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.

Overall Church Newsletter Samples #1

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Below is a selection of church newsletters sent in as part of our Great Idea Swapalong with brief comments by Yvon Prehn. Church newsletters are still one of the most useful church communication pieces whether they are sent out or delivered digitally and the samples below are shared to help make yours more effective.

These samples are not shared for design and layout ideas alone, but for a variety of layout, content, and style considerations that are highlighted with the brief comments by each one. Study the newsletters from other churches always with the prayer of what you can learn that will help you be more effective with your congregation.

To study each more closely, you can click on the image and it will take you to a downloadable PDF of the newsletter.

Newsletter Out of BlueOut of the Blue
The Blue Ridge Bible Church

This is one instance where the name of the church provides a great name for the newsletter--it doesn't always work out this way, but it's fun when it does.

The editor of this newsletter has a wonderful way with words in other areas of the newsletter:  the children's ministry is called ZONE which stands for: Zeal for God; Oneness in relationships; Nurtured with the Truth; Expressing the Love of Christ. One more: "Why do we dye?" an article about Easter Eggs—great stuff!

To download a PDF of the newsletter, click hereor on the image of the newsletter.

Newsletter from Laurel ChurchThe Family News
The Laurel Church of Christ

Notice how nice and clean the layout is on this newsletter. Though there are lots of colors and images used, the creator stayed within the grid lines. The grid is the invisible underlying structure of your communication piece.

To see what I mean, look at p.3 and notice how each entry stays within the three column lines. Many church newsletters don't do this. They may have similar collections of ads, updates and information, but they scatter them around the page without regard to any underlying structure. Because of that they look much less professional.

To download a PDF of the newsletter, click here or on the image of the newsletter.

Smaller Size NewsletterThe Net
St. Andrews Lutheran Church and Early Childhood Center

You don't have to be big in size to be big in impact. This smaller-size newsletter packs a lot into its pages: articles, church service schedules, birthdays and other special events, plus a number of excellent resources for people attending the church to get a program to listen to the Bible as well as online devotions.

To download a PDF of the whole newsletter, click here or on the image of the newsletter.

East Presbyterian NewsletterThe Eastminster Light
Eastminster Presbyterian Church

I really like the logo of the church in the name of this newsletter and it is another example of using an image intrinsic to the identity of the church (the light) to tie in with the name of the newsletter.

This newsletter does a really good thing in these days of multi-channel communications where the editor uses a printed piece to talk about the website and other forms of digital interaction. Each channel of communication has its own strengths and audiences and our communication is most powerful when we use all we can.

To download a PDF of the newsletter, click here or on the image of the newsletter.

Church Newsletter, plain thoughtfulSaints & Sojourners
All Saints Lutheran Church

Every church has a tone, a style, a personality that says "this is this unique Church." That tone and personality should be the same when someone comes into the church and when they read the newsletter from the church.

The gentle, thoughtful tone of this newsletter is different from some of the ones on this page (all wonderful in their own way) and it's a great illustration of why we should always be ourselves when we create our communications. Read through the different newsletters and envision in your mind's eye the folks who created them—and you will most likely be nearly correct.

You don't want surprises when people see your website or read your newsletter and then come to your church—that's not nice. Not every person seeking God is under twenty and in need of being entertained by lively graphics. Quiet and thoughtful is the still voice that draws many. Be who you are in print and online and allow the Lord to draw to you the people perfectly suited to worship with your church family.

To download a PDF of the newsletter, click here or on the image of the newsletter.

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Newsletter, some basic advice and layout samples

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Newsletters remain one of the most useful ways to effectively communicate. This PDF will give you some simple, foundational help to create them.
Newsletters remain one of the most useful ways to effectively communicate. This PDF will give you some simple, foundational help to create them.

This PDF is an excerpt from my basic book on church communications. It consists of both overview materials and then a collection of  sample newsletter layouts.

In this PDF, the instruction section reminds us, newsletters are made up of primarily two parts:

1.  News    2.  Letter

News: no lengthy, fluffy writing, all the facts, dates, times, locations. People read church newsletters to find out information, not for recreational reading.

Letter: letters are personal, be yourself, let the personality of your church or ministry come through.

The most important thing about newsletters, whether you ultimately mail them out, post them as a PDF on your website or use an online newsletter to create them, is the CONTENT in the newsletter. People do not read church newsletters to check out the great graphic design skills of the church—they read them to find out connecting facts and inspirational updates:

  • when and where the youth group is meeting
  • if the church event has a cost and/or childcare
  • how to become part of a small group
  • they read the pastor's column to learn more about him or her as a person
  • they scan the updates that head of the ministry in which they serve to see has to share this month that affects them

Bottom line: if your newsletter provides relevant, timely, useful content for the people of your church it is effective and successful.

Church communicators, resistence fighters for the Kingdom of God

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Enemy-occupied territory—that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

I chose this quote  for the first on this website because it summarizes much of my motivation for this ministry because it reminds me that, in many ways, church communicators are like the French Resistance fighters living in Paris near the end of World War Two. D-Day was June 6th, but Paris was not liberated until August 25th.

The Nazis would not admit defeat and poured all of their power and persuasion into the belief that they would be victorious. The resistance fighters using underground presses, hidden radios, and graffiti proclaimed, “No, freedom is coming! No matter how powerful the ruling party, no matter how oppressive their actions, no matter the personal cost of resistance, we will proclaim the truth—freedom is coming!”

We know the outcome—Paris was liberated; the Nazis were defeated.

The collaborators who sided with the Nazis, were publicly humiliated and condemned. For the the vast majority, who did nothing, there was most likely overwhelming relief, perhaps interrupted with thoughts of  "I would have done more, but I was too tired . . .or fearful . . .or busy. . .or something...but I wished the Allies well."

For the resistance fighters, the years of clandestine, sleepless, dangerous work to get out the true message of freedom was suddenly worth it and they were celebrated as heros. Theirs was was deepest joy. They believed the truth and at the risk of life and loss of comfort, acted on it.

You, church communicators are the resistance fighters for the kingdom of God. Our D-Day was the third day. The Lord Jesus conquered death, removed the curse and chasm between creature and Creator and rose victorious from the grave.

But our Lord has not yet taken possession of the land.

The enemy of human souls rules the minds and hearts of many with his lies. Some who collaborate share wealth, power, and influence unimaginable. Many can't imagine a Lord beyond immediate needs, appetites, self-preservation or indulgence. Many are too poor or hungry or frightened to think beyond the next day. Many have heard rumors of a resistance army, but suspect it's only for the fanatical and besides, there is another sale to attend, a meal to cook, a romance to pursue.

Church communicators, you are called, as Lewis said, to a "great campaign of sabotage." It may take many forms and many years, but we must pour our hearts and time into letting our world know the ruler of this age is defeated.

Our Lord has won the victory. Join us and joyfully look forward to his return when he takes full possession of this world.

Chart: The Five Steps of Effective Church Communications & Marketing

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The Five Steps of Effective Church Communication and Marketing
CLICK HERE to download your copy of this chart: The Five Steps of Effective Church Communication and Marketing

This chart is the visual representation of Five Steps of Effective Church Communication and Marketing, a church communication system created by Yvon Prehn that helps churches fully fulfill the Great Commission.

Instead of church communications consisting of scattered pieces (any one of which might be wonderful on its own), this systems helps churches see how all the communications produced by the church can work together to progressively move people from outside the church, to involvement in the church, and finally to mature discipleship.Much of the material on this site is a practical working out of this system. To read more articles specifically on The Five Steps of Effective Church Communications, click here.To download the chart you can either click on the image or click here. You have our permission to copy and share it in any way that might be useful.