Steve Fogg: Clear and Simple.

Outspoken: Conversations on Church Communication

When I started this blogging journey a year or so ago, I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would of contributing to a book about church communications. Today is launch day for Outspoken: Conversations on Church Communication.

The book was Tim Schraeder's idea and he has done a marvelous job along with many others pitching in to help edit and write contributions.

The church has the greatest story ever told: The message of the gospel. Unfortunately, most churches aren’t doing a great job of communicating it. Buy it here at Amazon for your leaders. It is a priceless leadership resource and available for Kindle or print. 

Psssttt If you look REAAAALLLY hard in the picture at the top you can see yours truly in a where's wally ;-)

I'm GIVING ONE COPY away. Here's how you can win

1) Retweet this message or post it to your Facebook wall: It's @Stevefogg is giving an @outspokenbook away on his blog http://bit.ly/qKlCtW

2) Leave a comment below on how it will help you. Include your Twitter handle or Facebook link, email address so I can contact you if you are the winner. (It would be great to hear from you on how it could help you in what you do. But not essential)

***************** CONGRATULATIONS Karen Davis***************** 

Your name was picked by the http://www.random.org/ 

Is Your Church Diverse?

I don't really do book reviews but this book peaked my interest because it is about a concept that is so foreign to me. (Warning: Looking back on what I've written it isn't really a review as such, rather just a few thoughts that have come out of reading the book.)

Pastor Scott Williams is from LifeChurch.tv and has written a great book about church diversity (or the lack of it in the America). According to Pastor Scott many churches in America are segregated and the main thesis of his book is that Sunday is the most segregated day of the week in respects to church attendance. Only seven percent of churches in America have reached the 20 percent to be recognised as a culturally diverse church. Meaning that 93 percent are considered racially segregated. 

Stunning fact. Sad. Totally wrong.

I attend a church that is 40 percent Asian, 25 percent from European heritage and the last 25 percent is white Australian so I find it hard to understand why any church or culture would be so segregated. Crossway's congregation reflects the community around our church reasonably well. 

My question is: Does your church ethnicity reflect your community around you? If not, why not and what are you going to do about it?

As a church communicator I consider it my job to understand and know what the ethnic breakdown on my church is and how best to communicate to them. Every race receives communication in different ways. We have first and second generation immigrants and they all have different communication styles. 

My question is: Do you understand how different cultures respond to different communication style? If you don't become a student. Ask a person within that culture.

The early church in Acts reflected this racial diversity, why shouldn't we? I'd be really interested to hear from you if you disagree with me. Comment below.

Book Giveaway: Church Marketing 101

I've been a church communications guy, aka church marketing guy for just a few short years and I've been giving away some of the books that I've found formative in my thinking. Church Marketing 101 by Richard Reising is another one of those books. 

Just like the last two week's book giveaway (week 1, week 2) I think Church Marketing 101 is so good that I'm putting my money where my big Australian mouth is. I'm giving away a copy of the book.

Complete these two simple steps and it could be yours:

1) Retweet this message or post it to your Facebook page: ' I'd love 2win a copy of Church Marketing 101 by @richardreising via @stevefogg http://bit.ly/b7nslp

2) Leave a comment below including your Twitter handle or Facebook link so I can contact you if you are the winner. It would be great to hear from you on how it could help you in what you do. 

I'll be announcing the winner on Saturday 10th July 2010 on this post (EST Australia Time). For the rest of you, you can buy the book here and here. PS. I'm stumping up the dough for this. There is no behind the scenes marketing going on. It's just a great book.

(Richard blogs at Beyond Relevance, twitters at @richardreising, you can find a DVD resource on his book site)

******** The winner nominated by random.org is.... @sodgers CONGRATULATIONS!!!! ********

:: Follow me on Twitter, come and say G'day on Facebook, get regular updates via my RSS feed or stalk me in person in Melbourne (you'll have to do the leg work on that one).

Do You Ever Wonder Why People Aren't Getting your Message?

 

If you are like me sometimes people don't seem to always understand what I'm trying to say. I'm a quiet kind of guy. Sometimes I mumble. Sometimes I ramble on and complicate what should be a simple answer or explanation in a conversation.

Many churches are like me in the way they communicate. They mumble. They ramble. They communicate ideas in a complex way when in fact the ideas can be communicated very simply .

Sound familar? Is this your church, or a church you know?

If you are like me and need help with your church communications like I strongly recommend Less Clutter. Less Noise by Kem Meyer. Kem's book will equip you with simple strategies for getting the word out. It is helping me on my journey to cut through the clutter and noise of people's lives and communicate with increased simplicity and clarity. Her ultimate goal is to help people take their next step towards Jesus. Pretty cool huh?

I heard ahead of time that it was pretty good so I brought two copies, one to read and one to give to other staff to read so we could be more aligned in our thinking.

Just like last week's book giveaway, I think it is so good that I'm putting my money where my big Australian mouth is. I'm giving away a copy of the book.

Complete these two simple steps and it could be yours:

1) Retweet this message or post it to your Facebook page: ' I'd love 2win a copy of Less Clutter Less Noise by @kemmeyer via @stevefogg http://bit.ly/b8rPGF

2) Leave a comment below including your Twitter handle or Facebook link so I can contact you if you are the winner. It would be great to hear from you on how it could help you in what you do. 

I'll be announcing the winner on Saturday 3rd July 2010 on this post (EST Australia Time)

For the rest of you, you can buy the book here. It's brilliant. Don't miss it.

PS. I'm stumping up the dough for this. There is no behind the scenes marketing going on. It's just a great book.

*****The winner of the book giveaway is: @PaulSteinbrueck Paul was picked by random.org *******

Related posts
10 Church Branding Myths
Does God Need A Rebrand?
3 Slick Rebranding Tips For Churches From BP

:: Follow me on Twitter, come and say G'day on Facebook, get regular updates via my RSS feed or stalk me in person in Melbourne (you'll have to do the leg work on that one).

Can You Brand Faith?

I've been away on holiday and part of my reading has been 'Branding Faith - Why some churches and nonprofits impact culture and others don't' by Phil Cooke (Actually, its a re-read. This book is THAT good - It's been a long time since I've re-read a book on communications).

It's a brilliant book. Whether your goal is to share a message of faith, raise money for charity, build an inner-city outreach or give your audience hope, this book will give you some incredible insights and tools to help you communicate your message.

I think it is so good that I'm putting my money where my big Australian mouth is. I'm giving away a copy of the book.

Complete these three simple steps and it could be yours:

1) Retweet this message or post it to your facebook page: ' I want 2 win Branding Faith by @philcooke via @stevefogg u can 2 http://bit.ly/arqNTw

2) Leave a comment below including your Twitter handle or Facebook link so I contact you if you are the winner.

I'll be announcing the winner on Saturday 26th June 2010 on this post (EST Australia Time)

For the rest of you, you can buy the book here or here. It's brilliant. Don't miss it.

PS. I'm stumping up the dough for this. There is no behind the scenes marketing going on. It's just a great book.

** UPDATE** Drumroll please. Congratulations to @rfbryant for winning the book. For the rest of you. Buy it like I did. you won't regret it!

On Monday I have another book giveaway. One of the best communications books of 2009.

Related posts
10 Church Branding Myths
Does God Need A Rebrand?
3 Slick Rebranding Tips For Churches From BP

:: Follow me on Twitter, come and say G'day on Facebook, get regular updates via my RSS feed or stalk me in person in Melbourne (you'll have to do the leg work on that one).

Shannon O'Dell Breaks All The Rurals

I honestly don't normally do this kind of thing.

Being a marketer/communications peep I know why publishers ask bloggers to do this kind of thing. I'm not really into it. (Although there is nothing wrong with it.)

When the publishers of Pastor Shannon O'Dell first contacted me I had the same reaction. But then I read the first three chapters of book Transforming the Church in Rural America - Breaking all the Rurals.

That changed everything. I observed Shannon's:

• Passion for people to come to know Jesus irrespective of where they live;
• His perserverance and determination to stick it out when people reacted as he started killing sacred cows;
• His ability to grow his church despite the visibly megre resources around him;
• His obedience to the call of God on his life even when on the surface 'better' offers were coming in; and
• His passion for your church to succeed like his is.

Transforming the Church in Rural America leapt off the pages and into my heart. You got me Shannon.

This book isn't just a book for those who are in ministry in a rural church in America - if you are in Australian rural church this book could equally equip you and minister into your soul.

This book isn't just a book for anyone in pastoral ministry. Its a book for anyone in any kind of ministry, period.

This book really is about overcoming human obstacles with God's power. It's about not settling for the status quo (when haven't we done that?). It screams 'God can do ever more than you can imagine' if you'll just say yes.

I asked Shannon a couple of questions about his book and the place that marketing plays for rural churches:

Q: You say that rural areas are more churched and more unchurched than any place on earth. What do you mean by that?

A: So many in rural areas believe they will be grandfathered into heaven because their grandparents started the church and graveyard on the farm.  
 
Q: Why did you make the decision go online service wise?

A: We new that in a town of 407 our message needed a larger audience so online was the obvious choice.
 
Q: What was your biggest surprise about going online?

A: It is the most financial solvent campus we have!

Q: How has it changed your church?

A: Our church has a larger worldview and compassion, because they now have a worldwide church family.

Q: How does your church, Brand New Church market yourself in your local community?

A: Transformed lives is our greatest marketing tool, but we also use all mediums…car stickers, T-shirts, radio, billboard and TV.

Q: Big churches have bigger budgets for ‘marketing’ communications, what advice would you give to rural churches in Australia/America how to ‘market’ themselves in their local community?

A: Let the changed lives of your church tell your story…news travels fast in a rural community.  Also, use every free outlet available…radio, newspaper and cable TV have free ads spots…use them.

There is a stack of free tools to transform your church here.

I dont think U.S. blog police can get me down in Australia, but you need to know that I did receive a free copy of the book. For the rest of you go buy it. Its really, really good.