Five Ways to Make Your Church's Message "Pop"

Five Ways to Make Your Church’s Message “Pop”

This week, the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries unveiled a new infographic on Advance special gifts. You may have already seen it since it quickly made the rounds on Facebook and found its way into many email boxes.  This may be the most successful marketing piece that GBGM has put out.  Why is it so effective?

•    You get the picture, literally, where your money is going.       

•    Something that is hard to understand suddenly is clear.  The dreaded and often unfairly maligned apportionments fund The Advance’s overhead - thus allowing 100% of donations to go specific projects.  That’s good use of money.

•    There is momentum for the future.  My denomination has a goal of eradicating malaria in the next few years.  Now that’s inspiring.

•    It’s invitational.  “Let’s get moving!” is not the battle cry of a stodgy old denomination.  United Methodists’ are doing something…and we are joyfully invited to participate.

•    It is teeming with gratitude.  From the final “thank you” to the listing of projects you and I have helped fund over the years, this moves us to want be a part of the Advance movement.

Decide how you can use the success of the GBGM infographic and make it work for your church. Don’t be intimidated by the professionals.  Someone in your congregation can take pictures and maybe someone else can combine them with words of gratitude, a call to action, and evidence that what you are doing in the world is making a difference.  You can make an equally inspiring flier.  Don’t overthink it – just do it.  

 

Cesie Delve Scheuermann is a consultant in stewardship, development, and grant writing.   Over the past decade, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she helped raise nearly $2 million dollars for numerous non-profit organizations.  She served as the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference Lay Leader from 2008-2012.  Her position with the Conference is funded through a generous grant from the Collins Foundation.  You can reach her at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com.

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