A both and strategic communications plan, be that of a local congregation or a Presbytery, is nothing without content. Social Media, e-newsletters, websites, and marketing plans cannot be implemented without a story, an event announcement, a biography, a dream and/or a picture.
For many churches and church-based entities, it can be a matter of just not seeing what they do as being very "remarkable." After all, it’s…
- The quilting group of the church PW (everyone has one of those)
- A youth group bake sale (we only made $24)
- A local extension office’s presentation at a Men's Breakfast (it was just about corn hybrids)
None of these may seem "of interest" or be seen as all that new. Why would you want to tell THAT story to the broader culture? Is a story about the church’s founding family really that interesting? Would the quilt show be newsworthy?
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. - Matthew 5:14-16
In a culture when we’re saturated with information and opinion coming at us quickly and without ceasing, a story about a quilt show may actually be good news about the Good News. When the quilts are donated to a homeless shelter or an adoption agency, that’s Good News. When the $24 from the bake sale goes to combat childhood cancer, that’s Good News. When the Men’s Prayer Breakfast presentation is about how this new corn hybrid will feed millions, that’s Good News.
In other words, what we may deem as wholly unremarkable might be joyfully unbelievable to someone looking for Good News. In a darkened and dim world, your church just might be “letting your light shine before others.”
We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it. - Madeleine L’Engle
So, tell that story. Write that article. Take pictures and video. Then send every bit of that to us so we can help you shine your light. Because sacred communication isn’t about getting people to show up, it’s about telling the Good News.
And by "US", we mean send your stories (or even the germ of an idea of a story) to thomas.riggs@synodsun.org or post on the PSEI Facebook Group.