Storytelling really isn’t anything that is new. It has been happening for years upon years. However, church storytelling is something that is a relatively new concept for a lot of churches. In this article, we are going to address how you communicate your church’s story, certainly will play a huge role in the way new visitors see you.
As a website developer and designer who works with churches of all sizes and denominations, I can assure you that I have seen almost every statement of faith that is imaginable.
How many times have you visited with a different church website just to see how maybe they compare to your own? What’s the one thing you can almost always count on seeing? Could it be such things as “We believe in the Bible”, “We believe in Jesus”, and a whole host of other common statements that are traditionally seen either on the front page of a church website or somewhere throughout their mission or faith statements.
While that is okay, don’t you think that most people would already hope that this is already an element that is in place. Do you really need to be communicating this with them?
Absolutely. Nearly everyone pastor I work with when it comes to designing a new church website or remodeling an existing one always makes reference to “WE” in almost everything that appears on the website.
Here’s why that isn’t such a great idea. How many times have you been in conversation with someone and all you hear them talk about is themselves? Doesn’t this sort of infuriate you if you are having a two-sided conversation? They spend nearly all the time focusing on themselves rather than even taking you into consideration throughout the conversation. It’s the “ME & WE” mentality.
What churches should be focusing on communicating today is thinking of ways to deliver exactly what is in it for the very person that you are looking to attract to your church. They obviously want to know why you are different than any other church and why they should even bother stepping foot into your service.
Keep in mind that the vast majority of today’s Gen X’s and Millenials have already experienced a bad taste in their mouth from churches as we know them. It’s up to you to win them over by providing them with an experience that makes them feel like you are totally different than anything else they have heard of experienced. They already know what the bad looks and sounds like.
Church storytelling really is about being able to tickle the inner person of those who are visiting with you on the web. By no means am I trying to suggest in writing content that is not factual, but the voice in which you write it is what will make a difference in people to deciding to visit with you.
People who feel good about what they just read or heard, are more apt to make it a point to visit with you. In today’s world of, lack of better words, skeptics are going to require a bit more enticing before they make the leap to visit with you in person.
Make it easy for them to contact you or to schedule a phone call for them to further get to know you and more about your church. Don’t try to sell them from the word “GO” of why they need to be attending your church. This is an immediate “RED FLAG” and will send them off of the phone with them thinking that you’re just like every other church.
Give them the freedom to ask you questions. Keep in mind, they’re looking for concrete and answers from you that will persuade them in their decision-making process to take the next step in visiting with you in person. Don’t be surprised if this takes you to phone call number two.
In addition to learning about the person who you are trying to reach, it is critical that you determine what their “HOT BUTTON” is that is going to provide them with a bit more confidence in making the decision to visit with you.
While the Internet is a powerful tool, keep in mind that there are many out there who abuse its power and ultimately shy away from ever reaching out to another church. Look at any denomination across the board and you will learn very quickly that attendance in nearly every church is going down. However, you as a church leader or pastor can make a significant difference in changing that outcome.
There is always going to be something that someone wants to know that is in place in your church that will strike their fancy if you will. The question at large is do you have the skills to dig in and determine what it is?
Find out what their likes and dislikes were about the last church they visited. While this can be alarming, it also provides you an opportunity to allow them to vent and make them feel more comfortable with you. After all, they want to know that they will be able to “trust” you with their life and family if they have one.
The weird subtitle, I know. But it’s just true.
They already have a taste in their mouth about the church as a whole. It’s not just yours. This is where the doors of opportunity truly prevail.
Just because you are a Pentecostal church, or maybe a Southern Baptist church, or whatever denomination you happen to fall under, you have the once in a lifetime opportunity to provide them how you stand out from the others.
Make them feel “Welcomed!” This, needless to say, goes well beyond the greeting at the door when they enter in if they have made the choice to visit with you. Believe me when I say that most people can detect a fake from the onset of meeting with you.
You’ve heard of the old statement “kill them with kindness?” This is where you need to do a changeup and entice them with genuineness.
People are looking for the real deal. Not the status quote that they have already been involved with.
Well, I’m pleased to announce that our parent company, Ark Web Hosting, is in the beginnings of starting a new operation that will be geared entirely helping churches communicate their story. I encourage you to check back from time to time and look for further updates about this. It’s going to be a serious opportunity of churches within our community and around America better communicate their stories.
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