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Why your church website isn’t being read
Mark MacDonald Religious CommunityCommunication budgets are being wasted by churches. Almost every ministry has a website now, and sadly the investment may not be wise. The mentality I hear all the time is, "It's not very good, but it's better than not having one." I disagree. People are fleeing (quickly) from church websites, but it can be different.
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4 ways for church staff to celebrate Christmas
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityDecember can be a challenging month for church staff. You'd like to enjoy the holiday season, yet your schedule is packed with planning Christmas services and outreaches while trying to prepare your family's holiday celebrations. Your dedication to serving others is wonderful and greatly appreciated. However, please take time for yourself and your loved ones this Christmas. Here are four tips to help that don't require much time or energy to accomplish.
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When does a church need a master site plan?
Robert C. Foreman Religious CommunityWith the purchase of a new site or planning for expansion on an existing site, every church planning to build should have a master site plan. Every phase of expansion should be preceded by updating the master site plan. The master site plan is a valuable tool in the planning process for a new facility because any church that wishes to provide for growth needs to know how much it will be able to grow on its currently available property.
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It’s time to replace not-for-profit scarcity with possibility
Lynda Gerty Association ManagementWe've all heard the same news: Charities are in trouble. People are disengaged. Volunteering is on the decline. Today's generation is apathetic. I'd like to offer a different vantage point. What if I told you it isn't that people are abandoning community? What if the exact opposite is true: Community is abandoning people. What if there is a huge supply of talented people who are eager to contribute, yet a lack of (meaningful) demand for their skills and talent?
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3 sanity checks when caught in the middle
Mark MacDonald Religious CommunityMy wife is a middle child. She tells stories about how she felt left out and sometimes caught in the middle. You may even feel like you're always the middle person on the team. Not the best, not the worst. And even now, the awkward couple of weeks in the middle of Thanksgiving and Christmas is coming. The middle gets a bad rap. The middle is a strange time or position. So what do you do when you're after a large event and before another. The church often has these times.
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Help, we’re growing! Start planning now to support your growing church
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityIt's an awesome "problem" to have with your church. Each week your sanctuary feels a bit smaller and you're running out of room. The congregation hasn't doubled or anything quite that dramatic, but you're noticing a steady increase. You've been praying for this moment, and now that it’s here your joy is combined with a moment of panic. What do we do now?
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Celebrant funerals: Leave them to the experts
Kevin O'Brien Religious CommunityA growing number of funeral homes realize that more and more people are not looking for a religious service but rather a celebration of life — something that is personal and unique, and where they have complete approval on what is said and done at their funeral or the funeral of a loved one.
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3 simple reasons for simple
Mark MacDonald Religious CommunityI love recipes that contain three or four simple ingredients. Last night we had a taco soup that was easy to make, yet it tasted amazing. Just a few cans of this, spice, some ground beef, and voila. It's like a chef created it. Often the amazing results make us think it's much more than it actually was. The same is true for the best communication strategies. Simple is almost always better. I think we know that; but why don't we do it more?
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How to turn your pastor’s vision into reality without wearing out…
Deborah Ike Religious CommunityYou're in a staff meeting and your senior pastor mentions that he has an idea. Immediately, you start getting concerned (and then feel guilty for being concerned). You've been down this road before. He comes up with a great idea that you fully support; however, you know there’s a ton of work required to make it happen. Oh, and this is in addition to your team's day-to-day responsibilities, plus he wants it implemented ASAP.
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What’s your church wearing?
Mark MacDonald Religious CommunityI have a few friends who seem to only wear black. And then there are pastors I know who always seem to be wearing a sweater vest. Or khakis and an oxford shirt. In fact, you’re probably known for wearing a certain style. What people wear — or the style they regularly wear — starts to become recognizable. What’s your church been wearing?
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