I have to admit that I cringe a little when I think about the word “church” and “marketing” in the same sentence. Especially if we think of our convergence goal in terms of attendance numbers or the number of services offered. After all, Christ didn’t come to get us to fill our church buildings, He came to offer us a personal relationship with Him and to teach us how to love each other. 

With that said, I think the most important groundwork churches, ministries and Christian nonprofits can set is to make sure our hearts are in the right place, with a motive of love. I think the team at ChurchMarketingSucks.com said it perfectly with their mission statement: “The blog to frustrate, educate and motivate the church to communicate, with uncompromising clarity, the truth of Jesus Christ.” 

Another important piece of the groundwork is to really evaluate where you are in terms of marketing. Step into reality about your communications: Do you have branding and is it good? How does the community see and feel about your ministry? Can you answer the million dollar question: “What is your mission?” in one minute or less? Do you understand the people in the communities around you, and are you regularly communicating with them? (The Compassion by Design blog has a lot of really good ideas and information about how to reach your community.)

Now, you are probably thinking, “No problem, I know exactly where we are and what we need to do to improve.” But the truth is that most things are subjective, and you may not be able to see the big picture until you bring someone else into it. Find a trusted colleague, bring your staff together, or hire an outsider to help you see clearly. 

Now, let’s rehash: 

1. Evaluate your own heart and motive;
2. Do your own communications audit; and
3. Bring someone else into it 

These are just a few steps in laying the groundwork for your church marketing plan. Stay tuned as there will be more to come!