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.

How to use Mother’s Day to grow your church

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Mother's Day can be a great time to grow your church!
Though it may be a new thought to many, Mother's Day can be a great time to grow your church.

Most church leaders don't think of Mother's Day as a time for potentially great church growth—but you should. This is because Mother’s Day Sunday is the third highest day for attendance(because of added unchurched people) in North America, running slightly behind Christmas and Easter. Though most churches know this and work hard to make it a special Sunday, many miss significant church growth opportunities for that day— because of the day’s exclusive focus on mothers. Following are some ideas on how to change that in positive ways.

Don't ignore Mothers, but expand your vision

Please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying churches shouldn’t honor mothers on Mother’s Day. They should; it is an important time to praise mothers and to thank God for them. What I’m recommending is that churches not make mothers their exclusive focus, but that they take advantage of the extra church growth opportunities made possible that day because of mothers.

The growth opportunities come from the visitors. It is easy to forget who these visitors are and why they are there. The reason that churches are so full on Mother’s Day is not because it is the only time of year mothers come to church. Most of the mothers at the church are regular attendees. The reason so many people come to church on Mother’s Day is the unchurched people in the lives of many mothers (spouses and children) rarely, if ever, come to church, but they will come on this day to make mom happy.

This is a great evangelism and church growth opportunity for your church!

Following are some ideas on how to make the most of it:

· Assemble a prayer team to pray, or add to your prayer list, requests specifically for the unsaved, unchurched, and straying family members who will come to church with mom on this Sunday. Pray for sensitivity to their needs. Create attractive invitations for your members to give family members.

· On Mother's Day as a church leader or pastor, acknowledge the visitors who come on Mother’s Day to please an earthly parent and affirm it was a commendable thing to do. Follow that commendation with a lesson/sermon about how they have a heavenly parent who is longing for them come home in faith even more than their mom wanted them to come to church.

· In your sermon, say for the mother what she would want to say to her child. Be honest that an eternity without Jesus means eternal separation from those we love. Acknowledge this is not easy to say and it is not at all comfortable to talk about on this happy day, but to not say things that can make an eternal difference is not expressing love. Love is honest about the consequences of a life lived apart from God.

Do more than preach—additional actions and events can provide great impact and encourage visitors to return

·   Be sure to use connection cards so that you have follow-up information to invite visiting family members back to church next week. At the end of this article are links to some cards that can help you, plus bulletin inserts with the theme of  "Want to make Mom really happy? Come back to church next Sunday!"

· Schedule a very upbeat, outreach-oriented Ministry Fair for that day so visitors can experience and explore what your church does on a regular basis. For example, many single adults (the unchurched adult children who come to church only on Mother’s Day) often don’t have any idea that many churches have fantastic single adult ministry programs. A table with literature, food, and fun people might be just the thing to get them to attend on a regular basis.

·For the unchurched husbands to see the men of your church around a literature table that talks about upcoming construction projects, work days, golf outings or sports events and that is staffed by men who reach out, welcome and engage visiting spouses in conversation is an incredible gift to give to the mom who comes every Sunday on her own.

· Challenge visiting adult children and spouses to make this Mother’s Day the most memorable one ever for their mom by giving her the gift of faith in Jesus—the one Mother’s Day gift that will give her joy forever.

In addition, in your bulletin have a link to information on your website for those who would like to explore the Christian faith in more detail and have the contact name, number and email of people for unchurched and children of people they can contact confidentially if they have questions or would like to discuss your church, the Christian faith, or what a relationship with Jesus is all about.

So much better than a rose

It may be nice to give the Mother's in your church a rose or other toke gift of appreciation, but for you to pray for and actively pursue the Mother's family members who don't know Jesus and to invite them back to church and the Christian faith is far more meaningful. Many of the unchurched family members will come back if you plan, pray for, inform them intelligently and gracefully about the faith, and connect with them for invitations to come back.

Doing those things is much more work than handing out roses, but instead of flowers that fade, you'll not only make the Mothers happy, but you will grow your church.

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For links to a short video that discusses the outreach opportunities around Mother's Day, a FREE ebook about this and additional links to connection cards, bulletin inserts, recipe cards, invitations and other publications related to Mother's Day, click on this link: https://www.effectivechurchcom.com/2012/04/mothers-day-resource-list/

Google is changing how it presents search results and here is what your church needs to know and do about it

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device friendly websites
It's essential people for people to be able to search our websites with their mobile phones.

What Google is doing sounds scary and has been termed "mobilegeddon" by some because of the potentially drastic changes it will have on search results on mobile devices. Should your church be worried and if so what should you do about it? You have so many things to do as church communicators, should you bother?  Following I'll explain more what it means and give you some practical suggestions on what you can do.

What it really means

Google is constantly changing the algorithms for how results are shown when you put in a search term. One of the primary reasons they do this is that there are always people who try to game the system and manipulate sites so their sites show up high in search results.

Though this isn't an article on Search Engine Optimization, Google and all other search engines have always said, and continue to affirm, that the primary reason sites show up on the first page or two of results are because of the quality of their content, not just because of artificial Search Engine Optimization (SEO). There is legitimate, intrinsic SEO, that systems such as WordPress make easy to use and search engines benefit from that. Artificial, SEO which consists of key-word loading and other false and always new ways people try to beat the system without the legitimate work of creating valuable content is what they are fighting against.

Sites with a depth of good content will always be found when people search for the topics they are about.Though this is a purely personal and anecdotal comment, I have always found that to be true. Ever since the earliest days of the Effective Church Communications ministry, I've always been too busy to concentrate on any Search Engine Optimization strategy. I've simply tried to create as much useful material for church communicators as possible and because of that, the Effective Church Communications website comes up early in many results related to church communications.

Though a depth of good content is still important, this algorithm change with Google is different because with the current changes Google is penalizing websites that are not mobile friendly and it specifically relates to when a search is done on a mobile device. This change doesn't care about the content of your site--what matters is how people access your site.

The changes do not affect searches people do from their desktop computers. Many of the articles written about the changes don't make that distinction clear (here is one that does).

One conclusion some churches might draw from properly understanding that this big change only affects searches made on mobile phones is that it really doesn't matter to them because they might assume that few people look up their church website on a mobile phone. That conclusion is incorrect and it's important we understand why.

Why this is important

In the NPR article cited above it says that 48% of search traffic now comes from mobile devices.

If we truly want to be all things to all people that we might win some, we definitely need to make sure our websites are easily accessible to the people who want to use them, no matter what device they use.  In many ways this action by Google is a great wake-up call for all churches.

We may not personally do searches on our phones (or even have a smart phone that allows us to do searches), but more and more people have them and constantly use them to look up everything). Many churches lament that they don't have young families coming to their church, but if you truly want young people to come, you have to communicate in the way they communicate. That means everything you want to tell them HAS to be accessible on their phones.

In many ways Google is simply helping us do what we need to do to share Jesus with our world.

What you should do at your church

First of all, check to see if you have a problem. The link below takes you to a very quick and easy test to see if your website is mobile-friendly. Just enter in your URL and in a couple of minutes you will get a quick evaluation of if your site is mobile friendly or not.

https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly/?utm_source=wmc-blog&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=mobile-friendly

Second, be sure you understand this issue. To do that, this article will be helpful:  A primer on responsive websites, what they are and why they are important

https://www.effectivechurchcom.com/2012/09/a-primer-on-responsive-websites-what-they-are-and-why-they-are-important/

I wrote this article and did a short 4-minute video to explain what it means to make your site mobile- device friendly. "Responsive" was the term used in initially. It means the same as device or mobile-friendly today.

Practical suggestions on what to do

Before I get specific on some practical recommendations, it is worth repeating—this Effective Church Communications  site does not take any advertising. Also, we do not take part in ANY affiliate program or do anything in exchange for any product or service. If I want software or hardware,  I buy it (if I can afford it). I get no discounts or special deals. The important point of the preceding comments is that when I recommend something, I do it because I genuinely feel there is something of benefit in it for church communicators.

I'm bringing this up now because a number of articles I've seen about the Google changes then lead into a sales pitch for some tech group to help you make your site mobile friendly. Some may be genuinely helpful and if you have a person, a service, or website building system that has worked well for you in the past, you may want to keep using it. But if you are thinking about redoing your website or doing it at your church by an in-house person, here is one suggestion:

Learn WordPress and use a device-friendly template

Yes, there are many other great systems and companies, but I think WordPress is the best way to build a website, for many, many reasons, too lengthy to detail here. Also I think it is a skill every church communicator (and most staff members and pastors) should have. I have built many sites with it over the years and I continuously am amazed at all it does and what features are added to it. It is also free. You have to pay for hosting, but that can be minimal and instead of being locked into a proprietary system and cost, once you learn (and it is easy to learn) WordPress, it is one of the most cost-effective way for a church to have a complete and flexible site. If something else is working for you—great, but if you are checking out systems for websites, make WordPress on the top of your list.

This is an encouragement because now might be a time to take a deep breath, learn WordPress, and finally take charge of the website at your church.

HERE IS THE BEST RESOURCE for Google Changes and a great thing you can do for your church

The resource below is a WordPress church template company.  Their themes have all the mobile-friendly features you need for the Google changes built-in and you don't have to do anything extra to make them an intrinsic part of your site.

Church Themes http://churchthemes.com/
Though I've known about this group for some time, I recently did an extensive search to find new templates for several sites (including this one) that I am redesigning. After spending way too much money trying templates that had great marketing examples, but were impossible to replicate in my office, I was very frustrated.  One group actually said something like this "we know you can't build a site like our example and for several hundred dollars more we'll help you do that." I felt this was wrong and even if I did have the money to do that, it wasn't anything I could later recommend to other churches.

I didn't have personal experience with this Church Themes products, but I knew churches who spoke highly of them. I'd corresponded with them and felt they were genuinely people of integrity. So I decided to try a template—I was at the end of my rope and thought, what's one more frustrating trial? But things were radically different here.

Finally here was a beautifully designed template that did all I wanted it to do! But best of all were their tutorials for how to use their themes. The theme creator walks you through each step; they made sense and worked!

I am still working on some things behind the scenes that I am building with these, but I'll share them as soon as I get them done. I didn't want to tell you about them or the company until I did, but this Google situation required it.

Their templates can really work for any church and for staff with very little tech experience. You don't have to be a tech genius to create a fantastic, contemporary looking site with these templates. Plus all the tools you need for church sites:  great looking slider header, sermon text, podcasts, video, events, blog, photos, videos, staff, locations, calendar, and donations are all built-in and best of all—demonstrated and explained!

You can either build your church website from nothing using them or switch your church website to one of their templates. It will take you more than a couple of days to do it, but the results will be worth it, device-friendly and something you can update at your church.

Now for ways to learn WordPress or more about it

WP101, https://www.wp101.com/
This is one of the best ways to get up and running quickly with WordPress. It has easy-to-follow and understand tutorials. Sure, you can view a million of them on YouTube, but you never know what version they are demonstrating.  I have had some training on WordPress on the Effective Church Communication site, but I can keep up with changes. This site constantly updates their training. In addition to basics, more advanced topics easily explained.

Note: http://www.Lynda.com,  that I recommend for a lot of other training, does have a number of WordPress tutorials—but for some reason, I think they are some of her weakest courses—this company is much better for learning WordPress.

WP Beginner, http://www.wpbeginner.com/
Not only beginners, but everyone who uses WordPress can benefit from the blogs and resource links on this site. Not terribly advanced, but very useful materials.

"a free WordPress newsletter" http://wpmail.me/
This is the geeky newsletter with the latest news from the WordPress organization, developers, and gurus. However, it has a lot for ordinary users, including great articles about plugins and overviews of new themes that have passed the WordPress standards. It comes out once a week and I always find something useful in it.

In conclusion

We don't make changes on our website because we're bored and have nothing else to do, nor do we do them just because Google makes a big change. For this change, making our sites more device and mobile friendly, may be one of the most important changes we can make to help unchurched people find us and ultimately find Jesus.

 

 

Event evaluation resources and FREE e-books

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Here are some additional resources to for post-event evaluation and some free e-books:

Make special event evaluation a habit for continuous improvement–3 forms and a book that will help, to download, CLICK THIS LINK:
https://www.effectivechurchcom.com/make-special-event-evaluation-a-habit-for-continuous-improvement-3-forms-and-a-book-that-will-help/

A primary link to a free e-book on church communications PLUS a number of others, CLICK THIS LINK:
https://www.effectivechurchcom.com/2013/11/free-ebook-on-connection-cards-essential-to-link-with-holiday-visitors/

Note Taking that Works

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Take notes effectively
Take notes effectively and make the most of learning opportunities.

Whether recording instructions or jotting seminar notes, whether using pen or PC, every assistant needs a system—an organized method of arranging information so it can be retrieved and used as needed. Most notes are, after all, taken not just for the sake of getting words on paper, but for the purpose of recording data or ideas to be referred to later. We need notes that do more than sit on a page; we need notes that work.

  • Get ready

These instructions are written from a pencil and paper point of view, but can be adapted for use on a tablet or laptop. The first step in this system is simple, but essential: Use light lines to divide your note page into three columns. The left column can be narrow, 1 or 2 inches. Make another narrow column on the right. That leaves 4 inches or so in the middle column. Just right!

The first column is used to note major ideas or topics. The middle column is for points that develop and support the key facts noted in column one. Use the third column to jot down how you will personally apply the information. This is the place to record your “memos to self.”

  • Actively listen

In attending a meeting, your primary objective is to comprehend what is being said so you can put information into practice later. Taking notes should never detract from your reason for being there, to listen, and learn. So, first, get in sync with the speaker and grasp the intention of the message. This allows you to know what you want to take from this meeting. Be sure to note the date, the topic, and the name of the speaker at the top of your page. This information can be very handy later.

  • Organize as you note

As you listen, jot major ideas in the first column of your page. As these ideas are developed, either by the speaker or by your own thoughts, note these points in the middle column. Make an effort to enter your notes in outline form. Organization makes notes easier to use later.

  • Be stingy

Effective notes are as much a result of knowing what to leave out as of knowing what to put in. Use as few words as possible to nail down what you want to retain. Capture thoughts with phrases, not sentences. Some note takers use texting “shorthand” for notes. Some develop their own code—initials and numbers that denote actions to take or people to notify. Ease into this practice so, though concise, your cold notes will not leave you wondering, “What did I mean by this?”

  • Make the application

Use lulls in the speaker’s message to build on the outlined points in your middle column. As thoughts occur to you on how you can personalize concepts and apply them in your own situation, record these important revelations in column three.

As soon as possible after the note taking session, go over all three columns and clarify any points that are fuzzy; expand on the ideas most relevant to you. Use a colored pen to underline or highlight ideas to implement.

  • Use what you've learned

Even the most organized and insightful notes are worthless unless they are used. Based on the information they contain, keep your notes where you can refer to them as needed. If you didn't originally take digital notes, you may want to get them on your computer. In some cases, the good ol' file folder or a notebook is your best choice for accessibility. Do what works for you—no apologies.

NEH 4 It’s OK to be afraid, but don’t allow fear to silence your vision

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Lesson 4 from Nehemiah for church communicators

Fear can be crippling. You might have a vision for what your communications could do to change your church. You might have a vision of a new website, one that is up-to-date and one that in-depth answers the questions of seekers and members; you might want to start a mobile phone daily devotional; you might want to totally redo the bulletin so it clearly explains your liturgical service; you might want to recruit and train a team of communication volunteers. Or maybe you simply want to figure out how to use the computer software you've been given without a mental meltdown each time you open it.

Whatever your vision and dream in church communications, don't be surprised if you experience fear as you contemplate making your dream reality. Also to carry out the next step in your communication ministry often takes the permission and support of church leadership who may not seem to have church communications as a priority in their view of the church. Maybe you have been told "no" in the past and it's scary to even think about bringing up a costly or controversial topic.

Nehemiah experienced that fear when the king asked him what was going on because he looked so sad and the Bible records Nehemiah's response:

"I was very much afraid (Neh. 2:2)."

Lessons we learn from Nehemiah's admission of fear:

1. He was afraid; he was very afraid. Fear is a natural response to a scary situation. Sometimes if you aren't afraid when you approach making changes or suggesting a new ministry, you aren't paying attention to reality.

2.Though it is normal and sometimes even healthy to feel fear, it is never OK to let our fear keep us from pressing ahead. Nehemiah told the king that he was sad because of the situation in Jerusalem. Fear can keep us from bringing up problems we see because we are afraid of a reaction from those in charge.

We always must make certain that we express concerns "with gentleness and respect," but simply because we are afraid of a reaction is never a reason not to express valid concerns.

Because Nehemiah expressed his concern in spite of his fear, the king replied:

"What is it you want? (Neh. 2:4)"

There are never any guarantees to positive answers, but no matter what the outcome, don't let fear cripple your vision of serving God with your church communications.