MinistryCOM 2009 Keynote Session

Presenter:

Kerry Bural
Principal
The Resonate Group
Mt Juliet, TN

Session Description:

You’re familiar with the old adage that says, “three steps forward and two steps back,” but what would happen if you viewed “setbacks” as merely redirects of your efforts? In this address, Kerry unpacks an “Intentional Change Model” to help you overcome the inherent obstacles that ministry defiantly throws in your face. He also presents practical tools to help you influence forward movement.

About the Presenter:

Kerry Bural can often be found sketching concepts and ideas on napkins or notecards as he tries to refine his thoughts and share them. He claims that his best work happens in java-infused creative sessions or when he is divinely disturbed in the middle of the night.

He is the owner and principal of The Resonate Group, a brand consulting and development firm. He recently served as V.P. for Public Relations and Marketing with the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. He was the brand architect of the “I Vote Values” initiative, which was the genesis for the “values voter” movement. He has served as PR Director for Southeastern Seminary and PR Coordinator for Criswell College. He was also a visual coordinator for the corporate headquarters of Neiman Marcus in their Visual Planning & Presentation division.

His 25+ years in ministry and business have been devoted to brand architecture. He is passionate about helping organizations translate their vision and mission into communication that resonates with their constituents through visual presentation, public relations, marketing and branding.

He has a B.S. in Education concentrating on design and technology from Northeastern State University and a M.A. in Theology and History from Criswell College.

MinistryCOM 2009 Breakout Session

Presenter:

Kerry Bural
Principal
The Resonate Group
Mt Juliet, TN

Session Description:

After decades of buying the newest leadership books to glean the latest leadership principles, leaders are sometimes still aloof and disconnected. Yet humanity longs for meaningful connections. In this breakout session, Kerry presents a “Healthy Ministry Matrix” that helps you and your team foster genuine connectivity in your church and community. He also shows how resonance can help you communicate so others really “get it.”

About the Presenter:

Kerry Bural can often be found sketching concepts and ideas on napkins or notecards as he tries to refine his thoughts and share them. He claims that his best work happens in java-infused creative sessions or when he is divinely disturbed in the middle of the night.

He is the owner and principal of The Resonate Group, a brand consulting and development firm. He recently served as V.P. for Public Relations and Marketing with the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. He was the brand architect of the “I Vote Values” initiative, which was the genesis for the “values voter” movement. He has served as PR Director for Southeastern Seminary and PR Coordinator for Criswell College. He was also a visual coordinator for the corporate headquarters of Neiman Marcus in their Visual Planning & Presentation division.

His 25+ years in ministry and business have been devoted to brand architecture. He is passionate about helping organizations translate their vision and mission into communication that resonates with their constituents through visual presentation, public relations, marketing and branding.

He has a B.S. in Education concentrating on design and technology from Northeastern State University and a M.A. in Theology and History from Criswell College.

MinistryCOM 2009 Breakout Session

Presenters:

Bill Koch, CEO, Bill Koch PR
Kevin August, Pastor, New Hope Church
Cynthia Lamb, Director of Communications, Holy Spirit Catholic Community

Session Description:

Our congregations — for better or worse — are microcosms of society. Security lapses, moral failings and unprotected environments for children are all too common crisis situations in churches nationwide.

Crisis Communications: A View from the Pulpit, the Pew and the Press will offer a three tier approach – from an “in the trenches” church director of communications, a pastor who is a former, accredited PR professional, and a crisis communications veteran with extensive, first-hand experience. This session will highlight post-event healing and restoration of trust along with the impact of new media and social communications.

What Attendees Will Learn:
Through review of actual crises in ministry, learn the importance of the crisis preparedness and response, how to bring your decision-making hierarchy on board, and practical and tested strategies from three seasoned communications professionals.

About the Presenters:

Bill Koch, APR, Fellow PRSA

Bill Koch is president and CEO of Bill Koch PR, a strategic public relations counseling firm headquartered in the western suburbs of Chicago. The firm’s services include communications counsel; relationship building; reputation management; crisis communications planning, management and support; and executive communications skills development focused on presentation delivery and media spokesperson activities. An expert in crisis communications, Bill was formerly vice president of communications for Laidlaw Education Services, where he coordinated communications for six major acquisitions that doubled the size of the company and managed communications to isolate the company from the parent’s bankruptcy. Bill is co-author of the book No Surprises: The Crisis Communications Management System. He was accredited by the Public Relations Society of America in 1988 and was elected to their College of Fellows in 1992.

Kevin August

Kevin is currently the pastor of New Hope Church in Decatur, Indiana. He as served both small and large congregations ranging in size from 120 to 1100 in weekly attendance during the past five years. Prior to stepping into ministry fulltime, Kevin invested more than 15 years in the communications field. He began his career in the radio broadcasting industry in northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania. Later he became an accredited public relations professional handling crisis communications, media and community relations for a large people transportation company serving North America. Kevin and his wife Laura have been married for 21 years and have been blessed with two children.

Cynthia Lamb, APR

With a focus on non-profit marketing communications, Cynthia Lamb is the Director of Communications of Holy Spirit Catholic Community in Naperville, Illinois, with over 3,200 registered families.  Previously, she had worked as the Marketing Communications Manager for an accredited museum village. She taught public relations and speech for a local university, and has worked in telecommunications marketing and consulting.  Ms. Lamb has a master’s degree in Marketing Communications and is an accredited member of PRSA.

MinistryCOM 2009 Breakout Session

Presenter:

Jody Wissing
Visual Arts Director
Preston Trail Community Church
Frisco, TX

Session Description:

Are you a small church?  Or maybe you’re a large church?  No matter what size, we all have one thing in common: a limited budget for marketing and media.  We are all affected by the economy and our culture.  We have an obligation to connect God with people in culturally relevant ways.  There’s good news!  Being on a limited budget forces us to be more creative and find innovative ways of getting our message out to the masses.

In this session, we will talk about how to identify resources, create marketing strategies that won’t break the bank and learn ways to increase creativity.  Here’s a sampling of some topics that will be discussed:

• Identifying your resources
• Doing marketing differently, out-of-the-box ideas
• Where to find inexpensive media
• Free marketing / free media
• Increasing creativity and how to brainstorm
• How to get the most out of the money you do have

Let’s think of marketing and media in a new way!  You will walk away with a toolbox of culturally relevant ideas and strategies for reaching people inside and outside your church.

About the Presenter:

Jody Wissing is entering her fifth year as the Visual Arts Director at Preston Trail Community Church, a position that allows her to merge her two passions: great art and great deals! Jody’s passion for visual art is exercised as she seeks to communicate the bold truth of the Gospel in ways that aren’t. .  . beige. Jody’s passion for an awesome deal comes in handy as she is consistently challenged to find the least expensive and most creative ways to do church marketing and design.

Jody’s background is as diverse as her artistic influences, with business experience in training, marketing, presentation, design, and finance for companies such as Motorola, Toys ‘R’ Us, Charles Schwab, McDonalds, Navigant International and New Horizons. Ever the independent spirit, Jody also has 10 years of freelance experience, including design, presentation and small business marketing.

As a seeker of anything artistic and fun, Jody loves spending time with her two sons, enjoys going on adventures to find abandoned houses and likes being the neighborhood mom that gives all the kids water guns filled with paint.