Making Church Work

Last week we inaugurated a new president in the US. It was and is a significant time in our country. Which means it's also a significant time to be leading and communicating with your congregation, local community.

We know these days can feel heavy. And it would be easy to let them slip by without saying anything. But we want to encourage you and give you some tools and tips for communicating. Even when emotions are high. Even when politics are involved.

Join our partners, Leah Norton and Shayla Kenworthy, along with Jamie Shafer and me for some practical guidance on what your church should communicate during these difficult days. And how our team is praying for you right now.

Articles Mentioned:

• The Church Cannot Be Tone Deaf
• Our Prayer for Church Leaders this Week
• What Should Churches Communicate During Inauguration Week?

Taking the time to pray, strategize and plan for your 2021 communications will directly impact your ministry. Now really is the time to dig in and decide where you are heading!

Join Leah and Aimee for part 2 of our series on creating a strategic communications plan. We'll give you a full outline of what should be included, help you understand how to both prepare and stay nimble, and give some examples of how we've seen churches do this practically.

Resource Mentioned:

Communications Plan Outline

Leah Norton and Aimee Cottle kick-off a two-part series guiding you through creating a strategic communications plan for your church. They outline three areas we believe you should put an emphasis on as you begin your 2021 planning, how to avoid reactive communication, and give you some practical next steps you can take this week to set your church up for more impact this year.

When a church is internally healthy and ready to communicate, it can tap into a distinct flavor of communication all its own — a unique spice and style that resonates with real-life people in their individual communities. These churches show up in personal, authentic ways. They use accessible, relatable language. They repeat that language consistently. And they do it with a specificity and empathy that is others-aware and outward-focused. In other words, they're good at building trust.

When we talk about branding, we're really talking about building trust through your distinct story. It's a powerful tool to reach people for Jesus.

But how do you go about uncovering and embracing your church's distinct story?

Join Lead Visual Designer Meredith Erwin and me as we give you an outline and activities you can use to do just that.

Resource Mentioned:

How to Uncover Your Distinct Story

Throughout 2020, our team has been on a specific journey - to clarify who we are and affirm the gifts and value we can offer to churches. And we realized something ... We believe that every organization - especially every church - has a very distinct story. A story that, if used intentionally and strategically, will directly impact the effectiveness of your ministry.

It's not just about mastering the latest tools or tactics. It's about life change. It's about building real relationships. It's about sharing the Gospel. And so we're on a mission -- a mission to help churches embrace their distinct story and translate it through personal, creative and authentic communication.

Today, Jamie Shafer and Leah Norton are here to inspire and equip you to lean into what's happening around you. The needs are great. And the hope of Jesus is life-changing. It's time to prioritize your church's mission, your congregation and community in very clear, practical ways.

In short - it's time to pivot and serve. And your church's communications and marketing efforts can play a significant part in all of this to provide value and care.

We know 2020 hasn't gone how we hoped or thought it would … but as we round the corner to the end of the year, we've noticed a trend that we want to share with you.

Aimee Cottle and Shayla Kenworthy will share the top 5 areas strategic churches are focusing on right now! They'll give you our top tips for ending the year strong and strategic! (And, throw in something free from our team to help you make the most of the last few months of 2020.)

Links:

Claim your free brainstorm here

The Digital Journey

What does Christmas communication and marketing look like in 2020? What should you be planning for? What can you plan for? How can we make the most out of the cards we've been dealt this year to bring real hope to the people around us?

Today We're sharing all the Christmas comm tips we can muster! We're helping churches plan and implement for Christmas right NOW! And we're bringing those same strategies to you today. Bring your questions, ideas and fears (and maybe some coffee). And let's plan for the most wonderful time of the year: 2020 Edition.

Today Leah Norton and Aimee Cottle are sharing how a church is using a marketing campaign to help their community become anti-racist. We'll outline the ins and outs of their strategy and explain why we're so passionate about churches using marketing as a ministry tool.

Link Mentioned: antiracistindy.com