When I was a freshman in college, I was rushed by a small fraternity. For three consecutive weekends, the fraternity members kept luring me back to the house with the promise of a Saturday pig roast. And each week, without fail, we ate hot dogs.
A hot dog does not a pig roast make.
The fact was that the fraternity actually had every intention of digging a pit, building a fire, and roasting a pig — but no one ever pulled the trigger on the project.
The lesson for churches? Don’t say you offer something when you don’t.
For example, some churches say they are “mission minded.” But when you look at their activities there’s nothing to support the claim. No mission trips. No local outreach. Nothing.
And a “thriving singles program” is not a mixture of college students and 55-year-old recent divorcees.
That’s bad church marketing.
Be honest about who you are. It’s okay to say “We really want to be (fill in the blank).” But don’t claim it until it’s truth.
You cannot be all things to all people. God gave your church strengths. Build on those.
I know it seems crazy to remind a church not to embellish the truth. But I believe the embellishments are often innocent. Churches sometimes claim something they want to be — not what they are.
Self-analysis is a tough process, but it’s often useful to determine who you are as a church, the strengths of your congregation, and how you can move forward.
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Hands and Feet Marketing can help your church assess its strengths and develop a marketing plan to build on those strengths. To learn more, see our list of services and feel free to contact us.