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.

Beyond tweets and micro blogs—the resurgence of long-form journalism

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Tablets and long-form content
The ease of reading on tablets is only one factor in the growth of long-form journalism.

How often have you heard the claim that "nobody reads long content on the web?" An even more important question is: how often have you followed that advice to make your content short and catchy, no matter how that twisted and tortured the content became in the process?

The ultimate exercise in brevity of course is Twitter, which attempts enable your communication about life, exhortation, and inspiration to be condensed to 140 characters. This isn't a critique of that attempt.  You can say a lot in 140 characters—John 3:16 is only 129.

But people can't live on short, catchy summaries alone and even Twitter often links to longer content. Recognizing this need for more information, one of the founders of Twitter (and Blogger), Ev Williams, has recently become involved in a new long-form journalism project on the web. As part of explaining his reasons for doing this, he said:

We love tweets as much as the next person (probably more), but sometimes we long for something meatier. Now that we’ve made sharing information virtually effortless, how do we increase the depth of understanding, while also creating a level playing field that encourages great ideas coming from anywhere? http://mashable.com/2013/05/28/medium-ev-williams/

Aaron Gell, the new editor of the long-form division for the publication Business Insider, describes his motivation for long-form journalism in this way:

"The Internet has brought us a deluge of information — who, what, when — but if you really want to enhance people's understanding, there's no substitute for a powerful narrative that carries a reader along, teases out the subtleties of a story and hopefully gets at a larger truth." http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/rieder/2013/11/06/business-insider-makes-a-foray-into-long-form-journalism/3453405/

New devices support the need for long-form content

Tablets, iPad, Kindles, and smart phones have drastically changed how we consume content and many attribute the growing popularity of long-form content in part to these devices, as these recent studies suggest:

Data from the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism reinforce the notion that lots of people like to read in-depth journalism on mobile devices. In a study called "Future of Mobile News" last October, Pew found that 73% of tablet owners access long-form content either regularly or sometimes; 19% do so each day. The same overall total was true for phones, with 11% regular consumers

Those readers have healthy appetites. About 60% of the tablet users who access long-form read two to three articles in a sitting, and another 17% read four or more. Often, the report found, they devour articles that they hadn't initially planned to read.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/2013/06/05/rem-rieder-longform/2389995/

There isn't anything inherently magical about the technology of a tablet computer or smart phone that makes people read more long-form content on them. A big part of the appeal it is that the content is simply so much easier to read because the physical size of these devices shortens line length and the ability to make the text larger makes the content more readable.  In addition, these devices are easy to carry around and read enabling otherwise wasted wait time productive.

The implications of this trend for church communications

There are two major areas of important implications for church communicators with this trend towards long-form journalism—content creation and information design. These two areas are intertwined and it's essential to understand both for effective long-form journalism.

Quality content creation is essential because though people might be in a hurry, they still have empty hearts, nagging questions about the faith, and difficulties in application. You can pastor or teach through blogs and online articles that don't have to be constrained to short, snappy lists, catchy descriptions and summaries.  But to do that, you also can't simply dump content into your website with the attitude of "people will read longer material now."

The importance of Information Design

You also have to look at Information Design, which is what makes the content readable. I realized after drafting this blog that it was essential to show you what I'm talking about. As the video link below will show you, what was important in print in the past is important again: line-length, hierarchies of type face, size and style are once again understood as essential for long-form material to be readable. In the past many sites simply dumped in long form content (past writings from church history, etc.) but only the most dedicated teachers would slog through them.

In response, most people ignored this content. What the secular sites show us is that you can take longer, meaningful content and with changes in Information Design, make it accessible.

The process to take difficult to read material and make it more readable is challenging. I will be working on some systems to make it easier for churches offices to implement. There are a number of levels that Information Design can be applied and many of them go back to the basics of typography. I'm excited to explore that because I've always loved teaching about and designing with type in print.

If you haven't signed up for the ECC newsletter, be sure to do that (form is in the right hand side-bar) and you'll be automatically notified of updates on this topic as well as other training information on this site as soon as it is published.

Here is the link to the video that : https://www.effectivechurchcom.com/video-introduction-for-long-form-content-and-the-information-design-needed-to-make-it-readable/

It's an exciting time to be a church communicator as we all learn more effective ways to communicate "the whole counsel of God" with the tools of long-form journalism.

What matters most in evaluating software and services for church communications

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Tips to help you make software choices.
It's usually not as clear-cut when you need to make ministry software decisions, this article will help.

In the process of finding Membership Software for the ECC website, I learned valuable lessons, which I'll share below, that I think are of benefit to anyone looking for a new software or service. In addition, I wanted to share how these will affect future training on the ECC site.

An overview of lessons learned as I looked for Membership Software

Please note, this is a totally different kind of software than Membership Software for a church. The kind of software I was looking for is primarily business software that protects and charges for content on a website. It has nothing to do with churches.

Here is my overview of lessons learned:

  • Don't look for perfection in software, look for a good fit.
  • A good fit is what is determined by your needs, situation, budget and ability to use the software.
  • Almost every software or system that I read about had some people who thought it was wonderful and others who hated it.
  • Feature lists mean almost nothing—most are either obvious, bloated, or exaggerated.
  • Good support and explanations are priceless.

Expanded comments on what I learned:
I realized that the differences in how various software and systems were reviewed had little to do with the products themselves and much more to do with who was reviewing them. Unfortunately in the case of most reviews of the membership programs often tech gurus reviewed them. What a tech guru found "easy and intuitive" I often found impossible to understand or carry out.

I also became very weary of so-called "reviews" that were nothing more than a collection of links with content pulled from the sites they were reviewing. There is too much of this on the web. I found almost no "reviews" from people who actually used the materials, unless they were comments on the manufacturer's site or blogs where people hated something. I can understand this because the programs are costly and extremely time-consuming to learn, but it wasn't very helpful to someone trying to figure it all out.

The features in membership software that meant a lot to some people such as "the ability to drip content" and "lock RSS feeds" meant nothing to me. There are many instances where an abundance of features isn't positive, but overly complex and overwhelming when you only want it to do a few simple things. Most membership sites are for people who are selling expensive business services or content, so every bit of content is locked, locked again, put on an access level and sold piece by piece. They don't want people to share, they want to sell it one post, video or article at a time.

In contrast, I simply wanted to set up a membership site so that I wouldn't have to charge people every time I created a new ebook, training video, template or other resource. I wish I could give it all away for free, but since that isn't possible, this seems like the best solution. Church communicators are on a budget and I felt that if you could plan a month to month or year to year, on a consistent cost, or if you got a life-time offer, it would be easier for churches to have the content and training needed.

The conclusion of the above observations is that there is no objectively "perfect" software for any task. Software is perfect for you if it meets your needs, your budget, your level of training, for the tasks you need to carry out at your church. To figure that out, research all you can, but remember to pray for wisdom (James 1:5) remembering that your Lord loves you and the people you serve and wants to help equip you to do the best job possible in your work.

How I am applying them to future training on ECC

Because I learned there is no perfect tool to carry out any church communication task, I will try to present options for different situations in the programs I review or lessons I teach—to enable you to make the right decision for your needs, your budget, your level of training, for the tasks you need to carry out at your church.—which is the most important thing I can help you do.

I came to this conclusion after analyzing my frustrations, when I realized that one particular thing that bothered me was that almost every reviewer or commentator assumed (I'm sure in many cases, they not even aware they were doing this) that all their readers were exactly alike and more than that were exactly like them and had the same likes, dislikes, knowledge level and needs as the person doing the review. Because of that they would make statements such as, "this is the best and so easy to use….." Maybe it was for them, but it certainly wasn't for me.

It was upsetting when I realized that far too often I've unthinkingly done the same thing and I apologize. Let me share a current example of how I plan to change in this:

More options for website training

For some time I've been working on a new series on how to do websites. I had a very specific way I liked to create websites and host them. I was planning to teach everybody MY PLAN and only MY PLAN (because of course I thought that was best—oh how the sin of pride sneaks in where we least expect it), but as I've thought and prayed about it more, I've realized that there are a number of ways to create and host websites that would work out well for churches of various sizes and for people with various skill and budget. In researching and trying different options, I have found a number of systems that work well. In fact, I now have several systems and hosts I'm personally using for various ministries, and like any parent with several children, I no longer have a favorite.

As part of this new way of approaching training, I will do more video reviews and make them as clear as possible with the benefits and challenges for each new topic I'm teaching. For example, on the upcoming series on websites, I'll talk about when and why you may want to use a free WordPress template and modify it for your church; when and why you might want to use a hosted WordPress site and a purchased church-specific template; when and why you might want to use a service to create and host your site. I'm not you, at your church or with your budget, and though I can't give you unlimited options, I will work hard to make the options I do present as clear as possible.

The Lord tells us that "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28). When I started the search for new membership software, I didn't know how difficult and frustrating it would be, but I also didn't know how it would teach me lessons that I believe will ultimately be of great value to the guests and members of the ECC site—and the Lord knew that was the most important part of the process.

Before you use, trust, or take action on a statistic, always reverse it

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statistic distortion
Before you use a statistic, be sure you aren't distorting it just to make your point.

I'm not sure where statistics get their power—but put one in an article or headline and people pay attention. Though statistics are a catchy device to get attention, and are often used to prove a point, the numbers themselves say little without interpretation. And therein lies the challenge. Numbers without context mean little or nothing.

Writers create the context and as we create the context for any statistic we need to be careful that we don't ascribe more power to a statistic than it deserves. We especially need to be careful that we don't make unqualified assumptions, recommendations, or recommend ministry actions on a number that can be interpreted in various ways.

A recent example of this is in a number that has been advertised recently from the Barna organization. They are launching a new series of books on various topics and one of their primary selling points seems to be the short length of the books. They seem to base their decision to produce these, at least in part, on the following statistic from a recent survey they conducted that said:

When it comes to books, one of the most conventional informational format, more than one-third of adults (35%) say that while they enjoy reading, they feel most books are too long.  From: https://www.barna.org/barna-update/culture/641-3-trends-redefining-the-information-age#.UmcK3BCXaSo

It's fine to want to produce short books and short books can be of great value to busy, stressed people, but the statistic above is anything but a reason for short books because if you simply reverse it, just under two-thirds of adults (65%) don't feel books are too long. When you reserve the statistic, it shows most people are happy with the length books are now.

Length is not the only challenge to reading

Length is only one of the factors that determine if a book will be read or not. The importance or interest to the reader is one of the most important.  No matter how long or tedious a textbook might be, if our passing a class that determines if we get a degree we need, we'll read it. For leisure reading, skill of the author determines whether we lose ourselves in the words or are bored after a chapter or two.

Any content can be made harder to read if the print is too small and the layout is cramped. Conversely, even the most dense content is more accessible (and we'll stick with it longer) if the layout if pleasing, if there are subheads, captions, and illustrations to guide us.

If you don't need a statistic to make your point, you probably don't need the statistic

When you are tempted to use a statistic in your writing, remember the example here and always reverse it. If reversing the statistic shows the opposite of the point you want to make, leave out the statistic.

Sometimes statistics shed light on issues or offer insights we wouldn't see any other way, but always look at all sides of one before you use it so that readers won't be able to turn it around to prove the opposite of the point you are attempting to make.

What Bosses Want Ministry Assistants to Know

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What bosses want ministry assistants to know 10-2013
Bosses share what they want their assistants to know and do--great advice here to make the church office run efficiently.

Some bosses winced at the word “boss.” I assured them, as I assure you, that the designation here is meant as a positive one—administrator, manager, supervisor. In most instances pastors fill this role; in some cases an associate or business manager oversees the staff. Many are very involved concerning office administration. A few, especially in team-of-two offices, tend to rely almost entirely on their ministry assistants to look after administrative tasks. All were clear about what they appreciate in those who fill support positions.

I appreciate it when you—

• Excel at the basics
“We count on our secretary to have excellent basic skills: spelling, grammar, computer savvy, business manners, telephone etiquette, organization, and time management.” These are the tools of the trade that every ministry assistant must develop.

• Keep calm
Being emotionally mature is a tremendous asset in the church office. “Things can get stressful here. Unfair things happen, things we can’t control. The assistant can’t take these things personally; she needs to remain cooperative and cheerful when others might get upset, hurt, or defensive.”

• Value your supportive role
“Being a support person is an important and valuable job. Our assistant recognizes she is not the pastor; she is not responsible for his work style, nor answerable to the congregation for his actions. I appreciate my assistant’s support; I need a helper, a team player, not a critic.”

• Adapt well to change
Coping with change is a vital part of this job. “When plans go awry, when the unexpected happens, we need everyone to roll with the punches. I expect my assistant to be able to shift gears and move ahead with what needs to be done.” If you can’t bend, you may break.

• Move beyond the basics
“Our assistant never has the attitude that she knows it all. She is a learning machine—one who does at least two important things no machine can do: generate ideas and express care.” As you perfect your organizational and technical skills, know that the abilities to innovate and to show compassion enhance your professionalism.

• Exercise initiative
“I like the way our assistant sees what needs to be done and does it. She doesn’t overstep her authority by any means, but neither does she worry about whether the necessary task is in her job description.” It can take a while to locate this fine line, but it is worth the effort for all concerned.

• Keep me informed
“I want my assistant to be candid with me about work plans, projects, or problems; I will respect her point of view and her confidentiality.” Several pastors said they like assistants to handle routine problems themselves. “If and when there are difficulties beyond her scope, I expect them to be brought to me. If she can bring possible solutions along with the problems, all the better.”

• Maintain a positive attitude
As important as excellent skills are, they are not what bosses appreciate most. “Technical abilities are needed, but even outstanding skills can’t compensate for negativity.” An enthusiastic, Christ-like spirit is the essential attribute every effective assistant brings to the church office.

Bosses want their assistants to know that, while they may not express it often enough, you are appreciated.

Bosses—What Ministry Assistants Want Them to Know

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What MAs want their bosses to know
One of the greatest gifts we can give those we work with is our honest opinion and this article should help with that.

National Boss Day is October 16 in the United States—and an appropriate time to recognize bosses worldwide. In recognition of this most important event I talked with a number of ministry assistants (who, almost without exception, say they work for and with excellent leaders) and pastors (each of whom was quick to say his or her assistant was top-notch). A few noted they had less than satisfactory work situations in the past and benefited from lessons learned. With a view toward opening up some interesting dialogue, here is what these office team members shared.

I appreciate it when you—

• Show loyalty to your staff
Much is said of the need for the assistant to be loyal to the boss. Excellent bosses are similarly loyal to their assistants.“I can count on my boss to speak up for me, to treat me with professional courtesy, to give me the benefit of the doubt in conflict situations, and to respect the mutual confidentiality of the workplace.”

• Challenge me
Assistants of today are eager to venture beyond the ordinary. They want to be challenged with new and difficult assignments that contribute to ministry. “I’m constantly motivated toward excellence because my boss pays me the compliment of trusting me with meaningful jobs that stretch my skills.

• Involve others in decision-making
Few things increase job satisfaction more than having your voice heard. “Making major revisions in our office organization could have been disastrous to our team. But, from the start, our wise pastor included each of us in the process; we became committed to the success of what we planned together.” More often than not, it is not change that causes problems, but how the change is implemented.

• Tell me what you expect
“Something I admire about my pastor’s leadership is that he is clear about the results he wants. I choose how to proceed, but I always know where we’re going.” Assistants want to be more than busy; they want to be effective in achieving ministry goals. “I like, too, that I’m asked to do things rather than given orders.”

• Recognize the value of training
“My minister told me seminars motivate her to excel. She thought a conference would do the same for me. I went; it did. I am grateful for her belief in me and in my professional growth.”

• Confront problems promptly and impartially
Ignoring difficulties almost always makes matters worse. As uncomfortable as it may be, dealing with problems is something a leader must do. “My pastor expects staff members to follow the rules equally. If there is a problem, he instills confidence by dealing with it without playing favorites.”

• Stay grounded
“Pride and arrogance are occupational hazards in ministry. As a ministry assistant and pastor’s wife, I know how hard it can be for ministers to keep ego under control. The compliments and deference they receive must be kept in perspective or self-centered behaviors can develop that make them hard to work for and with.”

• Practice what you preach
Assistants want to be proud of their bosses. They want to work for people known for setting positive examples in speech, appearance, and conduct. “My boss doesn’t just expect me to honor deadlines, he honors them as well. He doesn’t just expect me to be organized, he is organized. He not only expects the staff to lead exemplary lives, he leads a life worthy of our respect.” Nothing earns respect and establishes authority quite like authenticity. “I pray for my pastor every day, asking God to keep him strong and faithful.”

We applaud excellent bosses everywhere and wish them God’s best.