The Digital Shepherd

Fonts are communicating something before people ever read the words.

So what exactly is your church’s typography saying?

In Episode Three of The Digital Shepherd, Josh and Jon dive into the surprisingly important world of fonts and typography, and help make sense of all those choices staring back at you every time you open Canva.

The guys talk about why fonts have personalities, how typography functions as a visual tone of voice, and why the exact same words can communicate something completely different depending on how they’re presented.

They also break down the basics of serif, sans serif, script, display, handwritten, and condensed fonts; when each can work well; and when a font choice starts getting in the way of the message.

Along the way, they tackle questions like:

How many fonts should you actually use in one design? When does a script font become too much? Is ALL CAPS helping or just yelling? What makes something readable from the back of a sanctuary? And what should you do when a Canva template shows up with six different fonts fighting for attention?

At the heart of the conversation is a simple principle:

If people can’t easily read and understand what you’re communicating, it doesn’t matter how cool the design looks.

Because church communication isn’t ultimately about showing off great typography or amazing design. It’s about serving the people on the other side of the screen. The message is sacred. The method is flexible. And sometimes better communication starts with something as simple as choosing the right font.

You know something feels “off” about the graphic you just made… but you can’t quite explain why.

That’s where Graphic Design 101 begins.

In Episode Two of The Digital Shepherd, Josh Givens and Jon Carlson break down five foundational design principles that can immediately help pastors, church staff, administrative assistants, and volunteers make better visual communication decisions:

Hierarchy. Contrast. Alignment. Spacing. Consistency.

You don’t need a graphic design degree to understand them; and you definitely don’t need to become a professional designer overnight.

Josh and Jon unpack how visual hierarchy tells people where to look first, why contrast goes far beyond simply choosing different colors, how alignment creates order, why empty space isn’t wasted space, and why consistency can build familiarity and trust with the people your church is trying to reach.

They also get practical about Canva, brand consistency, font overload, the difference between art and design, and why having access to powerful tools doesn’t automatically mean we know how to use them well.

At the heart of the conversation is a simple communication principle:

Clarity is kindness. Confusion creates friction.

Your church graphics shouldn’t make people work unnecessarily hard to understand what you’re trying to tell them.

And you don’t have to fix everything today.

Start small. Learn what to notice. Make better decisions. Then make the next thing a little better than the last.

If you’ve ever stared at a sermon graphic, announcement slide, or Canva project and thought, “I know something is wrong here, but I don’t know what,” this episode is for you.

The Digital Shepherd is a podcast from 6:14 Ministries helping small and midsize churches communicate with greater clarity, creativity, and confidence.

Why should a small church care about graphic design? How can a tiny country church in a middle of nowhere town even keep up with modern visual communication methods? 

If you’re preaching the Bible, sharing the Gospel, loving people, and faithfully serving your community, does it really matter what your sermon graphics look like, whether your website is up to date, or what you post on social media?

In the very first episode of The Digital Shepherd, Josh Givens and Jon Carlson start at the beginning and tackle the “why” behind church communications and visual media.

Josh and Jon discuss why design is much more than decoration, how every church is already communicating through its graphics, website, social media, screens, branding, and digital presence, and why intentional communication matters for churches of every size.

They also talk about the church’s “digital front door,” visual hierarchy, consistency and authenticity, communicating to the people you’re actually trying to reach, and why excellence doesn’t require a megachurch budget, expensive equipment, or a professional designer on staff.

The goal isn’t to make a church of 80 people look like a church of 8,000.

It’s to help your church communicate clearly, authentically, and faithfully with the resources God has already placed in your hands.

Whether you’re the pastor wearing six different hats, the church secretary trying to figure out Canva, or the volunteer responsible for Sunday morning slides, The Digital Shepherd was created for you.

Because design isn’t just about making something look good. Design communicates. And you don’t have to become a professional designer overnight. You just need to take the next faithful step toward making the next thing clearer and better than the last.

Welcome to The Digital Shepherd, a podcast from 6:14 Ministries.

You can learn more about 6:14 Ministries at 614ministries.org

See Jon's incredible work at joncarlson.net

Check out Josh's graphic design samples and writing work at his portfolio site here: jdgivens.myportfolio.com