Over the next few blogs I want to think and discuss ‘outloud’ the value of marketing the church. What is marketing? Should the church be involved in marketing? Is there any value in marketing? How do we market the church?
In short: Marketing is simply letting people know that we are here and that we have something to offer. It is the process or technique of promoting, selling, and distributing a product or service.
For the church we might say that we should be involved in managing people’s perceptions of the Gospel toward a hopeful end that they will respond positively to it.
So the real question: Is my church or is the Gospel worth promoting?
Let me hear your thoughts.
NEXT: PERCEPTIONS…They Matter Too!
Marketing is defined by the American Marketing Association as the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large. Based on this definition, the church IS marketing. The church is the institution through which the Father develops his activities and processes that use His Creations for communicating and delivering His word that are invaluable to His customers, clients, partners, and society at large. I think as Christians we have no choice in whether or not we are promoting the Gospel and our church. If we are truly striving with all our hearts and minds and souls to honor God and be Christ-like we are living breathing billboards for the power and grace of the Father. His marketing strategy is working through us that choose to accept His grace and mercy not by the imperfect lives we live but by the spirit of Jesus in our hearts . I think it is our duty to manage the perception of our church and the gospel, particularly in the world we live in today.
Many of us decide which products and/or services we will consume based solely on the opinions or verdict of a friend or neighbor. This is something that folks that make a living by marketing can’t get enough of…Word-of-mouth advertising! We have to understand that many in this world have a 2nd hand version of the Gospel that has erected a fence between them and God. As Christians we need to make the bring people to Christ via the most powerful form of marketing, word-of-mouth. Our friends and family will run out to that restaurant we said had great calamari or they will buy the car that their neighbor told them would last forever. How many of our friends will spend eternity with their Creator and Savior who so blantantly stamped his “brand” on their hearts and minds?
Thanks Marc for you comments. From the beginning Christ stamped “eternity” into the hearts of his human creation. He is also the ONE who ‘draws men unto Himself.’ Understanding those doctrinal foundations sets the table for the Church – His hands, feet and mouthpiece to proclaim the Great News of the Gospel. The Church is not the paid salesman, we are the satisfied customer!
A hearty YES from Lititz, Dan. I definitely believe that marketing is something the church should do. Commerical marketing is good and I believe can be used of God. We have seen that many times over here at Lititz Grace. But the best marketing we have found is “word of mouth” marketing. Our goal is to put together a service each and every Sunday that is Biblical, engaging and creative to the point that the 1500 people who are with us on Sunday all talk about the service at the many “Water Coolers” at their work places and other places in the community on Monday morning. That is where most of our growth is originating. We are always looking for better ideas for more effective marketing so I am looking forward to your upcoming postings! Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Blessings, brother.
“Water Coolers” & “Wine Coolers” & “Coffee Cafe’s”. These are the ‘real’ places where people go and hang out. I would guess they are NOT coming to us, which implies we might want to GO to them! Hmmnnn…”GO” Isn’t that the first word in the Great Commission?
And, when we send out ‘our’ satisfied customers, (our church members/attenders), they are so much more heard then the ‘paid salesmen’ clergy that are ‘expected’ to talk about God!
So…Do Share! What is Lititz DOING that is effective in the area of Marketing the Church. More Coming from Gateway on this as well!