Christmas Strategy Ideas.
Many Mindstorm readers have asked for specific strategies for Christmas promotion. In each of the examples below think of how you can develop more synergistic, wrap-around strategies that include thematic and visual continuity in such things as:
1. a special landing page on your web site
2. a bridge event other than Sunday
3. print materials to welcome your guests
4. a teaching series based on the theme
Connect Deeply. Since it’s hardly remarkable to send a splashy, traditional Christmas message, appeal directly to some of the strongest, emotional needs parents (and anyone for that matter) have...the things that matter most...the God-given dreams that drive every human heart.
We Are Our Stories . Every person in our community represents a God-story in progress. Jesus modeled the best approach by incarnating himself into our stories, to redeem the Father's purpose for them.
Break Through Stereotypes. In order to cut through the image perceptions that many unchurched people (especially those under 30) have of the church, it can be effective to send an arresting message that stops someone long enough to think and want to look deeper. It can establish a widespread, memorable identity and when they’re ready, they will remember the church who sent that powerful message.
Alone At Christmas. You don’t have to be homeless to feel alone and Christmas can be the most painful time of the year. All the emotions and hurts of the past seem to surface causing many to be more open during this time than at any other time of the year. College students away from home, troubled families, recently unemployed (hard to believe, but people do get laid off in December), the homeless or those with a temporary food need, and those displaced by recent storm damage make the number higher than you might realize.
Consider ways you can reach into these needs and connect with practical help and most of all, supporting friendships. And remember, people don’t forget their dreams just because they’re broken.
Christmas For The Kids.
For some reason our hearts turn to kids at Christmas. Maybe it’s that we enjoy making it special for the kids in our lives or reliving our own Christmas memories. Whatever the origin, it makes good sense to tie those felt needs to their God-given dreams for a purposeful future, for our children, young adults, or people of all ages.
This approach can work to accomplish three things: it can not only promote the ministries of your church, but promote stronger family and community in general, and build strong community awareness and image as a ‘heart-wise’ church.
20/30-Something Dreams
Since young adults are especially open and seeking regarding the pursuit of life dreams you can connect strongly with this need while you image your church as a community of dreams...a launching pad for purpose.
As you target different audiences don’t worry about aiming too narrow. This focus appeals to parents and grandparents and anyone who has important young adults in their life, and as a bridge to get them thinking about their own dreams.
Christmas is a good time to make this connection (think college students, single moms, etc.), with an openness for community combined with a need for direction as one looks to the new year ahead.
Super Bowl Party
A Study of The Power of Life Passion
What if you combined a pregame informal conversation about why we love football and sports in general (pre-pregame, of course)? What does this love possibly tell us about the way we are wired with passion, and as John Eldredge says (in Wild At Heart), “a battle to fight and an adventure to experience.”
If you’d like to begin now to develop this January strategy with us, drop me an email.
Partner with us to reach your city...
Community of Dreams
Licensed City Partnership
In the first part of 2007 we will be adding new City Partners in many U.S. cities. If you would like to partner with us in the city plan for your area, contact us by email, tell us a little about yourself, your church, your outreach objectives, along with some of your heart and vision for your great community.
And, don't hold back. This is the time to dream--and dream big--as big as the heart of God for your city. And we'll dream with you.
Michael
Planning Guides and Documents:
• Community of Dreams Overview
• New Church Launch Marketing Plan
• Strategy Articles
• Withreach.com
Copyright
2006, Breakthrough Media Group
Want to get specific?
If
you’d like to explore this in an email dialog, please feel free
to drop the author a note at mike@breakthroughchurch.com.
The Community of Dreams National Cityreaching Partnership is launching innovative pilot projects with a local churches in
500 U.S. cities in 2006 through 2008. The focus is on using Withreach
and Community of Dreams positioning strategies to support one church
as an effective catalyst in each of those cities, using innovative
cityreaching strategies, comprehensive marketing plans, and an integrated,
branded identity package.
If you would like to learn more about this initiative,
please send a short backgrounder on your church with complete information
on how to contact you. Email to:
mike@breakthroughchurch.com
If
you know of another church in another city who may be a good candidate
for their city, please feel free to forward this document.
Want to share this report? Permission granted to share this document for non-commercial purposes*
Contacts:
For coaching and strategic outreach questions contact
C. Michael Johnson
mike@breakthroughchurch.com
All other inquiries contact:
Donna Crowell
missdonna@Breakthroughchurch.com
800-595-4327
Breakthroughchurch.com
*This entire report copyright © 2006 by
Breakthrough Media Group. All rights reserved. Permission is granted
to forward, copy or share single copies of this document in the
context of local church outreach planning, provided entire document
is kept intact. Small portions can be freely quoted. For permission
to excerpt, or to make multiple copies (more than five), or to reprint
in a publication or post online, contact:
Donna Crowell
missdonna@Breakthroughchurch.com
800-595-4327