Church advertising

Advertising?

The best way to advertise is signs and wonders. That's how Jesus advertised. If we believe, signs and wonders will follow, and so will people. Simple.

 

It would depend on what we are advertising for our church.

 

Usually we just announce what is happening, let the reader figure out what we mean we are going to actually do

 

If you have to advertise to get people in your building, you might be in a sad state of affairs. People should be coming by word of mouth of the awesome things happening in your church. Otherwise you may be trying to sell something nobody wants, so they go look for the real thing. It's funny how the modern church has become so world-like in it's operation, makes a person outside the church wonder if Jesus is there.

 

Luke,

Does your church have a web site? Do they work to attract people? (I know they do...) In that case, they "advertise."

There is nothing wrong with placing the name of the church in the public market in a culture where doing so is the normal means of getting information to the public. We find our example in the Apostle Paul, who used various means to "advertise" his new church starts in the places where he visited. He did these things in a day when the culture was not aimed toward bill boards or television spots, but I suspect that Paul would be first in line to use media to extend the message far and wide if he could. He used every bit of the best media of his day to do just that!

He sent out PR spots in advance of his arrival (book of Romans), he approached businessmen and women (Lydia), he spoke in multiple locations to multiple groups of people, and even disrupted their trade, indicating that he was in the market place, and he spoke to their academia on Mars Hill.

"Top of mind awareness" is the idea behind any advertising campaign. In that, the goal is that when people think "church" (for any number of reasons) they think of your church. They may or may not attend, but the chances are better if they are already predisposed to think of you before they find themselves in some needy place, presuming, of course, that you can actually provide ministry to those seeking help.

 

Nah, that's a perfect example of the world. You might be deceived.

 

Probably not. I already gave you scriptural examples. You have, perhaps, been trained to think of any activity like this as being of the world. The church needs to be more "spiritual", right?

Let me give you an example... Have you seen preachers wearing nice suits, ties, pressed shirts, and great shoes to church? Guess who else wears that? Yup... "The world." Bankers, lawyers, business men, etc., all dress much like the preacher. Is he in the world because of his dress? Probably not, but who knows? Being in or out of the world is not a cultural issue -- it is a matter of the heart.

 

We use minimal exterior advertisement. When we do advertise it will usually be for an event or opportunity for the community to be involved regardless of whether they are churched or unchurched.

For example, we don't advertise our various series, ongoing ministries, etc but will put out targeted marketing in appropriate venues for larger events that may attract, for instance a Christmas special, weekend parenting conference, etc.

We have a fairly comprehensive marketing strategy that took time to put into place. We desire to grow by authentic conversions and not simply church-to-church transfer. (Of course some of your growth will be that transition.)

We believe the best way to grow through conversion isn't through billboards or broadcasts but through our people being the intentional hands and feet of authentic followers of Jesus Christ. We can make more of an impact through personal relationships than an expensive marketing or mailing campaign.

That said we do put out one direct mailer piece a year to local homes concerning our Easter services. We focus this on reaching unchurched families that might be considering a visit. It is one of our most important times.

 

Luke, sounds like your church has got all of this figured out. I, for one, would love to know just what is happening at your church. Maybe you can answer questions such as:

1. How old is your church?
2. How many people are being drawn into the church each Sunday because of the signs and wonders?
3. When are these signs and wonders being demonstrated?

In general, just tell me about your church, especially some of the "awesome" things that are taking place.

 

luke1616,

Funny, I've never heard of your church, though it is alledgedly so great, with all of it's miracles and wonders!!!


I've even asked around, and no one has heard of any church like yours, performing miracles, and people flocking to it in droves. Also, ;last time I read in the Bible about droves of people heading somewhere, it, uh, twernt church!!!!! (Sermon on the Mount?)

Shucks. :wavey:


Only thing we can figure is you're maybe going to Osteens church, and you thought how miraculous a wonder and miracle it is that he never preaches truth?! Ever.

:sleeping_2:

 

Just to clarify, Jesus did signs and wonders to confirm His deity and His ministry, not to advertise His ministry. In fact, He called those who were attracted to His ministry because of His signs and wonders "a wicked and adulterous generation".

Since when do we measure a church by signs and wonders? What ever happened to the Biblical criteria of measuring a church by its faithfulness to the Word of God and it's preaching of the Gospel?

And let me ask you this: our church opened its doors in 2006 with 24 people. We've since grown to a little over 250 (and this is in a rural area with an extremely small population...not bragging, just stating a fact). We don't do signs and wonders, or at least, not the kind you have in mind.

Personally, I don't think there is any bigger sign or wonder than when God takes a wretched vile sinner, a rebel at emnity with Him, a spiritual corpse, crucifies him with Christ and raises him to new life in Christ. But that's just me.

Think of what Jesus said in Luke 15:7 - "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." Isn't it interesting that the Bible never says that angels rejoice when Jesus raised someone from the dead or healed them. It never tells us that any of Jesus' other signs and wonders caused joy in Heaven.

When you start to see sinners saved, baptised, delivered, crucified with Christ to sin and self and raised to new life in Christ, that, my friend, is a sign and a wonder that even Heaven takes notice of.

 

It depends.

I know you're getting tired of hearing this, but we're so far out in the country that most advertising is just not practical.

That having been said, if we're offering a class or something that's of interest to the general public, then we'll usually put a notice up at the local grocery store.

But mostly, we're just a word of mouth (NOT to be confused with Word of Faith, thank you very much) church.