Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Out of the Mold Blog
After denying oxygen to this blog for a few months, it's about time to pull the plug. I'm directing my attention to a new blog called "Out of the Mold," where I can blog about a wider variety of subjects. Jump over and take a look!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Visit the InTake Blog
It seems that I'm blogging on the InTake blog so often these days that this blog is being neglected. If you haven't visited the InTake blog, I hope you'll jump over and poke around. From this post through the end of May, Brad and I will be blogging on the 30 Core Competencies of the Christian Faith. Click here for introductory info on the Core Competencies from our church website.
Monday, March 23, 2009
I Went All the Way to the 2
This morning, my youngest son Benjamin was on his way out the door to catch the school bus when he turned to me and said, "Dad, I went all the way to the 2." I had no idea what he was talking about. "Dad I read Mark all the way to the number 2." The Chapter 2 heading! Before he went to bed last night, he picked up his Bible and read the first chapter of Mark. We are encouraging everyone at the Springs to read through Mark between now and Easter, and had been talking about it at our table group last night. Benjamin surprised me by taking it upon himself to start reading on his own.
So there it is folks, if my 10-year old can do it, we all can!
Brad and I are commenting daily on each chapter on the Intake blog. All you need to get started is 5-10 minutes, and if you're reading this post, everything you need is right at your fingertips.
Read Mark online: TNIV translation
Read Mark online: The Message translation
Listen to Mark read: TNIV translation (requires free Real Player plug-in)
So there it is folks, if my 10-year old can do it, we all can!
Brad and I are commenting daily on each chapter on the Intake blog. All you need to get started is 5-10 minutes, and if you're reading this post, everything you need is right at your fingertips.
Read Mark online: TNIV translation
Read Mark online: The Message translation
Listen to Mark read: TNIV translation (requires free Real Player plug-in)
Monday, February 2, 2009
The Hunks Dynasty Continues
As I write this morning, my fingers may be the only part of my body still working. My ribs are bruised from an attempted dive into the end zone (see slide show). My legs hurt, my arms hurt, my head hurts. But that's the price you pay to be a champion. The Hunks (old guys) were victorious over the Punks (jr. high and high school boys) once again in our annual neighborhood football game. But today, the day after, I suspect that the Punks are feeling much better than the Hunks.
I love my neighborhood and my neighbors. Last week we celebrated a neighbor's 70th birthday. This weekend we played football, ate together, and watched the big game. But the big events aren't the most significant. It's the daily interaction, the sidewalk conversations, the parenting by committee, and offers to help each other with little things or big things that really make the difference. A standard has been set. We expect to see each other, care for each other. Some of us are committed to belonging, serving, growing and playing together.
Neighborhood life is a remedial exercise for most Americans (including me). It has to be taught and modeled, and hopefully embraced by a few. Perhaps the most important step in building it is to identify one other neighbor or family who will join you in pursuing it. For us, that has been the Cromarties, who have lived on our street longer than most and whose home is a hub in the neighborhood for kids and adults alike. While we were watching the Super Bowl yesterday, I had a brief conversation with a friend who lives in another neighborhood. He spoke of their desire to build community where they live, and how they wanted to initiate some neighborhood activities once each month. That's a great place to start. I believe that if you take initiative, God will often reveal that crucial one other family to partner with you in neighborhood ministry. Pray for that person or family. They may or may not attend the same church as you on Sunday morning, but they may be the church with you the other 6 1/2 days of the week. The only real requirement is that they are followers of Christ and share your commitment to belong, serve, grow and play together. It doesn't usually happen overnight. Relationships are measured in months and years, not days. But there is a great reward for perseverance.
Christ's life is spilling onto me from my neighbors, and hopefully He is using me in their lives also. We still have a long way to go. Most of our neighbors will have a beer with us, and a few will pray with us. Who knows what God will do?
I love my neighborhood and my neighbors. Last week we celebrated a neighbor's 70th birthday. This weekend we played football, ate together, and watched the big game. But the big events aren't the most significant. It's the daily interaction, the sidewalk conversations, the parenting by committee, and offers to help each other with little things or big things that really make the difference. A standard has been set. We expect to see each other, care for each other. Some of us are committed to belonging, serving, growing and playing together.
Neighborhood life is a remedial exercise for most Americans (including me). It has to be taught and modeled, and hopefully embraced by a few. Perhaps the most important step in building it is to identify one other neighbor or family who will join you in pursuing it. For us, that has been the Cromarties, who have lived on our street longer than most and whose home is a hub in the neighborhood for kids and adults alike. While we were watching the Super Bowl yesterday, I had a brief conversation with a friend who lives in another neighborhood. He spoke of their desire to build community where they live, and how they wanted to initiate some neighborhood activities once each month. That's a great place to start. I believe that if you take initiative, God will often reveal that crucial one other family to partner with you in neighborhood ministry. Pray for that person or family. They may or may not attend the same church as you on Sunday morning, but they may be the church with you the other 6 1/2 days of the week. The only real requirement is that they are followers of Christ and share your commitment to belong, serve, grow and play together. It doesn't usually happen overnight. Relationships are measured in months and years, not days. But there is a great reward for perseverance.
Christ's life is spilling onto me from my neighbors, and hopefully He is using me in their lives also. We still have a long way to go. Most of our neighbors will have a beer with us, and a few will pray with us. Who knows what God will do?
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Burning Question #2: Church Marketing
Our second set of burning questions revolved around how we can increase the church's exposure in the community. We received a lot of good suggestions: yard signs, various forms of print advertising, temporary signs around the community on the weekends, mailers, more signage at the YMCA, and the list goes on. Unlike the fundraiser questions (see previous post), I think we all agree that it's important for more people in our community to find out about our church. So the only question is how we go about it. Let's take a look at a few different methods:
Mailers: while mailers are an effective way to get the word out in our community, it's also expensive. We're talking about thousands of dollars to do it right (which is the only way we would do it). Our current income doesn't allow this option. So we're looking for other ways to accomplish the same purpose.
YMCA signage: among the YMCA's many kind gestures to us, they allow us to advertise the church on their flat screen in the entry way, and on the outdoor marquis on Sunday mornings. We are working on some additional outdoor sign options, but city ordinances for signage are very strict, and the process is slow. We do plan to add additional portable signage outside the YMCA on Sunday mornings, including a large sign on the side of our trailer. The Sign Shop in League City, where Brad works, is offering a great deal of help in this area.
Yard signs: not my favorite. Who reads your yard sign? -Your neighbors. I do not want my neighbors to find out about the Springs from a sign in my yard. They need to hear about it directly from me. And yours need to hear about it from you. If your neighbors don't hear about your faith and your church from you, but read about it on a sign in your yard, what does that communicate? Skip the yard sign and have your neighbors over for burgers.
Print Advertising: We are pursuing as much print exposure as we can that is free. Some of you are aware of the recent front-page article about the Springs in the Galveston Daily News. We are also planning to submit more articles in the community newspaper that is distributed in our area. In the future, as our budget may permit, I'd like to see us advertise in the Clear Springs High School football program and other similar publications that are community-oriented.
Billboards: again, most billboard advertising is out of our financial reach. One possible exception is a billboard in the outfield of one of the Little League Fields at the Sportsplex. The cost for such a sign is $275 for the year, with the Little League season beginning in March. I am coaching in a division of 10-year olds who all live on the west side of League City, so the advertising is targeted specifically to families in our neighborhoods. We already have a sign design ready and waiting for production. If you would like to make a donation to see this happen, just let me know.
Community Service: serving in our community is a great and effective way of increasing our exposure in a positive way (not to mention that we're serving and meeting needs). Our upcoming participation in the Habitat for Humanity women's walk is a good example. Our ladies will wear t-shirts to distinguish them as Springs, and I'll be DJing the event with our trailer and signage in a prominent place. We'll also receive public recognition at the event from Habitat. These kinds of partnerships with other organizations in the community are among our preferred methods of increasing our exposure, and they don't have to be church-wide events. We hope our table groups will take the initiative and participate in similar activities. Brainstorm it at your neighborhood table or with your community group.
Word of Mouth: I saved the best for last. With our church, as with any organization or business of any kind, word of mouth is by far the best advertising you can get. All other forms of advertising are generally only effective if they are accompanied by word of mouth. In short, you are the best marketing method we have, and this will always be true, regardless of our size or budget. There is no substitute for us meeting people in our community and introducing them to Jesus first, then to the Springs. So get out there!
Cards or marketing handouts (like our current series piece) are always available, so pick some up Sunday at our gathering. See you there with the neighbor you told about the Springs.
Mailers: while mailers are an effective way to get the word out in our community, it's also expensive. We're talking about thousands of dollars to do it right (which is the only way we would do it). Our current income doesn't allow this option. So we're looking for other ways to accomplish the same purpose.
YMCA signage: among the YMCA's many kind gestures to us, they allow us to advertise the church on their flat screen in the entry way, and on the outdoor marquis on Sunday mornings. We are working on some additional outdoor sign options, but city ordinances for signage are very strict, and the process is slow. We do plan to add additional portable signage outside the YMCA on Sunday mornings, including a large sign on the side of our trailer. The Sign Shop in League City, where Brad works, is offering a great deal of help in this area.
Yard signs: not my favorite. Who reads your yard sign? -Your neighbors. I do not want my neighbors to find out about the Springs from a sign in my yard. They need to hear about it directly from me. And yours need to hear about it from you. If your neighbors don't hear about your faith and your church from you, but read about it on a sign in your yard, what does that communicate? Skip the yard sign and have your neighbors over for burgers.
Print Advertising: We are pursuing as much print exposure as we can that is free. Some of you are aware of the recent front-page article about the Springs in the Galveston Daily News. We are also planning to submit more articles in the community newspaper that is distributed in our area. In the future, as our budget may permit, I'd like to see us advertise in the Clear Springs High School football program and other similar publications that are community-oriented.
Billboards: again, most billboard advertising is out of our financial reach. One possible exception is a billboard in the outfield of one of the Little League Fields at the Sportsplex. The cost for such a sign is $275 for the year, with the Little League season beginning in March. I am coaching in a division of 10-year olds who all live on the west side of League City, so the advertising is targeted specifically to families in our neighborhoods. We already have a sign design ready and waiting for production. If you would like to make a donation to see this happen, just let me know.
Community Service: serving in our community is a great and effective way of increasing our exposure in a positive way (not to mention that we're serving and meeting needs). Our upcoming participation in the Habitat for Humanity women's walk is a good example. Our ladies will wear t-shirts to distinguish them as Springs, and I'll be DJing the event with our trailer and signage in a prominent place. We'll also receive public recognition at the event from Habitat. These kinds of partnerships with other organizations in the community are among our preferred methods of increasing our exposure, and they don't have to be church-wide events. We hope our table groups will take the initiative and participate in similar activities. Brainstorm it at your neighborhood table or with your community group.
Word of Mouth: I saved the best for last. With our church, as with any organization or business of any kind, word of mouth is by far the best advertising you can get. All other forms of advertising are generally only effective if they are accompanied by word of mouth. In short, you are the best marketing method we have, and this will always be true, regardless of our size or budget. There is no substitute for us meeting people in our community and introducing them to Jesus first, then to the Springs. So get out there!
Cards or marketing handouts (like our current series piece) are always available, so pick some up Sunday at our gathering. See you there with the neighbor you told about the Springs.
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