1. I would remember to say ‘no,’ and feel good about it.
2. I would only be involved in things that I was passionate about.
3. I would play golf at least once a week.
4. I would visit a different church every week. After all, I had listened to myself preach for 35 years. It was time to hear everybody else.

One of the churches I visited recently presented an interesting experience – I had the address, and my GPS could direct me to the location, but once I arrived, the entrance drive was obscure, and there was no signage to direct me to any part of the building.

Had I been a standard, first-time, Sunday morning visitor, this church would probably have lost me within the first ten seconds.

Clear signage and ease of access are key components of a church’s hospitality. It is amazing how quickly that visitors evaluate the hospitality of a church which they visit.

There is much to be said about social media as a portal into the church, but then how easily a visitor can find and access the location and building spaces becomes the first tangible physical way that the visitor experiences the…
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Churches should be aware of how the major GPS providers are directing visitors to their location. If you have multiple entry drives, there may be one particular one to which you would like to direct your visitors. Suggested edits and feedback to providers may help you fine tune your media presence in how a provider like Google is directing people into your location.

Traffic flow and entry points to church parking should be clearly marked. This is one of those places where it is important to look through the eye of the visitor. People who are familiar with the church know where to enter, know where to park in order to get easiest access, know how to get to classes or worship. Visitors don’t, and signage must be developed from their perspective. It’s just so important – why not a sign that simply says, “Enter.”

Exterior signage should direct visitors to major entry points. Those unfamiliar with the building are typically looking for worship spaces. Identify these first, then also related spaces such as nurseries. For weekdays, many visitors will look for the church office or childcare entry.

Parking personnel should be available to manage areas of congestion or confusion. There will always be spots that require a little extra attention:

• Is it okay to park on the main thoroughfare at a church with limited parking?
• Is there a traffic jam in spots as one service turns out and another begins?
• Are shuttles needed for moving people over long distances after they park?
• Is someone needed outside the building to answer questions for visitors as they arrive?

Friendly people can allay the fears of visiting a new and confusing place and can interpret the most complex of facilities with a smile.
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Interior signage should pick up where exterior signage leaves off, directing visitors to the places that visitors go – worship spaces, age-level classes, and nurseries – again focusing on the main places of interest to visitors.

We had an interesting insight offered at a church where I served on staff at one time. We wanted to know how we were doing with our signage, so we asked an architectural firm to evaluate it. After a thorough tour of the building and many notes taken, the architect returned saying, “Well, now I know what business you’re in – you’re in the bathroom business!” One look around with new perspective proved him to be true – every corner displayed direction to the nearest bathroom, even more often than to the main worship space. Our signage did not truly reflect who we were and what we were about.

If you truly want to offer hospitality, put on your “visitor glasses” and see what your visitor sees, then take the time to assist that visitor in his/her journey into your location and building through clear, adequate signage. If you want to explore more about how to seamlessly lead visitors into your building, email me at david.carroll@ministryarchitects.com. I’d love to spend some time talking with you about developing a depth of hospitality that will draw visitors to your door.

The post Signage: Win or Lose a Visitor in Ten Seconds appeared first on Ministry Architects.

Of course that’s the answer. But you and I both know that in this information age, when people spend more time scrolling screens rather than reading what’s written, getting your words out and getting your words heard are two totally different endeavors.  

My guess is this isn’t news to you. In every age human beings have lived, the question of, “How do we help people know what’s going on?” gets asked. But maybe it’s time we edit the question. Maybe, we need to start asking, “How do we help people know what’s going on… so that they’ll show up?” 

Three Ideas to Get Started 

1. Ask people their preference.
   Often, we as ministry leaders default to communication mediums we think people use rather than asking them what they actually use. By mixing up this key starting point, we may overcomplicate what should be a simple thing. We get to be the askers and our stakeholders – those with a vested interest in our ministry – they get to provide the answers. Why? Because they know what forms of communication work best for them. And when they share with us what’s best, we can start building a plan.
2. Put those preferences into a plan.
   A communication plan is essential to sustaining a ministry and helping ensure people know what’s going on. Crucial to a strong plan is its adaptability. That’s why it’s good to revisit your plans, from time to time, and build into your annual rhythm a mass ask, where everyone updates or confirms their preferred form of communication.
3. Don’t put everything everywhere
   Studies are showing that the average attention span for most adults is under 10 seconds. So before you go about writing another long weekly email or detail-filled caption for your social media posts, consider focusing on just the most important information. You don’t have to communicate every detail in every medium for everybody. And people don’t want to have to search high and low for the information they need. If you ask, they will tell you the best ways to get them important information. And, then? Share only what’s most important and make it easy for them to follow-up with further questions.

So, What’s a Communication Plan?

I’m glad you asked! Basically, it lists four things – stakeholder groups, forms of communication, types of information each group needs, and how often they will receive that information. And, here’s a helpful trick learned from experience: don’t just communicate the information, communicate the communication plan with everyone related to the ministry. Share how you’re going to communicate! This way, you won’t have to put everything everywhere, but everyone will know where to look to find everything they need.

A simple youth ministry plan might look something like this:

Communication Isn’t Separate from the Mission

Besides Jesus, information is one of the best things you can share with people! Think about it:

To be “in the know” is to be included. And to be included goes a long way toward helping a young person feel loved.

To be “in the know” is to be informed. And to be informed goes a long way toward helping a volunteer leader feel valued.

To be “in the know” is to be encouraged. And to be encouraged goes a long way toward helping a parent feel enthusiastic about driving to the church one more time, because their kid just might find Jesus that night.

Conclusion

Let’s go back to our starting question: “How do we help people know what’s going on… so that they’ll show up?”

I can’t promise that people will be more present because you have a plan in place. But what I have experienced is that if you ask, people will tell what you need to know to communicate effectively.

And if you want to explore more about what this looks like in your unique setting or see other examples of communication plans, connect with a ministry coach today. We’d love to spend some time helping you get your words heard in your ministry.

The post COMMUNICATION: Let Your People Build Your Plan appeared first on Ministry Architects.

In fourteen years of ministry in the local church, I’ve heard one complaint from parishioners and staff above all others: “The church doesn’t communicate well.” One of my good friends in ministry calls this NETMA, which means “No one ever tells me anything!” The truth is, we could all get better at communication.

Communicating well is a prerequisite to leading well.
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In my experience, the greatest key to growth in communication with others is learning to listen. That’s right, listening. Not communicating more details or sending out more regular emails. Instead,

listening well to others is one of the quickest ways to better communication.
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“I know I need to listen better as a leader, but how do I do it?” I’m so glad you asked! The good news is that becoming a better listener is simple. The bad news is it’s not easy.

What makes it tough is that it goes against your nature.

Most church leaders I know are fairly confident and smart people. These are great gifts, but they don’t always lend themselves to being a great listener. Learning to listen well will require going against your instincts at times, but it will become more natural the more you do it. If you’re ready to take the plunge and develop your skills as a listening leader, use the following acrostic as your guide.

L – Let them talk.

I – Investigate for hidden wisdom.

S – Search for what they’re really saying.

T – Tell them what you heard.

E – Empathize.

N – Nod along.

Let Them Talk

The first step to listening well is to let people talk. Don’t just let them talk, but make every effort to let them finish before you jump in. Nothing says “I’m not listening” like interrupting someone.

Keep in mind the word listen contains the same letters as the word silent.
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Investigate for Hidden Wisdom

Great listeners know they can learn from anybody and everybody. This step is all about embracing that truth. Investigate for what they know that you don’t and keep listening until you learn something new.

If you haven’t learned something from them, you haven’t listened well enough yet.
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Search for What They’re Really Saying

Watch their body language and look for places where they are hesitant or seem to be choosing their words carefully. Ask the question to yourself throughout the conversation, “What are you not saying?” This can be one of the most difficult parts to pick up on, but there is almost always something important to be found in what a person is not saying.

Most people will share 90% of what they are thinking. A select few will say 95%, and almost no one will say 100%. Great listeners are always searching for the last five percent.

Tell Them What You Heard

A great way to show you have been listening is to let the person finish and then tell them what you heard them say. This lets them know you have been listening to understand instead of listening to respond. It also provides clarity and ensures everyone is on the same page.

If you’ve misunderstood something or heard it wrong (we’ve all been there,) they have an opportunity to fix the misunderstanding before it becomes a full-blown miscommunication issue.

Empathize

Empathy is less about feeling sorry for the other person and more about feeling what they feel with them. As you listen, do your best to put yourself in their shoes. This works well when used alongside of telling them what you heard them say.

For example: “So what I’m hearing you say is that moving houses has really stressed you out and is affecting your work. I can’t imagine how you feel, but I know that would cause me some anxiety, too.” It’s simple, but it lets them know you care about them and you’re not a robot.

Nod Along

Studies show that up to 93% of communication is nonverbal, and 55% is your body language and physical cues. With that in mind, an easy physical cue to show you’re engaged and listening is to nod your head along as the other person speaks. While they are talking, lean forward, make eye contact, and nod your head from time to time. This is a simple body language adjustment that will show them you are fully engaged in the conversation. It may be a little thing, but it will go a long way!

So, if you’re ready to improve communication at your church and in your leadership, it’s time to learn to listen.  From listening to individuals and staff to listening to the church body in meetings and surveys, listening well is a communication strategy that will always pay off. Use the six skills above to listen and lead like never before. When you do, everyone around you will notice.

The post Six Letters to Better Communication appeared first on Ministry Architects.

It’s 2018, and social media is here to stay. Students are using it, and if we want to reach them so should we! Whether or not we personally like social media or not, we can’t afford to ignore it.

Unfortunately, too many youth workers are either not using social media or aren’t using it well. In order to reach students far from God, we have to be where they’re at. Almost all students are on social media in one form or another, which means we have to be there too. Not only that, but we also need to do it well.

So you’re ready to step into social media and use it to impact your community, but maybe you don’t know how. While I don’t have a magic trick to fix all of your social media woes overnight, I can share 3 keys to using it well and having a better online reach tomorrow.

3 Keys to Reaching Students with Social Media

1) People Over Products

Most youth ministries I see on social media break this rule. Post after post they promote events and programs. If you look at their feeds, you will notice they’re all about products.

You see, products don’t have to be something you sell for money, just something you sell. Posting about an event is selling a product. Posting about your weekly program is a product. The problem is products won’t sell students on your ministry.

Products won’t get students to church. People will. The world is all about selling products, but the Church has to be about something better. The Church is made up of the people of God, and it’s people that will make the difference.

Think about it. How many people have you met who came to church because of of polished Instagram post? How many students have given their lives to Christ and seen their lives changed because of a promotional youth group tweet? My guess is the answer is a big goose egg.

Now, it’s important to note that products aren’t inherently bad. There’s nothing wrong with promoting an event. The key is to do it strategically.

According to Michael Hyatt, on social media it’s more important to give than receive. If products are withdrawals and encouragement and helpful content are deposits, Hyatt teaches we should make 10 deposits for every withdrawal. What about your ministry’s social media accounts? Is your timeline full of deposits or withdrawals?

The most engaging posts for our student ministry have one thing in common: they feature people. Why, because people are real and people matter.

A post about camp that looks incredible might garner 50 likes and 0 comments. A post about a student being baptized will receive hundreds of likes and a variety comments. Posts with and about people make your ministry feel real.

Students want relationships that are real. Showing real people like them who have experienced life change makes for great social media! Want to win at social media with students? Post about people over products.

2) Consistent Over Flashy

When it comes to social media, consistency is huge! It’s important to decide your youth ministry’s digital identity and stick to it. A consistent approach will go a lot farther than a couple of great posts a month.

As a matter of fact, if your ministry runs social media with a flash in the pan mentality, students are likely to miss your best posts when you make them! Flashy posts can be great, but they are not nearly as impactful as a consistent social media presence.

If you’re new to ministry through social media, the best thing to do is make a few decisions up front. Maybe you’ve been using social media in your ministry for a while, but it’s time for a reboot. Either way, you’ll be better when you decide on a social media identity and develop a plan to stay consistent with it.

One important decision to make is about how many times your ministry will post per week. Part of this depends on your ministry culture, and part of it depends on the social media platform you’re using. For instance, twitter will allow for multiple posts per day while too many on Instagram will win you an unfollow.

For us, we have decided on 3-5 quality posts a week. It’s not necessarily better than posting more or less, but it is our digital identity. Not only that, but we work hard to stay consistent at it. Less than three posts in a week and students will notice. It works the same way if we post more often.

Quality matters in social media, but consistency is absolutely vital. What’s your youth ministry’s social media identity? Do students know what to consistently expect from you week to week?

3) Relevant Over Right

I’m a firm believer that the Church should never sacrifice truth for relevancy. However, I’m also a believer that social media is not the place to preach truth and morality. Our goal is to get student’s involved in the conversation about God, not to yell at them one sided from behind the veil of social media.

The wrong message on social media is the 2018 version of “Turn or Burn” on a church sign. It doesn’t help, and it’s not good ministry. We want to reach students for Christ, not run them away before they ever step foot in a church!

I’m a truth guy. I love sharing God’s Word with people, even the tough stuff. However, on social media my goal is to to encourage more than correct. If we want to reach students, we might want to encourage them before we correct them.

In addition to encouragement, I want to use social media in ministry to engage students in relevant conversations about God. When the world seems to be going crazy, social media is a great place to start the conversation. It’s a great way to let students know God has something to say about things like racism and sexuality. Social media is a great place to start the conversation, but I prefer to leave the controversial stuff for face to face time.

When it comes to social media in ministry, I think we should always choose being relevant over being right. Share truth about what’s relevant to students struggles, not truth for the sake of truth. If we use social media in a relevant way, we are guaranteed to have more crucial conversations down the road.

Let me leave you with this philosophical quandary. If you share incredible truth on social media but no one follows you to see it, did you really make and impact? With social media, relevance is key.

How is your youth ministry using social media? Where are you winning? Where can you get better?

The post 3 Keys to Reaching Students With Social Media appeared first on Ministry Architects.

It can be easy to get overwhelmed with all of the platforms and options available today. Figure out which two or three platforms are the best for your ministry. In our experience, Facebook and Instagram are two of the best for engaging with families.

Once you have chosen your platforms, you may still find yourself staring at your computer or phone screen, fingers poised to type, but mind blank.  We are here to help!

Here are seven things that parents are looking for from your social media:

Help me see what my kids are doing. 

Almost all parents ask their kids the same question in the car on the way home from church. “How was church? Did you have fun?” And kids often give vague answers like “Good.” It can be difficult for parents to really know what’s going on in your ministry! Help them “see” by posting pictures of their kids in action. Take a picture of them worshipping, or doing an activity, or listening attentively to the Bible Story. You can even reference the Bible Story and let them know where they can go in their own Bible to read it again with their kids!

Be a resource for me.

Help your parents by posting things like which local restaurants they can take their kids to eat for free after church on Sundays, or boredom-buster ideas, rainy-day ideas, etc. Promote community events as well as your church-wide events.

Interact with me.

Post some questions that parents can ask their children around the dinner table or while they are in the car together. Then ask parents to share how their kids replied! You can get some very funny, or some very poignant interaction this way.

Don’t overload me. 

You want to give enough information, but not so much that parents are overwhelmed. Don’t cross-link accounts so that what you post on Instagram also posts to your Facebook account. You can post about the same material, but present it different ways.

But remind me frequently.

If there is an event coming up, post about it multiple times. The day of the event is a nice reminder, but make sure that’s not the only time they hear about the event.

Create Facebook events and invite me.

If you have a fun event coming up in your ministry, create a Facebook event that parents can share with their friends. Sometimes inviting people to church is hard and scary, and this makes it easier!

Make me laugh.

Life is stressful. Posting funny pictures and videos helps people de-stress, and parents can have a great laugh with their kids!

So, flex those fingers and get ready to post about your ministry! When you do, you’ll be creating a connection point that may play a part in lives being changed for eternity.

The post Seven Tips for Connecting with Families Using Social Media appeared first on Ministry Architects.