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.
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How to be an effective church communication writer, part one

6 June, 2013 By Yvon Prehn Leave a Comment

How to be an effective church communication writer, part one
It isn't always easy to write effective church communications--these articles will help.

Most church communications begin with words, but the challenge is that writing is not easy for many church communicators. It's easy to forget that just because someone is a good preacher or office administrator or business manager that person is not necessarily a good writer or an expert on what makes for good written communication.

I was recently reminded of the reality in discussing effective church communications with a young pastor and I decided to put together a series of resources for him as well as for all of you. However, as I started this project I realized that I have a lot of advice and resources for writers (I've been a published writer since I was 16-years-old) and getting them updated, edited, and organized takes more than a few days. I also realized that it would be helpful for many of you if I didn't wait until I had them all together to share individual articles.

So here is Part One of How to be an Effective Church Communication Writer: Below is a series of articles on the ECC Website--just click to go to them. I am including the link if you want to share some of these with other church communicators. If you have questions about writing, please email me at yvon@effectivechurchcom.com and I'll answer them as part of this series.

Articles that will help you be a more effective writer:

What should be the length of church communications?
https://www.effectivechurchcom.com/2013/06/what-should-be-the-length-of-church-communications/

Why words are more important than images in church communications

Why words are more important than images in church communications

As you write for different communication channels, don’t change the content or look of your message
https://www.effectivechurchcom.com/2008/09/multichannelcontent/

How to write visually in your church communications
https://www.effectivechurchcom.com/2013/06/how-to-write-visually-in-your-church-communications/

Writing as an act of discipleship
https://www.effectivechurchcom.com/2013/06/writing-as-an-act-of-discipleship/

Why words and images need each other–the feedback loop of meaning
https://www.effectivechurchcom.com/2012/10/why-words-and-images-need-each-other-the-feedback-loop-of-meaning/

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Filed Under: Multi-Channel Communications, Writing Tagged With: Christian writing advice, church communication writing, church writing, Writing

Become a writer and carry on the tradition of the great writers of the past

5 June, 2013 By Yvon Prehn Leave a Comment

Writers run a race of endurance
Writers run a race of endurance as they pass on their wisdom and insight to the next generation.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb. 12:1-2)

Who has influenced your life through the written word? Maybe contemporary writers—Dallas Willard, C.S. Lewis, John Stott, Lee Stobel, Max Lucado. Maybe writers from the past—Luther, Augustine, Calvin, Wesley.

Whoever they might be, few of us would be where we are in our walk with the Lord without the written encouragement and teachings of those who have gone before us in writing about our faith. Do you feel that you might be called to join in this "cloud of witnesses" in Christian writing? If so, and if you aren't producing the communications on paper or online that you feel you should, what are you waiting for?

With your computer, you have on your desk the tools to produce everything from pamphlets to newsletters; blogs to books. With the web you have on-demand printing and distribution systems necessary to get it to readers anywhere in the world. You don't need the permission and support of national publishing companies to produce materials to teach and encourage your brothers and sisters in the faith.However, to actually make your writing dreams result in tangible products. . . . .

You may need to get rid of a few misconceptions about writing:

Often, it isn't fun—actually finishing a writing project, that is. It's fun to think about it. It's fun to plan, fun to imagine what it will be like when it's done. Fun to fantasize about being a writer or blogger. The work of drafts, rewriting, and publication itself, is often not fun.

I sometimes hear the phrase, "If it isn't fun, why do it?" Obedience to the call of God is only one of many answers to that inane, foolish question. Whether writing is fun or not has absolutely nothing to do with whether God is calling you do to it. If the fun quotient is the determiner for if you write or not, you will most likely produce little of lasting value.

You'll never have the time to do it. You'll probably never be able to take off for a month to a secluded cabin to finally get done the writing you want to. You will always have to fearlessly carve out the time out of a schedule that already seems too full.

You'll never be rested enough to do it. If you're involved in ministry and have something to share, writing isn't what will be first on your list when you get some rare time off. But, if you are called to write, be warned that the Lord will often not allow you to rest until you create what he has called you to create. You aren't alone--at a writer's conference many years ago, Anne Ortland shared that much of the significant work done for the Lord was done by very tired people and I've remembered her words through many late-night writing times. Most likely as you create the publications you need to create, be aware that obedience to that calling may not energize you, it may exhaust you. Keep writing anyway.

You'll never feel good enough to do it. Study your craft. Do your best; edit, rewrite, revise--but don't wait until you feel "good enough." Most writers experience self-doubt that has little to do with the true condition of their work. Here's one:

If only I could do this book properly. . . But I am assailed with my own ignorance and inability . . . . I didn’t work then or all week. …Hope to lose some of the frantic quality in my mind now. Can’t organize. … I’m jumpy. …Don’t know who will publish my book. Don’t know at all. . . . . .This book has become a misery to me because of my inadequacy.

notes from John Steinbeck's journal as he was finishing The Grapes of Wrath

This advice is not intended to encourage self-delusion. Get the advice of friends, mentors, editors, become objective and if you've done your best get your writing out there and see if the Lord uses it. Remember Satan is the accuser--never listen to him.

If you feel called to write, fix your eyes on Jesus and write. Obedience to him will make all your efforts worth it, fun or not, tired or not, now and forever, in ways your most extravagant dreams of being a writer cannot imagine.

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Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: Christian writing, difficulties in writing, Writing, writing challenges

Writing as an act of discipleship

4 June, 2013 By Yvon Prehn Leave a Comment

As church communicators, the power and impact of our writing on the lives of those in our church will be a reflection of where our heart is with our Lord. Whether you plan it or not, who you are always comes out in your writing. Below is a challenge from Dallas Willard on discipleship and then one on writing from C.S. Lewis. Below them is a resource that will encourage your heart as a church communicator.

The challenge:

The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as ‘Christians’ will become disciples – students, apprentices, practitioners – of Jesus Christ, steadily learning from him how to live the life of the Kingdom of the Heavens into every corner of human existence.”
― Dallas Willard, The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus's Essential Teachings on Discipleship

Some advice on how a writer might meet the challenge:

If I have read the New Testament aright, it leaves no room for 'creativeness' even in a modified or metaphorical sense. Our whole destiny seems to lie in the opposite direction, in being as little as possible ourselves, in acquiring a fragrance that is not our own, but borrowed, in becoming clean mirrors willed with image of a face that is not our. . . .An author should never conceive himself as bringing into existence beauty or wisdom which did not exist before, but simply and solely as trying to embody in terms of his own art some reflection of eternal Beauty and Wisdom. . . And always, of every idea and of every method the Christian will not ask, 'Is it mine?' but 'Is it good?'

C. S. Lewis, Christianity and Literature

A resource to strengthen your heart as you write

Devotions for Church Communicators
This devotion will remind you of the immense and eternal importance of the work you do.

This book, Devotions for Church Communicators was previously titled The heart of church communications. I may go back to that title when I reprint it. Regardless, it will help you tremendously to approach your communication work as a disciple of Jesus. It is free for Effective Church Communication Members and can be bought for immediate download or as a paperback or Kindle from the links below.

ECC Member download

Buy for immediate download or links to Kindle or print purchase

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Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: Christian writing, Communications, encouragement for Christian writers, Writing

The biggest mistakes made by Christian communicators, part one

11 November, 2010 By Yvon Prehn 1 Comment

This listing of mistakes is both a report and a commentary on a presentation at the Outreach Convention in San Diego, November 2010 by Phil Cooke, a writer and commentator on media, faith, and culture.

Phil is one of those rare individuals who is in touch with current  culture while at the same time someone who has a passionate devotion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. In addition, he is a dynamic presenter, both fun to listen to and extremely thought provoking.

In addition to presenting his comments, I’ll be adding my additions to them.

Mistake #1:  thinking that that value of your message means people will pay attention to it

This one is my comment on his statement that current studies show most people are bombarded with over 5,000 messages a day. Because of that, he added that it isn’t enough to just have a great message.

We have the greatest message, that’s a given—eternal salvation freely given to rebellious humanity, who neither earn it, deserve it, or even after they accept it, are seldom thankful for it. Having the greatest message, isn’t the same thing as communicating it.

Resting on the value of their message, some church communications don’t work very hard on making their communication clear, creative, or something that even makes sense to people outside the church. Communication that results in action is hard work.

Mistake #2: Bad writing

Phil Cooke had a number of examples of this including a picture of a billboard that said:

Sinners is Welcome

The next one was a church sign that had lost some letters and said:

Disciples of Chris

Phil went on to say that grammar and spelling are the basics of our toolbox as communicators.  Just as any athlete knows he must stay strong in the fundamentals, we’ve also got to be careful about these areas.

My comments: today there seems to be the idea that if the design is fancy enough, the words don’t matter, but words are what clarify our message. If they are muddled, your audience may walk away with a nice feeling, but little else.

If you feel your writing needs improvement, there are lots of writing classes online, but one of the best ways to learn to write is to read good writers. C.S. Lewis is one of my favorites and I like to have his clear, logical writing in my mind as I try to write.

Don’t forget reading your Bible, not only to learn and grow in your faith, but to train your mind and writing. If you think God’s thoughts clearly and if his Word is the foundation of your life, your writing will reflect it. Many of the great writers of the past had the Bible as their primary instructor in life and writing and we do well to follow their example.

Mistake #3: Lose the Lingo

Many people outside the church today did not grow up with any understanding of Christian images, references, vocabulary. The primary cultural vocabulary for many today is the media. One example of the problems this can cause is for a person who saw the Alien movies where the monster comes bursting out of the chest of its victim. What do you think that person hears when he attends church and the pastor talks about how “Jesus will come and live inside you.”

Our first response might be to laugh, but to muddle serious spiritual truth because we don’t take time to think through what our spiritual jargon is saying to a person raised outside the church.

____________

To go to part two of this series, click here.

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Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: Christian communication, Christian writing, Communications, Writing

How to write visually to reach today’s audiences

12 December, 2009 By Yvon Prehn Leave a Comment

To touch hearts and change, lives it takes more than a list of facts. We want people to see an image  in their mind's eye that will cause them to feel an emotion they can respond to.
A PDF of the article: How to write visually. We want to do more than convey information, we want to create images in the mind's eye so our readers can see the lessons we want to share.

It is not difficult to this, but you have to be intentional about it in your writing. This PDF article will help you.

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

note: this PDF is from Yvon Prehn's archives and is the only format of this article available presently. Not the greatest quality to be sure, but shared with the belief that the content is useful.

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Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: Christian writing, church communication basics, Communications, Writing, yvon prehn

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