Today we’re reviewing, discussing, and giving away the book Outspoken: Conversations on Church Communications. Keep reading to learn how you can win one of 3 copies we’re giving away.
Outspoken is a brand new book about church communications that’s being released today. What makes Outspoken remarkable is that it’s a compilation of insight from more than 60 church communications professionals including Jon Acuff, Phil Cooke, DJ Chuang, Steve Fogg, Charles Lee, Kem Meyer, Tony Morgan, John Saddington, Tony Steward, and Leonard Sweet. I’m excited to be a contributor as well.
The book is published by The Center for Church Communications (known for its popular blog Church Marketing Sucks) and was edited and organized by its co-director Tim Schraeder. It covers all facets of church communications such as leadership, branding, design, words and stories, technology, creativity, and personal growth.
This is a book every person that does church communications, web design, or marketing should read and keep within arm’s reach at their desk. It’s a great book for pastors too because they do and oversee a lot of church communications as well.
Get a Free Book
Because all of us at OurChurch.Com and Christian Web Trends want to see churches communicate better, we’re not only helping to spread the word about Outspoken, we’re also going to give away 3 copies. All you have to do to win one is:
- Retweet this post or share it on Facebook, AND…
- Post a comment with one bit of advice for church communicators or a question about church communications. (Include your Facebook or Twitter username in your comment so I can connect your comment to your share/tweet).
Three people will be selected Friday, September 16, at 4 PM to receive a free copy of the book.
If you’d like to double your chances of winning, share/comment once each day.
In the mean time, you can download a free preview or purchase Outspoken on Amazon.
An important component of communicating, is respect. When we have issues concerning bringing "new" things into the church environment- music, new AV, twitter, whatever, we need to be mindful that although the "old-timers" want to see the church progress the progress thay have made before we arrived on the scene must be honored and respected. We need to work to integrate the old and new, rather than approaching the issues as an either / or and taking a divisive stance.
They have great stories and memories that we need to preserve as we introduce new technology.
That's a good point, Martina. Innovation is important, but traditions and the culture that unifies a church are important too. And because people are most important of all, so is respect.
YAY for you Paul! Good on you
Good to be a part of this with you, Steve!
HI, Paul
This book looks really cool. I particularly like the way you mix some solid leadership development and "employee" management in with the technical stuff. Too often we only get one or the other and both are needed to succeed.
In the essay by Kem Meyer entitled " Themes To Lead By", he makes a great point about storytelling:
"We tend to conform to the behavior of the people around us. We tell stories, we share stories and we are changed by stories. Positivity is contagious."
Indeed. This one bit of advice to focus on stories, when used appropriately and effectively, pays for the book right there:).
I took the liberty of writing a quick review based on my impressions of the table of content:), which will post on Strategic Learning Today via Tumblr on Saturday at 9:30 AM CST.
I just Tweeted this page as @stratlearner – link to my tweet here: http://twitter.com/#!/StratLearner/status/1145017…
Thanks for this great addition to the resources available to faith communities to "Tell The Story", which is the current theme of my denomination, The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Thanks John. I think the importance of telling the stories of what God is doing in and through us is really taking hold within the church. It's no accident that the Outspoken book was launched at the Story Conference in Chicago yesterday – http://www.storychicago.com. It's great to hear the Christian Church denomination has picked up on that theme. My own church's theme for this year is "1,000 Stories of Faith, Hope, and Love" – http://www.cypressmeadows.org/1000stories/
If you think of it DM me a link through twitter to the blog post Saturday so I don't miss it.
Update – had to move my blogpost to Sunday at 7:30 AM:)
Don't communicate when you're angry which goes right along with having a humble attitude by Bill. Another good thing to remember is to consider which social network you're using and how to communicate on that one specifically. Not everything that you'd post on Twitter is great for FB and the other way around. Twitter seems to be for broadcasting while Facebook is a little of that plus conversation and interaction.
What I'm wondering is if this book is covering 101 or more of a 200 or 300 level? Both are great, but am wondering, sounds like a great book!
– Becky B. (@tijuanabecky)
Good advice, Becky. I don't know if you can put a grade level to the book. There is some very foundational insight as well as some more advanced concepts. But more and more I'm finding that learning about communications is not necessarily sequential.
Don't try to sell Jesus or make Him cool.
Jesus existed before everything else did. You can't get "cooler" than that.
Instead let every communication you breathe point to Jesus as Lord and Savior. Communicate real, understandable language that is founded on Scripture.
And don't forget… the Holy Spirit is a very important part of this whole process. Ask Him for insight as you communicate, ask Him to keep you in God's Will and Nature while you communicate, and ask Him to Bless your message as He sees fit.
-Randall
@randallpotter http://www.randallpotter.com
Good stuff, Randall!
As a communicator its always best to seek first to understand and then be understood. When you do this you earn the respect of those to whom you communicate.
[…] giving away 3 copies for Outspoken today. Find out how you can win! Or buy a copy online right on […]
I don't remember where I first got it from, but I've have this grid taped to my cubicle wall since last spring
http://www.scribd.com/doc/64689335/Communications…
I'm still working on being able to communicate the idea effectively to stakeholders sometimes 🙂
@mnplatypus
Neat concept. Less is more when it comes to communication, so prioritizing and saying no to some things is critical.
Hi, all – a further thought about "Outspoken".
At least based on the sample chapter, a consistent theme appears throughout: Church communications is about working effectively with people, not just the tools or the strategy.
In churchs, leaders both cleric and lay face the challenges of working with a smal number of paid employees and a much larger number of volunteers. Volunteers are sometimes brittle, sometimes headstrong, and sometimes so consumed by the mission that they do not always perceive the reality.
Thanks for keeping that in front of us:)
John
Amen! It's about the people not the tools.
Church marketing first and foremost involves to golden rule, in short, treat others as you would want to be treated. If you have a very formal approach to info about your church or the worship or other programs, compare that to how you respond to advertising and promotions in the day to day part of your life. What influences you to buy or make a particular decision? If someone approached you about food, clothing or entertainment the way you approach your community with your church, would they have a chance to get your business? twitter – BYRDMAN48
Hey Chris, great advice, and good to see you engaging here!