Church Brand Architects

Archive for the ‘Church Growth’ Category

I came across this article on one of my favorite blogs Church Marketing Sucks. If you have not had time to visit, it is definitely worth the time to go there. The premise of this article, is that with the advent of so much technology, ie. video broadcasting to multiple locations, TV, and even the internet, the church must make sure the brand is Jesus and not a rock star Pastor. There are specific points I agree with in the post and of course, some points I don’t.

Branding is a 2 headed dilemma for the local Urban Church. Our Pastors are generally bigger than life and they are for lack of better terms “Rock Star” brands within themselves. it is the culture of the urban Experience. This is an argument I have with my Non-Urban counterparts on a daily basis. For better or for worse, in the African American community the brand of the church is often the brand of the Pastor. They are intertwined, co-mingled, and often  not distinguishable from each other. Should that be the case?  You weigh in. But not to sway your opinion – first read this article by Brett Borders. Then I will post my blog on the subject.

Read the Blog Here

Richard Byrd

Your Urban Church Marketing Specialist

ChurchBrand Architects

In my last post  we discussed the necessity of social media for ministry growth; not just leading people to a building but to a relationship or greater relationship with Christ and greater fellowship with each other. Social media is not the ONLY way to do that but it offers the tools to help. In this post I want to follow up with SPECIFIC ways to do that. But before I go into “specifics” let me lay some groundwork:

1. It starts with the top: Ultimately, it is leadership that sets the culture of an organization (or ministry)–whether that culture be progressive or not it starts with the top. If the leadership is not sold on social media the ministry will not benefit from it.
2. Social media is a tool of ministry, not its “savior”: Many ministries struggling often see  this technology as a haymaker shot: “If we get on board technologically speaking, that’ll save us.” Technology doesn’t save ministries great leadership with purpose does. Technology that’s used in line with a core purpose will always bear more fruit than technology that’s used for the sake of being used.
3. Social media efforts must be measured: Sometime ago E-marketer released a survey where 84% said that they don’t measure any type of social media ROI. This is astounding considering the fact that social media allows us to better track our efforts. Granted, some things can’t be measured but there are things that can–track the things that can.

Social media and ministry

So without further ado here they are: some strategies that can enhance ministry effectiveness.

• Use Facebook ads: Paul Steinbrueck recently recalled how his church used this to advertise their past Christmas play. The ad was run for 9 days prior to the weekend of the performances.  Over that time, it was displayed 900,000 times and clicked on 600 times.  Total cost of the ad campaign was about $475. Wow!

• Consider a blog-centric strategy: Some ministries have different ministries that do different things at different times.  A blog-centric strategy allows the church to have a main blog and each ministry to have a blog. Feedburner is set up for each blog, so people can get info from whatever blog they want.

• Launch a Facebook Campus: That’s what Central Christian church did.  Following their mission of “connecting the unconnected” they launched the campus and hold services 7 times a week.  The Church partnered with Plainjoe studios and Facebook to develop the campus after positive responses from its year-old online campus. Launched in September, the inaugural service of the Facebook campus saw more than 450 attendees from around the world comprised of a wide variety of demographics.

• Listen: Granted, social media gives us a bigger microphone to speak from it also gives us a greater opportunity to listen to what’s being said.  You remember the saying: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” In this new era of social media, we’re being asked to be more transparent and personal–its our job to make sure people know HOW MUCH we care.
• Show who’s using it: Mickey Mellen (follow him @mickmel) gave an example of how his church does it.

• Got an event? Promote it through Tweetvite: Tweetvite allows you to create events specifically designed for Tweetups (or “meet ups” that use Twitter). Its free and offers a fully search able listing of upcoming Tweetups (should you want to get out the house). You can sign up through your Twitter, Facebook, or Myspace account; it allows you to map the location of the tweetup; and you can use your own URL. It’s great for informal get-togethers outside of of church as well.

The end of the matter

I must admit, there are endless ways to use technology for ministry. But the one criteria is this: it must be used prayerfully and purposefully.

We as believers have an obligation to “redeem the times”? Or as Paul said, “Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don’t miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity.” [1 Colossians 4:5 The Message)

And truth of the matter is, the "traditional church" is on its deathbed.The times have changed and will continue to change...but our Message never will. This new landscape presents us with new opportunities. But, its only an opportunity to those who see it as such.

Guest Blogger Mike Holmes

Bio: Mike Holmes is the author of I Shall Raise Thee Up: Ancient Principles for Lasting Greatness. He’s also a blogger that writes on leadership development from a Biblical perspective. It’s leadership by the Book! When he’s not writing blogs or speaking he can be found writing bios in the third person. Check out his website/blog here.

Http://www.churchbrandarchitects.com

Today I present a post by guest blogger Mike Holmes. This will be the start of a wonderful relationship between our two blogs, and hopefully Mike will be a continuing guest blogger on our site. Mike the author of I Shall Raise Thee Up: Ancient Principles for Lasting Greatness. He’s also a blogger that writes on leadership development from a Biblical perspective. Please Enjoy.

The web is still buzzing about Pope Benedict’s message to his priests: go forth into the world and blog the Gospel! In his message he acknowledged that cultural shifts have brought conversations online…but…the church must be willing to change its methods to better communicate the Message. He wrote:

“Using new communication technologies, priests can introduce people to the life of the Church and help our contemporaries to discover the face of Christ.”

And it’s no wonder! With his own iPhone App, Facebook page, YouTube channel, his growing influence on the web, and his nickname (via Mashable)–the “social media pontiff” could he tell them any different?

Social media and its social effect

It’s no secret that social media is growing at a mind-bogglingly high level–with Facebook and Twitter leading the pack! And we can’t deny it has an inescapable presence in our lives.

Case in point, the Haiti Crisis:

• It wasn’t the news media that first picked up the effects… it was through Twitter.
• A video of the quake was broadcasted on YouTube
• Wyclef Jean galvanized support through Twitter
• Red Cross raised millions through a text messaging campaign and through their Twitter page…in a matter of moments!
• CNN, in the earliest stages, was the news organization with the most material on the quake, and they enriched their work with social media.

It’s changed the way we do business as 94% of companies sponsoring online communities plan to increase their social networking support as well as engage with other social media tools.

Oh!! And let’s not forget my man “Pants on the Ground” becoming an internet sensation…and being adopted as the Minnesota Viking’s official mascot!!

But what about ministry?

Social Media and the Church

USA Today wrote an article today about the changing ministry model. The article summed it up best in saying, “the congregational model is suffering.”Add to the fact that according to a study of  U.S. congregations — only 19% say they are in excellent financial health, down from 31% in 2000. Less than half (48%) could report at least 2% growth in worship attendance, down from 58% in 2005. Because of this many churches have closed down or “merged” with more prosperous ministries.

Also Barna group estimates that in 2010 10% of Americans will rely exclusively on the internet.

The landscape has truly changed!

It seems going forward we’re only left with two options:

1. Embrace social media as a tool that can be used in spreading the Gospel, meeting the needs of people, and overall Kingdom work
2. Or, reject these changes, and continue to go forward.

The choice is yours…

The end of the matter

I must admit…I could care less about church growth!

Huh!

Leading people to a building means nothing to me!

However, leading people to a relationship, or a greater relationship with Christ is everything! And if social media gives me the tools to do that, affect my community, and inspire spiritual maturity in God’s people…then I’m all for it!

What are your thoughts?

Guest Blogger Mike Holmes

Bio: Mike Holmes is the author of I Shall Raise Thee Up: Ancient Principles for Lasting Greatness. He’s also a blogger that writes on leadership development from a Biblical perspective. It’s leadership by the Book! When he’s not writing blogs or speaking he can be found writing bios in the third person. Check out his website/blog here.

Hats off to Chuck Warnock for stating what I have been feeling in my spirit for quite some time – What is the definition of church?- Chuck cleverly describes the downfall we are having in our church discussions now. With all of the marketing, church growth meetings and conferences – we are loosing the battle for people’s souls – Please take a look at this article. It may change the concept of your ministry.

http://chuckwarnockblog.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/the-indispensable-church/

Today I will Be Hosting the phenomenal 9 minutes sermons on leadership from some of the brightest church minds in the country at ChurchBrand Architects and JRichardbyrd.com . Please stop by and enjoy these great preachers.

The ChurchBrand Architect

Urban Church Marketing Specialists