Men no longer dominate the Internet. According to eMarketer, a greater percentage of women used the Internet last year than men.
- 2006: 76.7% of men vs. 78.4% of women
- 2005: 79.0% of men vs. 73.6% of women
- 2004: not conducted
- 2003: 77.1% of men vs. 74.6% of women
- 2002: 73.1% of men vs. 69.0% of women
- 2001: 74.3% of men vs. 70.8% of women
- 2000: 73.5% of men vs. 66.0% of women
Surprisingly, men have only grown 3.2% in Internet usage since 2000, while women have grown an additional 12.4%.
As Internet usage continues to steadily grow, churches should consider online communication as a necessity in their communications strategy. A web site is no longer a novelty; it is expected.
This month of ChurchRelevance.com is made possible by the following sponsors:
- Bombay Creative
As Church Relevance’s parent company, they make what we do possible.
- Catalyst
Catalyst is the leadership filter for what’s next in the church. Be sure to check out their podcast and monthly online magazine.
- Momentum Media
Momentum Media is a full service multi media design/print firm. Contact them to find out how you can get your banners digitally printed in full color for as low as $3.00 per sq/ft.
- Rev! Magazine
Providing practical ideas for busy pastors. Each bi-monthly issue of Rev! Magazine delivers insightful, relevant articles and practical teaching for inspired, effective leadership.
- Willow Creek Association
Willow Creek is known for their valuable resources and events, including The Leadership Summit. Visit their site to read stories about Chris Brooks and many other leaders who are making a difference.
If you enjoy Church Relevance, a great way to say thank you is by supporting those who support us.
In case you missed NewSpring Church’s (Anderson, SC) Unleash Conference on church leadership, you can now watch two of Perry Noble’s sessions online for free. Nuggets of wisdom include:
- Leadership is easy as listening to God.
- Powerful people in your church will always try to alter your vision.
- If you compromise your vision, it will nail you every time.
- And more!
[via Tony Morgan]
A recent Gallup Poll discovered that 40% of Americans claim to attend church or synagogue regularly but 15% never attend. The reasons why are:
#1 Reason Why People Attend Church
- 23% for spiritual growth and guidance
- 20% keeps me grounded/guided
- 15% it’s my faith
- 15% to worship God
- 13% the fellowship of other members (the community)
- 12% believe in God/religion
- 12% brought up that way (tradition)
#1 Reason Why People Do Not Attend Church
- 24% don’t agree with organized religion/what they preach
- 21% don’t have time/don’t get around to it
- 16% don’t believe in going to church
- 10% don’t believe in God (atheist)
- 9% don’t have a church I connect with
- 6% I’m lazy
- 3% church wants/asks too much money
- 2% poor health/disabled
- 1% family members are different religions
[via The Christian Post]
Here is a roundup of what we were talking about one year ago:
- Granger is Making a Difference
[April 10, 2006]
- Are You a Starbucks Church or a Dunkin’ Donuts Church?
[April 10, 2006]
- National Community Church on Making Communion Special
[April 10, 2006]
- Big Weekend Marketing
[April 11, 2006]
- Learning from Other Churches
[April 11, 2006]
- Creating an Unsticky Church
[April 12, 2006]
- Recap: Big Weekend Marketing
[April 13, 2006]
- MySpace for Missionaries
[April 13, 2006]
- 18 Tips to Great Customer Service
[April 14, 2006]
- Not All Design Works
[April 14, 2006]
Church Relevance’s January 2007 newsletter, In God We Trust, has been added to the site.
It is always a good idea to use your brain. Proverbs 13:16 (NLT) says, “Wise people think before they act.” At the same time, it is essential to understand that your mind has its limits, and consequently, you must trust God and follow His guidance to reach your full potential.
Kenneth N. Taylor beautifully describes this principle in his translation of Proverbs 28:26 - “A man is a fool to trust himself! But those who use God’s wisdom are safe.”
Sometimes what seems like the best solution could actually hurt you. Learning new things may empower you to be more productive, innovative, and all-round more effective in ministry, but only God knows the real effect of a decision before you make it. And only God can guide you around the hidden problems that even the best book smarts can’t avoid. Consider the story of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt:
Read More >>
We will be posting articles from Church Relevance’s newsletter a few months after we send them to subscribers. If you would like to receive the latest issues of Church Relevance’s newsletter as soon as possible, you may sign up to begin your free monthly subscription to our newsletter.
Designer David Airey recently shared four critical elements that can be seen in every great logo design and should be present in your church’s logo.
- It must be describable.
- It must be memorable.
- It must be effective without the use of color.
- It must be scalable (i.e., effective when scaled down to an inch in size).
Related Reading:
- Discovering Your Brand
- 7 Truths About Your Church’s Logo
- How Often Should a Church Change Its Logo?
Last month, Cory Miller, the communications director at Quail Springs Baptist Church (Oklahoma City, OK), shared 8 tips on how to boost church communications with better copywriting. A summary:
- Answer the “who, what, when, where, why, and how” questions.
- Drop abbreviations and synonyms.
- Include building floor plans.
- Contact information should be obvious.
- Cost and deadline information are important too.
- Coolness should take a backseat to communicating effectively.
- Think like a guest when writing your event information.
- Be accurate and trustworthy.
Learn to reflexively consider these tips each time you sit down to write promotional copy for your church. You will find that they polish your writing for much more effective communication.
