In a recent interview, I gave my best advice for young leaders.

Put your benchmarks against what God says is possible and not what man has achieved.

Let me elaborate. In ministry, it is easy to look at how other churches do something rather than how the Bible literally models it. It is easy to look at what other churches are achieving and aim for that rather than what the Bible says is possible. Do not sell yourself short.

Start with the Bible. Take it literally. Model your ministry after its timeless principles. And only then look at other churches for inspiration on how to improve your church within its Biblically defined parameters.

For 9 more interview answers, head over to Ron Edmonson’s blog.

I think the future of evangelism is search engine optimized (SEO) online content.  By no means, will this replace face-to-face evangelism or other methods. However, online behavior is opening doors of opportunity that will only increase with time.

Optimizing your ministry for search engines is more than trying to show up in the top 10 search results for “your church name” or “churches in your city.” Using Google to answer life’s questions is normal for those with Internet access. Imagine what your church could accomplish if it provided relevant answers in these moments when people are more open-minded and seeking truth.

Scenarios:

Imagine someone in Chicago searching for “Chicago divorce attorney” because she is tired of trying to make her marriage work. What if a Chicago church has SEO content in the first results offering free marriage counseling or advice on how to make a marriage work?

Imagine a teen that is fed up with being the school outcast and begins searching for how to properly slit his wrists. What if a ministry had SEO content offering real time help (a live suicide prevention counselor) or guidance on alternatives to suicide?

What it looks like:

Creating relevant SEO content is not a bait-and-switch tactic. That will only fail.
It is also not about Bible-thumping or aggressive evangelism. That will only turn people off before they listen.

Creating relevant SEO content is providing relevant, helpful solutions to the problems people are searching about online. These solutions may be alternatives to what they thought they would find, but that doesn’t mean these solutions won’t connect with them, help them, and change their lives.

Make your goal to be able to connect with the searcher and offer instant help (i.e., advice, counseling, a team of workers, tangible resources). Equally important is that you make these connections sustainable. Don’t let the relationship die with the initial contact. Provide avenues for you to continue helping and for them to be able to hear the gospel and/or get plugged in to a local church at their own pace as you gradually earn their trust and respect.

Resources to Consider:

Church Web Optimizer
The creators of Ekklesia 360 and Cobblestone Community Network are launching a new church SEO service this year called Church Web Optimizer. From what I understand, it will be a very affordable alternative for churches to hiring a corporate SEO firm. The tools look great, but the tailored advice from a real human is one of the best parts. Features include:

• Google Analytics Installation
• Google Webmaster Tools Installation
• Google Sitemaps Submission
• Church Website Analytics /Pre-SEO Evaluation and Conference Call
• Google Local Search Submission
• Featured Directory Submission on Church Cloud & Sermon Cloud
• Online Targeted Advertising (eg. Google Adwords)
• Social Media Strategy Implementation
• Full SEO Services: Link building, SERPS Monitoring and Custom SEO Implementation

Google’s Keyword Tool
If your budget is $0, Google offers a nice free keyword research tool that identifies what topics people search for the most and how they word their searches. Relevantly sprinkling a few keywords into your content is one of many factors that will help your search engine results.

SEOmoz
If you want to dive into giving yourself a search engine marketing education, SEOmoz is a great place to start. They have a well-respected blog, articles (some free), and tools (some free).

For Discussion:
- What do you think are some effective strategies for church SEO?
- What SEO tools would you add to this list?

Alan Hirsch discussed doing church like a virus during Verge Conference’s 2nd session. Here is what he said:

Viruses can teach us a lot of things. You can be infected by an idea.

In 11 iterations of a U.S. Christian discipling 3 people then them doing the same, you’d pretty much cover all of America. What if each church committed to plant 3 churches in its lifetime?

If we want to reproduce, we need to have something that is reproducible. If it can’t be easily passed on to another, then you shouldn’t do it.

Big budgeted churches are clunky and not easily reproduced. Paul planted a church in 9 days. If your concept of leadership takes 7 years of seminary, it is too complicated.

David Watson of CityTeam Ministries discussed using the Word of God to start churches during Verge Conference’s 2nd session. Here is what he said:

The key is to let people learn God on their own. Show people the Scripture; ask them what it says; and then ask them what they are going to do about it.

If Jesus said no to the cross, would we still have forgiveness? The power of forgiveness has truly been placed in our hands. All we have to do to tell someone they are not forgiven is say nothing.

We’ve got to go slow in order to go fast. We’ve got to start with the right people. Sometimes it just takes one person. We focus on the one in order to reach the many.

Neil Cole, author of Church 3.0, discussed the magic seeds of church planting during Verge Conference’s 2nd session. Here is what he said:

In Mark 4, there are parables giving insights into how God’s kingdom is organic in nature.

1. The Parable of the Sower
   We need to focus where there is good fruitfulness (return on investment). We need to plant the message of the Kingdom. We need to see churches plant and grow, but first we need to plant Jesus. The world is interested in Jesus; they are not so interested in your church.
2. The Parable of the Growing Seed
   Even if you are lazy, a planted seed sprouts and grows. We commit so much time and energy and resource to trying to make things grow, but then we don’t plant a seed, and nothing grows. As long as we trust in our methods more than the seed of Christ’s message we will be in trouble. We need to trust that it is Jesus in us that causes the growth.

Francis Chan of Cornerstone Church (Simi Valley, CA) discussed taking Jesus literally during Verge Conference’s 1st session. Here is what he said:

In Exodus 33:15, Moses tells God how much he needs God’s presence to be with him in every moment. If God’s presence wasn’t in it, Moses did not want to be a part of it. The more things God entrusts you with, the harder it gets to focus wanting the presence of God in everything. We get sidetracked by details and our own motives. We get distracted by what others are doing.

If I planned a church based on Scripture, I wouldn’t even think about the gathering. I’d think about the mission. I would look at the Great Commission literally.

It is so weird how we change everything in church. We don’t take Jesus’ words literally. We act like if Jesus says it, we don’t have to actually do it but just memorize it. How many churches are actually making disciples?

If I tell my daughter to go clean her room, she knows better than to come back later with her room still messy and say:

I memorized what you said.
I can say it in Greek.
A group of friends and I are going to get together and study what you said.

We need to take Jesus literally and do what He says.

I am like a Lego piece. There is nothing great about me, but together we catch people’s attention. No one has ever seen God, but if we as the Body of Christ love each other then people will catch a glimpse of it. It is by our unity and the way we love one another that we will reach people.

I think about the power of Jesus that I would believe in if I just read the Scriptures. Are you sure that you have experienced the Holy Spirit this past year? The early church wasn’t a plan by the disciples. It was the Holy Spirit.

What are the things that Jesus wants? These are the things that we should be confident about. What does it take for us to make disciples and love others? Go on mission. Live like mission.

Matt Carter of The Austin Stone Community Church (Austin, TX) discussed the danger of loving your mission more than you love Christ during Verge Conference’s 1st session. Here is what he said:

I believe that the concept and practice of missional community might be the thing that defines this generation historically. I say that because I believe that missional community is the long awaited structure that the American church has needed in order to unleash believers into the mission of the church throughout their every day life.

Too often the church places the responsibility of being missional on the clergy and missionaries. I see a growing tension in the every day person that wonders out loud when will the Holy Spirit of God get to manifest Himself through me. Missional community has potential to awaken the sleeping giant of the American church. It is time for the American church to awaken from its materialistic, narcissistic structure and get in the fight.

But there is danger. First, it is concerning that our generation may be solely defined by reintroducing missional community. If that is all we become known for, then we have failed.

What is most dangerous… There is danger that you may love your mission more than you love your Savior. And if that is true, then your Savior will have no part of your mission. In Revelation 2:1-6, Jesus tells the church of Ephesus that they are excelling in 5 areas but the 1 thing they have missed is that they left their first love. They fell in love with their mission more than their Savior. And Jesus warns them that unless they repent, He will remove their lamp stand from its place.

To know where you stand, ask yourself:
If Jesus took everything away from you, and you never had success or dreams come true, and all you had left was Jesus, would that be enough?

In a couple of days, I will be live blogging from the sold out Verge Conference (Austin, TX). Its focus is the missional church. What does missional mean? How can you be a missional church? These and many more questions will be discussed. But before the conference begins, I want to start a conversation here with you by asking:

How do you think a church can be missional?

When I hear this question, one of my first thoughts is, “Aren’t all churches missional?” Unfortunately, I know they answer is “no.” Unquestionably, churches should be on mission to go outside their walls and preach the gospel, disciple believers, and love on people. Sometimes though, churches turn inward focused. Sometimes though, churches become shy about being missional.

I think one of the biggest steps to being a missional church is making missional a part of your DNA. It starts with the leaders. You have to live it and emphasize it with your words. Don’t ever stop. You have to protect it to guard your church from becoming apathetical and self-centered. It starts with the leaders, but it must spread to the church community. The church as a whole must live it.

But I want to know what you think… How do you think a church can be missional?

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