Networking tends to be a poorly represented tool for churches. We often think of networking as a thing for businesses and NGOs rather than a means to gain opportunities for growth for the local church. One of the most important resources I have learned to value while at Hillsong is relationship. Relationships are instrumental to opportunity and are the basis of influence. It is far more likely that people will take you at your word if they know who you are. The more someone knows you the more they are willing to listen and therefore respond.

A plan to make it work

Have you tried throwing out ads on radio or doing a direct mailer to generate interest about your church and seen little to no results? Chances are the reason for the poor results is a lack of public relationship. General public needs to know who you are before you can invite them to the party so to speak. The most valuable information you can use in promotion is not statistics, but awareness of where you stand with the public. By being aware of that stance you can then effectively strategize ways to move up the latter of relationship and in so doing, the latter of influence.

Building Public Relations from Nothing

Starting out with no PR can be tough and slow going, but it’s not impossible. By going to public events that fit your target audience and just being intentional to network can be a start. Make it a goal to meet at least 30 people, get 5 contacts and go for coffee with a few of the people you meet at each event. Although you may not have any professional need from these contacts you are building relationships and physically representing your church in the community you are trying to reach. Once people start to know who you are, you build credibility out of relationships, which in turn gives you a better response for those less personal church growth efforts.

Is there an easier way?

A church is a community, and a community is formed out of relationships. Although relationships take time and effort, they make a church what it is. Although I could point to many marketing campaign strategies that might work, you will be far more confident in getting results if there is a foundation to launch off of. Even so, you don’t have to be the only person going to events to network and promote the church. Hopefully you have a team. That team can engage with your local community as well, giving this slow going process momentum. Doing the math, if you have a team of 5 people and every week you all talk briefly about the church to 30 people then in a month you have promoted to 600 people. In one quarter that would be 1,800 people that have heard about your church from a person they now have some sort of relationship with.

Cheers,

_rec

Want to know more about this blog?

It is my, Steven Records, desire to see the American Church be all that it can be... healthy, faithful, and growing. So this free resource is made available to help churches and ministry's grow through practical ideas and strategies. Please, watch this vision video to know what I am all about and how you can support the vision to create thriving churches and reach the lost.

If you liked this post check out these popular posts:

• Vision Video: I See A Thriving Church
• Church Foundation Check List
• 5 Creative Ways to Get Your Name Out There

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Seeing young leaders rise up to the challenge of leading a team, I have noticed that one person will usually try and claim leadership over the group, and quickly be frustrated when no one follows his leadership. The blame gets put not on his inability to lead, but on the people who are insubordinate to an equal partner who has done nothing to earn the right to lead. At the end of the day, people are not willing to follow someone based on their claim or title alone. A leader needs to be in a position to lead before he can properly do so. It is far better to be in a stance of leadership than a claim of leadership. The voice of a leader is only as strong as the relationships he holds with those he leads. This is true of any capacity a leader can function in.

In marketing, a company that has an established relationship with the community- establishing trust through consistent visibility and service- will see a far greater response than those companies that have not made an effort to be in a stance where people will want to listen to them. A politician is easily dismissed from a candidacy if he has not built credibility through years of involvement in government. Hollywood stars are often chosen as spokesmen for causes because they have consistently been visible to the public and shown interest in the cause. A pastor who has made sacrifices, and proven himself time and time again by serving those he leads can ask much from his followers because he has invested in the relationship.

The question to ask ourselves is not, “Why am I not being heard?” Rather, the question is, “Am I in a position to lead?” Although many have the ability, talent and skill to lead a group efficiently, few have clocked in the hours necessary to establish credibility and authority. Are those hours really necessary? Absolutely. There is no fast tract to being an authoritative leader. Trust is built through challenges and opportunities when the true colors of a leader are shown. However, it is in these vulnerable moments when a group can become a team, a room of strangers can become family. A leader unites a diverse group of people under one vision that threads a common bond between strangers making them friends. A leader does this not by his claims, but by his stance. Let us not assume authority based on our ability, but assume responsibility as leaders to build a foundation of credibility through time and character.

Cheers mate,

_rec

Want to know more about this blog?

It is my, Steven Records, desire to see the American Church be all that it can be... healthy, faithful, and growing. So this free resource is made available to help churches and ministry's grow through practical ideas and strategies. Please, watch this vision video to know what I am all about and how you can support the vision to create thriving churches and reach the lost.

If you liked this post check out these popular posts:

• Vision Video: I See A Thriving Church
• Church Foundation Check List
• 5 Creative Ways to Get Your Name Out There

Help By Sharing This Video

Church Growth / Leadership — No comments