One Massive Shift You Need To Make Right Now In Your Church Communications

6 Comments

1. 
   Paul Steinbrueck - February 27th, 2019 at 1:37 am

   Hey Steve, thanks for sharing your idea and insight. I want to push back a little bit with this question… shouldn’t the amount of time and money invested in internal and external communications be determined by its mission and strategy?

   If a church’s primary mission and strategy is for the church organization to reach people through mass, external communications, then it makes sense to invest more time and money in mass, external communications.

   But if a church’s primary mission and strategy is to disciple and empower believers to missionaries in their neighborhoods and workplaces, wouldn’t it make more sense to invest more in internal communications?

   It’s like the difference between Walmart which focuses the vast majority of its communications on external marketing vs Amway which is a multi-level-marketing/network marketing company which focuses the vast majority of its communications on internal marketing, empowering its members to take its message to their friends.

2. 
   Steve Fogg - February 28th, 2019 at 1:31 am

   Hi Paul,

   Thanks for commenting. It’s not an “either or” approach, but a “both and”. I’ve seen both ends of the spectrum when it comes to what you write about. Mission isn’t just about ‘go and tell’ or just ‘come and see’. Its both.

   My experience is that a church needs to support the local empowerment of believers. It also needs to communicate to the broader community.

   The analogy you write about regarding Walmart and Amway is interesting, but probably not a great one to make. I think both Walmart and Amway don’t have the same kinds of perception issues that a local church has with a potential visitor. There are just so many barriers to someone visiting a church. There aren’t any such barriers with Walmart. Or maybe the same if there are any.

   One of the benefits of focusing externally is that a church organisationally can complement what a local member on mission is doing missionally. At some point in their faith journey that person will need to be a part of a church community.

   I know of a friend who was a great member on mission, he had regular conversations with a friend. But that friend wouldn’t come along to church. He suggested that they check out our church online which he did and he said he found God there.

   The church organisationally was providing a context online where this person could make up their own mind about the Christian faith, without feeling pressured or feeling like the odd one out.

   Hope that helps! And thanks again for commenting.

   Steve

3. 
   John B - February 27th, 2019 at 4:00 am

   Hi Paul, while I agree with most of what you say I think the Amway analogy is pretty apt but probably not as you intended

   I’ve been an associate in the past, lasted about 5 years, loved all the internal comms and training and the products, made great friends and really learnt a lot I’ve carried over into regular life – the personal and professional development is great … BUT … didn’t sell hardly anything AND really annoyed my other non-Amway friends with my approaches and invitations to hear the “The PLAN” 😀

   Local missionaries have a better story to tell when they can see and have seen and experienced God doing God stuff at church and in their lives. It’s a lot harder for someone to deny a testimony of something you have seen God do than an explanation of a method or strategy.

   I think Steve might be onto something.

4. 
   Steve Fogg - February 28th, 2019 at 1:38 am

   Hi John,

   Thanks for commenting! If members of the local church “sold” like Amway sell, churches would be overflowing! But they don’t! The vast majority of church members don’t, but we need to also support everyone and also encourage those who are timid to share content online as well.

   Hope all is well in Kiwi land!

   Steve

5. 
   Zoe Bishop - February 27th, 2019 at 6:23 pm

   Hi Steve, thanks for sharing. I completely agree with everything you are saying! I’ve been slowly recommending such a shift to my church and we’ve already started to see the difference it can make.
   I’ve forwarded the video to my pastor to watch too, as I think all church leadership teams should see it to really understand the points you make so well.

6. 
   Steve Fogg - February 28th, 2019 at 1:20 am

   Hi Zoe, Thanks for your kind words! If there is anything else I can do let me know. Steve

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