IDEAS THAT WORK
July 1, 1991
Thrifty Visibility
Church-growth specialist Carl George tells the story of going to a consulting appointment in metropolitan New York and calling the pastor for directions. "I'm not going to tell you," the minister said. "Just come to town and ask the first person you see how to find our church."
Skeptical but curious, George drove into the city and stopped at the first gas station. "I don't know anything about churches," the attendant responded. Then he paused. "Unless you mean the one that's always got something going on. I've seen their flyers, and here's how to get there . . ."
His story convinced me that any church can find an affordable way to enhance its community image. The key is not necessarily big bucks (even our church could afford flyers!) but continual positive visibility.
The results touch the heart of why we exist as a church: the more positive publicity we do, the easier our friendship evangelism becomes ("Sure, I've heard of your church") and, perhaps just as significantly, the more excited our people become about their church.
Over the last three years, our cash-strapped congregation has found several inexpensive but effective ways to help shape our community's perception of us.
Streetside Signs
We've created a number of movable but professional-looking signs that we set up each Sunday along the curb at the place we rent for worship.
"Real" churches, who may sport gorgeous, permanently mounted signs, could profit by doing likewise since a new, catch-your-eye display often receives more notice than something that's the same year-round.
We've made basic directional signs ("Newcomers always welcome at . . ."), seasonal signs ("Start over with God this Christmas Eve"), and special-event signs ("Join us for our annual ...
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