Thoughts on Church Advertising

I saw this video linked on another website and found it quite humorous for it's stereotypical look at churches. Afterwards, I went to the website it advertises to check out what all the guy believed in as far as "church marketing" goes but I didn't do enough research to really ascertain exactly what he was saying. But after doing all this I figured I'd write my own blog and thoughts on "church marketing".

Unfortunately, we (the American church) have become too concerned with programmatic methods of getting people into the doors of the church. We focus on relevance and advertise our church to fit the packaging we want to promote. We have conferences of church planting and how one goes about doing it. There are books out there on growing your church and using demographics to make sure you are where you need to be. They will teach you how to make cool and hip looking postcards to send out and what services you use to send them out. They will teach you how to make a great mission statement using acrostics or alliteration to catch people's attention. Or there are some pastors who see this type of marketing and go the exact opposite to be a completely "different" church that doesn't use such things. Out of this, in some ways, comes the emergent church.

However, in all this I believe the American church is missing what truly brings people to Christ and "turns the world upside down" (as the early church was accused of doing). Instead of focusing on programs, let's get back to being led under the power of the Holy Spirit.

"Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?" - Galatians 3:3

The American church has put her faith in man-made programs to grow the church rather than looking to the power of the Spirit to lead and guide them. We need to get back to the basics of what the early church was about - teaching the word, fellowshipping, breaking of bread and praying (Acts 2:42). Let's focus on simply teaching the Word to our congregations so they will do the "work of ministry" (Ephesians 4:12) than creating catchy sermon series titles to try and woo the people in. Instead of long conferences and possible debates of how the "church" should be, let's get out there and reach the people.

There is nothing wrong with catchy sermon series or props or creating a certain atmosphere. It's just when that becomes the focus that I believe we are missing the point. I also love the fact that there are a diversity of fellowships and "styles" of ministries out there; I think there is beauty in that. But when we start trying to package and sell these styles as to what "works" we glory in our own accomplishments and forget that the Lord is doing the work. Oh sure, one may say "it's not me but it's all Christ doing the growing" but yet their actions on teaching "what we've done" to make the church grow seems to contradict their first saying.

All I'm saying is that we need to stop putting so much energy and attention into numbers, programs, and packaging, and start getting back to going out in the power that the Lord wants (and promises) to provide.

I highly recommend anybody who has read something along the lines of the "Purpose Driven Church" to read "The Upside Down Church" by Greg Laurie.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter.