We’ve been supporting Creative Missions since 2011, banging the drum and handling the finances. It’s an effort to send communications professionals to help local churches communicate better in practical and tangible ways. It’s an opportunity to put skills and resources to work where they’re needed most. It’s the church helping the church. That’s some storytelling we can get behind. The first year a group traveled to Albany, N.Y., and last year they helped churches in Northwest Arkansas and Joplin, Mo.
This May Creative Missions is going north to Alaska. The signup deadline has already passed, but you can still support this effort to encourage and equip local churches.
For the past couple weeks we’ve been sharing insights from past creative missionaries, offering the kinds of insights and lessons they’re sharing with churches. So far we’ve heard from Matt Adams on the top 5 elements for church websites and Laura Bennett on church design basics. We hope to be sharing these lessons each week until the 2013 Creative Missions crew departs for Alaska.
The trip also offers lessons and insights for the missionaries themselves. Last month we talked to several Creative Missions alumni as they shared why they decided to go, what they learned and how the trip has continued to impact them. Check out the stories from Kyna Moore, Colt Melrose, Joe Porter and Jon Rogers.
We’re big fans of Creative Missions. Not only is it fulfilling our mission to help churches not suck, but it’s doing so by tapping into the expertise of so many church communicators (it’s like a reunion of friends, folks we recognize from Twitter, Church Marketing Sucks guest posts or Outspoken contributors). Serving on mission trips is great, but sometimes it’s a little awkward when you’re having to serve in a capacity where you have no skill. Some of us desk jockeys aren’t used to manual labor or we have no skills with kids. There can be strength in that kind of weakness and there’s a time for that, but there’s also a time to use our God-given skills. We each have our role to play in the body of Christ.
For more on Creative Missions, founders Cleve Persinger and Eric Murrell have been posting Chattin’ Alaska videos, sharing their heart and vision during a preview trip they took to Alaska last fall. Check out the videos and consider a financial gift to support Creative Missions.
Chattin’ Alaska #1: Soul Care
Chattin’ Alaska #2: Bi-Vocational Pastors
Chattin’ Alaska #3: Stats
Chattin’ Alaska #4: Good Cop, Good Cop
Follow Creative Missions on Facebook to see more stories. And please consider supporting Creative Missions financially.
