Well if not, you’re in for a treat. Blimey Cow puts together quite the amount of videos on their YouTube channel, but anyone who is familiar with Christian worship songs should get a kick out of this particular video.

Some of Blimey Cow’s suggestions to write a worship song include:

1. Your song needs to rhyme. And Hallelujah rhymes with hallelujah
2. Something should always be on fire in your song. That could be your heart or even an entire generation.
3. If you’re writing a song for the youth, don’t forget the “Woahs”

Watch the video here:

How to Write a Worship Song in 5 Minutes

Did you also know that the USPS has a similar issue?

Since d2design works a lot in direct mail, we’ve heard of mail being lost or simply not delivered by the USPS. Large quantity mailers are rarely lost or not delivered to residents, but we’ve heard rumors of such things happening.

Because of this, we wanted to fill our readers in on the risk taken when doing any type of marketing, but in particular we wanted to address the risk of the USPS possibly losing a direct mail marketing order.

As a direct mail service provider, d2design will print the cards, label them, sort them onto trays and deliver them directly the the Post Office in the area. After that, the post office should have the cards delivered to homes within 5-7 days. Almost every time (I’d go as far to say 99.9% of the time) this is the case and there is no issue.

But what if you suspect your postcards were never delivered to residents? What can be done then?

As much as we wish the USPS was easier to work with in these situations, they just aren’t. The USPS handles millions upon millions of mail pieces a year and simply can’t track it all. After the cards are delivered to the post office there is no more tracking of the order available. So trying to recover or find your mailer after that point is almost impossible.

Again, this rarely happens and when it does there are a couple things you can do:

1. Get together some of the addresses that reported never getting the mailer. Once you have these, give them to your direct mail service provider so they can cross reference them against the mailing list. Maybe the cards did go out, but some carrier routes were excluded  because of their location or other reasons.

2. Confirm the shipment of your cards to the post office. Every time a large delivery is made to the post office, there is an appointment date for the delivery and that post office will sign for the delivery. If you can confirm the delivery you can know where the cards ended up and then ask the post office if they are still there or if they were delivered.

Even with the risk mentioned above, I still believe direct mail marketing is a cost efficient and effective way to get the word out about your church to the community. You can actually read more about why direct mail is such a great marketing tool here. But I also think it is good to address risks that go along with marketing.

So just like when you check your bag at the airport you risk losing it, when we ship thousands of cards to a post office there is a risk of losing some as well. Lucky for anyone who uses direct mail, this happens way less with the USPS than it does with airlines

How did you and your wife know church planting was your calling?

We’ve known each other since I was 12, and I knew by age 16 that I wanted to plant a church. So from a very young age, Sarah and I were on the same page about our future together.

Why Annapolis?

We were serving at New Life Christian Church in Virginia, which is known for helping plant churches; we went there specifically to learn how to plant. From there, we connected with churches in the Baltimore area. Only 15% of people in our county go to church on a regular basis (once a month on average). The county has over 500,000 people in it. A lot of people in this area are just “over” church right now. Because of this, we felt led to start a church here.

What does Revolution do to make an impact on the surrounding community? How are you making church relevant again?

We spend a lot of time serving our city and inviting our community to serve with us. We want to show the mission of Jesus to people through service. We pack meals to send to people locally and abroad. We’re currently working on 285,000 meals to send out internationally.

Because of this, we earn the right to talk to people about Jesus. Jesus spent his time serving people, and people in our community can resonate with that. I like the quote, ”Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.” That is how we see ministry.

Are you a part of a church planting network? How has that helped?

We partner with Stadia and the Orchard Group, and they’ve helped us with the legal work and all of the project management. They have been amazing. Also, these networks are a community, so we have made friendships and relationships as well. Talking to planters from all different stages really was beneficial for us.

What was the most difficult part about moving to plant a church?

We were a parachute plant (The church planter moves into a community having little to no existing relationships and begins to build a team to plant a church), so the hardest part for us was moving to a context where we knew no one. We had to get to know people and start the church from nothing. We only had one other person come with us to plant the church. I kept thinking, “Will anyone show up on the first day we meet?” I had to completely trust the Lord to help us meet people and grow relationships.

What has the Lord taught you through this process?

I learned to pray. I think a lot of church planters don’t pray enough or don’t make time for prayer. It’s easy to get busy with tasks, but learning how to pray and seek the Lord’s will is top priority. I learned to ask God instead of just doing what I wanted.

Also, churches working together resembles the church in John 17, so we need to be open to partnering with other churches and pastors in our city. The church is much bigger than we think it is.

Let’s say a future church planter came to you for advice. What is one thing you would warn against and one thing you would encourage him to do?

Warning: Don’t plant a church because you think it’s sexy or because you’re mad at your current church. Don’t plant a church unless God calls you to do so. The beginning of a church shouldn’t be rooted in pride or anger.

Advice: Do a residency. Then, when you’ve gotten your church started, grow up church planters and send them out in a healthy way so that the church is always multiplying. We are currently in the process of sending out Scott Ancarrow, who is planting The Foundry in Baltimore.

As a way to raise revenue, the USPS now offers a program called “Every Door Direct Mail” (EDDM). They have advertised EDDM as an easy-to-use, saturated direct mail option.

I’ll be honest— there are some benefits to EDDM. Their mapping tool is fantastic and allows anyone looking into direct mail a very clear way to choose their targeted mailing area. And for anyone who has never done direct mail before, then it makes sense to trust the USPS to handle it. Correct?

Well, this is where I beg to differ. I’ve done some research about EDDM and made a list of reasons why you should avoid it:

1. You have to bundle your postcards into groups of 50. So for a 5,000-piece mailer, that’s a lot of bundling.

2. You can’t mail more than 5,000 cards. I find this odd, as the point of direct mail is to saturate an area, and limiting the amount of cards really limits your mailing options and response.

3. The lowest postage rate EDDM offers is $.145 per card. If you partner with a direct mail service such as d2design to do your mailer, we can get your postage rate as low as $.072 with a bulk mail permit.

4. You get to deliver your own bundled cards to the post office. No offense to the USPS, but I spent 45 minutes in line at the post office recently, and there were only three people in front of me. By using a direct mail service, you can skip this step altogether.

5. There are multiple forms you are responsible for printing, filling out, and bringing to the post office. I read over the EDDM guide, and there is little-to-no instruction on how to fill out these forms.

6. They don’t offer a printing service. This means you will either have to go to another company to print your cards to the USPS specifications, or do it all yourself.

7. You can’t target any type of demographics. The only option to mail with EDDM is 100% saturated. Usually, a fully saturated list is fine, but it is always nice to have the option of targeting select demographics.

This is just what I found from a few hours of research. When deciding who to use for direct mail, I’ll always encourage a church to do their own research as well. However, direct mail can seem complicated, so if you have any questions about full-service direct mail, please e-mail me.

Our team here at d2design talks to many pastors each week about our print marketing services. Almost daily, we get a response from a pastor or staff member that is something along the lines of: “We don’t believe in church marketing.”

So, what exactly is church marketing? Why do some churches love it and others despise even the idea of it?

To help, I’ve come up with a definition and explanation:

Church marketing is a way to get the word out about a church to the community, and churches of all denominations and sizes use it. Examples of church marketing include, but are not limited to: direct mail, social media, TV ads, radio ads, billboards, banners, and Web sites.

Church marketing IS NOT marketing or twisting the Gospel to make it appealing to the unchurched.

I think some churches don’t like the term “church marketing” because they have seen a growth in seeker-sensitive churches using it to make themselves more appealing to the community. Some might assume that these churches are more interested in growing their attendance rather than growing and multiplying disciples.

Before we assume that churches who use marketing are out for the money and numbers-only growth, let’s take a look our current culture. People love marketing. People response to marketing. If used correctly, marketing is a great way to spread the word about pretty much anything. Specifically for a church, you have the potential to reach people who might just be too shy to walk through your doors to ask questions.

Yes, church marketing can be used selfishly, but at its core, it’s a useful tool for churches of all sizes to reach out to their community. Used wisely, churches can communicate who they are to complete strangers without offending them or invading their personal space.

What is church marketing to you? Does your church resist any type of marketing? Or does your church use marketing avenues as well?

This data isn’t just interesting; it is extremely useful for future church planters who are searching out places to plant their church.

Some things to take note of from Forbes article

• All of the fastest growing cities are also experiencing high growth in the children’s population (20% growth or more)
• The fast growing cities have lower housing costs than “cool” cities such a NYC or Boston
• The fast growing cities also have a low density urban core
• Slow growing cities lag behind in family formation
• Slow growing cities are also attracting less and less foreign-born residents

Top 5 Fastest Growing Cities

Raleigh, NC
2012 population: 1,188,564
Growth since 2000: 47.8%
Growth since 2011: 2.2%

Austin, TX
2012 population: 1,834,303
Growth since 2000: 44.9%
Growth since 2011: 3.0%

Las Vegas, NV
2012 population: 2,000,759
Growth since 2000: 43.6%
Growth since 2011: 1.7%

Orlando, FL
2012 population: 2,223,674

Growth since 2000: 34.2%
Growth since 2011: 2.2%

Charlotte, NC-SC
2012 population: 2,296,569
Growth since 2000: 32.8%
Growth since 2011: 1.7%

5 Slowest-Growing Cities

Cleveland, Ohio
2012 population: 2,063,535
Contraction since 2000: -3.9%
Contraction since 2011: -0.2%

Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI
2012 population: 4,292,060
Contraction since 2000: -3.7%
Growth since 2011: 0.1%

Buffalo, NY
2012 population: 1,134,210
Contraction since 2000: -3.0%
Contraction since 2011: -0.1%

Pittsburgh, PA
2012 population: 2,360,733
Contraction since 2000: -2.8%
Growth since 2011: 0.0%

Providence, RI-MA
2012 population: 1,601,374
Growth since 2000: 0.9%
Growth since 2011: 0.1%

Even though these last five cities aren’t growing, we can’t forget that there are un-churched people who reside there as well. And wherever there are un-churched people, we as a church should equip church planters to reach them.

Pass this data on, and let’s pray for church plants all over the U.S.

View the complete list here

Georgia will be working closely with churches helping them understand their marketing options with d2design. The great thing about her is not only does she have a background in marketing and sales, but she also loves Jesus. She is ready to work with churches to help them bring more people through their doors, so they can minister to more and more people in the community.

For all of you Alabama fans out there, Georgia graduated from the University of Alabama in 2011 with a degree in advertising. Since graduating she has worked as an Account Executive for a top TV station in Birmingham, AL. And, not only is she starting a new job this week, but she is also planning for her June wedding. No big deal or anything…

So join us in welcoming Georgia to d2design. We are very blessed to have her with us.

So, you’re from the Chicago area. How long did it take you and your wife to be on the same page about planting a church and moving south?

Ten years. When I was 27, I felt like God was telling me to start a church. I was in youth ministry at the time and started praying about planting a church, but we weren’t ready then. Over the next five years, we continued to pray, but the answer was still ”not yet.” Then it became apparent to both of us that it was time to move forward with planting a church. During all of this, there were moments that I was 100% ready and my wife wasn’t, but by April 2009 we both were ready to start the process.

What brought your family then to Jackson, Tennessee?

It’s a two-tiered thing. I grew up in a metro area and always have seen the value in reaching the city, but my wife didn’t necessarily think that way. We did ministry out in Ohio, and that taught us that there are a lot of smaller areas that need churches. It seems that not a lot of people are paying attention to small towns when it comes to ministry and church planting.

Also, Stadia was already networking in Jackson, TN, and after connecting, we knew we wanted to work with them to plant a church.

Speaking of Stadia, how have they helped you along this church-planting journey?

I would say it is almost foolish to plant a church alone because church planting networks are so valuable. Stadia is like a managing partner. They were already at work raising money for this church plant before we were even here. Knowing there were already people in Jackson excited about a church plant here was a huge help. The project management and coaching Stadia provided really helped us make wise decisions as we navigated through the first few months. After the plant, the spousal support through Bloom  (Bloom provides inspiration, encouragement and resources for planters’ spouses so they can provide the same to their families, staffs and churches.) was immeasurably valuable—this was actually a big piece of the puzzle.

What was the most difficult part about moving to plant a church?

It was trying to leave behind so many key relationships. Moving away from people you love can be very difficult and lonely, and this is just another reason why Stadia has been so important to us. The fund-raising (and leveraging people in your life to help) is also a challenge.

What does Journey Church do to make an impact on the surrounding community?

We don’t “do” anything that reaches our community; it’s who we are that draws people in. We really want to be a church that helps people take the next step toward Jesus. If this means we have to try something ridiculous, easy, or helpful, we will do it to help someone take their next step.

What has the Lord taught you through this process?

God cares more about the people you are wanting to reach than you do, and He wants us to use the resources He gives us. To not use these resources is selfish.

Let’s say a future church planter came to you for advice. What is one thing you would warn against and one thing you would encourage him to do?

Church planting is a magnet for people who think they know everything. People will want to come in and grab power or build their own theological culture. They may come to you with things you need—money, influence etc. Fight the temptation to allow people who are over-anxious to engage.

I would always encourage a planter to never plant alone. I can’t say this enough. Having help is key, and not having help just means that it’s a matter of time until you fail.

Do you ever feel like social media has taken over your life as well?

So recently–like 3 hours ago–I realized it may be time for me to take a break from social media. Not to be as dramatic as Miley Cyrus is when she shuts down her accounts, but to just take some time away from the computer.

Here are 10 reasons why you might want to consider a break from social media:

1. You don’t have time to be in the Word, but you have time to read Twitter.

2. You get annoyed reading posts of people bragging about their lives.

3. Someone says something funny in a conversation, and your first thought is, “I need to Tweet that.”

4. Your pastor says something compelling in church and instead of applying it to your life, you make it your Facebook status.

5. You are tired of updating people about your life via 140 characters.

6. You only know what is going on with your friends because you saw it on social media.

7. You check Instagram five times an hour, even though no one is posting new pictures.

8. When you get in bed, instead of resting, you turn on your iPad to skim through Twitter one more time.

9. You post pictures of what you read during your quiet time on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. (Matthew 6, anyone?)

10. Your spouse asks you a question, and you are clueless about how to respond because you were distracted by what you were reading on your phone.

And just for a bonus round, you should probably take a break from social media if you attended the Pope’s election and watched it through your smart device’s screen:

Just some food for thought. Now, I am going to post this blog on social media. Oh, the irony.

Recently, we’ve had several church planters approach us about direct mail marketing. Even better, they’ve come back to us with stories of how successful the mailers have been. For example:

“We had great response to the mailer, at least 50 people that came due to the mailer. Awesome! We had 140 in attendance. 3 salvations and 1 baptism.”

Hearing things like that from our clients is the main reason I love doing what I do.

So, exactly why is direct mail marketing a great idea for church plants? Let’s take a look:

1. It works.

Response rates will always vary, but direct mail response rates usually hang out around 4-5%. Compare that to responses to e-mail marketing, which tend to be less than 1%.

2. It’s proven.

Large companies like Time Warner, Disney, and Bank of America all trust and use direct mail in their marketing campaigns. It works for churches as well as secular companies.

3. It transcends age demographics.

According to Forbes magazine, 18-to-34 year-olds prefer to learn about companies, products, and promotions through direct mail rather than online.  Also, I don’t see older generations responding well to online marketing; most people like something that is familiar. Direct mail reaches everyone.

4. It’s affordable.

Okay, this might be the point at which you roll your eyes. But direct mail is done in the masses. So, if you can market to more than 50,000 households for only $.16/house, that is affordable! Let’s say you spend $8,000 on a mailer to 50,000 residents. Maybe 100 people show up from the mailer and out of those visitors, two families join the church. If they become tithing members, you have paid for the mailing and added families to your church’s community. Not a bad deal, right?

5. It’s simple.

I can’t speak for other direct mail companies, but I can speak for the staff here at d2design. We allow clients to work closely with our account executives and production team to pick out the perfect card and target areas. And you can have your direct mailer set up in just a few steps. Seriously.

I’ve seen first-hand the great responses from our clients. If you are a church planter or pastor, I would encourage you to look into direct mail and how it may work for your church.

Since you’re a Christian and are active in your local church, you decide to join a ministry that is attempting to share the Gospel with kids in this area. The first night you show up to help, there are three helpers and 75 children. As the weeks go by, more people start giving their time. After eight months of investing your time and money, you see a few kids give their life to Christ and you form relationships with many who come every week.

And then you get the bad news–the program has been canceled. The churches who partner together for this outreach in the city no longer see eye-to-eye, and your church has decided to focus on different ministry opportunities in the area.

So, after months of exhausting Wednesday nights with 75 children, it’s over. Just like that. You’ll probably never see the kids who you formed relationships with again.

As you’ve probably guessed by now, this isn’t a made-up story, but exactly what happened to me this past year. And I felt like the ministry I was a part of failed. We failed the kids and the community we were trying to reach.

But did we?

“so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
 - Isaiah 55:11

So if you feel like you are a part of a failing ministry, or have experienced something similar, here are some truths the Lord has shown me as I walked through this experience:

1. I will never “save” anyone.
My words won’t save anyone; it’s the work that Christ has done and will do in that person’s life.

2. We are simply commanded to go.
When Jesus gave us the Great Commission, He told us to go and tell people about Him. He didn’t command us to have success in the inner city. All we have to do, as followers of Christ, is be willing to go out and tell people about Him.

3. God’s word will never return void.
So I may never see the kids I worked with ever again. But I know that the Scripture we taught them and the prayers we prayed for them are not meaningless. The Lord put us in that place, at that time, for a reason. I choose to believe that God is bigger than our short time in the city, and the lessons that the kids learned will be on their hearts as they grow older.

4. God doesn’t fail.
This is a truth we should all know and believe in. Outsiders looking in may think that our group failed. I may even look back and feel like we failed. But, if I believe this, then I am doubting that God is at work in that community. Who am I to think that God can’t work there even after our part is complete?

What things has the Lord shown you after a “failed” ministry?

So, as we “share” a Christian holiday with our non-believing neighbors, I was reminded of three ways to use Easter as a platform to reach the lost.

1. Invite Friends to Church (duh).

We’ve all heard the statistics: 82% of unchurched people are likely to attend church if invited. We’ve also been told that only 2% of church members actually invite unchurched friends or family. Yeah, if they are accurate, those are awful statistics. Easter is a time to change that. Let’s just try to be bold and trust that the Lord has already been preparing hearts; all we have to do is approach them and put our confidence in the God we proclaim to follow.

2. Go One Step Further.

There have been times when just my parents and I ate Easter lunch together. We have a large family, but they’re spread out across the country. One Easter, members from our church invited us to join them for their Easter dinner, and it was such a good feeling to be surrounded by friends.

You may not have noticed, but America is a lonely place, and I can guarantee you that people you know will be spending Easter alone and away from family. Don’t just invite someone to church; ask them over for lunch afterward. You can’t build relationships sitting on a pew in silence. Invite them to be a part of your life as well.

3. Thread the Gospel into your Conversations.

When you have the opportunity to talk to your neighbors or co-workers about their Easter plans, weave the Gospel into your conversations. Most, if not all, Americans who celebrate Easter know it has its roots in Christianity. As you talk about Easter, be prepared to share what Easter means to you and your family opposed to what it means in our American culture. If your friend took up your invitation for church or lunch, speak naturally about the Lord and what He has done in your life. It’s not a time for religious arguments, but an open door to speak candidly about the resurrected Christ.

I’m sure that there are a lot of cooler ideas out there. Maybe hosting community Easter egg hunts or putting on a fun play at the church. But these are the basics and a great place to start.

What are you doing to make Easter a platform to reach the unchurched?

The church is the hope of the world. As church leaders we have the responsibility of communicating the greatest message known to mankind; the only message capable of changing a person’s entire eternity.

The weight of that responsibility is both profound and incredible. It moves us to action and demands that we communicate it well.

Yet oftentimes, churches have a difficult time communicating this message because they don’t understand the basics of church marketing and communications.

Think about it … Is your church clear on who they are and where they are going? Does your church use social media to nurture and grow relationships? Has your church spent unhurried time developing a brand that resonates with people in your church and community? Does your website accurately communicate the uniqueness of your church? Have you evaluated and observed what guests experience on a Sunday morning? Does your community even know you exist?

These things may not seem significant, but they are critical. In fact, they are essential.

At Sayge, we have spent years researching and identifying the 12 Essentials to Church Communications and have developed a resource that equips Church Communications leaders to master them.

The 12 Essentials Church Marketing and Communications are:
Vision Identification

Vision Identification is clarifying who you are, what you do, why you do it and where you are going.

Brand Standards
Brand Standards are the compilation of documents where articulate your key communication messages, establish a visual identity and explore ways to protect your brand.

Communication Strategy
Your communication strategy helps you determine what, when and how you will communicate.

Project Systems
Andy Stanley says, “The systems down the hall trump the vision on the wall.” If you don’t have systems in place, standards and strategy mean absolutely nothing.

Social Media
Learning to use social media to reach the lost and to extend the influence of the church isn’t just a good idea; it’s a must.

Web Essentials
Today’s church visitors will most certainly check out your church on the Internet before they attend for the first time. Your website should be a web experience, not just a website.

Guest Experience
Your first time guest experience is critical to guests returning to your church, and possibly to any church.

Audience Connection
Ever been disconnected on the phone but not realize it until you have finished speaking?  Then you understand the importance of making sure you are connected to your audience.

Volunteer Mobilization
You have an army of creatively gifted people who attend your church every week. Learning to recruit, train and mobilize them will catapult your communications ministry to levels you never dreamed possible.

Creative Leadership
Creative people are not easy to lead and motivate.  Understanding how to lead creative people, and those in authority over you who lack creativity is critical.

External Marketing
Most churches make the same marketing mistakes: the message is not unique; the content is not inviting; and there’s no long-term strategy in place. If that description fits your church’s marketing, it’s time to make some changes.

Storytelling Principles
At the end of the day, stories move people.  Effective storytelling is always more effective than just another event announcement.
The good news is, you don’t need hours of research, big budgets and countless cups of coffee to master The Essentials of Church Communications. The Sayge monthly training resource replaces the hours of research you’ll spend looking for great marketing and communication resources. And it contains the wisdom of some of the greatest church communication leaders in our nation today.
Each month you will receive a coaching video, comprehensive eBook, and hands-on application tools to help you master the 12 Essentials of Church Communications; and all at a price that won’t break or even stretch your budget.

Check out Sayge if you’re ready to master the basics of Church Communications.

So, are church bulletins relevant? Should churches just use digital bulletins or no form of bulletin at all?

I’ve come up with four reasons why we still think bulletins are a great resource for the church:

1. Bulletins aren’t a distraction

I’ve visited a church or two that used digital rather than printed bulletins. You could download the bulletin from the Web site and view it on your iPad or phone. This is a cool idea, and it saves paper, money and time. It is also a great way for the church to incorporate new technology to attract a niche audience.

However, a glowing smart device can be a distraction for others in the congregation. Also, smart phones and iPads can be a distraction to the user. A paper bulletin won’t notify you of a new tweet, text, or e-mail while you take notes on it. Digital devices used in place on old-fashioned note-taking can really get your mind off of the message.

2. Bulletins communicate clearly

Bulletins, more than Web sites, are a great resource for communicating important details about weekly events and announcements without someone having to search for the information.

Don’t get me wrong; I 100% support churches having Web sites. But for a visitor, simply taking a bulletin and immediately reading about church news and activities is just more feasible.  It is also a great way to communicate who your church is and what your church cares about without someone ever having to go online.

3. Bulletins are Inexpensive

Churches have taken a big hit during the recession. When incomes go down, so do tithes. Churches have to find ways to tighten up spending, so bulletins might be one of the first things to go.

Bulletins are inexpensive, whether you purchase them through us, through another company, or print them internally. What other tool can you use to inform people of events in the church, gather a new visitor’s information, and supply sermon notes for just pennies each? I can’t think of one. But, please, if you have another resource, let us know in the comments section.

4. Bulletins are convenient

Bulletins are convenient for the church because they are an affordable marketing piece that is placed into the hands of new visitors and members each week. Yes, some people will just throw their bulletins away, but others will store them in a notebook or their Bible. Every time they see those bulletins, they will be reminded of your church.

Bulletins are also convenient for visitors and members. Some people prefer handwritten notes. And some prefer reading announcements on a hard copy, so having a bulletin and a Web site allows those from different backgrounds to choose how they gather information.

Where does your church stand on bulletins? What other options are out there? Please feel free to discuss in the comments section.

Good Life Church – Bradenton, FL

When I was looking for churches to talk to about Christmas ministries, Jason Smith from Good Life church came to mind almost immediately. All of us at d2design enjoy working with Jason and love his heart for the Lord. Jason and his congregation from Good Life served in a few different ways this year:

• Hosted a dinner at a local school: Good Life church supported and staffed a dinner at the school they meet in on Sundays. They provided food for 400 students and family members, which allowed the church to meet families, connect with them on a personal level, and reflect Christ to them by serving them.
• Adopted a local family: The church identified a local family in need of help, and helped them have Christmas by collecting monetary donations.
• Served in “Pride Park”: Pride Park is known for its gang violence–not really the typical place people want to go to serve. Jason and his team went to this area and painted over a fence that had been marked by multiple gang signs. When people would drive or walk by, they’d ask Jason and his team why they were doing it. This gave the church an open door to serve this community and point them to Christ.

Belle Meade UMC – Nashville, TN

d2design enjoyed working with Kristin from Belle Meade this year on a Christmas mailer, and I asked her about her church’s Christmas ministry. I’m just going to be honest: Belle Meade UMC has got it going on when it comes to Christmas ministries. To keep this blog a readable length, though, I’m just going to share three of their projects with you:

• White Christmas – Adopt a Family: Belle Meade UMC partnered with local ministries who help domestic violence victims. The entire congregation came together and adopted victims by providing Christmas gifts for them and their families.
• Community Care Fellowship: The Fellowship is a local homeless shelter. Belle Meade provided more than 20 turkeys, plus pies and sides, to feed the people staying at the shelter. Many of the church members volunteered to work the event, and even more were able to participate by dropping off donations. As Kristin spoke about this ministry, I couldn’t help but think of the book of James, and how this church is putting works behind their faith.
• Christmas Caroling: Belle Meade’s youth group leads caroling to shut-ins and homebound residents and church members. This is a simple and free idea that any church could do (and I know many churches who do) and bring joy to the community.

 Immanuel Lutheran Church, Mount Pleasant, MI

I heard about this church via Twitter (Thank you @erikteichmann). I was reading over the church’s Christmas outreach page and decided I wanted to give them a call to learn more. Andrea from Immanuel Lutheran was able to fill me in on their Christmas Outreach program.

• The community came together 33 years ago to combine efforts. So now schools, churches, the local college, The Salvation Army, and businesses all work together to take care of the community’s needs.
• Items such as toys, linens, food, and clothing are donated and a makeshift shop is set up. Families are able to come to the shop and pick out items they need for no charge.
• This year alone, 699 families (more than 2,000 people) were helped.
• One of my favorite parts of this program is that you can donate all year. And you don’t even have to be a member of the church. They have set up a site for online donations.

I can only imagine how many more churches came together this year to help their communities out and to share the Gospel during the Christmas season. Please share your stories below.

Oh, and Merry Christmas from all of us at d2design!

Velocity – 2013 from ChurchPlanters.com
Date: February 18-19
Location: Mountain Lake Church, Cumming, GA
Cost: $89
Over 42 speakers already set up for 2013′s conference. Main sessions combined with break-out sessions give church planters the opportunity to learn more about areas of the ministry they feel called to. Don’t miss this conference. Register here

VERGE
Date: March 1- 2
Location:   The Moody Theater , Austin, TX:
Cost: $129+
VERGE is a 2-day experience for church leaders, students, entrepreneurs, artists, urban innovators, business leaders, community development specialists, non-profit leaders, church planters and everyday leaders – anyone pursuing the mission of God, in community, whatever the context, for the sake of the Gospel. Register here.

Anglican 1000 Church Planting Summit 2013
Date: March 4-6
Location: Church of the Resurrection, Wheaton, IL
Cost: $100 – $200
Anglican 1000 is helping Anglicans across the continent, jurisdictions, and ministry partnerships to raise up congregations and communities of faith through encouraging, networking, and resourcing everyone who is part of this exciting missional movement. Featured speakers include Alan Hirsch, Darrin Patrick, and Joel Scandrett. Register here

Converge Worldwide Ignite 2013
Date: March 5-7
Location: Cornerstone Chandler, Chandler, AZ
Cost: $79-$99
Converge will bring together hundreds of church planting leaders from throughout our movement to SURGE toward our collective faith dream of at least 351 churches planted by the end of 2015.  Register here

All Access Conference
Date: April 15-18
Location: Celebration Church, Jacksonville, FL
Cost: $79
The All Access Conference grew from a desire to connect church leaders, encourage church planters and champion the cause of Christ. As friends and partners in ministry we build the Kingdom and start life-giving churches. The sessions will inspire you, encourage your staff and give you practical tips to take home. The low registration cost makes it possible to bring your whole team to share the experience. Register here

Exponential 2013: Disciple Shift
Date: April 22-25
Location: First Baptist Church, Orlando, FL
Cost: $179+
Over 5,000 church planting leaders will gather in Orlando this spring to be inspired and equipped to take their next step in church planting. Exponential 2013 will include over 125 National Leaders including Craig Groeschel, Wayne Cordeiro, Francis Chan and more.  Register here

The Sticks Church Planting Conference
Date: Various dates. Starting in February.
Location: Various locations: Arkansas, Texas, Arizona and South Carolina
Cost: $66+ – Learn more here

What about you? Which conferences will you be attending? What conferences have we missed?

However, Christmas is about the gift of eternal life that God gave us through his son, Jesus. That is something to be joyful about.

As Christians, we can share this story with others, and we can also obey Christ’s commands to give to the less fortunate. Christmas is the perfect time to do both of these.

So, before it is too late, let’s take time to give to a good cause or two this Christmas. I’ve done some research on where to donate and here are six avenues that I think are at least worth considering:

1. Compassion -  If you’re not ready for the long-term commitment of sponsoring a child, Compassion has a gift catalog you can shop from. You can donate drinking water, livestock, and medical supplies to areas that need it. Also, Compassion is a Christian organization, and you can trust that they will use your donation with integrity.

2. The Salvation Army -  Talk about a good and faithful organization that has been helping people for years. And you don’t just have to give money, but can donate furniture, clothing, and household items. Their mission statement validates their work: ”The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.”

3. Your Church’s Global Missions Fund - Does your church still participate in the Lottie Moon offering? Do they have a fund set up just for local or global missions? This is such an easy way to give to the cause of spreading the Gospel, and you don’t even have to look any further than your local place of worship.

4. Local Homeless Shelter – Here in Birmingham, we have the Jimmie Hale Mission, an organization that does great things for our area’s homeless. They are also very up front in saying that they exist to meet both physical and spiritual needs. When I research shelters to donate to, I love finding ones that are also active in sharing the Gospel. Do some research on your own city’s shelters.

5. Adopt-a-Family or a Senior Citizen - Local agencies, along with larger agencies like The Salvation Army, can help you find a family or a senior citizen who doesn’t have the means to celebrate Christmas this year. And it’s a great opportunity to take your own family shopping, and let everyone pick out something to give. It is a way to share life-long lessons with your kids about giving to those in need.

6. Toy Drive for Hurricane Sandy Victims - Americans are great at rallying around areas who have been affected by natural disasters. Time after time, we can look back and see how we’ve taken care of each other.  Although Hurricane Sandy has left the headlines, it left behind a trail of disaster. You can help by donating toys via this link, or you can even donate through the Salvation Army.

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:7

1. Be Strategic

Most churches send out between 5,000 and 10,000 postcards when they do a Christmas mailer. That is a lot of households. Before you pull the trigger, make sure you and your team have picked out areas you want to make sure are included in the mailing. Ask the company you are working with for a map of the area so you can point out which areas must be included. When you do any type of mailer, not just Christmas, you are able to pick from zip codes, radius or even down to the carrier routes you want to mail to. Its OK to be picky when it comes to this. You want to saturate the area your church has been focusing on and can continue to follow up in the future.

2. Have a design and content plan

Are you wanting to use your own design? Have a company design a card for you? Or would you rather work off of a template? These are all great options, but depending on the skill-set of your team, you will have to decide which design option is best for your church.

Also, make sure you price out all options for the size of your card. It has been proven that churches or companies who use over-sized direct mail cards see a better response from residents.

It doesn’t just stop at picking out a design. Want do you want the card to say? What message are you wanting to deliver to your community? Remember, keep it short and sweet but don’t leave out important details like location and times of events or services.

If the details on the card on confusing, its a good probability you won’t see much response from the mailing.

3. Have realistic expectations

There are conflicting reports out there about the average response from a direct mail campaign. Marketers still agree that direct mail has higher response rate over email campaigns (3.4% vs .12%). Even so, this response rate is not even close to what is was 9 years ago. I tell all my churches to expect a 1-2% response rate, but not to be surprised if you only see .5%. I say this because people respond differently to direct mail depending on demographics of a community. A response for residents in a large city will be lower than a response from residents in a suburb.

4. Be Ready to Follow Up

So the cards have gone out and the events your church promoted are drawing near. Is your team ready to welcome new faces on the day of the event? Don’t just send out a card and hope for the best. Be prepared to make new visitors feel right at home and comfortable at your church. Remember, a direct mail card may get a new visitor to your church, but it is up to your team to turn them into a member.