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Getting started with project management
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityHave you ever participated in an effort to select, buy, and implement a new ChMS? What about completing an overhaul of the church’s HR policies? Or perhaps you're working on reopening plans amid COVID-19. Those are a few examples of projects you may face. A great deal of time, money, and work is expended to complete these projects. One way to make that process less expensive and time-consuming is to use a project management process.
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Building a website? Don’t forget this surprising thing
Mark MacDonald Religious CommunityThe one critical thing you need to remember when building a website: it needs to be full of content your audience is pursuing. Sure, the look and the experience are important, but people will overlook those things and put up with issues only if the content is needed and relevant to them. It’s up to you to make sure this happens. Creating the right content will make (or break) your online presence. Here are three ways to get your content right.
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Are you happy with your online giving provider?
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityIf your church didn't offer an online giving option before COVID-19, it likely does now. Hundreds (if not thousands) of churches had to quickly establish an online giving capability or risk a significant drop in donations due to people not attending services in-person. Here are a few things to consider as you evaluate your current online giving provider.
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7 warning signs your church needs branding help now
Mark MacDonald Religious Community"You mean our church logo, right?" No. Your brand is more than a logo. It's the emotional aftertaste of an offered product or service. What you're known for. Something that'll bring a particular audience back. Sure, your logo is a visual representation of that promise but it's not your brand. Does your church have a brand? Or do you need branding help? Here are seven telling moments that say, "our church brand needs help!"
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5 tips to improve volunteer communication
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityAs your church reopens amid COVID-19, you may find that you need more volunteers. All the extra sanitizing, helping people adhere to social distancing guidelines, and more will require additional people to make services run smoothly. You may also need more volunteers to host online services, follow-up with online prayer requests, and to contact members who might need assistance during this time. Here are a few tips for improving communication with your volunteer teams.
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3 tips for winning with communication goals
Mark MacDonald Religious CommunityI confess, I love setting goals. It grounds and focuses me — and lets me know if I'm winning. It's the difference between practicing a golf swing without a ball or without a hole. In church communication today, many churches have no goals. They don't know what they're attempting to achieve, and in their busyness, they're discouraged because they have no idea if they're winning. Want to feel like a winner in communication? Here are three tips for establishing comm goals that are reasonable, achievable, and effective.
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3 unlikely but essential ways to communicate generosity
Mark MacDonald Religious CommunityGod often puts us in a crazy situation and demands trust. Perhaps you’re like Elijah and God's given you a vision of what He wants to accomplish through seemingly impossible giving. Maybe your audience is like the widow and has nothing but a small reserve. God wants us to trust. I’ve learned people won’t give to a God-sized vision if they’re not aware. Effective communication plays an important role in accomplishing God’s work. Here’s how to do it well.
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Dealing with risk in a volatile season
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityTo put it mildly, 2020 has been a challenging year. We've all had to deal with the impact of several significant events in a short period of time. While no one envisioned so much happening so fast, this raises an issue that many church leaders prefer not to consider … risk. However, leaders who have a plan to prevent these risks and how to deal with them if they occur will fare much better than those who don’t. Here are a few things for you to consider as you mitigate the risks to your church.
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5 ways to avoid category exhaustion at your church
Mark MacDonald Religious CommunityJesus said we'd be known for having love one towards another. That's quite a brand! Different communities have different needs and interpret love differently. That's how churches can develop different brands and still feel uniquely different. It always comes down to defining your audience. The biggest issue that occurs on a branded path is boredom. Be careful that your brand doesn't stay in such a narrow lane for an extended period of time or you'll experience category exhaustion. Here are five ways to avoid category exhaustion.
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What does an executive pastor do?
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityThe role of an Executive Pastor (or XP) can be difficult to define. It's not a new role, but it tends to look different based on the culture and structure of each church. Sometimes, the XP role goes by a different title altogether. Whatever your church decides to call it, this individual usually oversees human resources, facilities, insurance, finances, and making sure everything behind-the-scenes runs smoothly. Since this role varies by church, there are a handful of resources to check out to find a definition that works for your situation.
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