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.

Please, don’t be phony friendly and publish your email address if you don’t want to answer it

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Once again, I was sadly shocked by someone who (I won't give the name so as not to embarrass a brother in Christ), who has a ministry proposing to tell churches how to be successful. Perhaps he can; I'll never know based on a recent email interaction with his company. Here is what happened and following a brief retelling, some advice for all of us.

I am working to get some materials into a more professional form for on-demand publishing and noticed this person worked with a company I was considering. I sent a short email asking for a brief response, did he find the company useful to work with?

His email address and CONTACT ME --were all clearly displayed. In addition, on his email page, he specifically invited people to email him personally.

I didn't expect much-- a "Yeah, they were OK" or "No, stay away" would have been fine. What I got back after several days was an email from one of his marketing manager informing me he was traveling and wouldn't have time to answer my email. She knew he used that company, but also several others also. No comments, no "I'll get back to you." End of email.

Don't do that please

It was a simple business request and I couldn't believe how bad I felt with her answer. I wondered if I'd use their contact form for consulting (that was another option) if Mr. X would have had time to interact with me. Again, I'll never know.

The lesson I came away with and wanted to share is that we must be so careful that we do not portray one persona online when we are a totally different person. It is perfectly OK if the head of an organization or ministry or church doesn't want to answer their own emails. The problem comes in when you say you will, when you invite people to email you and you don't.

Excuses don't count. I traveled for over 20 years and somehow managed to keep up on ministry emails. My life schedule now is very challenging and I continue the effort. I am the first to admit I'm not perfect in answering emails as promptly as I sometimes wish I could, but I do try hard and I hope I've never rudely dismissed someone (I apologize greatly if I have.)

Ministry application

You never know what is behind an email--the emotions, the real needs. I imagine most of you reading this do answer your emails, but during the holiday season especially, make an extra effort. We don't want anyone to feel ignored or less than important.

Have an honest conversation with your church staff and don't simply publish email contact information if people aren't going to answer. If they prefer texting, make that clear or show people how to get email on their phones and how to quickly respond. If they don't want to answer emails, be honest and remove their email contact or have it clear that someone else will answer them. If you have someone answering for you, be sure they do it with courtesy.

The person who answered the email I received was simply dismissive and rude when she really could have gracefully salvaged the situation with a little time (several typos also showed how quickly it was answered). For a ministry that loudly proclaims how they want to serve others in their ministry promotion page, I couldn't help but wonder how she identified service.

It isn't the length of a response that matters in emails, it is how we value the person with whom we are communicating and that comes through clearly. Pray that we all remember the importance of the one little sheep the Good Shepherd went after and that we focus the same love, care, and attention on every email interaction we have with people during this busy holiday season and always.

Don’t hide the real reason why you celebrate Christmas—communicate it!

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Don't forget Jesus is the reason for the season!
Be sure to tell people about Jesus at your Christmas event, don't simply entertain them.

From our archives a useful article as you do your Christmas planning:

Many churches consider the Christmas season a huge success if they have a large turn-out at Christmas events, but sadly, many of them remind me of the line from Macbeth where he describes life as "fully of sound and fury, signifying nothing." That may seem a bit harsh, but it is tragedy to celebrate the birth of the Savior without telling people about Him. Following is a true, but sad story about one such event  and how it could be different…..

Sad, but true story of a city-wide Christmas outreach

As in all the stories I tell on the Effective Church Communication website, this is a true story, but without details, location, people, or church mentioned. I also remind people who because I look at and am passed on stories about communications from churches literally from all around the world (one of our latest members and stories came from a Pastor leading a group of churches in the Australian bush), if you think the story is about you, it probably isn't.

Here is what happened: a church in a large city decided to host a Living Nativity for their community. They were given a large lot with a winding driveway leading up to it in a location near a busy shopping area. Because of generous donations by many members (it was a moderately large, well-off church) they put on an extravaganza. There was a huge turnout every night for the week it was held. And no wonder—they put on quite a show. They had live animals, a full size inn, angel choirs, and leading up the road, Roman soldiers and shepherds in the field. They had 3 shifts of actors in full costumes and make-up. They had cider and cookies for guests as they left.

What was the one thing they didn't have?

[Read more...]

Is anyone else tired of all the demands to “act now!” “limited time offer!” and similar urgent appeals?

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Now is the time for salvation
Many things are't urgent and we shouldn't falsely advertise them in that way.

I was just looking over a recent "free" e-book I downloaded thinking it might have something useful for me to pass on to ECC readers. It didn't really say anything new, so I'm not passing it on.

In addition to the e-book's lack of usefulness as a whole was the strong emphasis in most of it on how when you are selling something how important it is to create a sense of urgency. Though I understand the theory behind this and goodness knows I have responded to more than I should have to appeals like this, I really dislike them.

I dislike them primarily because in most instances they simply aren't true.

As anyone knows who subscribes to Vista Print or any other online service or company, the urgent sales price TODAY ONLY will be repeated once again in a week or two. And then a week or two after that.

I am finding that unless it is an item I have wanted for some time (e.g. a truly large discount for all the themes from www.studiopress.com and a sale price I hadn't seen before) I have become callous to the appeals.

The application for church communicators in general is to be clear and honest about deadlines—people become callous and turn us off if we attempt to force a sense of urgency that isn't real. Always be honest in communicating deadlines in your communications.

The one deadline that is truly urgent

As I thought about it, I realized that though many marketers falsely use a phony deadline to create a sense of urgency, we may forget we have a real deadline that our audience may not know about and that "with gentleness and respect" we need to communicate it to them.

That deadline of course is that Jesus is coming back and when He does the eternal destiny of every person on earth will be decided based on that person's relationship to Jesus.

The work you do today—making sure the dates are correct and descriptions complete for the bulletin or social media; gently answering questions you've been asked a hundred times, being sure to enter addresses and send out follow up—though all these actions may seem routine, they may help someone take a step toward coming to know Jesus as Savior.

As you do your work today ask the Lord to give you a sense of urgency. Not a false sense, not a guilty, burdened feeling, but a joyful strong heart that rejoices that you are working on communications that aren't pushing people needlessly, but helping them to make the most important decision of their lives.

2 Corinthians 6:2 for He says, "AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU." Behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME," behold, now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION"

John 4:35-37 "Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. "Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. "For in this case the saying is true, 'One sows and another reaps.'

2 Timothy 4:1-2 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

 

How to offer a fun and functional Church Photo Booth for your members

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Photo Booth ideas for Churches
Photo Booths are no only fun for your church, but are a great outreach tool when the photos are shared.

by Katy Dunigan, Guest Writer

Whether it’s a special holiday service or an average Sunday in September, many families attend church together as a unit—perhaps dressed a little nicer than they do on a regular weekday. This creates a wonderful opportunity to capture a meaningful and fun family photo.

Church staff can use this time as an effective way to collect photos of church members when putting together a church directory or a church photo album, but beyond the practical uses, a photo booth can create a powerful ministry opportunity as well.

How many members will share their family photos on social media pages, perhaps send it as their Christmas card, or place it in their office at work? Maybe many! Each photo’s post or placement opens the door to conversations with peers, colleagues and friends about your church, the member’s faith and family, and Christ’s grace and forgiveness.

We might think of it as just a photo opportunity, but it could very well create a witness opportunity as well!

Thinking about putting together a photo booth at your church? Go for it!

Here are some basic How To Photo Booth Tips and Suggestions to get you started.

Form a Volunteer Team

Photo booths offer a great opportunity to involve several members in a fun and worthwhile project.  Make sure you have these team members to help you:

  • a creative
  • an organizer
  • a photographer
  • a processor

Creative Team Member Tasks

Remind this team member that Photo Booths don’t have to be complicated. They can be as simple as a well-placed chair, some flowers, a pretty window, or maybe an attractive outdoor spot. Simply create a nice setting that lets your members capture a special moment, share an important message, or tell a story.

Organizer Team Member Tasks

In the days or weeks prior to the photo booth event, send out notices (in both print and digital formats) to your members, inviting them to participate! Remind them to come early or stay late for a fun photo opportunity!

In most cases, people want to participate and are just waiting for an invitation. Be sure you are clear about the times the booth will be available, suggestions on what to wear, and if they can bring their own props.

Photographer Team Member Tasks

You have choices on how you want to get the photographs, here are the options this team member should have in place:

  • You might prefer that all photos be taken by a photographer, which is fine to do.
  • Some participants might prefer to take their own photos because selfies create fun and original pictures, but not everyone carries smartphones with good cameras in them.
  • Make sure a volunteer photographer with a camera is ready when needed if you primarily do selfies.

Processor Team Member Tasks

To prevent confusion, be sure to put a process in place. The process needs to communicate:

  • Why you are offering a church photo booth
  • Where the line starts at the photo booth
  • How members can get copies of the photos, if they don’t take selfies.
  • Suggestions for posting the pictures on social media & share where the photo was taken. This is a great way to highlight your church and church community.

Have Fun

Remember, you’re building community among your members and making great memories too, be sure to have fun doing both. All of your volunteers are responsible for ensuring this is a fun event, so encourage them to keep a happy, welcoming, relaxed attitude.

If done correctly, your photo booth will be a big hit and your event a big success.

Make a photo booth available as often as you like. Use those opportunities to update photos in your church member directory, but remember to change the themes to fit the seasons and always remember to keep it functional and fun!

For additional photo booth ideas and information, please visit our Pinterest site:

https://www.pinterest.com/CTRNONLINE/church-directory-photo-booth/

Katy Dunigan is the Marketing Coordinator for onlinechurchdirectory.com and serves on several United Methodist leaderships teams in the Southwest Indiana District.  She is also an active member of the #chsocm community on Twitter and Facebook and is a contributing author for several church communication websites, newsletters and books.