Anthony wrote a blog post earlier this year which he called The Disney Experience at Church. We discuss his five key observations:

1. Leverage the Web – User Testimonials
2. On-Site Arrival
   
3. Deliver What Your Selling
   
4. Consistent Impressions
   
5. Have a Heart
   

So, please take some time to listen to part one and then part two so you can implement some of the concepts Anthony shares so your church can generate a great experience for your visitors.

Video on Vimeo…

In this week’s Ministry Story church communications podcast, I talk with Anthony Coppedge, Director of Communications at Fellowship Technologies.  Anthony shares his recent Disney experiences and some powerful insights that church leaders can learn from Disney so they can develop an experience in their ministry that will powerfully connect with people coming to their church.

Listen to Ministry Story Podcast Episode #10 here…

The Scene: My ladder. My roof...after a little snow melt.

Yes, that’s right. I fell off the roof of my house.  Nine feet and landed on my deck…fortunately I am uninjured, just a few minor bruises and slightly hurt pride.

What Caused The Fall

So here’s the scoop.  It snowed here on Sunday morning.  A wet sticky snow which subsequently pasted itself to my satellite dish.  Sunday afternoon was Wildcard Sunday – NFL playoff football.  With the satellite dish all encased in snow…I couldn’t watch football – I had no TV reception whatsoever and I was annoyed. So after very little thought to the potential hazards, I decided I would go up on the roof to remove the snow from the dish and enjoy the games.

Everything unravelled in a matter of mere seconds.  I got the ladder securely positioned against the roof, climbed up, placed both feet firmly on the shingles, and took my first step…under the snow was an unseen layer of ice!  Both boots (with mighty good treads) slipped immediately.  I went into a rapid slide and a moment later I was lying on the deck nine feet below the roof line, beside the fallen ladder.

What A Church Leader Should Learn

OK, don’t judge me.  You may have considered this same course of action (or maybe not).  I had all the right tools, I had all the right intentions, I just didn’t account for the unseen…the ice. Oh, and maybe I was just a little too impulsive and a little cocky – there was a sprinkling of stupidity mixed in there too – I admit it…snow is slippery too…and I knew that going in.  Beyond learning about my personal shortcomings, I want you as a leader to learn:

1. Look Beyond Good Intentions: I was doing this action so my wife and I could enjoy an afternoon of football together.  I was doing it for her.  OK, maybe not…I was doing it for me.  My intentions were mostly good.  I was a little selfish and the outcomes were not well thought out.
2. Tools Aren’t Everything: Just because you think you have the tools to do complete the task, doesn’t mean you should.  I was missing one critical tool to actually complete the task – spikes.  In reality, let’s admit it, I shouldn’t have attempted it at all!  Look beyond the tools and realize that sometimes there are hazards that lie beneath what you can see.
3. Listen To Your Spouse: Men and women think differently. Leverage the wisdom of your spouse.  Yes, she had things to say, wisdom to speak into the situation before and after the incident.  I wouldn’t listen.  That’s all I’ll say about that.
4. Check Impatience: Leaders are impatient and just want to solve a problem and move forward on a task that comes before them.  The solution to the problem appeared simple.  Check your motives, pride, and selfishness.  Proverbs 16:18 – Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Yep, this is literally true!
5. Admit Mistakes: When you blow it – admit it.  You now either think I am an idiot or you respect me for my admission of poor judgement. My guess is that from this moment on, you’ll never consider stepping onto a snowy rooftop.  Mission accomplished.  We are all human. All of us do things we are ashamed of…it takes a confident leader to admit them publicly.  Admit your mistakes.

So there it is.  Now you know what not to do.

The End Result

So, uninjured, 15 minutes later the sticky snow slid off the satellite dish and the games were on.  We only missed the first quarter of the first game.  If only I had been more patient

Comment nicely…please.

Greg Atkinson, Worship Impressions

I recently met Greg Atkinson at a conference and he graciously gave of his time to sit down with me to record our conversation about his experiences as a church mystery worshiper or church secret shopper.  He is hired by churches all over the Unites States to come in “unannounced” and provide feedback on his experiences as a first-time visitor to that church.

Greg approaches all aspects of the church as a first-time, perhaps non-church going, visitor and makes notes and provides a report of his first impressions and experiences.

Church marketing is much more than advertising.  It encompasses all sorts of first impressions that a guest has with your ministry from your church website, to the signage, the parking lot, the literal front door, and all the interactions with people, culture, and aesthetics.

This conversation with Greg will start you on the journey of looking at your own church with “new eyes”.  As he shares, think about your ministry.  When you go to your church next Sunday, approach it by looking through a new lens. Certainly, Greg has the advantage of seeing things that are unique to each church that even they themselves don’t see.  However, I am quite certain that as you listen to our conversation, you will definitely walk away with some things to look at within your own church context.

The Ministry Story Podcast: Episode #4 - A Conversation with Greg Atkinson – listen to it here…

Share any insights you gained from Greg in the comments section below…

The talk doesn’t have anything specifically to do with church marketing, but the principles will get you thinking.  Cameron shares some of the entrepreneurial skills he developed as a child and what I like about it is that there are some very creative aspects for church leaders to consider when thinking through how they can “connect” with people in their communities.  There are also some great principles that he suggests that as a parent you could encourage in your child.  I think there is value here and worth the time to take in:

I have a huge respect for pastors.  These men and women have the most challenging leadership role on the planet.  They are people of deep faith and conviction.  They give their lives to passionately serve God, to teach, to love, and to make growing students of Jesus.

For the past two days close to 40,000 pastors and their teams of marketplace leaders have gathered across North America to learn new leadership techniques, to be refreshed, and to be re-calibrated.  I love The Global Leadership Summit.  For the past eight years this has been a cemented event in my yearly calendar.

We learned, laughed, cried, and have grown.  It has been truly a spectacular retreat.  This was (in my opinion) the best summit of the past eight years.  Every speaker personally spoke into my life.  Each one brought value and refreshing.  Each was definitely anointed for a specific purpose.

Thank you to the Willow Creek Association for all the work you do to make church leaders better.  Churches are becoming better, impact is increasing, communities are experiencing renewal as a result.  Personally, I am thankful – your efforts are making me a better leader, person, and I am growing deeper in my relationship with Jesus.

Your servant-hood is appreciated.  Thank you!

Image via Flickr by somebody_

Today was Day 1 of the 2010 Global Leadership Summit.  The summit is a must-attend conference in my yearly schedule.

Jim Collins spoke this morning and something he said really resonated with me:

“The signature of mediocrity is chronic inconsistency.”

For a long time, I have felt that churches accept mediocrity in their communication.  Churches have the greatest story on the planet to tell but often are horrible storytellers.

Shouldn’t we best the communicators?  Shouldn’t we ensure that we tell this story of Jesus clearly, effectively, and with passion?

Collins hit the nail on the head!  The reason our storytelling is often mediocre is because we are chronically inconsistent.  We are afraid to plan our marketing and communication strategically.  We are afraid to spend money on tools that will tell the story with excellence.  We are afraid to spend money to enhance the story creatively.  We are inconsistent.

Marketing is not a quick fix.  It is a journey.  We must think about what we are trying to communicate and to whom.  We must package it clearly and creatively to be effective.  We must leverage every communication channel we can.   Once we have taken the time to strategically craft the message we must be consistent.  We can’t fire in all directions.  We can’t “shout-out” chaotically.  We must have a plan, a strategy, tools, and timing.

Then, and only then, will churches leave mediocrity behind and become effective and excellent storytellers.

If you are a church leader, you are part of a high-stakes endeavour that is one of the most challenging and important things you could possibly be doing with your life.

As a result, the role you are in can wear you down spiritually, physically, emotionally, and mentally.  You need to be recharged and re-calibrated – regularly.  I get that rejuvenation each year through The Leadership Summit.

I wrote an article for Media Salt today where I share why I personally think every church leader should attend The Leadership Summit.  So, wouldn’t you like to be a better leader?

A church leader just asked me today:

“So, you think it is worth spending $250.00 to attend this?”

Yes, I replied emphatically!  I think it would be worth it to spend $500.00.  Every church leader should attend this conference at least every second year…if not every year.  Free up your schedule – you’ll be glad you did!

Now is the time.

All of us have things we have said we would do.  Things we would try.  Things we would learn.  We get sidetracked with “will”.  Someday I will…

Someday, I will blog.

Someday, I will have a new web site designed.

Someday, I will try a new “social media” tool or platform.

Someday, I will read (or maybe write) a particular book.

Now is the time.

I am by nature a procrastinator.  Many of you can relate.  I have had to put those some-days to the side.  I have tried new things and learned much in the process.  Now it is your turn.  Try something new today.  Not tomorrow, today.  Please – do it for you!

Now, share in the comments what you have been saying “someday” to and what you will finally do today…