Church Marketing | ::: i Hate Church :::

Church MarketingPosted by holaratcha in churchy stuff On Jun 17th, 2009

What do you all want to know about Church Marketing? Do you feel your CHURCH BRAND is stale? You have tried WOM strategies (Word of Mouth) and even ventured into the world of VM (viral marketing) or Viral_Palooza with limited success. It seems whatever you attempt to juggle never works out like the church who is PERFECTING IT…. WHY – IS – THAT? How can SO – AND – SO – CHURCH have exponential growth utilizing CHURCH MARKETING STRATEGIES and we suck?

I got really deep into the Bible the other day and nearly read 4 whole chapter in the book of St. John {sarcasm}. My goal was to study every move of Jesus… that – was – it! I want to know what MY decisions should be and base them off of someone who seems to know a little bit about that… J-E-S-U-S.

So I am in John 4… reading about Jesus taking a break in Samaria, when he encounters A SAMARITAN…..Shocking really, I mean… He was in Samaria, so there shouldn’t really be a surprise when he encounters a Samaritan woman drawing water from a well. It is at this point the thought of CHURCH MARKETING begins to hit.

Notice Jesus asks for a drink (John 4:7) from a group of people tradition said to NEVER communicate with. Not only is Jesus communicating but he initiates the conversation. Check out how the woman (John 4:9) is shocked a Jew is speaking to her.

Do you claim to be a christian and turn an eye to those who are not? Does religion tell you not to associate because they will corrupt and sway you toward evil? Do you pass judgement on those who do not have the same Christian belief and alienate?

JESUS WOULD HAVE ENCOUNTERED THOSE SAME THOUGHTS….

Jesus straight up threw RELIGION out the window and went to the heart. CHURCH MARKETING is watching Jesus and applying his actions. Your CHURCH BRAND should be translating Jesus to Samaritans…Do you have someone in mind who you would like to introduce to Jesus? Have you sat down with a SAMARITAN lately?

Additional historical reading concerning Samaritans

Tags: bible story, church brand, free church marketing, jesus, samaritan woman —

10 Responses

How I Make $300 a Day Online on June 18, 2009 at 4:45 am:
Hey, nice post, very well written. You should blog more about this.

David (Marketing Integrity) on June 18, 2009 at 11:39 am:
You are right on! There are all kinds of church marketing tools and strategies that churches can experiment and implement but nothing overrides Jesus’ model of sharing and connecting with people one on one!

admin on June 18, 2009 at 2:13 pm:
def cant say i am right on :: there is a level of unique flavor which we all possess, appreciate the read and throwin in your flavor. cheers

Julie on June 18, 2009 at 2:18 pm:
I’m in marketing (real estate), and the most successful marketing we have done has been based on building relationships. If this is true for something like real estate, I would think that it would be the only way when talking about marketing a church. However, I have to say the the phrase “church marketing” still makes me so uncomfortable. Are we turning church into a commodity? Are we trying to turn God into a commodity?

admin on June 18, 2009 at 2:23 pm:
Yes Yes Yes :: love the thought behind the word marketing and church :: it is so disruptive in a way? To imagine Jesus handing out pamphlets, radio, electronic, online interviews while disciples hold up signs pointing to where his next SHOW takes place :: it all makes for a funny episode of Familiy Guy or the Simpsons.

Unfortunately trends in the world have PITCHED us everything from detergent to church and everything in between :: if most people are not being SOLD they are plain not interested :: which leads us to the dilemma of the vernacular “church marketing” :: I like to use the phrase Re_Branding Jesus to multiple generations. Do you have any suggestions?

Julie on June 18, 2009 at 4:28 pm:
Hmmm. I’ve been trying to think of a better term than marketing but haven’t come up with much (promoting, advocating, endorsing, compelling????). But it does have me wondering why some churches now have “marketing” staff instead of “public relations” staff. Public relations seems like a better fit to me.

Thanks for getting me to think more about all of this. It’s really fascinating.

admin on June 18, 2009 at 4:31 pm:
Public relations is great :: sort of like how it is grouped in Social Media :: It is quite difficult to find the right name and give proper respect :: I am going to search for what the Vatican does :: cheers

Annie on June 22, 2009 at 5:03 am:
I’ve come back to this blog a few times… especially when I’ve listened to Hillsong ‘Oh you Bring’! They just go together…constantly reminds me the purity and simplicity and the right way of church marketing.

soraya on June 22, 2009 at 9:36 am:
‘Jesus straight up threw RELIGION out the window and went to the heart.’ LOVE IT!!

was reading genesis 11:6 last night… ‘The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.’ imagine if all Christians were speaking the SAME language of Christ, imagine if every Christian adopted the same self-less attitude that Christ had. imagine if every Christian tried to align their hearts with God.. then all heart of Christians would be aligned… then nothing we planned to do would be impossible for us! now lets stop imagining and start doing it!!!!