The Power and Value of Video for Churches

A conversation on merits of churches communicating via video, YouTube, and social media wit Garth Holmes.

Episode Run Time: 41 minutes
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Today churches have a unique and cost effective opportunity to spread their message via video.  In this episode (available in audio MP3 above and through iTunes, and in video below), David talks with Garth Holmes where they discuss the power of video as a tool to effectively communicate a ministry’s message.  They discuss the communication value, the powerful reach of YouTube, and the spread of video through social media.

Show Notes:

• Comments: Send comments to David@MinistryStory.com
• Podcast Host: David Tonen
• Podcast Guest: Garth Holmes
  
• YouTube Video Stats
• Podcast Theme Song: “Could This Be The End of the Hiding” by The Contact – used with permission.  Purchase the song in iTunes…

Church Leadership Essentials: What Every Pastor Need to Know

A conversation on church leadership, ebook publishing, discipleship and evangelism with Greg Atkinson.

Episode Run Time: 36:01
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Are you a pastor or church leader who is struggling to lead your ministry?  We all need to develop our leadership skills!

In this episode (available in audio MP3 above and through iTunes and in video below), David talks with Greg Atkinson.  Greg has been working in ministry for over 20 years and he shares his leadership insights in this podcast.  He also expands on leadership in his new book Church Leadership Essentials now on Amazon.  Greg brings a unique perspective to pastoral leadership as his ministry includes being a pastor, but also a consultant to pastors.  He brings experience with technology, social media, and strategy in developing strong worship experiences in churches.

Buy Church Leadership Essentials on Amazon.ca
Buy Church Leadership Essentials on Amazon.com

Show Notes:

• Comments: Send comments to David@MinistryStory.com
• Podcast Host: David Tonen
• Podcast Guest: Greg Atkinson
  
• Rainer Publishing
• StrategicDiscipleship.com (free small group curriculum mentioned in the podcast)
• Greg’s Blog Post: Discipleship is a Who Not a What
• Christian Media Magazine (Greg is the Editor)
• Podcast Theme Song: “Could This Be The End of the Hiding” by The Contact – used with permission.  Purchase the song in iTunes…

A conversation with Joshua Gordon on the strategic impact of great church signage.

Episode Run Time: 36:10
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This is a topic that I think will be very helpful to church leaders as you consider how to properly create signage for your church ministry.  We discuss the value of how you convey your branding through your church signage both outside and inside of the building. Joshua doesn’t work with LoudSpeak any longer – this was a conversation we recorded before he left.  LoudSpeak still serves churches in Canada by printing high quality banners and church signage.  MinistryStory.com also provides printing of all sorts that will help your church communicate with excellence.

Show Notes:

• Comments: Send comments to David@MinistryStory.com
• Podcast Host: David Tonen
• LoudSpeak
• Podcast Theme Song: “Could This Be The End of the Hiding” by The Contact – used with permission.  Purchase the song in iTunes…

The Essentials of Church Communications

Episode Run Time: 31:40
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What are the essential elements of effective church marketing and communications?  Your challenge as a church leader is to craft your church’s story and to communicate it clearly.

In this episode (available in audio MP3 above and in video below), David talks with Tim Peters of Resolute Creative.  Tim works with ministries to help them do church communications and marketing better.  He and his team have developed a resource called Sayge to educate leaders on the basics of effective communication. Listen to David and Tim discuss some of these 12 Essentials of Church Communications.

Show Notes:

• Comments: Send comments to David@MinistryStory.com
• Podcast Host: David Tonen
• Podcast Guest: Tim Peters (Twitter)
• Sayge: The 12 Essentials of Church Communications (blog post)
• Sayge: Sign Up today for your free trial!
• Resolute Creative: Website
• Podcast Theme Song: “Could This Be The End of the Hiding” by The Contact – used with permission.  Purchase the song in iTunes…

Branding and Positioning for Churches

Episode Run Time: 30:17
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What makes your church different?  As a church leader, is your team self-aware enough to understand how to position your ministry within your community so that your uniqueness stands out?  In this episode, David talks with Mark MacDonald, the Creative Director for PinPoint Creative Group and they define brand positioning and discuss how a church should manage the process of positioning so that they can more effectively connect with people in their community.

Show Notes:

• Comments: Send comments to David@MinistryStory.com
• Podcast Host: David Tonen
• Podcast Guest: Mark MacDonald (Twitter)
• PinPoint Creative Group: Website
• Podcast Theme Song: “Could This Be The End of the Hiding” by The Contact – used with permission.  Purchase the song in iTunes…

Keys to Effective Church Event Marketing: Adam Fry

Episode Run Time: 33:39
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Many churches and ministries plan great outreach events – concerts, conferences, seminars, community gatherings, special speakers, and special services. Often church leaders are challenged by the process of effective marketing, promotion, and communication of the event.  In this episode Adam Fry, the founder and co-director of Create Conference, a creative communications conference for Canadian church leaders shares his experiences of promoting a large Christian event.

If you want to learn how you can more effectively promote your next church event you will gain valuable insights from this conversation between David and Adam.

Show Notes:

• Comments: Send comments to David@MinistryStory.com
• Podcast Host: David Tonen
• Podcast Guest: Adam Fry (Twitter)
• Create Conference: Website
• Podcast Theme Song: “Could This Be The End of the Hiding” by The Contact – used with permission.  Purchase the song in iTunes…

Reverse-Networking: A Conversation with Matt Whitman

Episode Run Time: 26:58

Have you ever wondered how you and your church can better connect with the community of people that live in your neighbourhood?  Matt Whitman is the most-effective guy I know in connecting with people – but he doesn’t “network” in the way you might expect.  He has created the concept of Reverse-Networking.  In this episode Matt will help you discover how to implement reverse networking, use business cards, and leverage Facebook to connect with people more effectively and represent Jesus with excellence.

Show Notes:

Podcast Host: David Tonen
Episode #21 Guest: Matt Whitman

Defining Church Marketing: A Conversation with Ralph Poupart

Episode Run Time: 36:28

Most church leaders struggle to clearly define and understand what marketing is in the context of church ministry.  In fact, “marketing” is often a dirty word in church circles when in reality it is a critical concept to be understood and implemented in order for churches to communicate effectively and reach their communities.  In this episode, David and Ralph define what church marketing is and they talk about the importance of a church having a strategy to their marketing process so they can have maximum impact with their outreach.

Podcast Show Notes:

Host: David Tonen

Episode Guest: Ralph Poupart

Church Marketing Definition Blog Post

A Conversation with Jerod Clark of Church Juice

Episode Run Time: 20:42

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Do you want to practically take your church communications a few steps forward in a very short time? In today’s conversation, Jerod discusses three things that you as a church leader can implement to make your church communications more effective in the next 3-months.

Show Notes:

MinistryStory Host: David Tonen

Podcast Guest: Jerod Clark, Church Juice

Resource Whitepaper: Low Hanging Fruit: 6 Things You Can Easily Accomplish in the Next 3 Months

Church Juice: Website, Facebook, Twitter

A Conversation with Steve Fogg, Scott Overpeck, Dave Ingland, and DJ Chuang

Episode Run Time: 35:49

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I had the opportunity to attend the Cultivate 2011 Conference in Huntington Beach, California on May 4th and 5th. On the last day of the conference there was a Tweet-up at a nearby Starbucks and there I recorded a conversation with these four guys. This podcast is a little less structured than they usually are. There was no preset topic. The conversation just flowed. We touched on church marketing budgets, church signs, the challenge around self-promotion, and leveraging traditional news media for promotion.

I know you will gain some valuable insights from the collective insights. Note:  This podcast is a little noisier than normal because of the hum of a busy Starbucks.

Show Notes:

• Podcast Comments: please send your comments to David@MinistryStory.com
• Ministry Story Podcast Host: David Tonen
• Podcast Guest: Steve Fogg, @SteveFogg
• Podcast Guest: Dave Ingland, @daveingland
• Podcast Guest: DJ Chuang, @gjchuang
• Podcast Guest: Scott Overpeck, @soverpeck
• MinistryStory Podcast Theme Song: “Could This Be The End of the Hiding” by The Contact – used with permission.  Purchase the song in iTunes…

Since the day I started recording these Ministry Story church marketing and communications podcasts in January, 2011 – this is the personal episode I have been anxiously witing to share with you.  Let me tell you the amazing story of how God re-arranged my life so that I could serve him, serve churches, and church leaders through MinistryStory.com.

Show Notes:

• Please send your comments to David@MinistryStory.com
• Host: David Tonen
• MinistryStory.com – Church marketing, communication, and technology services for churches.
• Podcast Intro and Exit Theme Song: “Could This Be The End of the Hiding” by The Contact – used with permission.  Purchase this MP3 in iTunes…

A Conversation with Randy Vaughn of The Marketing Twins

Episode Run Time: 29:13

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MinistryStory Episode 16 is a conversation on Facebook for churches and ministries with Randy Vaughn.  Randy and his brother Donny are The Marketing Twins in Dallas Texas and they help small businesses and ministries to use marketing and social media tools to communicate with greater excellence.  Today, Randy shares some of his thoughts on where a church should start with Facebook and how this social media platform can be used to build community outside of your church walls so your ministry can have a stronger online presence.

Show Notes:

• Please send your comments to David@MinistryStory.com
• Host: David Tonen
• Podcast Guest: Randy Vaughn
• The Marketing Twins
• Theme Song: “Could This Be The End of the Hiding” by The Contact – used with permission.  Purchase this MP3 in iTunes…

Show Notes:

• Comments: please send your comments to David@MinistryStory.com
• Ministry Story Host: David Tonen
• Podcast Theme Song: “Could This Be The End of the Hiding” by The Contact – used with permission.  Purchase the song in iTunes…

A Conversation on Web Publishing With Chris Cree

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Ministry Story Episode 14 is a conversation on web publishing for churches and ministries with Chris Cree.  Chris is the founder of Emmanuel Press, a new website service that helps churches, ministries, and missionaries.   David and Chris talk about the importance of churches leveraging technology to communicate the ministry they are doing – specifically, the power of church websites built on the WordPress platform.

Show Notes:

• Podcast Comments: please send your comments to David@MinistryStory.com
• Ministry Story Podcast Host: David Tonen
• Podcast Guest: Chris Cree
• Emmanuel Press
• MinistryStory Podcast Theme Song: “Could This Be The End of the Hiding” by The Contact – used with permission.  Purchase the song in iTunes…

A Conversation on Church Branding With Kerry Bural

Episode Run Time: 21:16

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Episode 13 is the second part of a conversation on church branding with Kerry Bural, The Founder and Principal at The Resonate Group. Kerry will help your church draw the line between his definition of branding in episode 12 to the elements or marketing collateral that most people associate with branding. Kerry compels churches to focus on clarity:

“Clarity rules – it is the magic stuff out of which emerges your understanding of what it will take to move your ministry forward.”

Show Notes:

• Podcast Comments: please send your comments to David@MinistryStory.com
• Ministry Story Podcast Host: David Tonen
• Podcast Guest: Kerry Bural, Twitter: @KerryBural
• Resonate or Die Blog
• MinistryStory Podcast Theme Song: “Could This Be The End of the Hiding” by The Contact – used with permission.  Purchase the song in iTunes…

A Conversation With Kerry Bural

Episode Run Time: 23:09

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Episode 12 is the first of a two-part conversation on church branding with Kerry Bural, The Founder and Principal at The Resonate Group. Kerry clearly defines what branding is – that it is all about connecting with people.  Kerry feels very strongly about resonance and shares how churches must realize that every decision they make is a brand decision.

Show Notes:

• Podcast Comments: please send you comments to David@MinistryStory.com
• Ministry Story Podcast Host: David Tonen
• Podcast Guest: Kerry Bural, Twitter: @KerryBural
• The Resonate or Die Blog
• Podcast Theme Song: “Could This Be The End of the Hiding” by The Contact – used with permission.  Purchase the song in iTunes…

Part 2 Conversation With Anthony Coppedge

Episode Run Time: 18:39

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Episode 11 is the conclusion of a two-part conversation David has with Anthony Coppedge, Director of Communications at Fellowship Technologies in Dallas, Texas.  Anthony talks about the importance of delivering on your message, the value of excellence, consistency, training volunteers, and  how to “have a heart” in your ministry .

If you did not listen to part one you can get Episode 10 here…

Show Notes:

• Comments: please send comments to David@MinistryStory.com
• Ministry Story Podcast Host: David Tonen
• Episode Guest: Anthony  Coppedge, @AnthonyCoppedge
• Anthony’s blog post: The Disney Experience at Church
• Podcast Theme Song: “Could This Be The End of the Hiding” by The Contact – used with permission.  Purchase the song in iTunes…

A Conversation With Anthony Coppedge, Part 1

Episode 10

Episode Run Time: 20:09

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Episode 10 is part one of a two-part conversation David has with Anthony Coppedge, Director of Communications at Fellowship Technologies.  Disney is well known for providing an unparalleled experience for their customers.  Can a church do the same for their visitors and attendees?  Anthony shares his Disney experiences and offers helpful insights on what churches can do to connect with people in their communities.

Show Notes:

• Comments: Send comments to David@MinistryStory.com
• Podcast Host: David Tonen
• Podcast Guest: Anthony  Coppedge, @AnthonyCoppedge
• Anthony’s blog post: The Disney Experience at Church
• David mentioned video testimonials his church in Halifax made – you can find them here…
• Podcast Theme Song: “Could This Be The End of the Hiding” by The Contact – used with permission.  Purchase the song in iTunes…

Who Are You and What’s Your Church Voice?

Episode Run Time: 19:45

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In podcast episode 9, David Tonen shares some thoughts on the value of the content on your church website.  The story you tell about who you are as a church, what makes your ministry unique, and what voice you speak with, are often overlooked elements in the development of a church website.  Learn why these critical elements are important and how they will help you communicate your church story more effectively.

Show Notes:

• Comments: Send comments to David@MinistryStory.com
• Podcast Host: David Tonen
• David mentions Content Rules, a new book by Ann Handley and C.C. Chapman: Book Website
• Podcast Theme Song: “Could This Be The End of the Hiding” by The Contact – used with permission.  Purchase the song in iTunes…

A Conversation with Mark MacDonald

Run Time: 29:05

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Mark MacDonald is the Creative Director at PinPoint Creative Group.  Mark defines what branding is in a way that any church leader can clearly understand.  We also discuss the importance of defining target markets and demographics so churches can focus their ministry resources effectively.  Get a fresh perspective on the importance of branding your church for maximum outreach!

Show Notes:

• Comments: Send comments to David@MinistryStory.com
• Podcast Host: David Tonen
• Podcast Guest: Mark MacDonald (Twitter)
• PinPoint Creative: Website
• Podcast Theme Song: “Could This Be The End of the Hiding” by The Contact – used with permission.  Purchase the song in iTunes…

A Conversation with Adam Fry from the Create Conference

Run Time: 30:47

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Adam Fry is the Associate Pastor of Creative Communications at Central Community Church in St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada and one of the organizers of the Create Conference.  Create is a creative communications conference designed specifically for Canadian church leaders.  We discuss the differences in church culture between Canada and the US and Adam provides details on what the conference desires to accomplish to equip leaders to better communicate the best story ever – the story of Jesus.

Show Notes:

• Comments: Send comments to David@MinistryStory.com
• Podcast Host: David Tonen
• Podcast Guest: Adam Fry (Twitter)
• Create Conference: Website
• Kent Shaffer’s Church Conference List 2011
• Podcast Theme Song: “Could This Be The End of the Hiding” by The Contact – used with permission.  Purchase the song in iTunes…

Top 5 Reasons for Using WordPress For You Church Website

Run Time: 24:07

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David Tonen explains the five marketing reasons why a church website should be built on a content management system and specifically WordPress.

Show Notes:

• Comments: Send comments to David@MinistryStory.com
• Podcast Host: David Tonen
• Ministry Story Theme Song: “Could This Be The End of the Hiding” by The Contact – song used with permission.  Purchase the song in iTunes…

Podcast #5 Run Time: 16:50

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Guy Richards is the Founder and CEO of Abiah, a Christian branding agency.  He shares his testimony and some insights from his new book Talkable.  I met Guy recently at a conference and we connected right away as two “marketing guys” who have a real heart beat to help churches communicate better.  In this episode you’ll discover some ways to make your church more talkable.  One of the most powerful forms of marketing is word-of-mouth.  Learn how to leverage talkability!

Show Notes:

• Comments: Send comments to David@MinistryStory.com
• Podcast Host: David Tonen
• Episode #5 Guest: Guy Richards
• Talkable Book: Get your copy here…
• Ministry Story Theme Song: “Could This Be The End of the Hiding” by The Contact – song used with permission.  Purchase the song in iTunes…

Subscribe in i-Tunes (click here…)

Greg shares some of the insights he has gained from churches who hire him to assess their ministry through the eyes of a first-time guest.  He will provide you with some excellent things to think about and effective strategies you can implement in your church to make the first-time visitor’s experience a positive one.  We discuss the church environment, sensory elements, church websites, and mobile strategies for churches – all of which are elements of church marketing strategy and the way you communicate your ministry story.

Show Notes:

• Comments: Please send questions, comments, audio MP3 comments, or suggestions to David@MinistryStory.com or leave a comment in the comments section on MinistryStory.com…
• Podcast Host: David Tonen
• Episode Guest: Greg Atkinson
• Greg’s Secret Church Shopper Service: WorshipImpressions.com
• Church marketing and communication blog: NavigateYourMarketing.com
• Ministry Story Theme Song: “Could This Be The End of the Hiding” by The Contact – song used with permission.  Purchase the song in iTunes…

Branding Faith, a Conversation with Phil Cooke:

Episode Run Time: 25 minutes, 25 seconds

Subscribe in iTunes (click here…)

This is the “official launch” episode of the Ministry Story Podcast. Today’s podcast is a featured interview with Phil Cooke, of Cooke Pictures in Burbank, California.

Phil has helped some of the largest non-profit organizations in the world navigate the recrafting of their brands.

We discuss the difference between marketing and branding, the mistakes churches make in the media, and the importance of social media, technology, and design for churches to who want connect in relevant ways with our culture.

His book: “Branding Faith: Why Some Churches and Non-Profits Impact the Culture and Others Don’t” is changing the way non-profit and religious organizations use the media to tell their story. I recommend it as an excellent resource for pastors and church leaders who want fresh insights on how to tell their story in a more compelling and relevant way.

• Comments: Please send questions, comments, audio MP3 comments, or suggestions to David@MinistryStory.com or leave a comment in the comments section on MinistryStory.com…
• Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Podcast Host: David Tonen
• Episode Guest: Phil Cooke
• David is on the leadership team of a church in Halifax, NS. LifeBridge Community Church.
• Church marketing and communication blog: NavigateYourMarketing.com
• Ministry Story Theme Song: “Could This Be The End of the Hiding” by The Contact – song used with permission.
• Purchase the song in iTunes…