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.

GIS: Innovative way to invite people to Easter services: “Egg” your neighborhood!

By Leave a Comment

Egg your neighborhood easter invitation
"Egg" your neighborhood with an invitation and an egg filled with candy--great idea for outreach and Easter promotion!

This is one of the most creative ideas I've ever seen to invite people to Easter. It was sent in by a contributor to our Great Idea Swap . In addition to being a great invitation to Easter, it also gives potential visitors great information about church ministries and outreach activities. It is very important to do this because you are letting your community know that the church is about so much more than holding special events.

They may not attend your church for Easter, but if they are new to the community or lonely, the invitation gives information about regular services and small groups. In addition, the church lists Job Search Support and No Cost Financial Counseling and this is a wonderful way to let the community know the church cares about the whole person.

To the left is a picture of the container for the cares below is what the cards look like:


At the end of this article is a link where you download the PDF and editable file of invitation.

Following, I'll let Stephanie, the Communications Director from the church describe how they use and distribute these great promotions: [Read more...]

Are you sharing the most important message of your church?

By Leave a Comment

The Gospel of salvation in Jesus is our most important message.
Are you clearly sharing the most important message of your church? People shouldn't have to search for it.

Note: I was recently asked for the location of my past article on "The Most Important Message of the Church." Following is the original article with links to the updated e-book and video presentation of it.  It constantly amazes me how many churches are not clear about what it means to be a Christian and how to become one. Please take time to read this and look at the video to be sure your church isn't missing out on THE most important thing.

What is the most important message of your church? Obviously the answer to that is that the message of Gospel--of forgiveness of sins and eternal life in Jesus.

But do people know that after visiting your church? Stop a minute and think about it. When people spend an hour with you did you share with them:

  • great music?
  • inspired preaching?
  • information about activities for the family?
  • special events invitations?
  • small group or recovery ministry opportunities?

You probably did and these are all good things, but did you share the most important thing? Do they know that your church can help them find salvation in Jesus? Did you mention that at all in your sermon? Is it even hinted at in your bulletin? Or announcements?

I'm not writing this to make you feel guilty--but when I was recently collecting samples for an ebook, Gospel Presentations in Church Bulletins, I was surprised at how many (by far the majority) of both church bulletins and websites do not tell people how to get saved. Somehow the most important thing we are about gets lost in the announcements and events that fill the life of a church. Please don't think I'm saying that any of these activities in church or during the week are bad, but as the subtitle of the e-book says:

What does it profit a person to have clear directions to the potluck, but lose their own soul?

Correcting this is easy to do

[Read more...]

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

By Leave a Comment

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...]

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

By Leave a Comment

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...]

Jesus, the Reason for the Season postcard, flyer, program cover or bulletin insert

By Leave a Comment

Jesus is the reason for the Season postcard
Our world needs to be reminded that Jesus truly is the "Reason for the Season." This publication can help you do that.

We know that Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas, we know Jesus is the reason for the season, but many of the people who visit your church or are in the neighborhood around it don't have any idea what that means. This communication piece will help.

Though it is done is a casual, upbeat style, the content is actually taken from the Nicene Creed, one of the most widely accepted creeds in the Christian Church and one that defines the identity and role of Jesus as our Savior. Below are pictures of the file. One is in color and one in grey scale. The grey scale looks good printed on some a rustic-looking or colored paper.

[Read more...]