Public Relations Handbook For Your Church

A communications specialist discusses communication in the local church--advertising, talking with the media, communicating with members, and utilizing technology. Includes helpful forms, checklists, and examples from cutting-edge churches.

Drawing together practical ideas, this text aims to help ensure that your church is promoting a positive image of the Christian faith to the local community. It contains suggested questions for a local survey, advice on presentation, and guidance on building good relations with the local media.

This book examines the complex relationship between religion and business in twentieth-century America. It is the story of how Christianity’s most basic institution, the local church, wrestled with the challenges and compromises of competing in the modern marketplace through adopting the advertising, public relations, and marketing methods of business. It follows these sacred promoters, and their critics, as they navigated between divinely inspired and consumer demanded. Amid an animated and contentious battleground for principles, practices and parishioners, John C. Hardin explores the landscape of selling religion in America and its evolution over the twentieth century.

Bringing people to Christ is the underlying purpose of this book. This is why we constantly search for techniques and ideas to win souls for the Lord. Let us look to the Bible; Romans 10:14 gives the following guidance. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? (NIV) This book was written for the primary purpose of assisting those small-to-moderate size churches "get the word out" telling the story about the good works they are doing within their congregations and their communities to bring people closer to God. I choose the tools of marketing and public relations - my chosen profession - and applied the principles of evangelism. I believe this to be my personal ministry. If your church budget will not accommodate a staff member dedicated to the tasks of marketing and public relations, this book will show the Public Relations Committee Chairperson how to handle just about every marketing task needed. If your church has assigned the task of marketing and/or public relations to an associate minister who has no hands-on experience in this field, this book is the answer. If you are a seasoned public relations or media specialist working within your church, this book will provide you with a strategy for directing your skills to work with a church and its ministries. Of course, it does not hurt the pastor to learn more about how marketing and public relations tools and tactics can assist in the growth of the church and simultaneously help people to create a relationship with God. Ambassador Michael Battle, U. S. Representative to the African Union, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; former President of The Interdenominational Theological Center (Atlanta, GA) Ms. Jackson-Ransom is to be commended for developing this exceptional public relations and marketing resource for the Church. Her years of success, representing clients and managing the reputations and activities of individuals and organizations in the public and private sector, have produced a savvy handbook that appropriates that same professional media and marketing know-how to pastors and lay leaders. Clear and concise, the instruction should empower readers to better understand the requisite approach, timing and professional response that today's competitiveness requires to effectively represent ministry through media. It is truly "First Class!" Reverend Dr. William A. Flippin, Senior Pastor, Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church (DeKalb Co, GA) - This book is a must read for every pastor and church leader. The whole idea of "marketing our church and ministry" is relatively new in our culture. Bunnie Jackson-Ransom has this matter of fact style when she speaks and writes. Her advice and experience are sound. The world is changing at a rapid pace. Yet, the church continues to lag behind with outdated methods that will not reach future generations. Her passion is evident when she spoke to our church staff and leaders. Her work and guidance with our public relations team, church trustees, and ministry staff has already yielded positive results. Not only read this book, but allow Bunnie to speak personally and coach your team on these principles. We are proud she came our way.

High quality publications and public relations will enhance a congregation's overall ministry by promoting strong stewardship, effective evangelism, and exciting parish education. Getting the Word Out provides all the tools congregations need to create attention-grabbing, informative, and inspiring communications. Frederick H. Gonnerman shows readers how to assess their audience and the competition for the audience's attention; identify a publication's purpose; and create useful, readable, and attractive publications-whether print or online, for the congregation or a broader community.

Is your church prepared to handle a crisis well? Do you have a plan in place for how to deal with negative comments on social media? Are you afraid to try new communications methods? In PR Matters, Justin Dean provides practical advice on how to communicate the gospel well and reach more people in a world that wants Christians to be bland. FREE DOWNLOADS: Includes a FREE Comprehensive Church Crisis Plan, a Social Media Policy, a Social Media Guide for Churches, and more. Check back of book for download link.