We have what we think will be a very helpful and encouraging podcast for you with Episode 32. Even as we share this with you, we are working on creative ways in our 200church to share a new series over the next two weeks, and then the following nine weeks. We're excited!
Creative Communication Methods. Wow, that's a mouthful! Why should you embrace creativity in your 200church? Is there really any benefit to communicating "creatively" in your current context? Does it really make a difference when you keep things fresh and flexible in your church?
The short answer is YES! You owe it to yourself and your congregation to communicate in new and fresh ways and to really seek to be creative in the way that you present the Gospel.
Here's a few reasons why:
So what do we mean by "creative communication"? Some examples that we've used in our own 200church include:
We are really excited for the plans we've developed for this fall's message series. We think it will be the best one we've perhaps ever shared with out people. What are some creative things you've done in your own 200church? Have you struggled to keep people engaged in the past? We'd love to hear your feedback in the comments! When was the last time you started something new at your church? New creates interest, and piques curiosity. New is fun. Even God loves to take what is old, dead, and stale – and make all things new! We want to talk with you about starting something new. Starting something from scratch is a scary and exhilarating experience. Whether it’s as simple as starting a new habit or as complex as starting a new service at your church, there are both unbelievable highs and inevitable pitfalls waiting for us along the way. Here at 200churches, we’re focused on helping the leaders of small churches maximize their giftedness and passion for the Kingdom of God. We’ve found, from our own experience that, while it’s easier to sustain the status quo, starting new projects is a great way to get people involved, create a buzz, and continue to move forward as a church. New is scary for everyone I once met with the elders at a 200church that was stuck between the status quo and the future. The pastor felt that if the church wasn’t able to do some new things soon, it would quickly die out. While I felt for his situation, it was clear that many on his elder board struggled with the idea of “new.” New is scary because it takes resources and energy to create something, and the payoff isn’t guaranteed. For some of the elders, no guarantee was terrifying. It takes extra time, energy, and grace to work with people in a situation like that, but when the vision catches, it can be great for a congregation. New creates excitement It’s always fun to watch TV in the early fall when shows are first getting started up. Networks must eat millions of dollars in advertising money by taking commercial time for their own projects. Why? Because they know that you can always build excitement around something new. The buildup to a new event, group, or program in your church is an opportunity to build some excitement about where your congregation is moving. Larger churches understand this and take advantage by running promotional videos for upcoming sermon series. In 200churches, we have a unique opportunity to not only promote during services, but also one on one! Find the connected people in your church and promote to them. They’ll do the rest. New gives us a chance to deliver As leaders of 200churches, there’s a good chance that the planning and execution of a new project will fall on our shoulders. This is scary, but also comes with a big payoff. As we promote and prepare our new project, it’s important to over-deliver with our finished product. Nothing can kill a buzz faster than our new project not living up to expectations, and nothing will make it harder to do something new in the future than not delivering in the past. The best way to build confidence in your leadership and acceptance in “new” is to consistently over deliver in a way that is both helpful and encouraging. While it may take more time and energy than maintaining the status quo, “new” is an incredible chance for leaders to involve voices and personalities that might not usually be heard, and “new” provides us with the opportunity to move forward as churches. So what are some new projects/ideas you have for your church? What would your answer be if someone asked “What’s new?” |
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