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; Effective Church Communications can help.

VIDEO: How to ZIP files using WINZIP

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This 5 minute video was created to answer this question from an Effective Church Communication Member:

  "I’m having no luck creating a zip file so that I can e-mail projects-in-progress, such as flyer designs, around to other committee members for their input. I”ve tried the free 30-day trials of Stuff-It and WinZip and am just lost. Any chance you might put together a how-to video that cuts through the jargon on their Help files?"

Her question caused me to remember when I first got WINZIP. As with many programs today, it seems the companies attempt to flood a person with all kinds of options and special features and ways to do things I have no need to do--but all I wanted was to ZIP and send files. After quite a bit of experiementation I found a very simple way to ZIP files and that's all. I made a 5 minute video that shows exactly what I do, in fact, I had a set of files I wanted to ZIP and will be sending this week. I'm sure WINZIP is a fantastic program that can do all kinds of things--but all I care about, and I imagine many church communicators are the same, is that it does the one important thing I need it to do.

NOTE: after I did this, I got another question about file compression--to see that article and to suggestion options, please CLICK HERE.

Check out the video below to see what I do to create ZIP Files:

I use WinZIP almost every week because it is the program I use to create the files that Effective Communication Members can download and that contain a variety of files: editable MS Word & MS Publisher, ready-to-print PDFs, image files, videos any and all kinds of files.

There are many files available for Effective Church Communication Members that will save you many hours of time and provide a starting point and inspiration for many projects.

VIDEO: A GREAT way to publicize Holiday Events

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Print is still one of the most powerful ways to communicate because if you do up a print piece, such as a postcard and it is placed on the refrigerator--you can't help but see it many times!

The US Postal Service reminded us of that in a little video they did, and a clip of that is in the very short video that follows. At the end of the video is a link that will take you to the template page shown.

To see the video full-screen, click on the little square at the lower, right-hand corner. Enjoy!

Setting Goals—The main thing is to keep the main thing the MAIN THING, part one

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Gayle Hilligoss Picture
Article by Gayle Hilligoss

Ed. note: No matter what time of year you read this, you will always be tempted to think that you don't have time to follow the advice in this article on goal-setting. But to make the most of all your days, you need to make the time to do it.

It would take a hundred lifetimes to accomplish all we are capable of—all we would like to do. The reality is there are no dress rehearsals in life. We have only one lifetime to do our best and to be all we can be.

If we had forever, perhaps there would be no need to be concerned with priorities. There would always be tomorrow—for us and for all the others in our life. But, time is the great ruler. Without time there is nothing. The sobering thought is that the clock is always running. Therefore, our choices make a great difference in our lives.

John 10:10 tells us, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” God intends fulfilled, beautiful lives for His children.

Goal setting implies a change in the status quo, an achievement of dreams. Unfortunately, many articles and workshops never result in much change. People may read or attend, have a pleasant time, make some resolutions and then get discouraged when they face the actual task of working toward their dreams.

Resolve now that you will use this information as a starting place to reaching your goals by acting on your knowledge. What you are reading right now is enough to start you toward making some significant positive changes in your life.

It is not for anyone else but you to choose your path in life. God has a unique purpose and plan for your life. You have the responsibility and can have the joy of discovering that plan for yourself. You have many choices. The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. Six strategies to keep you on track:

• Know what you want from life. There are always people who want to tell you what you should be doing. When you begin to feel others are making too many decisions about how you are living your life, remind yourself it is your responsibility to make your own choices. For true happiness look for a purpose that will outlive you.

• Recognize the difficulty of choosing priorities and focusing on them. Keeping the main thing the main thing is not easy. Few worthwhile things are. You will be constantly pulled in many directions. The task is ongoing; the rewards make it worthwhile. Every day you are spending time, your most valuable resource. Your goal is to spend your precious time in the most fulfilling way.

The world is full of people who want to succeed; not so many are willing to pay the price. Yet, in the long run it takes just as much time, energy and effort to live an unhappy, aimless life as it does to live a fulfilled one. Often the price for failure is far greater than the cost of success. Parents who take the easy road with children when they are young most certainly pay the price as the children grow up. Couples who do not nurture their marriage pay the price eventually.

• Define specific goals. Goal setting and wishful thinking are not the same thing. You must be specific about what you want to achieve—and you must want to achieve your goals regardless of whether others share your vision.

You may talk over a dream with someone and that person may take your goals lightly or try to discourage what they see as too ambitious. Misery always looks for company. Choose carefully those with whom you share your goals. Avoid people who are likely to rain on your parade, but more important, learn to trust God’s guidance and your own seeking of His direction.

The vast majority of people live by default, not knowing where they want to go and having no need to figure out how to get there. They have no plans to follow, no new adventures to aspire to, no ambitions to achieve. Many would like you to have as little direction as they. It is doubtful you would be reading this article if you fit that description. You do not need to be one of the many who have trouble getting a handle on goals. You can be aware of the pitfalls and chart your course around any obstacles.

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To go to Part Two of this article, CLICK HERE.

Church Office Organization 101: to make your work more productive and enjoyable

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Gayle Hilligoss Picture
Article by Gayle Hilligoss

Organization: to pull or put together into an orderly, functional, structured whole.

 Experienced ministry assistants agree organization is a primary requisite for effectiveness. Who would know better? In the midst of what often seems the classic definition of disorganization, you are the one responsible for a well functioning office.

Here are six simple steps to use and share with others in your office. Practicing these few fundamentals makes for a more organized, more productive, more enjoyable work experience.

• Have a place for everything. Store things in convenient locations, close to where they are used. We all know the theory, yet offices are filled with examples of it being ignored: supplies stored so three items must be moved to get to what is needed; the tape dispenser that might be here or there; a printer located several steps from the computer.

• Return each item to its place immediately after use. No piling, tucking into alternative spots, or accumulating to return items when it is convenient. Developing this valuable habit is not difficult; you can do it. You can even pass the habit along to others. One admin uses stickers on scissors, tape, and other loaners from the office: “Glad to help. Please return me to my place.” She uses sign-out sheets for larger items.

• Periodically unclutter. At least once a week (daily is better), look around and see what you can remove from the office. Find a file, catalog, any item you have no further use for and pitch it. Look for items to recycle, donate, or put into storage. Keep on your desk only those things you use constantly throughout the day; stow everything else. The fewer things in the office, the easier it is to keep them organized.

• Uncomplicate. When it comes to organization, simple is best. If a paper day planner works for you, don’t be intimidated to go digital. If manila folders get the job done well, entering everything on the computer is not advantageous to organization. Use the most uncomplicated method to do the job well.

• Streamline. Look for shortcuts in every repetitious job. Identify a task that could be made simpler by the use of a form—taking reservations, getting items for the newsletter, compiling records, whatever. Make a sample form; print a few and give them a trial run. Or have someone observe how you do a routine job and ask for suggestions on trimming time. Finish and clear your desk of one project before starting another.

• Schedule your tasks. As important as having a place for everything is having a time for everything. Whether your supervisor directs or not, plan your recurring jobs for specific days and times. Set aside blocks of time for related tasks. Before starting a job, estimate the time necessary. After the job is completed, check your estimate against the actual time consumed. This helps you organize future workflow.

Obviously, your agenda will sometimes be interrupted (emergencies never happen when it’s convenient). But, having a plan tends to keep you on track and gets you back to your priority once the crisis has passed.

In spite of inevitable exceptions, you can follow these steps more often than not. Try it and see. Organization is well worth the effort.