Growing Your Church

Church Communication is another of those issues on which sections of the church part company. We agree that the church exists to proclaim the Good News of Christ. What we cannot agree on, is the how of this proclamation. There are strong disagreements over the way we spread or communicate the Gospel message.

Methods of Communicating the Gospel
The tools and resources we employ in whatever method we use to proclaim the Gospel must aid in its proclamation. The method should never become an end in itself. Did you notice that the majority of our methods are outdated, and irrelevant?

Truth is, many of us are stuck in the same place using the same methods – reluctant to admit they are not working. When was the last time you ran a check on the communication methods used in your church?

How I Run A Quick Communication Check Up

Ever so often, the church needs to stop and assess its communication level and establish what are its present needs. For me, this process is more than asking does my congregation transmit the message using any or all of these methods:

• Sermons
• Bible Studies
• Church Bulletin
• Church Brochure
  
• Church Newsletter
• Church Website
• Church Blog
• Banners
• Event Posters and Flyers

I evaluate all of the above, however I conduct my assessment using two broad categories: Internal Communication and External Communication

Internal Relations and Church Communication

First, I check the ‘temperature’ of our church. Even if pastor and church office manage to pull off, all the above means of communication – it is useless if the membership is not experiencing healthy fellowship.

Internal communication covers the range of activities where the congregation exchange thoughts, ideas, share information and hear and respond to the Gospel and its demands on their lives.

Looking at how busy we have become in our congregations, and how sophisticated the means of our interactions – how come we are still not sharing positive relations with each other? We are not doing well as a single congregation or as the whole body of Christ. We still can’t get along well enough to hear and understand each other.

Apart from not relating well with each other, there are the sermons that are hardly understood, bible studies that are poorly attended, department or small group meetings that accomplish very little, and business meetings for the exhibition of egos. No one listens to the announcements, the Notice Board could remain the same for weeks and only a few take note, and the bulletins are left behind littering the floor. Ever did a check to see how many people read your church’s newsletter?

We are not doing very well with internal communications in our churches. Well, let’s see how we fare talking to those on the outside.

External Communications and Church Outreach

There is something inherently wrong in trying to talk to those on the outside when we cannot talk to each other on the inside. I know you bright sparks are going to ask at which point was there completely blissful relations in the history of the church. But that is for another discussion.

In running a check on how we are doing in this area we should consider the following areas. Note though, that all these areas are also applicable for the previously mentioned area of internal church communications.

Target Audience - I am still not sure what people mean when they say ‘outreach to our members’. What’s that? I imagine that outreach is literally reaching outside of our congregation to the wider community we are called to serve.

It means we should be involved in the community so we know who we are trying to reach. We do not minister to imaginary people. Ensure that the means of communication is relevant to those you are trying to reach.

Location of your audience - Where are they located? If they are in your neighbourhood it might be a good idea to drop by with a flyer, or church brochure and say hello. If they live in distant community or another country then maybe you might want to develop a church website or Blog.

We’ll be returning to the purpose of our church websites, church blogs and outreach via the Internet as time goes by. This is one area where the church is losing out big time. Have you any idea how many of your members ‘reside’ on the internet?

The messengers- Tailoring the message for delivery in a way that matches the messengers is critical. For example, if your Youth group is responsible for an event then the method of communication should reflect the youth presence.

We need to revisit the same, pardon me, but the same ‘boring’ presentations when trying to reach various groups with specific needs.

Standard Tools – Churches are still using tools from another era to operate in the technologically advanced present. Lack of finances is one factor that contributes to this. Sadly enough, the second factor is part of our love as a church to hang on to the relics of the past.

Some still use typewriters, others consider a photocopier, a fax machine and a computer a luxury. Churches should invest in improving the basic tools they use while at the same time be alert to consumerist impulses.

Budget –Church Communication is one of those areas that receive either very little attention or too much attention in the budget. It all depends on whether you are a small church or a mega-church. No matter what size congregation or budget you have, you will need to ensure that you develop and take your communications ministry seriously.

Church communication, because it is a core aspect of the church’s mission should not be neglected. Neither should the means of spreading the message obscure the message.

Over time we will examine in greater detail how important this is.

Marvia

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