There are several ways you can use Facebook to get more involved in MinistryCOM and network with other church communications professionals.

1. Become a fan of MinistryCOM on our page.

2. Join a local group and meet other communicators in your area, most local groups have Facebook groups that tell local meeting times and will show you others in your area.

3. Be our friend. Watch what goes on behind the scenes and help us make MinistryCOM better every year.

Get involved in MinistryCOM via Facebook, then in September join us in Chicago to meet your Facebook friends in person.

Jobe will talk about creativity — what it is, where it comes from, and how to work with it. Plan to join us in Chicago on September 10-11 for this exciting presentation.

“I joined MinistryCOM because I wanted to be a part of an established community that provides support to the unique ministry of church communications. MinistryCOM provides both a local and national network of accredited field professionals that know the ins and outs of being a backbone ministry. I believe that being a part of MinistryCOM enhances my professional growth. I see a growing number of people that are excited to hear that such a thing (as MinistryCOM) exists!”

Start enjoying the benefits of MinistryCOM yourself by joining today.

MinistryCOM: What do you enjoy the most about church communications?

CHERYL COLEMAN: I really enjoy intersecting with the ministries and working with them on a variety of projects to help them accomplish their communication goals. We know our contribution, whether that is a brochure, flyer, blog, postcard, etc., ultimately is helping people to connect with God, with others and to needs. It’s exciting to be a part of that process!

MC: What’s most challenging about church communications?

CC: I think our greatest challenge has been, and will continue to be, getting information from our ministries in a timely manner. Even with standards, processes and guidelines in place, we continue to wrestle with this, and that I believe is just the nature of working in ministry and being in a dynamic environment where things can change and take a completely different direction as the need arises. You just have to go with it! One thing is certain: it’s never dull around here!

MC: How is creativity encouraged within your church staff?

CC: Sometimes it is just good to “get out.” And that is what we are encouraged to do when we need to be creatively infused. Visiting a museum or another area church to see what they are doing in their communications areas, or even going to Starbucks for a fresh environment, oftentimes stimulates creativity.

MC: Where is your inspirational spot – the place you like to brainstorm and think creatively

CC: I don’t really have a particular spot per se…but sometimes ideas will come to me on my drive home, after I’m away from the office.  Even when I’m home for the evening, ideas will pop into my head, and I’ll jot them down to bring into work the next day to discuss with the team.  So I really think “getting away” often helps to free up the mind, and opens us to be even more sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  All too often being in the office, with all the distractions and interruptions that come with the nature of the job, can hinder the creative process.

The audience is church business administrators, executive pastors and senior pastors. I want to explain to them that communications is not just getting the bulletin ready for Sunday, but it should start much earlier with the strategy and mission of the church. Communications should be involved in the strategic planning, not just producing the promotional materials.

Give me your feedback – what do you want me to tell your boss (or boss’ boss) about the strategic value of communications?

We have two year end requests for you:

1) Please invite your ministry communications friends to MinistryCOM. We have a strong following from churches, but I also want to make a special appeal to other faith-based non-profits. You know who they are – please invite them to join our Facebook Fan Page and join our email list.

2) Also, please consider joining as a MinistryCOM member. The cost is $100 per year and the first 100 members will be designated as “Founding Members”. We have several educational programs planned for 2009 that we want to develop and share through the local groups, but this costs money. Membership dues are how we finance this development. Please consider joining MinistryCOM so we can better support your ministry.

Thanks again to everyone for your past support. We look forward to serving with you in 2009.

Terrell Sanders
MinistryCOM.org

MinistryCOM: What do you enjoy the most about church communications?

JEFF MILLER: I enjoy doing work for God to serve the Kingdom. I’m not wasting my life; I’m doing things that matter to people … those who go to our church and those who don’t, hopefully to draw them in.

MC: What’s most challenging about church communications?

JM: Lack of other creatives to bounce ideas off of. It’s hard not to have a group I can brainstorm with. That said, I just started posting work on Church Marketing Lab and I got some good feedback already … feedback that I wouldn’t have gotten here. I’m inspired by people doing similar work. I look at design magazines that are good resources in the design world. But oftentimes those are big design firms with uber bucks to do crazy stuff. That’s not realistic in the church world. The Church Marketing Lab offers more realistic yet creative approaches.

MC: What has been the biggest difference shifting from volunteer to staff?

JM: In volunteer world, you don’t get to see the big picture. But once you’re on staff you can communicate across various ministries and tie everything together. You get to create and maintain a consistent brand for all of our pieces. Not everything has to look the same but they all have to show the same level of excellence.

MC: What advice do you have for a staff person working with volunteer designers?

JM:

1. Communicate about the project … not just the specifics but how it would fit in overall. As a volunteer you’re not going to get a full picture, but it helps to know as much as possible.

2. Have faith in the volunteer. To instill confidence, allow them the freedom to do the job you told them to do, then use it … unless there’s something glaringly wrong. Don’t tweak it just to tweak it. Then they feel like they made a real contribution and will be more willing to volunteer the next time.

MC: What is your favorite PMS color and why?

JM: I like the whole last half of the Pantone swatch book. I like muted colors. But if I had to pick one, it would be PMS 130. It reminds me of an orange cream soda.

MinistryTECH 2009 will be in Colorado Springs on April 23-24, 2009. Please pass this information to your IT staff so they can experience the same benefits as you do at MinistryCOM. Details are online at www.MinistryTECH.org.

Meanwhile, if you do graphic design for a ministry, you MUST put MinistryCOM 2009 in your budget and on your calendar. September 10-11, 2009 in Chicago. Where else can you meet other ministry graphic designers from all across the US and Canada. Registration information is online.

If you are a designer who sometimes gets intimidated at the thought of creating unique illustrative designs, this session will show you design methods you can use to pull off those projects.

Resource: Illustrative Design breakout $35.00