The last week of the year is always a good time to look back on what you’ve accomplished and look ahead toward what you hope to do. Here at Church Marketing Sucks with our nonprofit parent, the Center for Church Communication (CFCC), 2014 has been a year of progress and milestones. We’re excited to build on that in 2015. So here’s the top CFCC news of 2014:
Getting Started
Early in 2014 we launched our Getting Started ebook series. This three-book series tackled some important topics with basic insights and wisdom for communicators getting up to speed. Landing a Job addressed early career and job issues, Copy Matters took on writing and editing, and Web Basics explored that foundational element of church communication, the church website.
Creative Missions
In May of 2014 the Creative Missions crew traveled to Baltimore to help churches communicate better. Rather than build houses or perform skits, this missions trip is about communication. The numbers are impressive: 40 videos, 11 websites, 12 new logos, 10 new social media accounts—and that’s just scratching the surface.
Certification Lab
After launching the Certification Lab with one event in Nashville in 2013, we came back in 2014 with two more events in Atlanta and Southern California. This growing event is something different. Rather than a big conference it’s a small group setting where church communicators get direct attention from experts in the field. We limit the attendance and offer an intensive, workshop experience. It’s real training to help make communicators and churches better. We’ve already got two more events announced for 2015: March 16-17 in Dallas and June 8-9 in St. Louis. Register now.
Podcast
One of the biggest on-going changes this year is that we rolled out the Church Marketing Podcast. Dave Shrein stepped up to host and has already rolled out 15 episodes. Each full episode is 45 minutes to an hour of practical insights, encouragement and marketing wisdom. Dave has brought in a ton of guests and really elevated the conversation.
Executive Director Chuck Scoggins
This year Chuck Scoggins stepped up to fill our executive director position. Chuck has been serving CFCC for several years in a variety of positions, and it’s been great to have his leadership and direction moving us forward. While we love Chuck, this isn’t one of those flashy news items. But trust us, this one makes a big difference. As Chuck said when he took the job, “I think our folks are going to like what they see from us in the next year or two.”
Unwelcome
This year we teamed up with Jonathan Malm to release the book Unwelcome: 50 Ways Churches Drive Away First-Time Visitors. It addresses one of the universal challenges for churches—making guests feel welcome. Going to church can be scary and too often we make it even worse. Over-eager guests or poor signage can make it hard on a visitor, minimizing the chances that they’ll be back. This book is a powerful resource, full of practical ideas your church can implement immediately and without a massive budget. We’ve had an overwhelming response to Unwelcome. If you haven’t already, check this book out and make sure your church is welcoming visitors in 2015.
10-Year Anniversary
In July we celebrated our 10-year anniversary. That’s right: We’re Internet dinosaurs. This little blog started back in 2004. We had a party in July, reflecting on the decade and asking if church marketing still sucks. The answer? Yes, but it sucks in different ways. Back in 2004 we were trying to convince people that marketing wasn’t a dirty word. Today people are mostly over that debate and have moved on to practical matters.
Thank You
Thanks for allowing us to serve the church community for another year. It’s hard to believe we’ve been doing this for over a decade. We don’t pound the drum very often, but we do accept donations. If you appreciate our work, we’d appreciate your donation.
Photo by Keith Misner
