| Volume XII Issue 2 |
theNEWs |
March 2010
|
Resolution for 2010: Sharpen
Your Communications SkillsChurches are always having to do so many things all at the same time, it seems, just to keep up. Never mind how you will get ahead of the programs and demands. Being caring and compassionate communities is a real challenge.
So the trick is how to use the limited resources you have to be most effective. Often churches will take an indepth look at themselves, and discover their greatest resources are already within their congregations. Drawing those resources out for the benefit of mission and ministry can bring the most joy of anything a church can do - the task of enabling their people to serve the church by using their God-given gifts.
One opportunity to do that may be to develop your own Communications Team. This is a GROUP OF PEOPLE who's task it is to help the rest of the congregation do mission and ministry together. While a church may have a Team of one person who does it all - website, newsletter and church program brochures - it is best to look for others who have the needed skills and who want to find a place in the community to serve using their gifts. Having a Communications Team offers a place where the combined gifts of many can benefit the whole church's ministry.
One resource to help the Communcations Team may be simply subscribing to a journal that offers ideas for a variety of church communications topics. One such journal is Christian Computing Magazine - (www.ccmag.com). In a the recent issue, there is an article on how to use today's social networking tools to expand and develop capital campaigns. Another article can help you start thinking about how to keep the people coming back after Easter.
But another article in the latest issue discusses how to develop and use a Communications Team to enhance your church's ministry. Although the examples are based on churches of 1,000 or more members, it is possible to adapt and to learn how to do it in a church of 100 members.The principles are the same.
Be creative and look for people for your Communications Team.
StewardshipKaleidoscope
It's Not Too Late
Funding Mission Today and Tomorrow
More than ever before, leaders need resources that will help them teach, preach and practice successful stewardship.
Are you looking for more ways to share the theological and spiritual meaning of stewardship? Are you looking for new ideas for stewardship campaigns? Do you want to infuse the discipline of stewardship with joy and reverence? Attend the Stewardship Kaleidoscope and answer these and many more questions.
This event is being held March 15-17 in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Hilton Indianapolis Downtown. For more information go to:
www.stewardshipkaleidoscope.org
Offering of Letters Workshop Hosted at Presbyery Office
Mandy Wrinkle, representative from Bread for the World, will lead a workshop on the 2010 Offering of Letters campaign issues at the Presbytery office on Saturday, March 27, beginning at 9:30am concluding around noon.
The 2010 program "aims to protect and strengthen important tax credits (such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit) that benefit low-income families and help keep food on the table of many Americans." The workshop will provide tools to help attendees communicate effectively on the 2010 issues. The event is free and each church is encouraged to send a representative to this workshop. Attendees are asked to bring their 2010 kits to the workshop.