Effective Church Communications

The Effective Church Communication ministry from Yvon Prehn provides inspiration, training, and resources to help your church create communications that fully fulfill the Great Commission. It focuses on Bible-based and timeless principles and strategies that work no matter what digital or print channel you use to create your communications. The site has links to many free TEMPLATES and other resources, plus links to free TRAINING VIDEOS, and a RESOURCE LIBRARY for church communicators. 

The Effective Church Communication ministry from Yvon Prehn provides inspiration, training, and resources to help your church create communications that fully fulfill the Great Commission. It focuses on Bible-based and timeless principles and strategies that work no matter what digital or print channel you use to create your communications. The site has links to many free TEMPLATES and other resources, plus links to free TRAINING VIDEOS, and a RESOURCE LIBRARY for church communicators.
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We could all use good news now and here is the best news—all about salvation in Jesus

27 August, 2020 By Yvon Prehn Leave a Comment

Good news is found in Jesus
When so much of the world is filled with bad news, there is good news to be found in Jesus. Check it out and be encouraged!

Pandemic, crazy weather, racial injustice, and political turmoil—wherever we turn, bad news fills our world. There is one place the news is good—in the good news about Jesus. Many call this the gospel.

There are two reasons why it’s essential to explore the gospel now. First, for those of us familiar with the gospel, we do well to remember what great news that is, no matter what else is going on. And for those who aren’t familiar with it, this news has implications for you far beyond the hysterical headlines that currently fill your news feeds. The gospel is good news, the best news ever.

Why the gospel is GOOD NEWS

Good news. That is the dictionary definition of the term gospel. The question to answer next is, of course, “What is the good news?” or “Good news about what?”

The best answer to that question is in the Bible, where John 3:16 tells us that: “God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

The good news is that God didn’t sit up in heaven, watching humanity make a mess of their lives and their world. He did something about it with extraordinarily important implications for people both now and eternity. To explore the good news in more detail, let’s look at our situation and what God did for us.

Without God, making a mess of our lives is pretty much what we do.

It doesn’t take unique insight to know our world is a mess right now. But now, let’s look away from the world. [Read more...]

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Filed Under: Blog, Christianity defined, Spiritual Tagged With: Communications, Evangelism resources, how to become a Christian, Jesus, Religion, yvon prehn

Have you closed with Jesus? Perhaps a new way to communicate how to become a Christian

11 January, 2009 By Yvon Prehn 2 Comments

Like any other transaction, when we close with Jesus it is intentional and something of value--our life for his salvation--is transferred.
Like any other transaction, when we close with Jesus it is intentional and something of value--our life for his salvation--is transferred.

What does it mean to be a Christian? It’s important to understand that for any of the work you do in church communications to make sense. Below are some verses about how the Bible defines it and then I’d like to share what might be a new way that you may not have heard to explain it.

And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. So whoever has God's Son has life; whoever does not have his Son does not have life (1 John 5:11, 12 NLT).

Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as 'Lord,' but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven. On judgment day many will tell me, "Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name." But I will reply, "I never knew you. Go away" (Matthew 7:21-23 NLT).

If you've read a number of entries on this website and if you have done church communications work for any time at all, you may have one of two responses. Either the words here have been an encouragement and a challenge to you in your work as a church communicator or perhaps they seem empty and your job remains a frustration.

If your job seems a constant frustration, beyond any solutions in technology or work setting, I would be remiss if I didn't ask you to take a few minutes to look at your personal relationship with Jesus.

Church communications is ultimately and at its core communication about Jesus. Unlike other kinds of communication work, you will have a hard time doing church communications work if you don't know Jesus. Knowing him, listening to our shepherd's voice, is essential if our work is to pass the test of eternal value and to be bearable as we do it day-by-day. But how can we be sure if we have this kind of relationship with Jesus?

Please now, take a few minutes by yourself, without distractions, to read this section and think about it.

One way to look at your relationship with Jesus

Evangelists in the past used a term that we don't often hear today when they would ask, "Have you closed with Christ?" Their use of the term "closed" was taken from real estate back then and they used it just as we do today. You can look at a house, walk through it, admire it, want it, even invest time in getting a loan on it, but until you "close" on it, the house is not yours.

What happens when you close? On closing, only then does the house then becomes truly, legally yours. For that closing to take place, you have to give up something, usually a considerable amount of money, and you have to make a commitment to keep investing in the house for it to one day be yours completely.

No analogy is ever perfect, but this is a pretty good one to explain what it means to know Jesus personally. You can look at Jesus from far away, you can even get up close, perhaps visiting or regularly attending a church to look at his teachings. You might even work at a church and do communications work in his name. But unless a personal transaction takes place, unless you know Jesus personally and he knows you, you haven't "closed" with him.

That act of closing with Jesus is a serious commitment. That closing takes place between you and God, in prayer where you admit your sins have kept you from God and you recognize that Jesus death on the cross paid a penalty for those sins that you could not, and you ask that Jesus become the forgiver and leader of your life.

The cost of the transaction

If you do that you have closed with Jesus and you move into an eternal relationship with him. Though there is no monetary cost to this transaction meaning there is nothing you can do to earn or deserve a relationship with Jesus, at the same time before making that closing transaction, the Bible does urge you to count to the life cost. The Bible is clear that the cost involved in closing with Jesus is that you now turn over the control of your life to Him: your priorities, your time, your focus, your decisions are now all to be under the leadership of Jesus. You aren't asked to make monthly payments (though giving regularly to your church and those in need is an expectation of all Christians), but you are required to give up your time regularly in the study of God's Word, in prayer, and in service to your world in the name of Jesus. In return the Christian receives much more than an earthly house that will deteriorate. The Christian is promised an eternal home in heaven and on earth peace, strength, and joy for whatever life God gives.

I'm bringing this up because, because as I've said earlier, doing Christian communication work is one of the hardest jobs imaginable and to last in it, you need every resource available in Jesus. You have to have a personal relationship with Jesus for his strength to flow through you to do this work; you must be on good terms with him to do it happily. Our relationship with our God is personal-more than a theology or belief system or set of rules-one with much more, but no less than the personal qualities of a relationship with an earthly friend.

If you have not closed with Jesus, count the cost of following him and if you are ready to commit your life to him, close with Jesus by praying the prayer that follows.

A prayer of "closing" with Jesus

Dear Jesus,

I admit that though I've known about you for a long time, I've kept you at arm's distance. I don't want to do that anymore. I admit that I need forgiveness for things I have done. I realize that in coming to you I acknowledging that you died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins and I want you to come into my life and be my forgiver and leader. I realize that in doing this I turn over the control of my life and eternity to you and I pray you'd help me to live a life that is worthy of you. Thank you for your salvation and for being willing to have a personal relationship with me for all eternity. Amen.

If you sincerely prayed that prayer, welcome to the family of God! More than ever before you will have Jesus beside you as you do your work for him. Be sure to read your Bible every day and go to a church that preaches the Bible and you will grow and experience the reality of a friendship that will never end.

Evaluate your ongoing relationship with Jesus

If you are in a relationship with him, how is it? We take time to test our human relationships and it is very important to give time and attention to our relationship with Jesus. Is it the happy, peaceful time you want it to be? Is a bit of resentment festering? Talk about it to Jesus. Is there sadness inside you that you don't feel will ever end? Share it. Have you forgotten to be thankful for the blessings of food and shelter that so many of our brothers and sisters around the world are without? Catch up on your thanks. Do you forget he wants to help you in every detail of your life? Invite him to share this moment.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," the apostle Paul said (Phil 4:13, KJV). Now that your relationship is right with Jesus, charge into your day, doing your work in church communication in his strength.

_________

Altered slightly, this is taken from Devotions for Church Communicators,The Heart of Church Communication by Yvon Prehn, available as an ebook for Kindle and as a paperback book from amazon.com.

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Filed Under: Christianity defined, Spiritual Tagged With: evangelism, Evangelism resources, how to become a Christian, Religion, yvon prehn

Resources and Links to help you explore the Christian faith

27 July, 2008 By Yvon Prehn

Take time to explore the Bible
Take time to explore the Bible and learn for yourself if its extraordinary claims are true.

This section has Resources and Links to help you explore the Christian faith, to explain the Christian faith, and to help people grow in spiritual maturity as a Christian.  Just click on the links below to check them out.

Most of the sites below have added links to similar sites that might explain what it means to be a Christian and the truths of the Christian faith in another way.

As a church communicator you need to be assured and solid in your faith to communicate it effectively to others--these sites will help assure you of the eternal importance of your work.

In addition, the material here needs to be passed on to your congregation. Take a few minutes when you can to look over the material on these sites and link to and reference it in your church outreach and discipleship materials. We want our people to be able to answer questions about the Christian faith with peace and confidence.

Websites for those exploring the Christian faith

Christian Research Institute
http://www.equip.org/
This is the website of the Christian Research Institute and Hank Hanegraff, the Bible Answer Man-it has been redesigned and is a challenge to find the fantastic resources on it, but if you go to the search bar, bottom left corner of the home page, and type in a topic, it will take you to a list of their great, free articles.

Who is Jesus?
http://www.whoisjesus-really.com/english/menu.htm
Lots of questions answered here about Jesus.

Need Him
http://www.needhim.org/
This site approaches questions about the Christian life from the perspective of various life stages.

Campus Crusade for Christ
http://www.ccci.org/
Lots of information for those exploring the Christian life and for those who want to live it.

Lee Strobel's Video website about the Christian faith http://www.leestrobel.com/channels/Christ.php
This site has videos with short interviews that explain the basics of the Christian faith--this link takes you to the one about Jesus.

Websites for defending the Christian faith and answering questions about it

Apologetics 315
http://www.apologetics315.com/
An apologetics resources site including audio, debates, podcasts, book reviews and more.

An Apologetics Reading Plan for Beginners
http://www.apologetics315.com/2012/03/apologetics-reading-plan-for-beginners.html
An excellent article not only for those who want to learn how to defend the Christian faith, but for those who want to explore the Christian faith.

Lee Strobel's Video website about the Christian faith
http://www.leestrobel.com/channels/Christ.php
This site has videos with short interviews that explain the basics of the Christian faith--this link takes you to the one about Jesus.

The Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry
http://carm.org/
A site that analyzes religious and non-religious movements and compares them to the Bible.

Websites for those wanting to grow in the Christian faith

Ten Action Steps for a New Christian,
http://www.rbc.org/rtb/
A simple, yet vitally important list of the actions important for a new Christian, with clear explanations.

Our Daily Bread
http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml
A wonderful daily devotional for both new and more mature Christians.

Radio Bible Class Ministries
http://www.rbc.org/
There are a wealth of resources on this site for growing in your Christian life. There are Bible reading plans, articles on finding a church, answers to many questions people have about the Christian faith.

Into Thy Word
http://sites.silaspartners.com/partner/0,,34418,00.html
A wonderful site that will teach you how to study the Bile, lots of great Bible study articles, fantastic links on their Bible Study Tools page, lots of great information. Highly recommended.

OnePlace.com
http://www.oneplace.com/
A very fun site and educational site. This site has the links to many Christian radio stations. You can listen to your favorite radio preachers live here and can download messages.

The Blue Letter Bible
http://www.blueletterbible.org/index.html
A classic site of free Bible study tools: commentaries, maps, all sorts of study guides. This is a fantasttic site.

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Filed Under: Spiritual Tagged With: answer faith questions, Bible commentary, Evangelism resources, how to become a Christian

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