Hey, it’s Brady,

I need to get something off my chest about church.

Disclaimer: this is highly specific and niche. But, it is my job - here's the thing: I die a little inside every time a church talks about an event and ends it with: "Signup on the Church Center App."

Because...let me show you what it takes to do that.

The point I'm making is this - there are a lot of steps.

Now, I'm not suggesting you don't use Planning Center. I'm not about to propose some alternative tool. This is just a communications lesson.

I want you to think of a hospital. With hundreds of rooms for different needs and doctors. But when you arrive at the emergency room what happens? You always go to triage first. Then you get directed to your ultimate final spot.

Our church comms should operate in the same way. One destination for every event that’s easy to find.

My recommendation?

Take your existing website, like churchname.com and get another URL, churchname.info. Use that for every announcement. Have people land on a simple page like this:

We all go to triage first and then if their specific need takes them to Church Center, great!

If you do this with consistency over time, your congregation will instinctually know where to go every time they want to take a next step. And more people will get involved.

The language you use becomes the culture you build.

The more you announce, the less they listen. But every ministry you turn down walks away feeling like their event doesn't matter.

Today, we'll unpack the weekly bulletin - one place where everything gets seen without stealing a second of Sunday.

See the new bulletin here.

Thanks as always for your time, attention, and trust. Talk to you next Thursday. - Brady Shearer