistant.

  • Our staff meetings are a disaster. People drift in late; as each arrives, the pastor recaps what has gone on before. He grouses about the tardiness, but doesn’t really do anything about it. Is there something I can do?

Well, maybe. That depends entirely on the pastor. It is his meeting and his responsibility. He absolutely can get the meetings on track. But, does he want to? And will he allow you to show him how? If he is not willing to look at this old problem in a new way, if he is fine with letting others show such a lack of respect for his leadership (for that is what it is) your hands are pretty much tied.

Techniques for getting meetings started on time—

  • Distribute a written agenda before the meeting and indicate an end time. This reinforces the leader’s concept that time is valuable and is to be used wisely. Of course, once the meeting is under way, time must be used wisely. Nothing causes conscientious people to lose enthusiasm for meetings as much as having their time wasted.
  • Place items having the most importance to the most people at the top of the agenda. Discuss those first. Some staff meetings excuse members after their areas of ministry are discussed. These usually conclude with just the remaining two or three ministerial staff members. Though there may be pros about this style, the big negative may be a fragmenting of the team: I’m interested in my area of ministry, not much interested in yours.
  • Close the door of the meeting room at the announced starting time. A note on the door can announce the meeting is in session. Start the meeting precisely on time. Move immediately to the scheduled agenda. If someone arrives late, acknowledge the arrival with a nod without comment; some people actually come late for the attention factor. Do not recap to fill the tardy person in on what has been missed. If he asks, he should be told to touch base after the meeting with the person taking the minutes. No need to be rude, but be firm.

Will looking at this old problem in a new way—and doing something about it—take some effort? For sure. But it may be the only way to make believers of those who seem to think their time is more valuable than everyone else’s. You decide.