October 2007
Outreach Corner
Marketing Christian Events to Your Community
Marketing, or promoting events and activities, is essential in Christian ministry. And why is marketing important? Simple! If people don’t know what you are doing, they won’t attend your activities and participate in your events. And if they don’t attend your activities and participate in your events, how are they going to grow spiritually?
Marketing defined
Unfortunately, most churches fear the use of the word – MARKETING. They falsely believe that if the event is worthy of support – they will come. Marketing may be defined as, “All the activity involved in the moving of goods, services and information from the producer to the consumer, including advertising, packaging, selling, etc.” In other words, marketing is everything that is done by the Men’s Council to tell people about the vision, mission, plans, goals, objectives, and specific programs related to men’s ministry.
We have the best product in the world. It has eternal value and will never run out. A personal relationship with Jesus is worthy of promotion and passion. A marketing program specifically designed to be of interest to guys is one way you can get the attention of your men.
Is marketing scriptural?
Yes! A good example is found in Romans 10:13-14:
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 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?"
Marketing is key to this passage - without telling the people, the people won’t know, and if they don’t know, how can they believe?
Scripture also makes reference to “gathering” the people. And in order for people to gather, they need to be told when, where, and what for, and that's marketing. The following are several examples where people are told to "gather."
“Then Jacob called for his sons and said: ‘Gather around so I can tell you what will happen in the days to come. Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel’ ” (Genesis 49:1,2).
“The LORD said to Moses, ‘Bring Aaron and his sons, their garments, the anointing oil, the bull for the sin offering, the two rams and the basket containing bread made without yeast, and gather the entire assembly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.’ Moses did as the LORD commanded him, and the assembly gathered at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Moses said to the assembly, ‘This is what the LORD has commanded to be done’ ” (Leviticus 8:1-5 NIV).
“On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord” (Acts 13:44 NIV).
What next?
Marketing events and activities doesn't happen by accident. It requires careful planning, but it doesn't have to be complex and time consuming. To effectively market events and activities four actions are required:
- Establish a foundation for each event and activity
- Review and implement sound marketing principles
- Review and understand general marketing considerations
- Develop and implement a marketing plan for each event and activity
Read the other articles in this issue:
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