Interesting Talk on Sound

Found another great TED talk--this one just 5 minutes--on how sounds affect us. Fascinating application I think to worship and teaching.

Communion Graphic Design

A graphic I recently completed for our upcoming Communion service.  I like the soft layered look, but moreso because I often think of a red/dark color scheme for Communion--sort of centering on the "blood of Christ", wine, cup, etc.  Here the green and blue add a very different look to a traditional concept.

Adventure Class Concept

A graphic logo update I just completed for our Children's Ministry "Adventure Class" (for kids interested and asking questions about faith and Christ).

A Picture Is Worth...

Friend Day 2009

Click here to view these pictures larger

Web Design Resource

I find a large portion of effective communication for the North American church is now focused on the web and social media.  I've found a ton of help and resources online.  This one, For Web Designers, is one of my favorites.  Great links to a ton of helpful info on design, scripting, CSS, site features, third-party services and add-ons and more. Interestingly, as my websites get more complex, I find the actual cost is going down and the work involved in implementing new features is lesser than it was in the last few years.

Mission Statements a Miss

Just read a great article in Fast Company entitled "How to Write a Mission Statement That Isn't Dumb". A lot of application for churches here. Key thought is the a mission statement should be oriented around action, versus sentiment or philosphy. Are we calling people to know something, or rather to do something?

Wake Up Church

Caught this video on YouTube--a compilation of several pastors. I don't recognize any of them myself, but man, what they are saying is true.  May we not be guilty of watering down what we believe and twisting Truth into a consumer product.  Powerful stuff...

Church Marketing?

Read an interesting post on "Christian marketing" that I think gets it pretty close to dead-on.  The church must move beyond marketing philosophy if it is to regain its effectiveness. We all want Seth Godin's "Purple Cow" of a church--well, just live the gospel and that's gonna be amazingly, attention-attracting radical.

Killing Creativity

Dr. Ken Robinson gave a fascinating talk about creativity in education that really made me think:

Conservative Design Wins

Just read a great article on FastCompany.com regarding conservative versus "edgy" web design. The conclusion is simply that conservative, simple and straightforward design wins, hands-down, every time, in terms of its raw drawing power and ability to help someone through a website and encourage repeat visits.

I see many web designers and design firms pushing the boundaries of graphic arts for their clients, I think to the client's detriment. Interestingly I met with someone this week who had been working with a web designer on their non-profit organization's site, and pulled the plug in the middle of the project because the design firm absolutely failed to achieve their objectives. One part of the conversation moved toward design, which the person told me was more "edgy" and esoteric.

Look folks, take simple communications tools like a telephone or a typewriter. You can monkey with the styling and the look quite a bit, but at the core, a phone has to have a standard keypad, and a typewriter has to have a QWERTY layout--you risk killing all sense of function for a device when you start tampering with its core identity. Yes, absolutely this philosophy does translate to websites. People expect to see words like "welcome", "schedule", "contact us" and "about us" when they go to your website menu. They don't want a laundry list of odd terms that they have to decipher.

For a church, a website must be very simple, straightfoward and easy to use and navigate. This translates to "welcoming" or "inviting" in the personal sense. So many church websites are very difficult to interact with. Worse, they go down this road of trying to intelligently present their mission and vision before someone has the chance to even step in their electronic "front door" and find stuff they need to know to connect with the congregation.

About 10 years ago I read a survey by the Barna organization that indicated the top three things guests look for on a church's home page: (1) schedule, (2) how to get to the church and (3) information about the Pastor. Yet so many churches bury this vital, key information a few clicks down in the site. It's no different than putting those telephone keys under a little plastic lid that you have to raise each time before you dial. Who would want to mess with a key function like that? Well, we do it all the time on church websites.

Rethink the function of your church site. Make it painstakingly easy and simple to navigate. Use regular words instead of vague phrases. Use one word instead of two. Embrace radical adherence to usability first. Forget edgy. "Edgy" people use conservatively designed sites all the time. Conservative people hardly ever hit edgy sites, though. Why divide your audience when you could grow it instead?

Radical Lives

Just finished reading Francis Chan's book "Crazy Love". Excellent book and a great example of a recent trend I see that redefines the Christian life as truly radical. I say redefines because I think for some time mainstream churches in North America have basically defined the faith as a series of gradual, self-improvement steps over time.

Yet, as Chan's book reinforces, and as the Bible challenges, being a Christ-follower is a rapid, wholehearted and radical departure from the status quo. The fact is that although it would be nice to believe that most Christians are pursuing a radical Christ-life, it just isn't so. In Christ's own time, the masses who followed Him eventually fell away, leaving only 12--11 if you figure Judas also left Jesus.

The problem is that I have a tendency to put myself among the 12. Really, it is more likely given my lifestyle I would be among the masses. Do I really understand the deep, wholehearted, reckess and unimaginable sacrifice that was behind those words, "Follow me" (Matthew 4:19)? Praying this week for a lack of caution and a rise of devotion when it comes to fully and immediately following the example and commands of Christ.

Equipping for Communications

Working this week on defining volunteer roles and equipping possibilities within communications ministry at the church where I serve. Tremendous potential here--and the biggest challenge thus far is putting my role and the role of others in communications ministry in the context of reproducible roles.

At a planning retreat this week our leadership talked about apprenticeships and other possibilities for equipping lay leadership within each ministry area. I'm more convinced than ever that this is a key role for the future of communications ministry. Far too often, churches outsource some of these key communications tasks to third parties, versus building up leadership within the church to use their talents, gifts and abilities to serve these crucial areas.

The sacred cow here is my role and other staff roles, that far too often derive their value from task completion versus lay development. I'm far too guilty of this year after year. The hurdle I'm praying through is taking decisions I make, and reforming that role into one that can be accomplished by a lay leader. Beginning to define those values and principles that area crucial for a volunteer to understand in each area and how those can be lived out as the training and equipping process begins to happen.

A Snail's Pace

The pastor of my church here in Atlanta is teaching a series on becoming a "fisher of men" (Mark 1, Matthew 4). I was re-reading the scripture associated with the series yesterday and noticed something interesting in both instances where Jesus' calling of His first disciples was recounted.

They left everything and followed Christ "immediately". The word immediately appears in both recorded Gospel records, in Matthew more than once. Flipping over to Acts to review the conversion of Paul the Apostle again I see the word immediately--as soon as Paul's conversion is complete he immediately began preaching the gospel.

I think the North American church has this idea that there has to be this long "preparation" phase after someone comes to know the Lord between then and when they can begin sharing the gospel. I hard the phrase "fully devoted follower of Christ" occasionally, and it seems to point to this "delay"--an educational process that is vague but is somehow seen as necessary before we "get out there and get to it."

I think based on the Bible that just the opposite must be true. Let's get out there and do it, right now, today, immediately. I connected with three people in the past 24 hours who need Christ--a visitor at the office, a man in a nearby neighborhood who is going through a divorce, and a neighbor. No preparation time or educational process is really needed to reach out to them, and I took the opportunity to do so in all three cases. It doesn't have to be complicated, fleshed-out and neat and clean. Christ commands it, so let's do it "immediately".

In ministry too, I see myself operating many times at a snail's pace. And this is a point of prayer and conviction as to the best methodology. To some extent I want to "bring people alongside" as Christ works on me and adjusts me according to His purposes. At the same time, how hard can I turn the rudder in a ministry area? Should I adjust in a way that helps people hang on, or just realize that some will fall off the boat?

Christ Himself kinda answers this in that He invested heavily in just a few men, and most of the multitudes left Him in the end. At the same time, there are people I am entrusted with who claim to be believers, and so I think perhaps there's some great responsibility to bring fellow Christ-followers from milk to meat. I want to accelerate change in my own life, and consequently in the areas of ministry which I serve. How much of a turn is too much at one time? Is there such a thing as too much acceleration or change toward the clear calling and commands of Christ?

Diving Board Theology

I've found myself reading and re-reading many books lately in preparation for and in support of my role in ministry at Cross Pointe Church. Interestingly I can put them into two categories.

The first, and this is generally true of older books, are solid, theologically-driven works designed to help a person understand more fully the Word and apply it in ministry and life. I'm enjoying books by J.I. Packer, A.W. Tozer, John Piper and C.S. Lewis. Besides most of these guys going by their initials for some odd reason, the common theme seems to be an indictment to a degree of straying from basic biblical principles. So I'm convicted as I read these to keep to the basics. Know God more, obey the Word more fully and connect with others to serve and to share the Gospel.

The second batch of books is what I am going to refer to as "diving board theology". I'm not going to mention authors or titles, but there are tons of these, mostly in the "church growth" arena, that really disturb me. The story is largely the same: The author chooses a verse or two from Scripture, which he or she mentions before page 10, and then "dives off" into their own thoughts and ideas, never to return to the Word again throughout the book.

It's not an exaggeration. I just read one book that advertised it was specifically for helping churches "become more devoted to the Christ" and yet not one Word Christ uttered was included. Amazing. Another one bragged that it was a mix of "biblical wisdom and practical business know-how". I'm not sure what that means, or if it's even possible.

In the first batch of books I found much to know about God, understand and apply more fully. In the second batch I found a lot of advice--most of it I would say is "good" advice, but little advancement in my knowledge of how to more fully impact today's world with the timelessness of Scripture. If our North American Christian leaders, as a group, are not going to go to God's Word as a constant and solid foundation for leadership advice, are they really leading? Frankly I've gone from a little bit of outrage to downright disappointment. Some of these guys are on the national stage and have a tremendous forum--and spend 120 pages talking about themselves.

What this is teaching me is three-fold. First, hang on to the old guys and the earlier works--there's much wisdom and biblical teaching there. Second, look carefully at the current crop of leaders and what they are writing in light of the Word before accepting "advice" as "admonition" from the Lord. Lastly, in my own work, websites and forums where I have a voice, I need to be careful that I am speaking out of God's Word and relying heavily on my own flawed experience. It's a lot to swallow.

The Balance Between People and the Word

Increasingly I find my thoughts related to creative support in ministry centering on the balance between what we do to garner the attention of people versus clearly showing them the Word. Thematically I look toward things that might visually or kinetically reinforce a message, but these are often people-centric ideas—graphics, slogans and the like. On the other hand, I sometimes find ideas that are Word-centric may look less "exciting" but will, in fact, remind people more of the Word as a result.

I don't think these two things need to be mutually exclusive. I think it's possible to be very creative and original and yet focus on the Word as the end result. Perhaps I am leaning a bit more right now in the direction of creativity for the sake of the audience (people). I'm interested in learning from others how to best temper that with a more concentrated effort toward creativity for the sake of the Word.

Cross Pointe Church, Duluth, Georgia

Last month, after much prayer and consultation with friends, my wife and others, I accepted the role of Communications Director at Cross Pointe Church in Duluth, Georgia, just north of Atlanta. We put our house up for sale in Birmingham, Alabama, and arranged with the church to stay in our current role until our house sold. In the current economic climate, we believed this would take some time, and so we continued to seek the Lord's will and pray for the church, our place in ministry personally and as a family, and other goals we have for the coming years, like adopting additional orphan children.

Well, our house was under contract within 17 days. God willing, we will close on our home next week and move to Atlanta a day or two after. It is somewhat a bittersweet move for us, because we love our friends, our family and our church in Birmingham. Life is very good here and there is no compelling reason to move, other than following God's open door for our family, and a role which we believe He has called us to.

More than anything right now I find myself constantly praying, "Lord, what is it you want to accomplish through me at this place?" I have a skill set and a few things I believe I should be doing with respect to this particular role. But I am constantly checking myself to ensure I'm holding the role with an open hand. I am listing for God's voice and I am intent on not letting my personal preferences or "grand design" to create noise in my head that will grow my ego and take me from God's purpose and plan.

I don't want to get caught up in something new. I earnestly want to get caught up in something old, very basic, and very biblical. I struggle with the balance between people's wants and expectations, and God's commands and mandates. Often these things are not in sync. My prayer is, God, please allow these things to be in sync in my life and with those I will be serving alongside at Cross Pointe. Please God, let this be your communications ministry. I'm just one voice in it--and I hope my voice is merely and reflection and amplification of your Word.

I'm sure this role will spark many additional posts. Interestingly this week I've been asked by serveral churches for advice on communications roles. So I'd like to turn it around and ask for your advice if you serve in communications. What can I learn from you that will help me serve in this role in the local church?

A Picture Is Worth...

Life, to a large degree, is a matter of perspective.

Hunger for Civility

I've been working and traveling a bit this month and I have been struck by something which I believe many churches and Christians are missing in terms of a practical way to connect with those who are far from God. There's a simple, polite civility that seems to have disappeared largely from the North American landscape. As the economy grows more grim and the prevailing attitude of "what's in it for me" grows more each day, it seems that anyone not completely absorbed with themselves and their own wants, needs and desires is, well--extraordinary.

I think there's a hunger for civility, self-LESS-ness, and genuine concern and servanthood toward fellowman. I know this is true in the business world--just today I spoke with a customer of the company I work with who was dissatisfied with his experience. He was flabbergasted that I not only took time to call and listen to his issue, but also work it out personally. And this same hunger is also present in the personal realm. I'm struck by the stark contrast in things so simple as Facebook posts--most of the ones I read tout what's going on in "my life and world". But a few--the ones I really notice, honestly--focus on helping and serving others.

I think most of us would want to think that the United States is known for its selflessness and servanthood worldwide--that we're a people with a heritage of civility and concern for our fellow man. I think we'd also have to admit that those days are waining. Worse, though, is that I believe we think of civility as a patriotic or nationalistic incliniation before we think of it as a Christian one. Jesus Himself "did not come to be served, but to serve..." and yet I think the call to a life of servanthood is largely lost on today's much smaller churched population.

If these last few weeks have taught me anything, it's that a little civility, selflessness, servanthood and desire to make something better for someone elsse without motive for myself is seen as simply extraordinary these days. That's sad, because it's telling as to how far our nation is removed from the virtues of our father's generation. And it's also an opportunity--because frankly, these days a little civility will go a long way.

A Picture Is Worth...

A Picture Is Worth...

A Picture Is Worth...

When I started in a creative field many years ago, it was an axiom in my mind as I dreamed and submitted ideas for consideration that "anything is possible". Now, older and I hope a little bit wiser, I've amended that statement to be, "Anything is possible, but not everything is advisable". Case in point:

The Power of God's Word

One of the great failures of modern church communication is how little faith in and understanding we have of the power of God's Word. The Bible is often viewed as an ancient book of ciphers, which "professional ministers" must work to make understandable through clever themes, sermon series, gimmicks and simplistic translations. The reality is that the Bible is understandable, factual, historical, readable, organized and, most of all, truthful. But those are just my adjectives--the Word itself has so many more.

We must know the Word in order to believe that it is complete and capable, in and of itself, of helping man to understand God's nature and plan, and giving him a more thorough understanding of the gospel and our responsibilities as Christ-followers. Often, I see churches flounder around with weak teaching because leaders simply won't wrap their minds and hearts up in the Word and then stand on it confidently.

Psalm 119 is known as the longest chapter in the Bible. But do you know what the Psalm is talking about? It is one of the most beautiful and passionate passages on the power, authority and rewards of God's Word. You might know a key verse, Psalm 119:105--"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Consider now, these other verses and aspects of God's Word as you read the entirety of Psalm 119:

Those who walk in the way of God's Word:

• Are blessed (Psalm 119:1)
• Are blameless (Psalm 119:1, 119:80)
• Do no unrightousness (Psalm 119:3)
• Are not ashamed (Psalm 119:4, 119:46, 119:80, 119:116)
• Give thanks (Psalm 119:7)
• Are pure (Psalm 119:9)
• Resist sin (Psalm 119:11, 119:101, 119:133)
• Rejoice in the Word (Psalm 119:14, 119:162)
• Are revived (Psalm 119:25)
• Are strengthened (Psalm 119:28)
• Walk at liberty (Psalm 119:45)
• Lift up their hands to the Word (Psalm 119:47)
• Are comforted (Psalm 119:52, 119:76)
• Stand in awe of God's Word (Psalm 119:161)
• Have great peace (Psalm 119:165)
• Do not stumble (Psalm 119:165)

God Word is:

• Ordained (Psalm 119:4)
• Settled in heaven (119:89)
• Light (Psalm 119:105, 119:130)
• Filled with wonderful things (Psalm 119:18)
• A counselor (Psalm 119:24)
• Faithful (Psalm 119:30, 119:86, 119:138)
• A comfort in our affliction (Psalm 119:50)
• A song that we sing (Psalm 119:54, 119:172)
• More valuable than gold and silver (Psalm 119:72, 119:127)
• Sweeter than honey (Psalm 119:103)
• The joy of our hearts (Psalm 119:111)
• Wonderful (Psalm 119:129)
• Is righteous and upright (Psalm 119:137-138, 119:144, 119:172)
• Pure (Psalm 119:140)
• Truth (Psalm 119:142, 119:151, 119:160)
• Everlasting (Psalm 119:152, 119:160)

Instructions to us regarding God's Word:

• Walk in the Word (Psalm 119:1, 119:3, 119:35, 119:45)
• Observe the Word (Psalm 119:2, 119:22, 119:34, 119:69, 119:115, 119:145)
• Long for the Word at all times (Psalm 119:20, 119:40, 119:82, 119:123, 119:131, 119:174)
• Obey the Word (Psalm 119:112)
• Love His commands (Psalm 119:47, 119:48, 119:97, 119:113, 119:119, 119:127, 119:140, 119:159, 119:163, 119:167)
• Meditate on the Word (Psalm 119:15, 119:23, 119:27, 119:48, 119:78, 119:97, 119:99, 119:148)
• Keep the Word (Psalm 119:5, 119:8, 119:9, 119:17, 119:44, 119:55, 119:57, 119:67, 119:106, 119:134, 119:146, 119:167-168)
• Look on the Word (Psalm 119:5)
• Give thanks for the Word (Psalm 119:7)
• Do not wander from the Word (Psalm 119:10, 119:102, 119:157)
• Treasure the Word (Psalm 119:11)
• Tell of the Word (Psalm 119:13)
• Delight in the Word (Psalm 119:16, 119:24, 119:35, 119:47. 119:70, 119:77, 119:143, 119:174)
• Do not forget the Word (Psalm 119:16, 119:52, 119:83, 119:93, 119:109, 119:141, 119:153, 119:176)
• Cling to the Word (Psalm 119:31)
• Trust in the Word (Psalm 119:42)
• Wait for the Word (Psalm 119:43, 119:74, 119:81, 119:114, 119:147)
• Believe in the Word (Psalm 119:66)
• Fear the Word (Psalm 119:120)

God uses His Word to:

• Rebuke the arrogant (Psalm 119:21)
• Revive the hearts of His followers (Psalm 119:25, 119:37, 119:40, 119:50, 119:93, 119:107, 119:149, 119:154, 119:156)
• Enlarge our hearts (Psalm 119:32)
• Teach us (Psalm 119:33, 119:171)
• Give us understanding (Psalm 119:34, 119:73, 119:104, 119:125, 119:130, 119:144, 119:169)
• Produce reverence in His followers (Psalm 119:38)
• Bring salvation (119:41)
• Cause indignation in His followers for those do not keep His Word (Psalm 119:53, 119:158)
• Deals with us according to it (Psalm 119:65)
• Teach discernment and knowledge (Psalm 119:66)
• To establish the earth and make itstand (Psalm 119:90)
• Make us wiser then our enemies (Psalm 119:98)
• Give insight (Psalm 119:99)
• Sustain us (Psalm 119:116)
• Reject those who wander from it (Psalm 119:118)
• Establish our footsteps (give us direction) (Psalm 119:133)
• Deliver us (Psalm 119:170)

The picture of the Psalmist is one who is deeply devoted to God's Word--depending on it with desperation--trusting it, clinging to it, waiting on it, believing it, looking to it, keeping it, loving it, delighting in it. What a powerful reminder that the core of our beliefs and teaching is God's Word. I wonder if we would only believe more fully that the Bible is what we say it is--and that its words are true--how that would affect our churches and leadership.

A Picture Is Worth...

What designers say to instill confidence from their coworkers...

A Picture Is Worth...

Easter at The Church at Brook Hills

Here's a link (click the graphic) to the promotional page for Easter for the church I am a member of--The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, AL. The Pastor is doing a Friday night 6-hour study on the cross on April 10, followed by a biblical Easter message on April 12.

If you are in the Birmingham area, please drop me a comment--I would love for you to attend the service as my guest if you do not have a church home.

Church Budget Woes

Lately I've made the state of the church in the U.S. a matter of prayer, more so than in the past. I've begun to hear some really frightening stories during the economic downturn of churches that are really at the end of their financial rope. Today I was discussing with a friend the fact that one very large local church I know of has laid off a portion of their workforce. I've also been reading online about other churches that are facing difficult financial times.

A few years ago when I was serving in one particular church, we had to cut our budget. The Pastor had resigned and during the interim period there was an attendance downturn. So, after the fact, I wrote an article about it and posted it on communicorps.org. Well, over the last six months, that article and a subsequent one on budget issues have been read more than any other pages on the site.

It's a little disconcerting, as I certainly don't have a lot to say on how to budget in the church. So, more than anything I've been praying for godly leaders to seek wisdom, spend wisely and cut prudently and in line with scripture. Interestingly, I think that year of budget cuts a while back was a good thing--it certainly taught me that there were many "essentials" that were actually "wants" versus "needs" in our budget. I hope these challenges in stewardship will drive church leaders to their knees in prayer and to the Word for direction... They may discover, as I did, that the core responsibilities of the church and accomplishing Her purpose on earth actually costs much less than we think.

How To Begin Unbranding the Church

If we have fallen into the branding-marketing mindset within the church, how to we begin to unravel these threads to reveal our true mission and purpose? Furthermore, what is the role of these media and marketing tools in the church if we are willing to finally step away from the damaging marketing mindset? Let me suggest four foundational thoughts:

Stop trying to attract and keep an audience. Church growth strategy, which in North America has become a cottage industry, is centered on attracting a larger audience by programming to meet the needs of prospective attendees. Inevitably a church that focuses on attracting and keeping an audience will fashion a faith out of answers and convenience versus truth and obedience.

An unbranded church seeks to be the church as in the Acts 2 example, dedicated to worship, the fellowship, service, prayer and scripture. Do not let your eyes leave the mission--the size of the audience will take care of itself. Practical steps:

• Make sure, above all other commitments, you are engaged personally and collectively in core disciplines outlined in Acts 2 daily. You cannot lead people where you are not yourself going.
• Stop setting any goals or marks based on numerical attendance or growth.

Find your church's identity solely in Christ. Many North American churches spend time and money crafting an image of the congregation and its mission for the primary benefit of the surrounding unchurched community. This methodology is useful for selling them used cars, but will not impact generations for Christ locally or globally. Worse, it can lead to a church whose identity is found in their mission statement or vision or a set of goals or causes. All of these can change over time and thus cannot form a solid foundation for the church.

Instead, seek Christ, personally and as a congregation. Study Christ, pray to Christ, act like Christ, obey the commands of Christ, and seek to know as much about Christ as you possibly can. The identity of church will never be more powerful, more unique, more radical, more zealous or more memorable than when people see Christ when they look at you and the members of your congregation. Practical steps:

• Disciple a group through a study of the Gospels. Pay special attention to the example of Christ. As you study, ask yourself "What is Christ modeling here or commanding there?" Live that out in your own life.
• Drop anything from your mission or vision that won't matter in 100 years. Forget trends, demographics, economics, patterns of growth or decline, current issues and events, technologies or media. You don't need nimble, infinitely-flexible methodologies that allow you to "turn on a dime." In Christ, you're an eternal being who is not on the clock. Think beyond next week. Think beyond your lifetime.

Know God's Word, really. An appalling lack of basic Bible knowledge I believe is the single most important factor in the overall decline of the North American evangelical church. Many view the Word as an "instruction book"--a life encyclopedia that gives answers to some issues but leaves others open to interpretation.

The Bible is, in fact, God's story about Himself, His creation, His nature and purposes and His plan. It was not written so that we could apply God's moral code to facets of our lives. It was given to us so that we could know more about God. And though many of us profess to live by its teachings, we scarcely know it or understand it, much less believe it enough to stake our lives on it. We must elevate scripture in our lives individually and submit ourselves to its ultimate authority. Practical steps:

• Devote ample time to study the Bible every day. Cease any other activities that prevent you from doing this, including family and ministry commitments. If we are truly and wholly devoted to Christ, time in His Word will be the absolute most important thing in our lives, before all other interests and relationships, without exception.
• Memorize scripture, in large blocks if possible. Right now millions of Muslim children are engaged in the systematic memorization of the Koran. If we believe our Bible contains God's Words and is our ultimate authority, then we must saturate our minds with it.
• Continually teach, model and program in the church organization based soley on the scripture. Don't let any church program or activity interfere with Bible study.

Quit searching for relevance and connection. God's Word and the church are never irrelevant. God never fails to connect with people. We do not need to add anything to what God has already given us in some vain effort to make Him more attractive. Stop pursuing a voice for the church in whatever culture you live in. We must follow God's Word like our lives depend on it, and sacrifice our dreams, desires, possessions, families and careers to obey Christ above all else. That kind of church will be so radical, so different, it will get all the attention it wants, and likely some that it doesn't.

Don't assume that the unchurched want you to solve their problems, give them a vision for a bright future, or share God's perspective on the story of the month. They only hunger for two things: meaning (why are they here) and truth (how they can know the answer to the meaning question is real). Answer those two questions and all others will be of lesser value. Practical steps:

• Study the church in Acts 2 and strive to be more like its example. Simplify wherever possible.
• Don't program based on cultural phenomenon or media trends. Take what you are learning in the Word and re-teach that. Don't worry about how "in tune" your Bible study topic is with the latest fad.
• Serve the poor in your own community and around the world. Don't put all your effort into seeking out your social and economic peers. Put your time and resources toward those less fortunate, and challenge your peers to do the same.

Risen EKG (Easter Intro Video)

This video was designed for the opening of our church's Easter services, meant to show Jesus' final hours on earth, His death and His resurrection. I used an idea I have seen several times, which is a heartbeat and EKG display, intermixed with video clips and scripture. Ultimately, this video was not used as-is, but served as more of an inspiration as it was edited to fit better with the musical portion of the service. You might have to turn the volume waaaay up on your computer to hear the deep "heartbeat" soundtrack".

The Dangers, Results, and History of Decisional Regeneration

I found this is an interesting and instructional segment on "decisional regeneration", which is a very common practice in churches today. Though I do know deeply passionate believers who "prayed to receive Christ" at some point in their lives, I also agree with the video's assertion that we often lack an emphasis on repentance and surrender to Christ and His Lordship in our preaching. Food for thought...

The Power of Storytelling

Storytelling is a means of sharing what God is doing through the lives fellow Christ-followers in your community and around the world. Knowing how to write or tell a compelling story is a fantastically useful skill for ministry. The great thing about a true story is that it relates an experience. Unlike doctrine or beliefs, experience cannot be argued against or debated. It is history. It happened. There's no denying it--and that makes for a powerful testimony.
A well crafted story usually follows some general principles...

Three acts. A common and effective way to organize a story is in three "acts," or sections. The most obvious example of this structure is movies, which are usually done in three acts. Act 1 is devoted to "setting up" the situation or conflict. Act 2 is devoted to developing the characters. Act 3 resolves the situation. Sometimes in movies, acts 1 and 2 are reversed, with character development occurring first. I've also heard storytelling described as "movements," like in a symphony. Though stories can be further subdivided into sections, a three-part design is a great place to start.

A good story has a beginning, middle and an end. In a ministry story, this three-act structure can often be obtained by using the story to answer three questions: (1) What were the circumstances before God intervened? (2) What did God do? (3) What were the results? These three questions can form the basis of many testimonies.

Keep it simple. When writing, avoid unnecessary words and sentences. When speaking, avoid unnecessary tangents or exposition. Ask yourself, "Is this sentence or paragraph moving the story along? Is it important?" Avoid extraneous detail. Write like you would talk if telling the story aloud--people are usually more efficient with their words in speaking than in writing.

Add detail to action and emotion. Some writers spend pages describing places and people--the physical features. That's fine in a novel where the reader will spend a great deal of time there. In a short testimony or story, the point is to get to the point. Concentrate instead on feeling, emotion and action. What happened? How did that make you feel or react? How would other people react in the same situation, and was your reaction different? Why? When you tell your story, emphasize the emotions you felt at various points along the way. People readily identify with love, hate, anger, jealousy, envy, joy, humor--anything they are capable of feeling.

Conflict or tension can make stories more interesting. In ministry, the tendency is to always put a positive spin on things. Life isn't always a bed of roses, and what makes the stories of life interesting are the situations or conflicts we find ourselves in. If you've been through a tough time, it's easy to say, "I trusted God" after the fact. But if you had doubts during the ordeal, expressing them now is important. It's relevant because others have doubts. The people who hear your story are asking themselves, "What would I have done?" Don't be afraid to express conflict or tension when telling the story.

Simple storytelling techniques you can use. There are three easy ways to enhance any story. The first is "back story," which is telling the background elements--what led up to the situation? What about their past made those involved act as they did? Back story develops the characters more fully, allowing the listener or reader to learn what they are all about. Make sure your back story information is relevant to your story's point. Let the back story indicate where you came from, so you can better explain where you've gone to.

A second element used by storytellers is "foreshadowing," or hinting at things to come. "When this happened, little did I know it would be important later on," is an example of foreshadowing. Foreshadowing is a great device for piquing the interest of the reader or listener. Their curiosity is heightened as they try to determine in their mind what might happen next.

Finally, use the element of "surprise." Did your story take an unexpected turn, or have a twist that nobody saw coming? "When all of a sudden..." or "I had no idea..." are great devices in storytelling. Life is full of the unexpected, and surprise has a way of engaging and delighting a listener or reader.

A story must have a purpose. Every story had a purpose. Let your story's point be one that is well-made. What can be gained from the experience? What did you win or lose? What did you learn? How was your life affected? How can this experience be applied to others? A story without a purpose is just entertainment. You can use devices to make a store more engaging, but you must begin with a purpose so that the story itself has merit, beyond the dramatic conventions.

Who gets the credit? Finally, a story of God's intervention or activity in someone's life must give credit to Whom credit is due. The point of a Christian testimony is not for people to know more about the storyteller. It's for people to know more about God. Is your story about being forgiven, or about God's forgiveness? Is it about your surrender to Christ, or about His sacrifice and Lordship? Let your story focus on what God did and Who God is versus details about yourself.

A group of facts or a paragraph of opinion is seldom as compelling and captivating as a well-crafted story--one that involves the reader or listener emotionally. Storytelling is and art, but it does not have to be complicated. Any good story is simply a thoughtful and planned presentation, a deliberate act of adding flair and drama, using age-old devices to enhance the moment.

Churchy Clichés... and What They Really Mean

Why can't we as the church communicate more clearly and without rhetoric and clichés? The North American evangelical culture is filled with "churchy" clichés--words and phrases we use to describe the church and ministry. The net result is that we stereotype ourselves with these catchphrases, and end up turning off the very people we want to engage. Worse, the more I hear these, the more convinced I am that we cheapen our faith and our God when we dip into our "church speak".

I wrote an article for my website explaining some more common "churchy clichés". There's plenty of sarcasm in the article, but I hope it is somewhat thought-provoking in terms of the language so many of us, including me, have used regularly within our walls.

Please read Churchy Clichés... and What They Really Mean.

How to Communicate Disagreement in the Church

Every church of every size will have disagreements among its members, on everything from budget issues to blue jeans in worship. How should church communicators view these disagreements, and more importantly, how should church leaders handle disagreement as an ongoing ministry challenge?

The Word says "unity". A myth of those who may foster dissent in the church is that disagreement is just a part of life, both inside the church as well as outside. That is an unbiblical view. Throughout the New Testament we see many examples and commands related to unity in the body of Christ.

• In Ephesians 4:1-13 we are told to "walk in a manner worthy of our calling" and to "maintain the unity of the Spirit".
• In 1 Peter 3:8 we are commanded to "have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind".
• Philippians 1:27: Paul says to "behave as citizens worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel".
• Philippians 2:2 says to be "of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind".

Clearly we are to be like-minded, unified, working toward a common purpose and goal. Unity is the model and the standard, not the exception. The New Testament example is a church that outsiders looked at with awe in part because they were of one mind at at peace with one another. Does this sound like your church?

The "authenticity" argument. A second myth related to disagreement in the church is that we are not being truthful, authentic believers if we lock our jaws and smile through our anger or dissent--that unity for the sake of appearance comes off as "holier than thou" to non-believers. We can adopt an attitude of "righteous disagreement" and place our argument or viewpoint ahead of other concerns.

Here we are faced with the heart of the matter, because the authenticity question causes us to ask, "What image are we trying to protect?" Are we most concerned with our personal image or our local body's image in the eyes of non-believers? Or, should our concerns about what people might think of us bow to a much greater concern: what will they think of our God? "Authenticity" is one of those vague churchy words on which we can place great emphasis, but without biblical foundation, and worse, a re-ordering of priorites that does not solve anything.

We carry Christ's reputation. Hebrews 13 is a tremendous instructional passage on the focus and unity of the church. The chapter ends with a reminder that our work is chiefly for the glory of God on earth, and that Christ's work in us is to bring Himself ultimate glory through our actions. When we look at dissent and disagreement, we must ask, "Whose reputation will be damaged by improper handling of this issue?' Often our own reputations are of no concern to one party or the other. But if both parties call themselves followers of Chist, then ultimately it must be Christ's reputation that we guard first, above our own issues and interests.

If, then, there is disunity in our church, our goal must not be to "take a vote, majority rules" or for a leader to declare "my way or the highway". Rather, we must work to restore unity in the body to accomplish the purpose and mission of the church. This is done for the sake of Christ's reputation in the world. If non-believers see us arguing among ourselves, then forget what they think of us--what must they think of Christ? Can we not solve our issues in a way that promotes unity and glorifies Christ, so that even in our disagreements others will see His presence in us? That is a tall order, and one in which most of us, including myself, fall far short of the standard.

Which brings us to communication. The task of leading the body through these issues is ultimately for church leaders. In church disagreements, unity is the standard and Christ's reputation is to be protected. Biblical principles follow here as well--we should go to a person one-on-one to work out differences. Failing that, we should go with a brother or sister in Christ. Failing that, deacons, elders or leaders should take up the issue. That's the simple biblical model for conflict resolution and the escalation of authority in the church. But for the purpose of this webiste, how should church communicators act or react in the face of disagreement? A few suggestions:

We do not air our disagreements in public. In the age of the internet, email and instant blogs on every topic imaginable, it's terribly easy to build a forum for dissent or debate in a public place, accessible to everyone. Over the years, in arguments from leadership style to worship songs to budget battles, I have seen church members who would never speak up to anyone within the walls of the church start online campaigns outside the church in an effort to influence decision making. In a few cases I've watched in horror as another church's internal issue played out on local television news.

This is absolutely wrong, and I believe is actually creating dissensions and factions, acts of the sinful nature described in Galatians 5:20. Such activity has no place in the body. If faced with this dilemma, I would encourage church leaders to approach the party biblically and try to resolve the issue privately. Failing that, however, they should in some cases be cast out of the church, if we are to follow what the New Testament teaches about such sin as being typical of those who are not believers.

The internet is an inappropriate forum for disagreement in the church. I have seen church controversies in the United States play out on blogs and websites. People in the church and outside the church take one side or the other and battle it out in postings, Bible references in hand. Who does this glorify? I would not even dare apply the adjective "well meaning" to these people. They are embarrassing themselves, their church and their God. By New Testament standards, any forum that does not bring God glory in its use for a significant disagreement in the church body is simply unbiblical.

Create forums for discourse and discussion. Sometimes dissent or disagreement comes when there is no clear avenue for expressing a viewpoint. Don't assume that people with a grievance will simply call the chuch office and make an appointment with the appropriate staff member. I have seen this often in church business meetings, which are called for one specific purpose, but end up being an open mic night to talk about anything of concern to the membership because it's the only time many believe they are given a forum for discussion.

I've concluded many statements or write-ups on decisions at churches over the years with a phrase like, "If you have questions or concerns, please call or email...". This simple addition creates a clear avenue for making a point. Discussion and Q&A forums can also be helpful--I've seen these done on a per-ministry basis versus churchwide to limit topics. Here again, I think that a personal forum as opposed to an electronic one is important. Emails and blog postings are not appropriate forums to take up a discourse on disagreements within the church. People say things with more fervor (even hatred) in an email than they would ever express in person--and this often clouds the real issue and creates additional issues in the process.

Keep church matters to the church, and personal matters personal. Issues of doctrine, preaching and teaching, dissemination of budget funds, strategy and direction--disagreement on these issues affect the body of Christ and should be dealt with biblically, and by church leaders in an organized manner. I am always willing to talk with and open the Word to study and learn from another believer who may take issue with me on a point of theology or interpretation of scripture. These disagreements can be healthy.

However, I've often been called upon to "settle an issue" between two Christian brothers, only to find neither has approached the other to reconcile the situation. So I'm asked to become "The People's Court" for the argument. In this case, I always point the person back to the Word, and suggest my role is moot until they first attempt to work it out with their neighbor. If I am asked to go with a brother to mediate in a conflict with another believer after their own effort has failed, my role then becomes reconciler--how can we biblically settle the issue so that all parties are reconciled to one another in the body at the conclusion? Anything less than this result is not biblical. We are one in the body of Christ--it simply is not acceptable to "go our separate ways" as a solution.

What do we say? Ultimately, any time the church must officially comment on a controversial issue (within the body), or announce a decision that may generate dissent within the church, I think, "What can I say here that will glorify Christ?" Sometimes, that means saying less instead of more. Most of the time it means providing an avenue for follow up and comment.

Disagreement is inevitable. But we must not succomb to unchurched means of settling our differences. And we must keep in mind at all times that we are representing not ourselves or our own viewpoint, but our God to those around us and those outside the church. If we do not ask "What will people think of Christ as a result of this conflict?" during the process of discussion and reconciliation, we are quite simply asking the wrong question.

Communication Uncompromised

If we are to effectively communicate the message of the church--Jesus Christ and His gospel--what elements are absolutely essential? What must we be focusing on, and not leaving out, in order that those both within and outside the church have a clear understanding of our preaching and teaching in Jesus' name?

Scripture. We must align to God's Word. Our communications must continually focus on the Word. We must not strain and stretch in order to "make the Word relevant". The Word is relevant. The Word is cool. The Word is amazing, authoritative, powerful, truthful, consistent, cohesive, intriguing and foundational. The Word is right, just and eternal. The Word is worthy of our trust and stewardship.

Church communication that does not center on the Word, but refers to it only in passing, is weak, uneducated and unpersuasive. People long for truth, boundaries, solid beliefs and strong convictions--the Word speaks these things like no other book in the world. It is the means by which God chose to give us His revelation, teaching, instruction, rebuke, correction and training. Move beyond a "theme verse" or "reference" and make the Word a consistent and central element in your church's communication.

Surrender. In coming to Christ we do not "make Jesus Lord" (He is already Lord) or "invite Him into our hearts" (a phrase found nowhere in scripture). Christianity is not a commitment to Christ. It is a complete surrender of ourselves to Him. Not only our "religious life", but our whole being. Our heart, family, resources, job, dreams, desires, relationships, ambitions, goals--everything that makes us who we are--are given over to Christ without reservation. We do this regardless of the consequences, knowing that gaining Christ is worth more than anything this world has to offer.

That sounds biblical and a little idealistic--but frankly our communcation in the church lacks idealism. If we communicate Christ as "a part of our lives", then we will encourage people only to manage Christ versus serve him devotedly and wholeheartedly. If, instead, we emphasize that to trust Christ is to surrender to Him, we put Christianity on a different level. Fewer people will accept such a surrender--but their impact will be far greater than a lukewarm mass. Let your communication challenge people toward complete surrender to Christ.

Sacrifice. A great fallacy of modern church communication is that Christ and material blessing go hand-in-hand. We don't come to Christ to get our "best life now". We come to Christ to get Christ. Throughout the New Testament we see that Christians make great sacrifices personally and as a group to see the mission of Jesus carried out in their homes, their cities and arount the world.

Christians model Christ with their lives (Christian means "little Christ"). Christ Himself lived a sacrificial life that ultimately resulted in our salvation--and the Gospels are filled with His expectation of sacrifice by His followers (John 15:13, Mark 10:45). New Testament believers were not growing richer and happier on earth. They were giving their possessions away and subjected to harsh and difficult persecution.

Our communication, then, to be in line with the example of scripture, must include the element of sacrifice. This is most evident when we emphasize not the blessings and desires of this life, but the eternal nature of God and His promise for the life to come. Perhaps this attitude and teaching is best summed up in John 16:33: "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

Service. A Christ-follower who is not serving is like a ship on dry land. Not only is he not accomplishing his purpose, he is literally wasting away. Through service a Christian realizes his potential in Christ. The command to serve is found throughout the New Testament (Galatians 5:13, Ephesians 6:7, Romans 7:6, John 12:26, Mark 8:34).

God provides our resources, talents and abilities so that His name might be proclaimed both here and among all nations (Psalm 67:1-2). Our wealth, then, is not for our sake, but to serve Him. This is because God's world does not revolve around us. God's world revolves around God--His purposes, His commands, His Word, His plan.

The greatest weakness in church communication with respect to service is that we do not consistently teach that all believers are to serve Christ wholeheartedly, all of the time. Service is often presented as an "add on" once a believer reaches a certain "point of maturity" in their faith. This is not a biblical viewpoint--but one sometimes fostered by the thinking that "service" is a spiritual gift not given to all believers (Romans 12:6-8)--and it is true that some possess a gifteness to serve others that is more pronounced. Instead, in light of the larger example and context of the whole of the New Testament, our attitude should be like that found in Galatians 5:13: "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love."

Significance. Do not make the mistake of thinking that those outside the church are looking to Christ and Christians primarily to find a better life, to solve their problems, to understand the past and future, or to enlarge their wealth or friendships. Religion at its core is man's search for meaning--significance. People want to know their life has a purpose.

If we communicate that the church or Jesus will "fix up" a person's life, we are selling a lie, and worse we are minimizing Christ in the process (Romans 1:22-25). If, however, we communicate that Christ brings both meaning and purpose to a life, then we are aligning with scripture and engaging in a promise in God that is true no matter how one is equipped to serve Christ and sacrifice for Christ.

The beginning and ending of the gospel is Christ. The story of the Bible and of all creation is centered on God's glory--His great pleasure in Himself and His own craftsmanship and purposes. As communicators in the church, our greatest message with respect to the world in which we live is to tell others of our place in it. We are answering the question, "What does your life really mean?" The answer to that is found only in Christ. In Him we find eternal significance and earthly purpose. Why would we reach for greatness on the earth, or preach of happiness now, when this life is but a vapor and our future is all of God for all of eternity?

Technology Thoughts, Part 2

Mike Shaw has some interesting additional thoughts on technology beyond what I wrote on databases in the church. His thoughts are not specific to the church organization, but I think they readily apply to the use of technology in the church. One interesting point Mike makes that I completely agree with:

"Good software doesn’t require alot of training. The web is a huge example of this. The most successful sites are those that are easy to use. Ease of use almost always gets whacked in demos. It may be easy to find the buttons, and the page may look pretty, but how easy is it to write a report? How easy is it to find data?"

Check out his blog at www.mikeshaw.net.

Please Stop Talking About Branding

There's so much talk these days about "branding" in the North American evangelical church. The look, language and the target audience seems to be at the forefront of discussion by nearly every growing congregation. "Who we are" to the lost community is the roundtable discussion of the day. The dry definition of a brand is the symbolic embodiment of all information connected to a company, product or service--basically the sum total of what an audience thinks and feels about an organization.

Applied to the church, it's wrong, and it's dangerous. Why? On two levels, branding and the church are on a collision course with God's Word. That might sound extreme, but hey, it's my website. Frankly, as I examine scripture, over and over again the Bible details God's simple and always-successful plan for being and growing His church, and it has absolutely nothing to do with branding. When we focus on the Bible, we find a simple process in the book of Acts for how the church should work. In the briefest terms, it should be devoted to learning the Word of God, fellowship (ministry), breaking of bread (the Lord's Supper, which is identified with worship) and prayer (Acts 2:42-47). The passage concludes that "...God added daily to their number," indicating that the growth of the church comes not from our effort, but from God. When taken in the context of scripture, here's where I think branding in general misses the mark for the church:

We are focusing on something other than God and His Word. A brand, by its very definition, is based on the thoughts and feelings of people, which are not concrete and reliable and can shift and change in time. In fact a brand is our "total impression." Ours--that is, from a human and frankly often flawed perspective.

As believers we have God's Word, which is fully reliable and unfailing. The decision many churches today face is this: Do we expend time, energy, money and effort to mold in our own eyes a concrete vision and mission for the church to a unique demographic, using certain styles and preferences to draw a segment of the lost population to the church ("branding"), or do we simply follow Acts 2:42 and see what God does with it?

That sounds oversimplified, but it is certainly not. A church that is committed first to obedience to God's Word will not require a complex brand identity for success. In fact, the Bible confirms in Acts that God is waiting to bless these obedient churches who just obey His Word--no more, no less. There are literally thousands of American of churches today looking to something, anything in terms of making a mark besides simply knowing and obeying God's Word. To those who say this view is naive or can't be done, or does not take into account the media-savvy society in which we live, I respond, "Have you even tried it?"

We are not taking the mark of Christ. When we attempt to "brand" our church to some target audience, demographic or ministry component, we are simply not attaching ourselves centrally to the image of Christ. Some would argue that a brand could contain elements of this identity with Christ, but that identity will in its truest form always point exclusively to Christ. A marketing brand will always relate most closely to a group of people. So we can become known by something other than our devotion to Christ. Listen to what Paul says in 2 Thessalonians:

...we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

The problem with not focusing on Christ being "glorified in us" is that it sets up a situation where someone or something other than God is celebrated. Make no mistake, God is out for His own glory. Our desire should be first to glorify Him. God spells out that obedience to His Word and molding ourselves into the image of Christ are the means to experience God's glory among a church family.

So if there is to be any kind of "brand" within the church, it should be only a reflection of Christ. That is, when people see my church, they should not necessary see relevance to themselves, or programs that meet their needs--rather, they should see Christ honored and glorified by those who are a part of it. This flies in the face of today's catering-driven evangelism, which often relies on marketing to draw a crowd and programs to keep them. Instead let's remember that Christ said that He would draw men to Himself.

The creep. Branding as a marketing tool as crept into the church for about the last two decades, and now finds itself at the forefront of discussion. But honestly, this an unbiblical concept. What we think and feel about the church is irrelevant, and crafting the image of the church in this way takes the focus off of Christ and on to catering to a demographic. I have yet to find a church with a strong "brand" that immediately points me to Christ. I see a lot of brands that communicate "young," "urban," "relational," "relevant," or "today," but not one that points me to the image of Christ I see so clearly in scripture. Branding is helping the church creep farther away from the Bible's core teaching on the function and methods of the body of Christ.

Oh, and don't forget about... Perhaps the biggest think-fog caused by the branding movement is that many churches in the pursuit of successful marketing overlook the work of the Holy Spirit. God Himself is opening people's hearts through His Spirit daily. Is there an eternal entity working in the heart of anyone you know of that is drawing them toward Coca-Cola, or a new Dell computer, or that fabulous Mustang convertible? Branding in the marketplace helps to generate feelings that lead to purchases. But feelings can be misleading.

In the church, we do not want to generate emotional responses. Instead our desire is to help solidify beliefs that become unwavering with time and experience. We want people to commit to follow Christ even when it gets hard. We want people to understand that the Bible teaches that some suffering is often involved in the Christian life and that God's glory is shown in our sacrifice (remember, "take up your cross and follow Me"?). Brand identity may leave you feeling happy about spending more than you have for a HDTV, but does it really have a shot at generating the kind of devotion that God calls us to?

Do you begin to see why branding as a concept misses some core elements of what makes the church what it is? Branding is about crafting an image. The church is about being the body of Christ. If you commit to spend as much time in God's Word understanding His plan for the church as you will likely need to spend coming up with a marketing "brand" for your congregation, you'll find the former far outstrips the latter in effectiveness. Let your response to the "branding" question be this: "We are imitators of Jesus Christ."

The Truth Is In the Data

Several years ago I undertook a major overhaul of a churchwide database--the hardware and software required to keep up with our membership, attendance, contributions and other info--for the congregation I served at the time. During this transition, we paused to reflect and quantify what, exactly, we wanted to be able to use our database for, and how we would go about organizing the system to achieve those goals. These insights were helpful and formed the basis of our ongoing database philosophy.

A database is only as good as the data. Like many churches, we held on to all our data. And I mean all our data! We had one-time guests on file going back 15 years. In a church with some 8,000 active members, attenders and guests, our database had 26,000+ records, the majority of which had not been touched in years. Our first step was to determine criteria for keeping someone in the database. We determined that we needed at least a full name, address, one piece of additional contact information (phone or email), birthdate and an activity (attendance, contribution, contact) within the last 18 months to justify keeping someone on file. Any record that did not fit that criteria was discarded--for us, some 18,000 in all.

I would recommend to you that if you are frustrated with your database system or consider it largely ineffective, you first look at the data and determine whether it is useful or not. The purging of bad data should be scheduled regularly--once a year, for us, from now on. Now some might argue, why throw all those "people" away? Don't we bear some responsibility for determining their spiritual condition. Yes, we did. We did for 15 years and accomplished nothing. In some cases, you need to start fresh if you're going to accomplish anything useful with your data for the Kingdom.

Next, we determined that putting new data into the system should be a staff-level task. While some systems available these days allow for lay involvement in this process (like entering attendance over the internet), we found numerous mistakes made even by those who were adept with the system, but nevertheless did not put as much emphasis on proper data entry as we required. In the end, it cost us far more time to correct data errors than it did to simply enter the data ourselves at the staff level. Though I am an advocate for lay access and involvement in the upkeep and use of the church database, I still believe that new data entry is best accomplished by qualified staff persons.

A database system is only as good as those who know the system. A second issue we had in our database makeover was training--most of our staff did not know the system. Prior to our database makeover, no formal training had been held by the church on the database software in more than three years. This lack of training at all levels--ministerial to secretaries--led to great frustration with our system, and resulted in “data cliques” throughout the church (see details below).

Our training was threefold. First, we had basic training offered for all staff. Secondly, we had advanced training on the “back end” of the system for our data processing staff. Finally, several staff members were trained at the “instructor” level, allowing them to, in turn, train other staff and new staff, as well as lay leaders and participants, as required for the future. During the basic training, we emphasized the requirement for all data to be input into the system so that we had an accurate representation of the ongoing ministry of the church.

A database must minimize data cliques. Data cliques are little reservoirs of data, like an Excel Spreadsheet or email list, kept by a single staff member out of convenience and not shared with anybody. The problem with a data clique is that the information is inaccessible to the majority of church leaders, and is not standardized in our system. It means our main database does not give us a completely true picture of our church. For instance, if a staff member finds it “too difficult” to put guest records into the system each week, they may instead choose to converse with these guests by simply adding their email addresses to their email application, forgoing our guest tracking altogether.

That works fine for the guest's interaction with that staff member, but the church as a whole does not know those guests even exist, or when they came, or how to get in touch with them, or if they have any ministry needs that are not being met. Worse still, what if that staff member transitions to another position or even off the church staff altogether? All connection to that guest or attender is lost. Data cliques do not allow us to use our database to enable the church--a body of believers--to build relationships with individuals, versus individual relationships with other individuals. This connection--church body-to-person--is essential to the effectiveness of the church in reaching and interacting with people at all levels.

A database report is only useful if it's timely and accurate. The ultimate goal of any database is to manipulate and report on the data. For us, the ability to output the data quickly and in usable forms was paramount. Reporting from our database is used for three tasks primarily: (1) Contact with members, attenders and guests through mailing lists, emails, mail merges and so forth, (2) Attendance and trend reporting for staff accountability, ministry to absentees and guests and space planning, and (3) Management of contribution data for budgeting, accounting and the contributor’s tax purposes. In these three areas, the goal is simple: a truthful representation of the church’s activities.

Through the years I’ve heard and used the phrase "ministry numbers." Often there is in the North American church the temptation to "puff up" the actual attendance, number of guests or other data out of a desire for success or growth, even jealousy. I've been there when 125 in attendance was reported as "almost 200" or "several hundred." Ministry can be challenging, and I have found an unwritten but often seen practice of being intentionally optimistic about data in the church to the point of lying. This is surprisingly common in churches of all sizes.

A database, properly managed, presents the truth. And that's ultimately what matters, because we cannot effectively plan ministries, devote resources and become accountable to follow up without a baseline of truth in our data.

Our stewardship of data is both a priority and private. Finally, just as a Communications Ministry is a steward of information, a database manager is a steward of data. Good stewardship of data for us is measured first in our use of the information. Too often churches collect attendance data, contribution data, ministry activity data, and do nothing with it. It sits in their computers and but for a contribution report at the end of the year and occasional emailings does little or nothing.

As church leaders we must look at the value of this information for follow up and ministry. I can know today, for instance, how many Bible study members have not been present at church for the last three weeks. Now, what can I do with that information? Most churches do nothing with it. But doing something with it should be a priority.

I would suggest sending all those folks an email letting them know we miss them and giving contact information if they have ministry needs. I would also contact each class leader, giving them a list for follow up as well. I would perhaps even see if a trend was developing among absentees by getting a report of absences year-over-year for that particular season, or looking at data on those who had left the church in the last five years for reasons other than an out-of-town move, and find how many absences preceded their departure. Any and all of these options do more than make the data mean something. These actions are taken when we view the data as a tool to improve our ministries and impact people. It is, in essence, good stewardship of the database.

Finally, we must value the privacy of our data. The personal information of our membership must be guarded--more so now in the age of identity theft. Ten years ago, church members would not mind if you gave out their phone number to someone who called the church trying to contact them. Today that is not the case. The privacy of other data related to an individual, including their attendance information, must be stewarded properly.

A database that is accurate, discreet and diligently maintained becomes more than a collection of words and numbers in a computer. It is a fantastic tool for ministry that we can use daily to touch lives and minister to people in an effective manner.

A Picture Is Worth...

Ran across this today and thought I would pass it along. Simple and creative.

Techniques of Innovation

Innovation also helps us fashion original and interesting presentations for existing ideas and ministries. Through innovation we can help to renew interest, spark involvement and simplify complex and broad-based ideas. There are several tools we use to accomplish innovative ministry communication.

Themeing. A theme is an implicit or recurring thought. By applying an overall theme or motif to a ministry, we can communicate several things at once--with information working on one level and theme working on another. I have used themes extensively in children's, youth and summer programs.

Metaphors. A metaphor is using one thing to represent another. It allows us to present a complex ministry idea in a simple manner. Jesus used metaphors throughout His teaching because it allowed Him to share God-sized thoughts in a way that the average person could understand.

Throughout Matthew 13, Jesus compares "the Kingdom of Heaven" to "a mustard seed," "a treasure hidden in a field," and "a net cast into the sea." The average person in Jesus' time did not have an understanding of the Kingdom of Heaven that He was speaking of. But they could understand a mustard seed, or a treasure hidden in a field, or a net cast into the sea. These are metaphors that Jesus used to relate an important truth.

Counter-programming. Another innovative way of presenting ministry is counter-programming--doing just the opposite of what is expected. Jesus was the Master of counter-programming. He never did what people expected. They called Him a king--He called Himself the Prince of Peace. They tried to get him to stone a woman who had sinned--He told them whoever is without sin should cast the first stone. Many times the Bible leads us to discover something in ministry that will appear as counter-programming. Often the Bible leads us in a direction that is opposite of the marketplace and external influences. Counter-programming is innovation that simply says, "We don't play by the world's rules."

Refreshing. Innovation can also occur by simply refreshing, or revitalizing, an existing ministry. This could be something as simple as a new logo or graphic. It may be a different phrase or keyword that becomes associated with that ministry. Refreshing never involves radical changes to the structure or work of the ministry--just a simple updating to something that is already working well. Through refreshing, people are encouraged to "take another look" at an area they may have overlooked before.

Toning. Toning is similar to refreshing, but this process involves changing the overall tone, or "flavor" of the promotion of an existing ministry in order to capture additional attention and involvement. The most commonplace example of toning is a Pastor's Sunday messages. While a sermon ministry is consistent in terms of time and place each week, the content of the message changes constantly. Consequently the tone of the promotion will change as well. A series on the family, a sermon about the War on Terrorism, a message from the book of Romans--all will have a different tone in our promotional efforts.

Serendipity. We can't discount what the world calls "the happy accident" and what we call "God pulling it all together." Serendipity occurs when several ministries just "fit together" without any pre-planning at all. This happens frequently. I remember an occasion when I worked on several events planned separately for Mother's Day, including special music for worship, a baby dedication time and activities in a children's ministry. Though not planned together, they complemented each other in a serendipitous way, making the day "fit together" in a meaningful way for families. We shouldn't be surprised, because if God's people are earnestly seeking His will and are in His service, then serendipity will indeed occur.

How to Apply Scripture Properly to the Promotion of the Church

The very center of everything that we know about God is His Word. The Bible is God's story of His creation and our part in it. Through His Word, God reveals some things about Himself, tells us about our position and purpose in His creation, and details how we might interact with Him, past, present and future. A Christ-follower believes the Bible was authored by God working through men over a long period, is complete in all respects, and is without error.

The Bible, then, as the central teaching and knowledge element of our faith, plays a role in every area of the church and her ministries, including promotion and communications. Our application of the Word in the practical day-to-day aspects of ministry will say much about how we perceive its importance and interpret its teachings. How, then, should we present and apply God's Word in church communications?

Study. You will not be able to use the Word properly if you are not studying the Word regularly. I'm constantly amazed that many church staff and lay leaders spend very little concentrated time in the Word daily, or even weekly. I would recommend at least an hour daily in Bible study as a great start. Whenever I meet a great Bible teacher or preacher, I ask how much time they spend in the Word preparing to teach or preach. Usually it's 30-40 hours a week--one hour for each minute they are teaching. The value of studying the Word cannot be overestimated.

Begin. Start your promotional or communications effort with the Word and in the Word. Far too often we come up with a great plan or idea, a theme, series or event, and then two hours into planning, after we've "roughed in" all the major stuff, we obligingly open our Bibles to "look up" a verse that fits. I know this happens all the time, because I get emails from communications staffers at churches nearly every week that start out, "I'm looking for a verse to go with this thing we're doing..." We have our plan, we just need God to bless it now.

Flip this scenario and instead plant your communication efforts solidly in the Word. Let the Word drive not only the direction and teaching in your church, but how you communicate that teaching. Let scripture be the central element that you want people to grasp. Ask of a passage, "How can we best present this verse, accurately and in context, so that people will know it and apply it consistently and with great enthusiasm?"

Frame. The great temptation, and most unfortunate form of miscommunication in the North American evangelical church today, is taking scripture out of context. When we lift a verse or passage in the Bible to use in our promotion and theming, without framing it properly within its given context, we are mis-quoting God and misdirecting people. I'm especially sensitive to flipping among various translations to "find one that fits" a given situation--this is simply wrong.

I'm a great believer in the average person's capacity to "get it" when it comes to God if we are honest and straightforward with our use of scripture. People don't need "The Message" in order to understand the Bible. We do them a disservice if we dumb-down what we are saying because it doesn't sound good or make sense in a particular context. Helping others know and understand the Word is part of the job of a church communicator. If it looks hard, then dig in and think it through instead of citing a vague reference. Nobody said the Bible would be easy--and "making it easy" does not necessarily lead to a result that Christ would intend or bless.

Focus. The focus of God's Word is not us. The focus of God's Word is God. We live in a "me"-centric culture, so it's natural to put out messages that focus on us and try to attach a scripture to it. If we look at the Bible with an eye first to "how this applies to us," we'll find ourselves stretching to answer the question at times. Instead, focus on "what is revealed about God in this verse?"

Our goal in using scripture in promotion is not initially to help people apply it to their lives. It's to help them know more about God. Knowing more about God leads us to application--actions and changes in our lives as we conform more to the image of Christ. When we focus on God, then people leave our worship services, our Bible classes, our events and programs knowing more about God. If we focus on applying the Bible to our lives, we leave these same activities focused on ourselves. Which of these two methods, do you think, will most help people grow in the knowledge and image of Christ?

Separate. As a promotional element, I believe scripture is best separated from our themes and embellishments. I tend to not "lift a phrase" from scripture and make it a theme, though occasionally I will use a single word from the Bible as a theme. I always want to place a complete verse with that theme by way of foundation and explanation.

Separating scripture does two things. First, it gives it greater weight and importance. It lets the reader or viewer know that we have respect for the Word and want them to have respect for it as well. It is set apart, Holy, spoken by God, revered and we treat it as such. Second, it allows the reader to take in the scripture without it being clouded or overshadowed by something we've created. Sometimes church program and event themes and promotion seem to almost shout over the top of scripture--"Hey, look at me! I'm a cool graphic! I look like the latest Abercrombie ad!"

Believe. God says His Word will not return void (Isaiah 55:11). I honestly don't think most church leaders believe this. God will use His Word to draw people to Himself, to instruct in righteousness, to discipline, and to correct (2 Timothy 3:16). The Word existed before us (John 1:1) and is not dependent upon men to "make it work".

Frankly, the more I study the Word, the more I realize why we don't believe it--it's utterly fantastic, filled with radical statements and commands. We tell people that an all-powerful God sent His Sopn to earth, allowed people to kill Him, that He rose from the dead, and because of this, we can know God, be called His sons, and be heirs to heaven when we die? Really, that just sounds crazy to some people when you say it. But it comes down to this: do we really believe This Book, the Bible? Do we honestly, at our core, think this is the Truth?

Trust the Word. Believe that it is actually what God said. Believe that everything happened just as the Bible said, and that everything will happen just as the Bible says. Believe that Jesus is Who He says He is--the way, the truth and the life--and that "no one comes to the Father but though [Him]". Believe that if science or philosophy or talk shows say otherwise, then they are in disagreement with the very foundation of our faith, and they are simply misguided and wrong.

If you have faith in Christ, then likewise have faith in His Word--they are one in the same. Treat them as such, and you'll find scripture taking a more prominent, effective and trustworthy role in your promotional efforts. The Word is not a tack-on, a collection of ancient teachings we must somehow "make relevant" today. The Bible is the jumping-off point for every facet of our faith, and we do it a disservice when we fail to trust in God to bless His Word as He said He would.