The Power of Telling Your Church's Unique Story | Interview with James Blount

[Music] [Music] well today on the podcast i have james well today on the podcast i have james well today on the podcast i have james blount blount blount james is the communication director for james is the communication director for james is the communication director for burnt hickory baptist church it's a burnt hickory baptist church it's a burnt hickory baptist church it's a really large church really large church really large church outside of the atlanta area and today outside of the atlanta area and today outside of the atlanta area and today we're talking about we're talking about we're talking about all kinds of cool things from what all kinds of cool things from what all kinds of cool things from what they're doing in terms of creating a they're doing in terms of creating a they're doing in terms of creating a digital ministry to digital ministry to digital ministry to how to have a conversation with your how to have a conversation with your how to have a conversation with your leadership team and leadership team and leadership team and leading in this space and so there's a leading in this space and so there's a leading in this space and so there's a lot of good fruit that you're gonna lot of good fruit that you're gonna lot of good fruit that you're gonna gain from our podcast today hope you gain from our podcast today hope you gain from our podcast today hope you enjoy well hey i'm here with james james enjoy well hey i'm here with james james enjoy well hey i'm here with james james thanks for uh thanks for uh thanks for uh joining me today jason man it's it's joining me today jason man it's it's joining me today jason man it's it's fantastic too fantastic too fantastic too to be able to hang out with you and talk to be able to hang out with you and talk to be able to hang out with you and talk a little bit about uh a little bit about uh a little bit about uh what you guys got going on and things what you guys got going on and things what you guys got going on and things that we're doing and um that we're doing and um that we're doing and um it's it's it's really cool to be able to it's it's it's really cool to be able to it's it's it's really cool to be able to learn and hear learn and hear learn and hear from from other churches that's we spend from from other churches that's we spend from from other churches that's we spend a whole lot of time uh a whole lot of time uh a whole lot of time uh asking and seeking and trying to learn asking and seeking and trying to learn asking and seeking and trying to learn not just you know to not just you know to not just you know to steal ideas but to make us better um so steal ideas but to make us better um so steal ideas but to make us better um so one of the things we one of the things we one of the things we we focus on is we know our our vision we focus on is we know our our vision we focus on is we know our our vision may not be the same may not be the same may not be the same as another church but their their as another church but their their as another church but their their approach and approach and approach and mindset and tools that they're using or mindset and tools that they're using or mindset and tools that they're using or are something that we can take are something that we can take are something that we can take inspiration from so man i inspiration from so man i inspiration from so man i appreciate the opportunity yeah yeah you appreciate the opportunity yeah yeah you appreciate the opportunity yeah yeah you bet well bet well bet well so so just give me a quick recap of all so so just give me a quick recap of all so so just give me a quick recap of all the you're the director of communication the you're the director of communication the you're the director of communication so what are all the things that you get so what are all the things that you get so what are all the things that you get to oversee and do at burnt hickory to oversee and do at burnt hickory to oversee and do at burnt hickory oh man well i i kind of see my role oh man well i i kind of see my role oh man well i i kind of see my role as being like our our brand champion as being like our our brand champion as being like our our brand champion uh so i try to help uh craft

uh so i try to help uh craft uh so i try to help uh craft our identity that god's given us into our identity that god's given us into our identity that god's given us into the written form the written form the written form into videos and to storytelling into into videos and to storytelling into into videos and to storytelling into social media social media social media and then i'm always preaching back to and then i'm always preaching back to and then i'm always preaching back to our staff and our staff and our staff and and and in through that to our people and and in through that to our people and and in through that to our people back back back the vision that god has given us through the vision that god has given us through the vision that god has given us through our pastor our pastor our pastor and um like it's it's a lot of fun to be and um like it's it's a lot of fun to be and um like it's it's a lot of fun to be able to able to able to uh to explore a lot of different arenas uh to explore a lot of different arenas uh to explore a lot of different arenas of creativity um of creativity um of creativity um so write our digital worship guide which so write our digital worship guide which so write our digital worship guide which is the is the is the the covid replacement for the bulletin the covid replacement for the bulletin the covid replacement for the bulletin uh and i have a graphic designer uh and i have a graphic designer uh and i have a graphic designer actually that helps us design all the actually that helps us design all the actually that helps us design all the parts to it um parts to it um parts to it um but my one of my favorite things i get but my one of my favorite things i get but my one of my favorite things i get to do is i get to uh to do is i get to uh to do is i get to uh help produce our sunday morning live help produce our sunday morning live help produce our sunday morning live worship experience in worship experience in worship experience in one of our services uh and then also get one of our services uh and then also get one of our services uh and then also get to to to to shoot amazing stories just about to shoot amazing stories just about to shoot amazing stories just about every week every week every week uh where we're finding out ways that uh where we're finding out ways that uh where we're finding out ways that that we as a church are living out that we as a church are living out that we as a church are living out our our vision of bringing hope to our our vision of bringing hope to our our vision of bringing hope to people so that's that's one of my people so that's that's one of my people so that's that's one of my favorite things when you favorite things when you favorite things when you get sit down and start shooting a video get sit down and start shooting a video get sit down and start shooting a video and then the person like relays this and then the person like relays this and then the person like relays this heavy heavy heavy really cool uh aspect of what they're really cool uh aspect of what they're really cool uh aspect of what they're they're going through and it it just they're going through and it it just they're going through and it it just hits you and you have like this hits you and you have like this hits you and you have like this emotional emotional emotional explosion and i start crying and they explosion and i start crying and they explosion and i start crying and they start crying and you know it's start crying and you know it's start crying and you know it's i i love i still can't believe i get to i i love i still can't believe i get to i i love i still can't believe i get to do this for a living i do this for a living i do this for a living i love uh being able to to proclaim the

love uh being able to to proclaim the love uh being able to to proclaim the gospel through gospel through gospel through creativity here well you know you creativity here well you know you creativity here well you know you mentioned storytelling and mentioned storytelling and mentioned storytelling and and and i want to have you talk a little and and i want to have you talk a little and and i want to have you talk a little about the room you're sitting about the room you're sitting about the room you're sitting in and why you guys created this room in and why you guys created this room in and why you guys created this room but storytelling but storytelling but storytelling is is an amazing uh tool is is an amazing uh tool is is an amazing uh tool not only to encourage and motivate your not only to encourage and motivate your not only to encourage and motivate your congregation congregation congregation but boy it can do some really cool but boy it can do some really cool but boy it can do some really cool things to connect with people that are things to connect with people that are things to connect with people that are outside outside outside the church who do not have a the church who do not have a the church who do not have a relationship with jesus therefore they relationship with jesus therefore they relationship with jesus therefore they probably don't have a whole lot of hope probably don't have a whole lot of hope probably don't have a whole lot of hope you know into what they could become you know into what they could become you know into what they could become what god has in store for them and so what god has in store for them and so what god has in store for them and so then it makes it more of a challenge for then it makes it more of a challenge for then it makes it more of a challenge for them to go you know i just i don't know them to go you know i just i don't know them to go you know i just i don't know but then if they see this story of a but then if they see this story of a but then if they see this story of a changed life changed life changed life because of what god has done through because of what god has done through because of what god has done through your church your church your church that should give people motivation hope that should give people motivation hope that should give people motivation hope outside the church walls and so using outside the church walls and so using outside the church walls and so using stories to share it with stories to share it with stories to share it with unchurched people it's got to be a unchurched people it's got to be a unchurched people it's got to be a really focal point for you guys huh really focal point for you guys huh really focal point for you guys huh it it really is it's it's um we've it it really is it's it's um we've it it really is it's it's um we've realized that that's realized that that's realized that that's that's really the most one of our that's really the most one of our that's really the most one of our most important tools that we use in most important tools that we use in most important tools that we use in communicating communicating communicating uh to our church both to us internally uh to our church both to us internally uh to our church both to us internally church church church as well as uh the community that we live as well as uh the community that we live as well as uh the community that we live in in in is through that idea of creative is through that idea of creative is through that idea of creative storytelling and they're not my goal in in capturing one of these is my goal in in capturing one of these is always always always to showcase what what is the life change to showcase what what is the life change to showcase what what is the life change that happened that happened that happened in this situation um and and you're in this situation um and and you're in this situation um and and you're right it's right it's right it's it's it's it's really cool to be able to

it's it's it's really cool to be able to it's it's it's really cool to be able to show show show somebody finding hope in christ somebody finding hope in christ somebody finding hope in christ through the storm that they're in and through the storm that they're in and through the storm that they're in and people people people uh watching it and engaging with it and uh watching it and engaging with it and uh watching it and engaging with it and and realizing that that person is and realizing that that person is and realizing that that person is is just like me i'm i'm emotionally is just like me i'm i'm emotionally is just like me i'm i'm emotionally going through going through going through some of these same things or i'm some of these same things or i'm some of these same things or i'm physically going through these same physically going through these same physically going through these same things and things and things and and to be able to find hope and healing and to be able to find hope and healing and to be able to find hope and healing in the same way um that that person did in the same way um that that person did in the same way um that that person did that's it's really powerful to watch that's it's really powerful to watch that's it's really powerful to watch yeah yeah and and we we started talking yeah yeah and and we we started talking yeah yeah and and we we started talking before before before we got into this podcast a little bit we got into this podcast a little bit we got into this podcast a little bit about this idea of churches about this idea of churches about this idea of churches kind of going all in with digital and kind of going all in with digital and kind of going all in with digital and really getting leadership really getting leadership really getting leadership the leadership team on board right and the leadership team on board right and the leadership team on board right and covered covered covered totally caused that to be put on totally caused that to be put on totally caused that to be put on steroids in a good way steroids in a good way steroids in a good way right so yes everybody's being focused right so yes everybody's being focused right so yes everybody's being focused like that and you're sitting in a room like that and you're sitting in a room like that and you're sitting in a room right now that's pretty much a result of right now that's pretty much a result of right now that's pretty much a result of of the last you know eight months or so of the last you know eight months or so of the last you know eight months or so talk to us a little bit about talk to us a little bit about talk to us a little bit about what you've been doing yeah so it's kind what you've been doing yeah so it's kind what you've been doing yeah so it's kind of crazy like uh of crazy like uh of crazy like uh covert would really i i you know it's covert would really i i you know it's covert would really i i you know it's kind of cliche i hear a lot of a lot of kind of cliche i hear a lot of a lot of kind of cliche i hear a lot of a lot of leaders say this but leaders say this but leaders say this but has really been one of the greatest has really been one of the greatest has really been one of the greatest opportunities uh opportunities uh opportunities uh for the church to regather for the church to regather for the church to regather and refocus back on what its vision is and refocus back on what its vision is and refocus back on what its vision is because the things that they measure because the things that they measure because the things that they measure success by success by success by uh a lot of those things have been the uh a lot of those things have been the uh a lot of those things have been the carpet's been pulled out from under you carpet's been pulled out from under you carpet's been pulled out from under you you know so you've got to rethink you know so you've got to rethink you know so you've got to rethink what what does uh a person

what what does uh a person what what does uh a person engaging really mean and it looks engaging really mean and it looks engaging really mean and it looks totally different totally different totally different now than it did six months ago and so uh now than it did six months ago and so uh now than it did six months ago and so uh one of the things when i first came to one of the things when i first came to one of the things when i first came to burn hickory two years ago in the burn hickory two years ago in the burn hickory two years ago in the in the back of my mind i knew i wanted in the back of my mind i knew i wanted in the back of my mind i knew i wanted to take our to take our to take our our live stream video experience and our live stream video experience and our live stream video experience and really turn that into really turn that into really turn that into uh an additional service venue so we uh an additional service venue so we uh an additional service venue so we really wanted to treat it as really wanted to treat it as really wanted to treat it as a group of people that that gather and a group of people that that gather and a group of people that that gather and worship with us worship with us worship with us they just do it remotely not in the room they just do it remotely not in the room they just do it remotely not in the room and uh and so i always dreamed of this and uh and so i always dreamed of this and uh and so i always dreamed of this online pastor online pastor online pastor role that would really like champion role that would really like champion role that would really like champion this audience this audience this audience to the rest of the staff and and to be to the rest of the staff and and to be to the rest of the staff and and to be able to able to able to interact and engage with them separately interact and engage with them separately interact and engage with them separately you know because you have these you know because you have these you know because you have these announcements that are specific to announcements that are specific to announcements that are specific to to people in the room but we also want to people in the room but we also want to people in the room but we also want people to go through people to go through people to go through our next steps process but it may look our next steps process but it may look our next steps process but it may look totally different totally different totally different you know having somebody uh pray with a you know having somebody uh pray with a you know having somebody uh pray with a with a pastor in in the room about with a pastor in in the room about with a pastor in in the room about accepting christ is totally different accepting christ is totally different accepting christ is totally different than if somebody has a question online than if somebody has a question online than if somebody has a question online yeah and uh and so i dreamed about this yeah and uh and so i dreamed about this yeah and uh and so i dreamed about this this person this person this person in in my mind and then uh and then covet in in my mind and then uh and then covet in in my mind and then uh and then covet hit hit hit and uh it all of a sudden became real to and uh it all of a sudden became real to and uh it all of a sudden became real to all of us we realized oh this is this is all of us we realized oh this is this is all of us we realized oh this is this is something this is where we're headed something this is where we're headed something this is where we're headed this is this is this is this is the type of new thinking this is the type of new thinking this is the type of new thinking that we need to participate in uh to that we need to participate in uh to that we need to participate in uh to really really really allow us to be able to shepherd and lead allow us to be able to shepherd and lead allow us to be able to shepherd and lead people people people uh like god has called us to just in a uh like god has called us to just in a uh like god has called us to just in a in a totally different arena

in a totally different arena in a totally different arena and so i'm sitting in the online pastor and so i'm sitting in the online pastor and so i'm sitting in the online pastor suite which we're suite which we're suite which we're still in the middle of construction of still in the middle of construction of still in the middle of construction of uh uh uh we we had started updating our video we we had started updating our video we we had started updating our video suite suite suite gear and production room construction gear and production room construction gear and production room construction all kinds of stuff uh in january and we all kinds of stuff uh in january and we all kinds of stuff uh in january and we were in the middle of building were in the middle of building were in the middle of building the suite when all of this happened and the suite when all of this happened and the suite when all of this happened and so we kind of went so we kind of went so we kind of went all right let's let's take all the all all right let's let's take all the all all right let's let's take all the all the old equipment we'd pulled out the old equipment we'd pulled out the old equipment we'd pulled out uh we were we were trying to think like uh we were we were trying to think like uh we were we were trying to think like how can we bless another how can we bless another how can we bless another organization and then we quickly organization and then we quickly organization and then we quickly realized um like we're gonna need to realized um like we're gonna need to realized um like we're gonna need to stream stream stream both of our services uh style so we have both of our services uh style so we have both of our services uh style so we have a classic and a modern a classic and a modern a classic and a modern style uh worship service so we actually style uh worship service so we actually style uh worship service so we actually took all of that equipment out and put took all of that equipment out and put took all of that equipment out and put it in our second it in our second it in our second uh venue across the hall because we uh venue across the hall because we uh venue across the hall because we realized we have to start streaming that realized we have to start streaming that realized we have to start streaming that so so so you know that that doubled our our uh you know that that doubled our our uh you know that that doubled our our uh production production production but we knew uh this this there's a lot but we knew uh this this there's a lot but we knew uh this this there's a lot a lot of people that worship with us and a lot of people that worship with us and a lot of people that worship with us and that's their love language their heart that's their love language their heart that's their love language their heart language is language is language is is more classic style worship and so is more classic style worship and so is more classic style worship and so we're like we've got to accommodate that we're like we've got to accommodate that we're like we've got to accommodate that group of people they're group of people they're group of people they're they they want to worship with us too we they they want to worship with us too we they they want to worship with us too we don't want to leave them behind don't want to leave them behind don't want to leave them behind right so we we basically doubled our our right so we we basically doubled our our right so we we basically doubled our our video production suite video production suite video production suite we built this this particular room right we built this this particular room right we built this this particular room right here a little small here a little small here a little small uh 10 by 12 room that will actually be uh 10 by 12 room that will actually be uh 10 by 12 room that will actually be able to cut away able to cut away able to cut away live to an online host and be able to live to an online host and be able to live to an online host and be able to interact interact interact answer questions take people through our answer questions take people through our answer questions take people through our our next steps process

our next steps process our next steps process uh while they're online um uh while they're online um uh while they're online um and and digital churches digital church for us is not it's not digital church for us is not it's not the end result the end result the end result it's like um it's like if you it's like um it's like if you it's like um it's like if you if you met a person you're dating on if you met a person you're dating on if you met a person you're dating on facebook or facebook or facebook or online uh you don't want to meet their online uh you don't want to meet their online uh you don't want to meet their parents over zoom and you can't you parents over zoom and you can't you parents over zoom and you can't you can't have dinner can't have dinner can't have dinner uh through through facebook story uh through through facebook story uh through through facebook story um you want you want to meet in person um you want you want to meet in person um you want you want to meet in person like that's the goal like that's the goal like that's the goal so our digital is is yes it's so our digital is is yes it's so our digital is is yes it's it's we're trying to engage people as it's we're trying to engage people as it's we're trying to engage people as much as we can much as we can much as we can uh but eventually we're trying to to get uh but eventually we're trying to to get uh but eventually we're trying to to get them to them to them to to come and and be in person with us to come and and be in person with us to come and and be in person with us maybe not in a full maybe not in a full maybe not in a full worship service but in our in inner life worship service but in our in inner life worship service but in our in inner life groups which is where our groups which is where our groups which is where our our actual mission of the church is our actual mission of the church is our actual mission of the church is carried out carried out carried out on a weekly basis yeah so it sounds it on a weekly basis yeah so it sounds it on a weekly basis yeah so it sounds it sounds like sounds like sounds like you guys are wanting to obviously go you guys are wanting to obviously go you guys are wanting to obviously go deeper into online deeper into online deeper into online as an on board perhaps in person or at as an on board perhaps in person or at as an on board perhaps in person or at least least least if they're far away far away they could if they're far away far away they could if they're far away far away they could find a local local body to connect with find a local local body to connect with find a local local body to connect with yeah yeah digital has been great for us yeah yeah digital has been great for us yeah yeah digital has been great for us to to to to keep our our people engaged to keep our our people engaged to keep our our people engaged engage new people um engage new people um engage new people um and i still think it's it's an extremely

and i still think it's it's an extremely and i still think it's it's an extremely powerful part of powerful part of powerful part of of how we're going to continue of how we're going to continue of how we're going to continue proclaiming the gospel yeah proclaiming the gospel yeah proclaiming the gospel yeah um but yeah man it's we've we've we have um but yeah man it's we've we've we have um but yeah man it's we've we've we have really really really missed people being able to interact in missed people being able to interact in missed people being able to interact in in personal relationship which we we've in personal relationship which we we've in personal relationship which we we've slowly slowly slowly been able to accommodate back we're been able to accommodate back we're been able to accommodate back we're we're now we're now we're now doing uh three on-site services with doing uh three on-site services with doing uh three on-site services with very limited seating because we're very limited seating because we're very limited seating because we're trying to maintain you know the social trying to maintain you know the social trying to maintain you know the social distancing distancing distancing aspect of that uh that that's been aspect of that uh that that's been aspect of that uh that that's been really exciting so really exciting so really exciting so we have a rsvp system uh that people we have a rsvp system uh that people we have a rsvp system uh that people have been able to have been able to have been able to reserve their seat uh ahead of time and reserve their seat uh ahead of time and reserve their seat uh ahead of time and come join us to make sure we're not come join us to make sure we're not come join us to make sure we're not you know overfilling a space you know overfilling a space you know overfilling a space and it's it's been really refreshing to and it's it's been really refreshing to and it's it's been really refreshing to see see see uh people that have not been able to uh people that have not been able to uh people that have not been able to worship together worship together worship together with their church family in months to with their church family in months to with their church family in months to see them see them see them come in and participate in has been it's come in and participate in has been it's come in and participate in has been it's been a lot of fun been a lot of fun been a lot of fun yeah so uh what yeah so uh what yeah so uh what are some things that you've learned in are some things that you've learned in are some things that you've learned in this kind of in this season where this kind of in this season where this kind of in this season where you're uh you know you're trying to you're uh you know you're trying to you're uh you know you're trying to um get better at this digital thing or um get better at this digital thing or um get better at this digital thing or at least at least at least i kind of i kind of look at the fact i kind of i kind of look at the fact i kind of i kind of look at the fact that you know when covet broke it that you know when covet broke it that you know when covet broke it it caused every church to have to go it caused every church to have to go it caused every church to have to go online which is great and and you guys online which is great and and you guys online which is great and and you guys like many many other churches like many many other churches like many many other churches really upped your game with creating really upped your game with creating really upped your game with creating the service as almost like an episode the service as almost like an episode the service as almost like an episode and now that when you start to get back and now that when you start to get back and now that when you start to get back to in person

to in person to in person what's that look like for you guys and what's that look like for you guys and what's that look like for you guys and what have you what are some takeaways what have you what are some takeaways what have you what are some takeaways that you've learned on what to do what that you've learned on what to do what that you've learned on what to do what not to do not to do not to do as a communication director and how you as a communication director and how you as a communication director and how you know how are you going to get more know how are you going to get more know how are you going to get more people back people back people back into seats um yeah so it's into seats um yeah so it's into seats um yeah so it's it's a it's an interesting conundrum to it's a it's an interesting conundrum to it's a it's an interesting conundrum to be able be able be able to to try to push a lot of to to try to push a lot of to to try to push a lot of excitement around having in excitement around having in excitement around having in in room capability to be able to worship in room capability to be able to worship in room capability to be able to worship but in that same time we don't want to but in that same time we don't want to but in that same time we don't want to leave people leave people leave people behind who don't feel safe congregating behind who don't feel safe congregating behind who don't feel safe congregating or for people like you mentioned earlier or for people like you mentioned earlier or for people like you mentioned earlier that live a little further away that live a little further away that live a little further away yeah we we don't want to abandon them as yeah we we don't want to abandon them as yeah we we don't want to abandon them as soon as we start soon as we start soon as we start uh having services back in the room so uh having services back in the room so uh having services back in the room so one of our things has really been one of our things has really been one of our things has really been um has been as a staff looking at um has been as a staff looking at um has been as a staff looking at every single part of ministry that we do every single part of ministry that we do every single part of ministry that we do how how can we adapt those things and how how can we adapt those things and how how can we adapt those things and help each other help each other help each other across the table be able to keep people across the table be able to keep people across the table be able to keep people engaged engaged engaged when you don't have that one-on-one when you don't have that one-on-one when you don't have that one-on-one relationship in person uh so everything relationship in person uh so everything relationship in person uh so everything from from from from missions like missions looks from missions like missions looks from missions like missions looks totally different right now totally different right now totally different right now uh because you you can't get on a plane uh because you you can't get on a plane uh because you you can't get on a plane in five in five in five you know fly to kenya you've got to get you know fly to kenya you've got to get you know fly to kenya you've got to get to think through to think through to think through how can i still support um how can i still support um how can i still support um and and love people with without being and and love people with without being and and love people with without being able to to go able to to go able to to go um in you know

um in you know um in you know men's ministry women's ministry men's ministry women's ministry men's ministry women's ministry children's students they they've all had children's students they they've all had children's students they they've all had to adapt to adapt to adapt and change like students they came up and change like students they came up and change like students they came up with a great um with a great um with a great um digital parent guide uh for parents to digital parent guide uh for parents to digital parent guide uh for parents to be able to like be able to like be able to like remember and know what what their remember and know what what their remember and know what what their students are learning students are learning students are learning in in their worship services and groups in in their worship services and groups in in their worship services and groups uh and then it has like a daily reminder uh and then it has like a daily reminder uh and then it has like a daily reminder uh on the phone that'll that'll pop up uh on the phone that'll that'll pop up uh on the phone that'll that'll pop up and tell them hey here's the things that and tell them hey here's the things that and tell them hey here's the things that that we were discussing here's something that we were discussing here's something that we were discussing here's something you can discuss over dinner tonight with you can discuss over dinner tonight with you can discuss over dinner tonight with your kids your kids your kids so little things like that we we've so little things like that we we've so little things like that we we've we've seen we've seen we've seen how we can we can keep connected with how we can we can keep connected with how we can we can keep connected with people people people and and everyone has had to learn how to and and everyone has had to learn how to and and everyone has had to learn how to adapt and change adapt and change adapt and change everybody has become digital experts everybody has become digital experts everybody has become digital experts on our entire staff over the past couple on our entire staff over the past couple on our entire staff over the past couple of months and that's a that's a good of months and that's a that's a good of months and that's a that's a good thing right thing right thing right yes very very much so it's it's helped yes very very much so it's it's helped yes very very much so it's it's helped us grow us grow us grow uh substantially and understanding uh uh substantially and understanding uh uh substantially and understanding uh that we can we can look so much further that we can we can look so much further that we can we can look so much further than than than what we were at continuing to carry out what we were at continuing to carry out what we were at continuing to carry out our vision that god has given us our vision that god has given us our vision that god has given us yeah so so speak to some of the of the yeah so so speak to some of the of the yeah so so speak to some of the of the initiatives initiatives initiatives um that you guys are going to be staring um that you guys are going to be staring um that you guys are going to be staring at over the next season at over the next season at over the next season uh as we as we get into you know the uh as we as we get into you know the uh as we as we get into you know the last quarter we're in the last quarter last quarter we're in the last quarter last quarter we're in the last quarter of the year and of the year and of the year and into 2021 uh into 2021 uh into 2021 uh what's some of the things that you guys what's some of the things that you guys what's some of the things that you guys are focused on are focused on are focused on um really it's been a uh it's been an

um really it's been a uh it's been an um really it's been a uh it's been an interesting interesting interesting um transition watching um transition watching um transition watching uh let me start over with that one uh let me start over with that one uh let me start over with that one um um um things that i think i'm i'm looking things that i think i'm i'm looking things that i think i'm i'm looking forward to forward to forward to uh or are watching a lot of our staff be uh or are watching a lot of our staff be uh or are watching a lot of our staff be able to adjust able to adjust able to adjust the things that they used to rely on as the things that they used to rely on as the things that they used to rely on as as in as in as in person events uh finding new ways to person events uh finding new ways to person events uh finding new ways to to create virtual events and also be to create virtual events and also be to create virtual events and also be able to take uh things that we used to able to take uh things that we used to able to take uh things that we used to to congregate here in a large group how to congregate here in a large group how to congregate here in a large group how can we split that up can we split that up can we split that up and be able to do those smaller and be able to do those smaller and be able to do those smaller in more remote places so our in more remote places so our in more remote places so our life groups are a little bit different life groups are a little bit different life groups are a little bit different than a lot of churches than a lot of churches than a lot of churches models are are we we love that our models are are we we love that our models are are we we love that our groups are groups are groups are a little bit bigger they're more like a little bit bigger they're more like a little bit bigger they're more like typical sunday school typical sunday school typical sunday school uh groups because they're uh groups because they're uh groups because they're they're able to be big enough to dare to they're able to be big enough to dare to they're able to be big enough to dare to be able to do big be able to do big be able to do big goal you know accomplish big goals goal you know accomplish big goals goal you know accomplish big goals and so they've had to learn how to and so they've had to learn how to and so they've had to learn how to become become become hybrid uh and so they have some hybrid uh and so they have some hybrid uh and so they have some some meeting in person and some online some meeting in person and some online some meeting in person and some online at the same time so we're at the same time so we're at the same time so we're one of the big initiatives for us right one of the big initiatives for us right one of the big initiatives for us right now is to to be able to come alongside now is to to be able to come alongside now is to to be able to come alongside those groups with technology those groups with technology those groups with technology and accommodate them so that they can and accommodate them so that they can and accommodate them so that they can have

have have people watching in the zoom lesson as people watching in the zoom lesson as people watching in the zoom lesson as well as people participating right there well as people participating right there well as people participating right there and them all be able to like interact and them all be able to like interact and them all be able to like interact with each other at the same time with each other at the same time with each other at the same time so that that's a big one updating a lot so that that's a big one updating a lot so that that's a big one updating a lot of tech of tech of tech gear around the building to be able to gear around the building to be able to gear around the building to be able to help ministry to help ministry to help ministry to happen remotely and happen remotely and happen remotely and uh in person at the same time yeah uh in person at the same time yeah uh in person at the same time yeah yeah yeah i mean i think that's yeah yeah yeah i mean i think that's yeah yeah yeah i mean i think that's yeah you're kind of forcing that in that you're kind of forcing that in that you're kind of forcing that in that that direction right uh which is a good that direction right uh which is a good that direction right uh which is a good thing thing thing there's probably some sacred cows that there's probably some sacred cows that there's probably some sacred cows that you guys are going yeah we can get rid you guys are going yeah we can get rid you guys are going yeah we can get rid of those because of those because of those because we don't want to do those in the future we don't want to do those in the future we don't want to do those in the future but it was really hard to stop them but it was really hard to stop them but it was really hard to stop them doing them and and now this has kind of doing them and and now this has kind of doing them and and now this has kind of given us an opportunity to kind of given us an opportunity to kind of given us an opportunity to kind of move in a different direction and and uh move in a different direction and and uh move in a different direction and and uh be be be more lean and mean and focused on on a more lean and mean and focused on on a more lean and mean and focused on on a digital digital digital uh outreach opportunity you know taking uh outreach opportunity you know taking uh outreach opportunity you know taking all the ministry stuff and just making all the ministry stuff and just making all the ministry stuff and just making sure it's available for anybody sure it's available for anybody sure it's available for anybody everywhere yeah yeah i mean our our everywhere yeah yeah i mean our our everywhere yeah yeah i mean our our entire entire entire you know quotes assimilation process uh you know quotes assimilation process uh you know quotes assimilation process uh the the the whole thing that we want the the the whole thing that we want the the the whole thing that we want people to do people to do people to do alongside us is take a next step yeah so alongside us is take a next step yeah so alongside us is take a next step yeah so it it it every interaction that we have it's uh every interaction that we have it's uh every interaction that we have it's uh a is accept christ b is be baptized c is a is accept christ b is be baptized c is a is accept christ b is be baptized c is connect and life group d is discovered connect and life group d is discovered connect and life group d is discovered membership so we're always pointing membership so we're always pointing membership so we're always pointing people to the next people to the next people to the next uh the next step that we want them to uh the next step that we want them to uh the next step that we want them to dive a little deeper into dive a little deeper into dive a little deeper into um and being able to take a look at that um and being able to take a look at that um and being able to take a look at that whole entire process whole entire process whole entire process and really mold it uh to accommodate

and really mold it uh to accommodate and really mold it uh to accommodate additional avenues where we're not able additional avenues where we're not able additional avenues where we're not able to to to engage with people the same way we used engage with people the same way we used engage with people the same way we used to yeah so our to yeah so our to yeah so our whole whole discipleship process is whole whole discipleship process is whole whole discipleship process is turned on its head turned on its head turned on its head but in a good way it's been able you're but in a good way it's been able you're but in a good way it's been able you're right it's been able to right it's been able to right it's been able to to help us see what things to help us see what things to help us see what things work what things don't work and we've work what things don't work and we've work what things don't work and we've been able to been able to been able to to adapt and changing and grow and to adapt and changing and grow and to adapt and changing and grow and become a lot more efficient become a lot more efficient become a lot more efficient at that what are some of the uh what are at that what are some of the uh what are at that what are some of the uh what are some of the tools that you guys are some of the tools that you guys are some of the tools that you guys are using right now using right now using right now that are helping you in this initiative that are helping you in this initiative that are helping you in this initiative to be to be to be a better engaging online church a better engaging online church a better engaging online church so one of the things that we learned we so one of the things that we learned we so one of the things that we learned we used to just used to just used to just stream the the sunday morning worship stream the the sunday morning worship stream the the sunday morning worship experience and it you only got to see experience and it you only got to see experience and it you only got to see the modern one because that's where most the modern one because that's where most the modern one because that's where most of the camera equipment was located of the camera equipment was located of the camera equipment was located at um and and so at um and and so at um and and so there wasn't really anybody uh there wasn't really anybody uh there wasn't really anybody uh monitoring a chat monitoring a chat monitoring a chat it was just kind of free-for-all it just it was just kind of free-for-all it just it was just kind of free-for-all it just you know let it go out to the you know let it go out to the you know let it go out to the public domain and people would watch it public domain and people would watch it public domain and people would watch it as they they see as they they see as they they see and uh so understanding that now we've and uh so understanding that now we've and uh so understanding that now we've we've really got to change and we've really got to change and we've really got to change and communicate to people in the middle of communicate to people in the middle of communicate to people in the middle of the service the service the service uh not in a distracting way but to be uh not in a distracting way but to be uh not in a distracting way but to be able you know to to accommodate and help able you know to to accommodate and help able you know to to accommodate and help help people take a next step so one of help people take a next step so one of help people take a next step so one of the things is when we shifted the things is when we shifted the things is when we shifted online providers uh we have a chat online providers uh we have a chat online providers uh we have a chat system now and so we have that host system now and so we have that host system now and so we have that host person

person person who which by the way all our staff have who which by the way all our staff have who which by the way all our staff have been taking turns been taking turns been taking turns filling in this host chat role filling in this host chat role filling in this host chat role yeah and and they're being able to yeah and and they're being able to yeah and and they're being able to create uh create uh create uh these moments in our in our system where these moments in our in our system where these moments in our in our system where uh you know it'll pop up with the option uh you know it'll pop up with the option uh you know it'll pop up with the option of of of online giving or do you have a question online giving or do you have a question online giving or do you have a question um you know it's it's really kind of um you know it's it's really kind of um you know it's it's really kind of helped us helped us helped us uh refine a lot of things that we we uh refine a lot of things that we we uh refine a lot of things that we we were doing in service that person is were doing in service that person is were doing in service that person is able to able to able to help those folks watching online be able help those folks watching online be able help those folks watching online be able to do the same thing remotely to do the same thing remotely to do the same thing remotely um so being able to monitor um so being able to monitor um so being able to monitor uh four different arenas online sunday uh four different arenas online sunday uh four different arenas online sunday morning is is a handful morning is is a handful morning is is a handful because you know we're on youtube and because you know we're on youtube and because you know we're on youtube and facebook and the app and facebook and the app and facebook and the app and on the website and in a lot of different on the website and in a lot of different on the website and in a lot of different places and so so being able to uh i places and so so being able to uh i places and so so being able to uh i think the next step for us is think the next step for us is think the next step for us is is to figure out how to unify that so is to figure out how to unify that so is to figure out how to unify that so that no matter which platform you're on that no matter which platform you're on that no matter which platform you're on uh somebody with a question or uh somebody with a question or uh somebody with a question or you know a praise about something you know a praise about something you know a praise about something they would be able to sing by everybody they would be able to sing by everybody they would be able to sing by everybody no matter which uh no matter which uh no matter which uh which arena you happen to catch the live which arena you happen to catch the live which arena you happen to catch the live service in service in service in so uh when i talk with churches it's so uh when i talk with churches it's so uh when i talk with churches it's always about always about always about uh you know trying to figure out how to uh you know trying to figure out how to uh you know trying to figure out how to reach more people how to reach reach more people how to reach reach more people how to reach uh families and and some are more uh families and and some are more uh families and and some are more specific on reaching younger families or specific on reaching younger families or specific on reaching younger families or trying to how do you how do you grow trying to how do you how do you grow trying to how do you how do you grow younger as a church

younger as a church younger as a church so are there some things you're doing so are there some things you're doing so are there some things you're doing right now to right now to right now to communicate that younger families are communicate that younger families are communicate that younger families are welcome welcome welcome and you're actually growing in that area and you're actually growing in that area and you're actually growing in that area and what does that and what does that and what does that kind of look like it it kind of look like it it kind of look like it it it's interesting because we we are a it's interesting because we we are a it's interesting because we we are a very multi-generational church very multi-generational church very multi-generational church um we have we have something um we have we have something um we have we have something literally for every age group in age literally for every age group in age literally for every age group in age bracket bracket bracket uh and so for for us really uh and so for for us really uh and so for for us really it ties back to the the vision of uh it ties back to the the vision of uh it ties back to the the vision of uh one of our our values is uh we love each one of our our values is uh we love each one of our our values is uh we love each other other other like a family uh without fiercely like a family uh without fiercely like a family uh without fiercely like a family because god first loved us like a family because god first loved us like a family because god first loved us uh uh uh and we always package that in the caveat and we always package that in the caveat and we always package that in the caveat of saying of saying of saying your family may look totally different your family may look totally different your family may look totally different you as an individual you as an individual you as an individual uh you know and you're you're a uh you know and you're you're a uh you know and you're you're a collective family but us as a community collective family but us as a community collective family but us as a community together together together we we are a family uh and so we we are a family uh and so we we are a family uh and so being able to to bring it back to that being able to to bring it back to that being able to to bring it back to that uh and then using those uh and then using those uh and then using those those storytelling pieces that we those storytelling pieces that we those storytelling pieces that we showcase showcase showcase uh it's it's really easy when you have a uh it's it's really easy when you have a uh it's it's really easy when you have a multi-generational multi-generational multi-generational congregation to be able to go i need a i congregation to be able to go i need a i congregation to be able to go i need a i want to get a story from a 14 year old want to get a story from a 14 year old want to get a story from a 14 year old who just accepted christ who just accepted christ who just accepted christ or i want to hear from this person who or i want to hear from this person who or i want to hear from this person who is a founding is a founding is a founding father and a member of the beginning of father and a member of the beginning of father and a member of the beginning of our our church i want to hear them speak our our church i want to hear them speak our our church i want to hear them speak about what excites them about the next about what excites them about the next about what excites them about the next generation generation generation uh and so really we haven't we haven't

uh and so really we haven't we haven't uh and so really we haven't we haven't had to had to had to to focus and and be specific to focus and and be specific to focus and and be specific because of of who we are intrinsically i because of of who we are intrinsically i because of of who we are intrinsically i think that's think that's think that's that's been the the the glue that's that's been the the the glue that's that's been the the the glue that's inside of that is that's inside of that is that's inside of that is that's that's who we are we tell the stories that's who we are we tell the stories that's who we are we tell the stories that are that are that are in our midst and that that continues to in our midst and that that continues to in our midst and that that continues to reflect reflect reflect uh a multi-generational uh church uh a multi-generational uh church uh a multi-generational uh church um but i i i um but i i i um but i i i i i kind of i kind of fall back to uh i i kind of i kind of fall back to uh i i kind of i kind of fall back to uh like simon seneca always just starts to like simon seneca always just starts to like simon seneca always just starts to start with why start with why start with why um that's gonna be my go-to um that's gonna be my go-to um that's gonna be my go-to in being able to transcend uh any age in being able to transcend uh any age in being able to transcend uh any age bracket bracket bracket in in communicating really starting with in in communicating really starting with in in communicating really starting with the the the who god has called us to be what he's who god has called us to be what he's who god has called us to be what he's what he's asking us to do and i think if what he's asking us to do and i think if what he's asking us to do and i think if you're if you're able to compellingly you're if you're able to compellingly you're if you're able to compellingly answer answer answer those questions that piece of those questions that piece of those questions that piece of communication is really going to communication is really going to communication is really going to transcend transcend transcend age bracket if you will um age bracket if you will um age bracket if you will um so yeah that's that's kind of been our so yeah that's that's kind of been our so yeah that's that's kind of been our approach we we're always approach we we're always approach we we're always always going back to our vision uh and always going back to our vision uh and always going back to our vision uh and things just seem to fall into place when things just seem to fall into place when things just seem to fall into place when we're we're we're when we're trying to to to talk through when we're trying to to to talk through when we're trying to to to talk through but but but like i say all of our all of our like i say all of our all of our like i say all of our all of our different ministry leaders different ministry leaders different ministry leaders have shifted uh the way that they're have shifted uh the way that they're have shifted uh the way that they're engaging to be able to they they know engaging to be able to they they know engaging to be able to they they know like students knows uh all their

like students knows uh all their like students knows uh all their students congregate on instagram students congregate on instagram students congregate on instagram and so that's that's their platform that and so that's that's their platform that and so that's that's their platform that they're using they're using they're using even though that may be some of the same even though that may be some of the same even though that may be some of the same messaging that we're sending to messaging that we're sending to messaging that we're sending to the parents who are on facebook as well the parents who are on facebook as well the parents who are on facebook as well as the grandparents as the grandparents as the grandparents who uh get the the worship guide so we who uh get the the worship guide so we who uh get the the worship guide so we know we're you know it's the same know we're you know it's the same know we're you know it's the same messaging we may use a different messaging we may use a different messaging we may use a different uh tool to reach them um but yeah we're uh tool to reach them um but yeah we're uh tool to reach them um but yeah we're not not not we're not like targeting uh we're just we're not like targeting uh we're just we're not like targeting uh we're just we're just being who we are which is we're just being who we are which is we're just being who we are which is what god has called us to be in this what god has called us to be in this what god has called us to be in this specific place is specific place is specific place is is a church about building families well is a church about building families well is a church about building families well what i hear is what i hear is what i hear is you you you know from your leadership you you you know from your leadership you you you know from your leadership you know the vision you know the vision you know the vision what you're trying to accomplish you what you're trying to accomplish you what you're trying to accomplish you know what to say and then you know the know what to say and then you know the know what to say and then you know the platforms platforms platforms on how to effectively connect with those on how to effectively connect with those on how to effectively connect with those different different different age groups if you will and um age groups if you will and um age groups if you will and um what what a great as a brand manager you what what a great as a brand manager you what what a great as a brand manager you know know know what a great opportunity for you so i i what a great opportunity for you so i i what a great opportunity for you so i i guess i'd encourage if you guess i'd encourage if you guess i'd encourage if you are a communication director listening are a communication director listening are a communication director listening to this podcast and you don't to this podcast and you don't to this podcast and you don't have that clear picture something james have that clear picture something james have that clear picture something james was saying is just your leadership needs was saying is just your leadership needs was saying is just your leadership needs to kind of direct that to kind of direct that to kind of direct that what that looks like otherwise you're what that looks like otherwise you're what that looks like otherwise you're kind of you're taking stabs at it and kind of you're taking stabs at it and kind of you're taking stabs at it and hoping that you something sticks hoping that you something sticks hoping that you something sticks or it's built off of personal preference or it's built off of personal preference or it's built off of personal preference and that's man that's dangerous and that's man that's dangerous and that's man that's dangerous yeah you may be totally misaligned with yeah you may be totally misaligned with yeah you may be totally misaligned with the leadership and the direction of the the leadership and the direction of the the leadership and the direction of the church so church so church so it's really good advice um cool it is it's really good advice um cool it is it's really good advice um cool it is that's a really good point yeah clear that's a really good point yeah clear that's a really good point yeah clear clear vision laid out by by your

clear vision laid out by by your clear vision laid out by by your pastoral leadership pastoral leadership pastoral leadership is is very vital it carrying out is is very vital it carrying out is is very vital it carrying out everything it answers all the questions everything it answers all the questions everything it answers all the questions of of of of whether we should host an event all of whether we should host an event all of whether we should host an event all the way to how should i work this the way to how should i work this the way to how should i work this email that i'm saying exactly yeah yeah email that i'm saying exactly yeah yeah email that i'm saying exactly yeah yeah and you know we live in the digital and you know we live in the digital and you know we live in the digital space emotional marketing and it's space emotional marketing and it's space emotional marketing and it's always about landing pages or ads that always about landing pages or ads that always about landing pages or ads that are being sent out or are being sent out or are being sent out or whatnot right so it's it having that whatnot right so it's it having that whatnot right so it's it having that clarity clarity clarity allows everybody to to do their job allows everybody to to do their job allows everybody to to do their job effectively so that's good effectively so that's good effectively so that's good so share would you mind sharing some so share would you mind sharing some so share would you mind sharing some thoughts about thoughts about thoughts about working with missional marketing like working with missional marketing like working with missional marketing like what uh tell us a little bit of what uh tell us a little bit of what uh tell us a little bit of about what we get to do for you guys and about what we get to do for you guys and about what we get to do for you guys and and how that's helped and how that's helped and how that's helped all right so yeah man it's uh it's been all right so yeah man it's uh it's been all right so yeah man it's uh it's been really exciting really exciting really exciting having you guys come alongside us uh and having you guys come alongside us uh and having you guys come alongside us uh and and really help us and really help us and really help us understand um the the reason why we're understand um the the reason why we're understand um the the reason why we're putting out the content that we are on putting out the content that we are on putting out the content that we are on our website our website our website uh and helping us create goals uh and helping us create goals uh and helping us create goals to engage people you guys have been to engage people you guys have been to engage people you guys have been helping us with that for many many years helping us with that for many many years helping us with that for many many years you've been managing our google grant uh you've been managing our google grant uh you've been managing our google grant uh and and and we've seen uh tremendous we've seen uh tremendous we've seen uh tremendous growth in people coming to the website growth in people coming to the website growth in people coming to the website and finding and finding and finding us and being able to to engage with us us and being able to to engage with us us and being able to to engage with us uh uh uh all all by just making small changes on all all by just making small changes on all all by just making small changes on the things that we were the things that we were the things that we were we were already putting out on our we were already putting out on our we were already putting out on our website website website um simple things like uh like i meet um simple things like uh like i meet um simple things like uh like i meet with you guys about once a month and we with you guys about once a month and we with you guys about once a month and we we kind of talk over

we kind of talk over we kind of talk over uh the campaigns that we're we're uh the campaigns that we're we're uh the campaigns that we're we're running you guys help us out with a lot running you guys help us out with a lot running you guys help us out with a lot of social media campaigns and of social media campaigns and of social media campaigns and google campaigns uh and and being able google campaigns uh and and being able google campaigns uh and and being able to to to um to really um to really um to really uh to really craft that messaging uh to really craft that messaging uh to really craft that messaging specific across those different specific across those different specific across those different platforms platforms platforms because they're they're reaching because they're they're reaching because they're they're reaching different people different demographics different people different demographics different people different demographics uh uh uh and being able to to help us be more of and being able to to help us be more of and being able to to help us be more of a success a success a success with our digital presence even something with our digital presence even something with our digital presence even something as simple as uh as simple as uh as simple as uh being able to clean up our local google being able to clean up our local google being able to clean up our local google seo seo seo so that people could find us easier on so that people could find us easier on so that people could find us easier on maps maps maps i mean something that sounds super i mean something that sounds super i mean something that sounds super simple but i'm really glad simple but i'm really glad simple but i'm really glad you guys have expertise in it because i you guys have expertise in it because i you guys have expertise in it because i i love storytelling but man i'm i'm not i love storytelling but man i'm i'm not i love storytelling but man i'm i'm not a coder a coder a coder at all yep i i hear ya i'm the same way yep i i hear ya i'm the same way i it's probably because i'm you know i'm i it's probably because i'm you know i'm i it's probably because i'm you know i'm a former communication director as well a former communication director as well a former communication director as well so i so i so i you you get into the details of seo i you you get into the details of seo i you you get into the details of seo i know how it's done and i i i've learned know how it's done and i i i've learned know how it's done and i i i've learned a ton a ton a ton but i'm still not the guy that you know but i'm still not the guy that you know but i'm still not the guy that you know pulls the levers and pushes the buttons pulls the levers and pushes the buttons pulls the levers and pushes the buttons oh yeah that's not me oh yeah that's not me oh yeah that's not me i were like you going i could oh we i were like you going i could oh we i were like you going i could oh we could communicate this could communicate this could communicate this message and tell the story and lead message and tell the story and lead message and tell the story and lead these people this way this is these people this way this is these people this way this is awesome you know and then have other awesome you know and then have other awesome you know and then have other people make them make it actually happen people make them make it actually happen people make them make it actually happen yeah yeah that's another great principle yeah yeah that's another great principle yeah yeah that's another great principle um um um diversity in in skill sets uh man if

diversity in in skill sets uh man if diversity in in skill sets uh man if everybody thought the same way that i everybody thought the same way that i everybody thought the same way that i did did did boy we'd be in trouble uh so i love boy we'd be in trouble uh so i love boy we'd be in trouble uh so i love having having having as many people at the table to help as many people at the table to help as many people at the table to help collaborate collaborate collaborate and i think a little bit differently and i think a little bit differently and i think a little bit differently than a lot of our staff does than a lot of our staff does than a lot of our staff does but i need them to help balance but i need them to help balance but i need them to help balance my creative brain and they need me to my creative brain and they need me to my creative brain and they need me to help communicate help communicate help communicate effectively the things that they're effectively the things that they're effectively the things that they're they're trying their big initiatives they're trying their big initiatives they're trying their big initiatives they're trying to do they're trying to do they're trying to do so yeah man you've always got to have so yeah man you've always got to have so yeah man you've always got to have that that those two that that those two that that those two uh balancing forces they're not in uh balancing forces they're not in uh balancing forces they're not in opposition opposition opposition they help strengthen each other you know they help strengthen each other you know they help strengthen each other you know like uh like uh like uh like iron sharpens iron man it's it's like iron sharpens iron man it's it's like iron sharpens iron man it's it's it's a beautiful concept it's a beautiful concept it's a beautiful concept yup yup absolutely well james yup yup absolutely well james yup yup absolutely well james thanks so much for some insight into thanks so much for some insight into thanks so much for some insight into what you guys got going on and it sounds what you guys got going on and it sounds what you guys got going on and it sounds like you got some really exciting things like you got some really exciting things like you got some really exciting things happening and happening and happening and and it sounds like alignment is really and it sounds like alignment is really and it sounds like alignment is really falling into place which is falling into place which is falling into place which is which is really cool because that's you which is really cool because that's you which is really cool because that's you need that and um the next need that and um the next need that and um the next for you guys yeah it's uh for you guys yeah it's uh for you guys yeah it's uh if if one thing you could walk away with if if one thing you could walk away with if if one thing you could walk away with today is today is today is speaking to other communication speaking to other communication speaking to other communication directors at other churches directors at other churches directors at other churches um go go after um go go after um go go after getting that vision clearly getting that vision clearly getting that vision clearly and i promise you it will help you align and i promise you it will help you align and i promise you it will help you align things so much easier things so much easier things so much easier um it'll answer a lot of the personal um it'll answer a lot of the personal um it'll answer a lot of the personal preference preference preference questions that people raise about should

questions that people raise about should questions that people raise about should we or shouldn't we we or shouldn't we we or shouldn't we do this or what what's really the theme do this or what what's really the theme do this or what what's really the theme of this of this of this really it all falls back into vision really it all falls back into vision really it all falls back into vision yeah yep well said all said yeah yep well said all said yeah yep well said all said thanks again my friend i appreciate you thanks again my friend i appreciate you thanks again my friend i appreciate you yeah thank you jason i appreciate the yeah thank you jason i appreciate the yeah thank you jason i appreciate the opportunity man opportunity man opportunity man all right take care all right youtube oh all right take care all right youtube oh all right take care all right youtube oh james james james i appreciate your insight wow did we i appreciate your insight wow did we i appreciate your insight wow did we learn some things right and there's a learn some things right and there's a learn some things right and there's a few things that few things that few things that that we definitely pulled from this that we definitely pulled from this that we definitely pulled from this conversation today conversation today conversation today but probably the biggest one that comes but probably the biggest one that comes but probably the biggest one that comes to my mind is to my mind is to my mind is this idea of making sure you're co this idea of making sure you're co this idea of making sure you're co you're having conversations with your you're having conversations with your you're having conversations with your leadership team or maybe you are the leadership team or maybe you are the leadership team or maybe you are the leader leader leader and aligning and making sure you're on and aligning and making sure you're on and aligning and making sure you're on point and on purpose for point and on purpose for point and on purpose for telling that story sharing that story telling that story sharing that story telling that story sharing that story about what it is you're known for about what it is you're known for about what it is you're known for what kind of church are you known for what kind of church are you known for what kind of church are you known for you know it's interesting when you you know it's interesting when you you know it's interesting when you if you were to go into a church and ask if you were to go into a church and ask if you were to go into a church and ask hey hey hey what are we known for what usually what are we known for what usually what are we known for what usually you're going to get our mission you're going to get our mission you're going to get our mission statement statement statement right and and it's something around right and and it's something around right and and it's something around connecting people to jesus and i'm 100 connecting people to jesus and i'm 100 connecting people to jesus and i'm 100 on board with that on board with that on board with that however if you ask the community however if you ask the community however if you ask the community outside the people that don't go to your outside the people that don't go to your outside the people that don't go to your church but live around you church but live around you church but live around you what your church is known for it'd be what your church is known for it'd be what your church is known for it'd be interesting to see what kind of response interesting to see what kind of response interesting to see what kind of response you get you get you get i would almost guarantee that it's not i would almost guarantee that it's not i would almost guarantee that it's not going to be in sync with what you think going to be in sync with what you think going to be in sync with what you think you're you're you're on point your mission is on point to do on point your mission is on point to do on point your mission is on point to do i guarantee there's probably a i guarantee there's probably a i guarantee there's probably a disconnect and that's not a good thing

disconnect and that's not a good thing disconnect and that's not a good thing what i am really excited about when i what i am really excited about when i what i am really excited about when i talk with church is when they they they talk with church is when they they they talk with church is when they they they say yeah yeah we've got this say yeah yeah we've got this say yeah yeah we've got this nailed down we know the exact bible nailed down we know the exact bible nailed down we know the exact bible verse that we verse that we verse that we kind of hang our church on and and we kind of hang our church on and and we kind of hang our church on and and we know know know this is exactly what we want for people this is exactly what we want for people this is exactly what we want for people who go to our church who go to our church who go to our church and they've got some kind of a slogan and they've got some kind of a slogan and they've got some kind of a slogan and everything is shared and everything and everything is shared and everything and everything is shared and everything is done through that is done through that is done through that tagline or that slogan we're talking tagline or that slogan we're talking tagline or that slogan we're talking like events like events like events preaching it's on the website it's on preaching it's on the website it's on preaching it's on the website it's on social media and it's all social media and it's all social media and it's all aligned that makes things really really aligned that makes things really really aligned that makes things really really easy for communication directors or easy for communication directors or easy for communication directors or people that people that people that you know website developers or social you know website developers or social you know website developers or social media media media people that are posting because when we people that are posting because when we people that are posting because when we understand understand understand what we're known for and we can identify what we're known for and we can identify what we're known for and we can identify with that with that with that boy telling that story gets exciting and boy telling that story gets exciting and boy telling that story gets exciting and gets kind of fun gets kind of fun gets kind of fun and so if you haven't got to that space and so if you haven't got to that space and so if you haven't got to that space as a church i highly recommend you do as a church i highly recommend you do as a church i highly recommend you do what a great opportunity right now to be what a great opportunity right now to be what a great opportunity right now to be able to take some time and figure out able to take some time and figure out able to take some time and figure out what are we really known for and then what are we really known for and then what are we really known for and then what do we want to be known for what do we want to be known for what do we want to be known for and are those things aligned and is it and are those things aligned and is it and are those things aligned and is it crystal clear to crystal clear to crystal clear to our congregation who we are our congregation who we are our congregation who we are what we're about and does that fit what we're about and does that fit what we're about and does that fit outside for what people are looking for outside for what people are looking for outside for what people are looking for and and and i think that'd be a really healthy i think that'd be a really healthy i think that'd be a really healthy exercise for you to go through so exercise for you to go through so exercise for you to go through so if you'd want to have that conversation if you'd want to have that conversation if you'd want to have that conversation with me i do a lot of that with churches with me i do a lot of that with churches with me i do a lot of that with churches we we we we consult with churches our team does we consult with churches our team does we consult with churches our team does and we help and we help and we help churches navigate that space because it churches navigate that space because it churches navigate that space because it really bleeds into then how you

really bleeds into then how you really bleeds into then how you how you do this online right and making how you do this online right and making how you do this online right and making sure that sure that sure that what you're saying relates well and so what you're saying relates well and so what you're saying relates well and so we'd love to have that conversation with we'd love to have that conversation with we'd love to have that conversation with you you you and learn more about your culture and and learn more about your culture and and learn more about your culture and help help you help help you help help you navigate and get to a space where you navigate and get to a space where you navigate and get to a space where you can articulate can articulate can articulate what you're known for in the meantime what you're known for in the meantime what you're known for in the meantime god bless i hope you've learned god bless i hope you've learned god bless i hope you've learned something from today's podcast something from today's podcast something from today's podcast until next time take care