How much has your church grown over the past year? Many churches in America could not report a large growth. This is not due to a lack of trying some may say. Could that be true or is it completely our fault? Maybe it is time for churches to remember our calling is to reach the world.
I started SmallChurchAdvertising.com in 2008 with the goal of helping churches fulfill the great commission to reach the world. If we cannot reach our own neighborhoods how can we expect to reach others? That is why I want to make things as simple for churches as I can.
This E-book was written with the goal of helping you learn the secrets of church growth both spiritually and physically. Not everyone can have a collage education in marketing and the truth is you do not need one. In this E-book you will learn everything I know about how to grow your church.
The lessons in the topics of this E-book come from years of experience both as a Christian, an advertising expert, and a pastor. I want you to know more than how to hire an advertising company. At the risk of losing some business I want to show you how to make your own advertising that will be top grade!
You will also find helpful leadership tips on how to work with the people around you in order to make things happen. A lot of pastors still have not learnt the lessons I am going to give you. This will help your ministry thrive like never before.
As you read through this E-book keep in mind that the bible is the final source for everything. You will learn more about advertising than ever before if God opens the bible to you in a way that shows His way of advertising. I am only a man with experience so let God be your final authority on all subjects.
Remember Our Calling
Before we can even hope to grow our churches we have to remember who it was that started the church. Jesus Christ is the one who said “On this rock I will build my church.” We know Jesus is the rock that the builders rejected and yet the same one is head of the church.
He gave us many commands as individuals to love one another. Yet as a whole He issued only one decree that we must follow.
Mark 16:15-16
15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Without getting into the doctrinal issues of baptism let us focus on the real point He was trying to make. We are responsible for reaching the world. Not Him! We are the ones who must gather in the lost sheep. He told us it was our job in this passage.
He gave no command as direct as this to the church. It is true that Paul preached we should gather together and that is correct. It gives us strength to reach the world when we bind together. But we gather for this cause, to reach the world.
Church has become a country club to some people or even a status symbol. People flock to the church to be entertained by a great preacher and go home with their mouths shut refusing to speak to the lost in their own house! Forgive me for preaching a little bit but church was not meant for you to get fat on the word of God! It was meant to sustain you as you took that very same word into the battle to help some poor lost sheep who can’t find his way! Our calling is and always has been to reach the world. Yet what does Jesus say?
Luke 10:1-2
1After these things the LORD appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. 2Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
Are we really doing the job? How many should be going before Him before He comes again?
Why Are We Needed
Without a doubt God could show Himself to every person on earth and force them to be His. That has never been His way though. God uses us to bring a light into this world.
The bible says we are to be
Light
Salt
A city on a hill
His messengers
If we do not shine the light of the gospel into the hearts of people out there then we are not doing our job. If we do not get into the wound making it sting then we are not salt. A city on a hill can not be hidden and His messengers but give the message to those we are sent to.
Remember whom we are sent to? We are sent to the entire world. That means our job is to reach the world. If we do not do this no one will.
So we have to teach our church members how to open our mouths. We hold the light and the guidebook. We have the map to heaven. Let us give others a chance too.
Does Your Church Budget Line Up With God
With all of that said we need to examine our own church. The best way to see where our priority is would be to check on where the money goes.
Most churches have a budget which needs to be tipped over on it’s head.
Paying church staff takes up the most of the church budget. Other large amounts of the budget will be delegated to the building. Then comes the giving to missions which normally entails giving to a church that will in turn give it right back. So lets say 15% goes to missions and the church that gets it sends 15% to missions as well. That money is just floating in space.
Finally the rock bottom is evangelization. Often the average church spends $200 on church advertising and outreach. This shows where our real heart is. We are not putting all we should into doing what God asked us to do!
Where Do The Workers Start
So now that we know where we are we have a good point to begin working. We now know where our priority should be and what it really is by our spending. I do believe the workman is worthy of his pay as the bible says.
At the same time though there are pastors making a lot of money at another job and still bleeding the church dry too. If you have food and clothing and shelter let God reward you with your pay in heaven. This is not popular doctrine.
I know that probably hurt but try to remember that you are given pay to help feed and put clothes on you for the sake of the gospel. Some give to you just to bless you that is true. If you can support yourself though why burden others with your wants?
This is something every church is going to need to look into themselves. Let me make one thing clear though. If you are preaching for the money then you are not qualified to be a preacher according to the book of Timothy.
At the same time if you are not willing to support your leaders with their physical needs then you are not feeding or putting clothes on Jesus as the scripture said in Revelation.
So get your hearts right with the word of God and your budget will fall into place.
Now remember one thing about going into the field. Not everyone is a fisherman.
Not every person responds to the same methods. Jesus always knew who He
spoke to. When He was around fishermen He talked about fish. When He was
around farmers He spoke to them about farming. If we hope to reach our community we need to know who our community is and maybe throw out some of our own ideas to reach them!
This is called church marketing. You need to know who is around your church and what they are like. This will help you know what will catch their eyes. Any advertising you do will benefit from this.
One word of advice is that when you start advertising you need to be sure you do so to the same type of people already in your church. This will mean more second visits since they will feel more at ease in your church. Do not try to bring in inner city thugs to a backwoods country church. They just do not mix!
So take note of who is in your church above all else! That way you know what you have to work with.
Do Not Go It Alone
Remember that you need the support of the whole church to make a great impact on the community. If they are not behind you then nothing will work. So be sure to use only what you have.
Often that is one ragged person who has already given everything they have to the church. Maybe it is time to get others involved.
The bible says to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
What do you think would motivate the people to help join in on something? Your church members may have some common problems. Parents need a day away from their kids. There are those who are out of work. A lot goes on in churches.
Think of ways you can help the people and in return ask that they volunteer to help with your outreach. Remember Paul spoke of some who preached for the wrong reasons, yet he said it doesn’t matter because it still gets the job done.
Your members may help your outreach because of what they get out of it but it doesn’t matter as long as someone hears your message.
Tip For Leaders
You may be just like I was the first time I tried to pastor a church. I had my own idea about how things should be run. It did not help that no one else was seeing it my way though. Your heart like mine may be in the best place and want the church to grow but it is not worth fighting your members to make it happen.
One of the most important thing I have learned about being a leader is that you should always stand in front of the people and not behind them. That means you never push to get your way. You pull through leading by example and you offer options and tell them where they should go.
The thing is that many churches have a problem following their pastors. Let God use the whip on them while you stand in front trying to lead back the other way. As they go down the wrong road you are the one they will always see saying turn around!
So if your church does not like an idea or is not willing to help with an idea then you are going to have to accept that knowing they are clay. That is what God does. He lets them go the wrong way but always calls them to the light.
Use The Right Tools
Now that you have some volunteers to help you out and you know whom you are planning to reach in your community it is time to get started on outreach.
Fish are caught with a net while wheat are gathered in with a blade. Not everyone will respond to the same tools. This is why you did your marketing in the beginning.
The best way to find out what tools to use is to ask your members what they would like. If they enjoy singing and the group you want to reach do as well then holding a singing may be just the right tool to use. If your members hate the idea of a kids play day then you may want to hold off on that. At least until others with children come in.
That is the thing about churches. They are always changing in one way or another. At one time you may have older people who bring in younger and then the younger bring in the older. Just remember to use the tools your people are able to handle. A farmer does not know how to use a net.
Time to learn about advertising!
There are some basic points to all advertising.
It catches the attention
It speaks to the need or desire of someone
It provides a solution to their need or desire
It asks them to accept that solution
You can catch the attention of someone in many ways. The best is by speaking directly to them. This is where headlines come in.
“Attention Cold Victims!” This gets the attention of someone with a cold better than the following: “Research now being done for new pill”
You should define who would be interested and communicate directly with them through a question or commanding statement in your first header. The next thing they read or hear should describe how they feel and then you tell them what they need. Finally ask them to accept it and come get it at your church.
The following is an example of a church flyer without pictures. Notice the layers of different text size? This is done to draw your attention from big to small. Leading the reader through the basic points outline already mentioned.
Want More Church Growth?
Pic Here
Follow this outline to give reasons a church leader would want growth.
Bullet points work great to describe benefits.
Also a picture should go beside these points to catch the eye.
That picture should look like a church leader wanting to grow the church.
Here you will give a statement about your service and try to keep it interesting. Normally two paragraphs will work.
Include a map or other directions on how to get what you are offering.
The following is a list of church advertising ideas that have been used in many churches. I want to explain them to you. Do not think that any of these are in order. I could not tell you item one is more beneficial than two for your church because I do not know your church.
Your advertising could begin with a church website. Think about it. Your church service could be viewed on the net for all to be able to see and take notice of. The only major draw back to a website is the reality that it gets little credit for anything. You often do not know when people come to your church because of the website. Developed cities with people who go online a lot is the best sort of place to use a church website.
Flyers are another great way to get your message out. The wonderful thing about them is that they are more personal. Church flyers are so personal since they should never be posted on windows but instead handed out by people. Never windshield a car with your flyer! Put your churches flyer into the open hands of individuals. This kind of advertising is greatest in any environment.
Advertising with simple postcards can be another fantastic advertising idea. Of all the advertisements there are out there this is the only one you should ever consider mailing out. These postcards take very little money and could reach a large community.
Be sure your postcard design makes you want to take notice of it before you mail or even print it. No one wants their postcards in the trash can at some persons home. It most beneficial to send something like this out to a more quiet town that does not have a lot of advertisements.
Churches tend to believe brochures are not for them and are no good. This is only half true. When you use them in welcome baskets your church could get more return visits. Remember that return visits are the ones that count. Your churches brochure is the one item that might bring visitors back to you.
Business cards are not only for businesses anymore. You must begin getting these cards into the hands of all your members. It is a really cheap way to get your members involved in advertising the church. Each one should have an invite on them.
With each of these methods of church advertising mentioned there is one that is still the best. That is word of mouth. Having your members speak to other individuals is what will actually turn the tide for your Christian church.
Church advertising is not something to be taken lightly. In fact it is vital to all churches that wish to grow. If a church does not grow you could expect it to be dead in five or so years.
Does God Want ALL Churches To Grow
Believe it or not church growth is not something a lot of churches want or can handle. Before you start your next church marketing program and before any new growth strategies come into your mind maybe you should check and see if your church is ready.
Church growth checklist:
Are your members more comfortable just being as they are?
Has your church attendance grown any this last year?
Has anyone volunteered for something without being asked lately?
Do you know the strengths of your members?
If you answered no to any of those questions your church is not ready for growth. Before your church attendance can grow you are going to need some spiritual growth. This comes from the bible. It also comes from understanding the people in your church.
Some churches have members that are older and some have members that are younger. Some are active and some are laid back. If you try to kick a laid back mule it will kick back. Try to understand what your members are like. Play to their strengths instead of fighting them.
Church growth never happened by fighting your members. Remember that one important thing!
Some churches should not grow
There are some churches that are not supposed to grow either. Keep in mind that God places people into the body as He will. Your church may be small but it may be that way for an important reason. It may be that way to better disciple people.
God knows what your church needs. All churches need growth. Some need numbers but others need maturity. Church growth goes both ways.
Keep Them Coming
Without a doubt getting those first time visitors is a great thrill. The problem is they may not be back unless you are ready for them.
Your first task is to make them feel comfortable. I am not going to give you a step by step play here because I believe there are members in your church who know how to do this very well. Set them up as your greeters.
After the service a good rule of thumb is to do a follow up. Do not wait too long! You want them to remember they visited you and not forget you know.
If your message is on point and the people are welcoming then your visitor may well return. Do whatever you can to get them involved in the church. It does not take much for someone to feel they belong. That is what you are doing.
You now have all you need to know about advertising tools, marketing, and church growth. There are always a number of ways to implement these ideas. I wanted to give you something to start off with and I hope I have done that.
