Stop Buying Church Marketing. Start Building Inviters.

Stop buying church marketing. Start Stop buying church marketing. Start building inviters. Hey friends, Rich building inviters. Hey friends, Rich building inviters. Hey friends, Rich Burch here from the Unseminary podcast. Burch here from the Unseminary podcast. Burch here from the Unseminary podcast. Solo episode today. Most churches, Solo episode today. Most churches, Solo episode today. Most churches, including yours, are overspending on including yours, are overspending on including yours, are overspending on visibility, but they're underinvesting visibility, but they're underinvesting visibility, but they're underinvesting in invitation culture. We're going to in invitation culture. We're going to in invitation culture. We're going to unpack that today on today's episode. unpack that today on today's episode. unpack that today on today's episode. And I want to move you from thinking And I want to move you from thinking And I want to move you from thinking about marketing to thinking about invite about marketing to thinking about invite about marketing to thinking about invite culture. That's really what you should culture. That's really what you should culture. That's really what you should be doing if you want your church to be doing if you want your church to be doing if you want your church to grow. But first, a story about me. I grow. But first, a story about me. I grow. But first, a story about me. I remember back in the late 1900s. Yep. remember back in the late 1900s. Yep. remember back in the late 1900s. Yep. That's how long I've been doing this That's how long I've been doing this That's how long I've been doing this stuff. I ran a dot. This was back when stuff. I ran a dot. This was back when stuff. I ran a dot. This was back when dots was cool. It would be like today dots was cool. It would be like today dots was cool. It would be like today saying you ran an AI company. People saying you ran an AI company. People saying you ran an AI company. People actually used to like you saying you ran actually used to like you saying you ran actually used to like you saying you ran a dot and we were pre-launch. And man, a dot and we were pre-launch. And man, a dot and we were pre-launch. And man, we spent a lot of time, effort, energy, we spent a lot of time, effort, energy, we spent a lot of time, effort, energy, money on our marketing that included money on our marketing that included money on our marketing that included fancy logo. We obsessed over the color fancy logo. We obsessed over the color fancy logo. We obsessed over the color blue in our logo and you know we spent blue in our logo and you know we spent blue in our logo and you know we spent this amazing kind of money on our this amazing kind of money on our this amazing kind of money on our website and we went we launched website and we went we launched website and we went we launched and man it was a flop. It did not and man it was a flop. It did not and man it was a flop. It did not deliver what we were hoping to deliver.

deliver what we were hoping to deliver. deliver what we were hoping to deliver. And why was that was because we had the And why was that was because we had the And why was that was because we had the wrong focus. We should have been out wrong focus. We should have been out wrong focus. We should have been out talking to the people who we were talking to the people who we were talking to the people who we were interested in helping rather than interested in helping rather than interested in helping rather than thinking if we just build it they will thinking if we just build it they will thinking if we just build it they will come. The same is true and you might be come. The same is true and you might be come. The same is true and you might be repeating the same mistake. You're repeating the same mistake. You're repeating the same mistake. You're thinking, "Man, I just need a new thinking, "Man, I just need a new thinking, "Man, I just need a new website. I need a better logo. I need to website. I need a better logo. I need to website. I need a better logo. I need to rebrand. I need to change our name." rebrand. I need to change our name." rebrand. I need to change our name." Chasing marketing tactics, tricks, hacks Chasing marketing tactics, tricks, hacks Chasing marketing tactics, tricks, hacks instead of mobilizing your peach your instead of mobilizing your peach your instead of mobilizing your peach your peachel or your people. You don't need a peachel or your people. You don't need a peachel or your people. You don't need a new logo. You don't need a new site. new logo. You don't need a new site. new logo. You don't need a new site. What you need are inviters. Listen, this What you need are inviters. Listen, this What you need are inviters. Listen, this is the bottom line. If you want durable is the bottom line. If you want durable is the bottom line. If you want durable compounding growth over an extended compounding growth over an extended compounding growth over an extended period of time, stop building marketing period of time, stop building marketing period of time, stop building marketing and start building inviters. We've got a and start building inviters. We've got a and start building inviters. We've got a workshop coming up. It's a free online workshop coming up. It's a free online workshop coming up. It's a free online workshop I'm hosting on Wednesday, workshop I'm hosting on Wednesday, workshop I'm hosting on Wednesday, November 12th, 12:00 p.m. Eastern. November 12th, 12:00 p.m. Eastern. November 12th, 12:00 p.m. Eastern. That's uh 9:00 a.m. for our friends on That's uh 9:00 a.m. for our friends on That's uh 9:00 a.m. for our friends on the Pacific Coast. And this will help the Pacific Coast. And this will help the Pacific Coast. And this will help you move from just hoping for growth to you move from just hoping for growth to you move from just hoping for growth to actually launching. It is called actually launching. It is called actually launching. It is called churchgrowth launchpad. You can register churchgrowth launchpad. You can register churchgrowth launchpad. You can register at churchgrowthaunchpad.com. at churchgrowthaunchpad.com. at churchgrowthaunchpad.com. This is for you if you are leading a This is for you if you are leading a This is for you if you are leading a church that's growing slower than you church that's growing slower than you church that's growing slower than you wish it was. If you feel like you're wish it was. If you feel like you're wish it was. If you feel like you're doing all the right things, like you've doing all the right things, like you've doing all the right things, like you've got great messages, you know, great got great messages, you know, great got great messages, you know, great weekend services, solid teams, but weekend services, solid teams, but weekend services, solid teams, but momentum just seems to be hard to momentum just seems to be hard to momentum just seems to be hard to sustain, or you love your church, but sustain, or you love your church, but sustain, or you love your church, but you're you're tired of carrying the you're you're tired of carrying the you're you're tired of carrying the weight all yourself. You sense that weight all yourself. You sense that weight all yourself. You sense that there's really a next level to your there's really a next level to your there's really a next level to your church's reach, that you could reach church's reach, that you could reach church's reach, that you could reach more people, but you're not sure what more people, but you're not sure what more people, but you're not sure what levers to pull. You should be coming to levers to pull. You should be coming to levers to pull. You should be coming to Church Growth Launchpad. Just go to Church Growth Launchpad. Just go to Church Growth Launchpad. Just go to churchgrowthaunchpad.com.

churchgrowthaunchpad.com. churchgrowthaunchpad.com. Register this week. Tell your friends to Register this week. Tell your friends to Register this week. Tell your friends to register. That's Wednesday, November register. That's Wednesday, November register. That's Wednesday, November 12th, 12:00 p.m. Eastern, 9:00 a.m. for 12th, 12:00 p.m. Eastern, 9:00 a.m. for 12th, 12:00 p.m. Eastern, 9:00 a.m. for our friends on the Pacific Coast. We're our friends on the Pacific Coast. We're our friends on the Pacific Coast. We're going to be talking about invite going to be talking about invite going to be talking about invite culture, unpacking for you, giving you a culture, unpacking for you, giving you a culture, unpacking for you, giving you a 90-day plan, giving you five levers that 90-day plan, giving you five levers that 90-day plan, giving you five levers that unlock the growth, and we're going to unlock the growth, and we're going to unlock the growth, and we're going to talk about why church most church growth talk about why church most church growth talk about why church most church growth fall stalls. This is particularly fall stalls. This is particularly fall stalls. This is particularly helpful for people, churches in the helpful for people, churches in the helpful for people, churches in the 500ish to a,000ish range. Churchgrowth 500ish to a,000ish range. Churchgrowth 500ish to a,000ish range. Churchgrowth launchpad.com. We're going to want to be launchpad.com. We're going to want to be launchpad.com. We're going to want to be there. Well, why more marketing does not there. Well, why more marketing does not there. Well, why more marketing does not equal more reach? And this is the reason equal more reach? And this is the reason equal more reach? And this is the reason why, friends, we live in an attention why, friends, we live in an attention why, friends, we live in an attention recession. You know this AI slop. recession. You know this AI slop. recession. You know this AI slop. There's so much content out there. More There's so much content out there. More There's so much content out there. More content, fewer results. You used to be content, fewer results. You used to be content, fewer results. You used to be able to do just a little bit as a church able to do just a little bit as a church able to do just a little bit as a church and make an impact. That is just not the and make an impact. That is just not the and make an impact. That is just not the case anymore. Trust in institutions has case anymore. Trust in institutions has case anymore. Trust in institutions has fallen off, has really dropped off the fallen off, has really dropped off the fallen off, has really dropped off the table. But trust in family and friends table. But trust in family and friends table. But trust in family and friends has skyrocketed. In fact, a study done has skyrocketed. In fact, a study done has skyrocketed. In fact, a study done by uh Neielson and McKenzie showed that by uh Neielson and McKenzie showed that by uh Neielson and McKenzie showed that personal re recommendations are the most personal re recommendations are the most personal re recommendations are the most trusted form of promotion. So, the most trusted form of promotion. So, the most trusted form of promotion. So, the most persuasive ad that you could have as a persuasive ad that you could have as a persuasive ad that you could have as a church, the most incredible marketing, church, the most incredible marketing, church, the most incredible marketing, the most inspirational thing that will the most inspirational thing that will the most inspirational thing that will move people from being in your community move people from being in your community move people from being in your community to sitting in your church is a friend or to sitting in your church is a friend or to sitting in your church is a friend or family member who simply says, "Hey, can family member who simply says, "Hey, can family member who simply says, "Hey, can you come and sit with me?" Invited you come and sit with me?" Invited you come and sit with me?" Invited guests stick because relationship is the guests stick because relationship is the guests stick because relationship is the glue. Not only is this a church growth glue. Not only is this a church growth glue. Not only is this a church growth tactic, not only is this a way to kind tactic, not only is this a way to kind tactic, not only is this a way to kind of grow the top-end numbers, kind of of grow the top-end numbers, kind of of grow the top-end numbers, kind of first-time guests, people coming to your first-time guests, people coming to your first-time guests, people coming to your church, but it's also about seeing those church, but it's also about seeing those church, but it's also about seeing those people stick and stay. There was some

people stick and stay. There was some people stick and stay. There was some research done that showed that if people research done that showed that if people research done that showed that if people have that have to have long-term to stay have that have to have long-term to stay have that have to have long-term to stay at a church have to have at least seven at a church have to have at least seven at a church have to have at least seven relationships if they want to stick and relationships if they want to stick and relationships if they want to stick and stay long term. People who don't stay stay long term. People who don't stay stay long term. People who don't stay have less than two. And this is the have less than two. And this is the have less than two. And this is the crime of church marketing. We tell you, crime of church marketing. We tell you, crime of church marketing. We tell you, spend some money on Facebook ads or on spend some money on Facebook ads or on spend some money on Facebook ads or on some latest Tik Tok thing. People came some latest Tik Tok thing. People came some latest Tik Tok thing. People came in, they have no relationship. They in, they have no relationship. They in, they have no relationship. They don't know your people. They came in, don't know your people. They came in, don't know your people. They came in, but they did not come in from invite. but they did not come in from invite. but they did not come in from invite. They will not stick and stay as much as They will not stick and stay as much as They will not stick and stay as much as they would if they came with a friend. they would if they came with a friend. they would if they came with a friend. Listen, there's decades of data. The Listen, there's decades of data. The Listen, there's decades of data. The number one reason people attend your number one reason people attend your number one reason people attend your church, I cannot say it more simply than church, I cannot say it more simply than church, I cannot say it more simply than this, is personal invite. This is this, is personal invite. This is this, is personal invite. This is especially true for younger adults. especially true for younger adults. especially true for younger adults. Authenticity beats algorithms. every Authenticity beats algorithms. every Authenticity beats algorithms. every single time. The bottom line is this. single time. The bottom line is this. single time. The bottom line is this. You do not need more ad dollars. What You do not need more ad dollars. What You do not need more ad dollars. What your church needs is invite culture. So, your church needs is invite culture. So, your church needs is invite culture. So, I I've been thinking about this thing I I've been thinking about this thing I I've been thinking about this thing recently, invite propensity. Invite recently, invite propensity. Invite recently, invite propensity. Invite propensity. It's the percentage of your propensity. It's the percentage of your propensity. It's the percentage of your congregation who have invited someone in congregation who have invited someone in congregation who have invited someone in the last 90 days. How do you find your the last 90 days. How do you find your the last 90 days. How do you find your invo invite propensity? You ask your invo invite propensity? You ask your invo invite propensity? You ask your people. You survey them. Hey, who has people. You survey them. Hey, who has people. You survey them. Hey, who has actually invited? And we want to see the actually invited? And we want to see the actually invited? And we want to see the invite propensity number go up. This invite propensity number go up. This invite propensity number go up. This matters because it's a predictor of matters because it's a predictor of matters because it's a predictor of future growth. When your invite future growth. When your invite future growth. When your invite propensity goes up, it's a leading propensity goes up, it's a leading propensity goes up, it's a leading indicator of growth and it has indicator of growth and it has indicator of growth and it has compounding effects. When people invite compounding effects. When people invite compounding effects. When people invite friends, those friends come and they end friends, those friends come and they end friends, those friends come and they end up inviting other friends. It ultimately up inviting other friends. It ultimately up inviting other friends. It ultimately multiplies. And and in fact, encouraging

multiplies. And and in fact, encouraging multiplies. And and in fact, encouraging your people to invite their friends is your people to invite their friends is your people to invite their friends is like the best budget sane thing you like the best budget sane thing you like the best budget sane thing you should be doing to try to reach your to should be doing to try to reach your to should be doing to try to reach your to grow your church. In fact, you should be grow your church. In fact, you should be grow your church. In fact, you should be doing this way more than any other kind doing this way more than any other kind doing this way more than any other kind of marketing. It it it really costs next of marketing. It it it really costs next of marketing. It it it really costs next to zero to do most of this. It's about to zero to do most of this. It's about to zero to do most of this. It's about strategy and communication. It's not strategy and communication. It's not strategy and communication. It's not about slick marketing or spending money about slick marketing or spending money about slick marketing or spending money on some sort of tools. Invite invitation on some sort of tools. Invite invitation on some sort of tools. Invite invitation rides on relationship, the most trusted rides on relationship, the most trusted rides on relationship, the most trusted medium on the earth. So, what I want to medium on the earth. So, what I want to medium on the earth. So, what I want to do is talk to you about four outreach do is talk to you about four outreach do is talk to you about four outreach myths that are draining momentum that myths that are draining momentum that myths that are draining momentum that really are things that you believe that really are things that you believe that really are things that you believe that are pushing you towards marketing that are pushing you towards marketing that are pushing you towards marketing that really we need to tear these down so really we need to tear these down so really we need to tear these down so that you can focus on invitation. The that you can focus on invitation. The that you can focus on invitation. The first one, the number one outreach myth first one, the number one outreach myth first one, the number one outreach myth that's pushing you towards thinking that's pushing you towards thinking that's pushing you towards thinking about marketing is your confusing about marketing is your confusing about marketing is your confusing visibility with persuasion. More visibility with persuasion. More visibility with persuasion. More impressions do not equal more impact. impressions do not equal more impact. impressions do not equal more impact. Just like dumping money into Facebook Just like dumping money into Facebook Just like dumping money into Facebook ads or boosting that post or doing ads or boosting that post or doing ads or boosting that post or doing another round of billboards on the side another round of billboards on the side another round of billboards on the side of the highway. All that's doing is of the highway. All that's doing is of the highway. All that's doing is increasing visibility, but that doesn't increasing visibility, but that doesn't increasing visibility, but that doesn't mean more impact. Awareness alone is mean more impact. Awareness alone is mean more impact. Awareness alone is necessary. It's something we need, but necessary. It's something we need, but necessary. It's something we need, but it's insufficient to grow your church.

it's insufficient to grow your church. it's insufficient to grow your church. You can buy reach, but you cannot buy You can buy reach, but you cannot buy You can buy reach, but you cannot buy trust. So, you can give marketing in trust. So, you can give marketing in trust. So, you can give marketing in disruption-based marketing disruption-based marketing disruption-based marketing organizations. You can give them money organizations. You can give them money organizations. You can give them money to interrupt people to point them to interrupt people to point them to interrupt people to point them towards your church. There's a long path towards your church. There's a long path towards your church. There's a long path between some stale ad and people between some stale ad and people between some stale ad and people actually showing out. If your comm's actually showing out. If your comm's actually showing out. If your comm's strategy or if your marketing strategy strategy or if your marketing strategy strategy or if your marketing strategy ends with visibility, it's just brand ends with visibility, it's just brand ends with visibility, it's just brand maintenance. It's not mission maintenance. It's not mission maintenance. It's not mission advancement. You've got to leverage advancement. You've got to leverage advancement. You've got to leverage invite ultimately to drive your people invite ultimately to drive your people invite ultimately to drive your people to invite their friends. You need to to invite their friends. You need to to invite their friends. You need to shift your budget from to equipping shift your budget from to equipping shift your budget from to equipping inviters and really ultimately measuring inviters and really ultimately measuring inviters and really ultimately measuring personal outreach. That is the biggest personal outreach. That is the biggest personal outreach. That is the biggest thing. In fact, it's been said that for thing. In fact, it's been said that for thing. In fact, it's been said that for every one person that comes, and this is every one person that comes, and this is every one person that comes, and this is statistically true, for every one person statistically true, for every one person statistically true, for every one person that comes because of an ad, 25 people that comes because of an ad, 25 people that comes because of an ad, 25 people come because of invite. Think about come because of invite. Think about come because of invite. Think about that. What that means to you from a that. What that means to you from a that. What that means to you from a budget spend point of view is you should budget spend point of view is you should budget spend point of view is you should be spending 25 times the amount of money be spending 25 times the amount of money be spending 25 times the amount of money on building the invite culture of your on building the invite culture of your on building the invite culture of your church rather than that than than doing church rather than that than than doing church rather than that than than doing some sort of awareness marketing. If some sort of awareness marketing. If some sort of awareness marketing. If you're trying to figure out how to you're trying to figure out how to you're trying to figure out how to leverage those $10,000 that Google gives leverage those $10,000 that Google gives leverage those $10,000 that Google gives you in a Google grant every year or you in a Google grant every year or you in a Google grant every year or sorry every month, you should be before sorry every month, you should be before sorry every month, you should be before you do that, you should be thinking you do that, you should be thinking you do that, you should be thinking about how do we increase the invite about how do we increase the invite about how do we increase the invite propensity? How do we get our people to propensity? How do we get our people to propensity? How do we get our people to invite? So that's number one. You're invite? So that's number one. You're invite? So that's number one. You're confusing visibility with persuasion.

confusing visibility with persuasion. confusing visibility with persuasion. Number two, centralizing evangelism to Number two, centralizing evangelism to Number two, centralizing evangelism to staff. This is an incipid one. This is staff. This is an incipid one. This is staff. This is an incipid one. This is super dangerous. When outreach becomes a super dangerous. When outreach becomes a super dangerous. When outreach becomes a department, the body atrophies. There's department, the body atrophies. There's department, the body atrophies. There's a temptation as our churches grow, we a temptation as our churches grow, we a temptation as our churches grow, we get people who think about these things get people who think about these things get people who think about these things all the time. They maybe start thinking all the time. They maybe start thinking all the time. They maybe start thinking about growth or thinking about reaching about growth or thinking about reaching about growth or thinking about reaching people and we start thinking, maybe people and we start thinking, maybe people and we start thinking, maybe we'll let our evangelism efforts be led we'll let our evangelism efforts be led we'll let our evangelism efforts be led by staff. But staffled evangelism can by staff. But staffled evangelism can by staff. But staffled evangelism can look efficient, but it's actually very look efficient, but it's actually very look efficient, but it's actually very weak. Marketing feels safer. And this is weak. Marketing feels safer. And this is weak. Marketing feels safer. And this is the reason why marketing feels safer is the reason why marketing feels safer is the reason why marketing feels safer is because you're behind a desk. You're in because you're behind a desk. You're in because you're behind a desk. You're in the safe confines of your office. No one the safe confines of your office. No one the safe confines of your office. No one has to actually go and talk to anyone. has to actually go and talk to anyone. has to actually go and talk to anyone. But that's just simply not as effective. But that's just simply not as effective. But that's just simply not as effective. You can post instead of talking to You can post instead of talking to You can post instead of talking to people. The early church didn't hire a people. The early church didn't hire a people. The early church didn't hire a marketing firm. It mobilized a movement. marketing firm. It mobilized a movement. marketing firm. It mobilized a movement. I know that's like a tongue-in-cheek I know that's like a tongue-in-cheek I know that's like a tongue-in-cheek sort of thing to say, but what your sort of thing to say, but what your sort of thing to say, but what your church doesn't need to do is go and church doesn't need to do is go and church doesn't need to do is go and spend more money on marketing. What you spend more money on marketing. What you spend more money on marketing. What you need to do is invest in invite. You need need to do is invest in invite. You need need to do is invest in invite. You need to to do what the early church did, to to do what the early church did, to to do what the early church did, which was to simply spread the good news which was to simply spread the good news which was to simply spread the good news to tell other people about what's to tell other people about what's to tell other people about what's happening in your church and to mobilize happening in your church and to mobilize happening in your church and to mobilize your people, train, equip, and mobilize your people, train, equip, and mobilize your people, train, equip, and mobilize them to invite their friends. So, what's them to invite their friends. So, what's them to invite their friends. So, what's what's our staff's job? Their job is to what's our staff's job? Their job is to what's our staff's job? Their job is to do Ephesians 4 to equip inviters, to do Ephesians 4 to equip inviters, to do Ephesians 4 to equip inviters, to mobilize inviters, to inspire, to give mobilize inviters, to inspire, to give mobilize inviters, to inspire, to give them tools to invite, but to not do the them tools to invite, but to not do the them tools to invite, but to not do the inviting themselves. Obviously, they inviting themselves. Obviously, they inviting themselves. Obviously, they should be inviting people, but we're not

should be inviting people, but we're not should be inviting people, but we're not hiring a super like a SWAT team of hiring a super like a SWAT team of hiring a super like a SWAT team of inviters who are on your staff team who inviters who are on your staff team who inviters who are on your staff team who go out and do this for you. And we call go out and do this for you. And we call go out and do this for you. And we call it marketing or we call it evangelism or it marketing or we call it evangelism or it marketing or we call it evangelism or outreach. What we need to do is motivate outreach. What we need to do is motivate outreach. What we need to do is motivate your people, train, equip, and mobilize your people, train, equip, and mobilize your people, train, equip, and mobilize them to invite their friends. Number them to invite their friends. Number them to invite their friends. Number three outreach myth. You are three outreach myth. You are three outreach myth. You are underfunding hospitality. Listen, your underfunding hospitality. Listen, your underfunding hospitality. Listen, your people won't invite if they don't trust people won't invite if they don't trust people won't invite if they don't trust the guest experience. I I'm not going to the guest experience. I I'm not going to the guest experience. I I'm not going to invite a friend. I'm not going to risk invite a friend. I'm not going to risk invite a friend. I'm not going to risk inviting someone that I know, friend inviting someone that I know, friend inviting someone that I know, friend from work, or that neighbor from down from work, or that neighbor from down from work, or that neighbor from down the street or my uncle who I haven't the street or my uncle who I haven't the street or my uncle who I haven't talked to in a little bit or my brother talked to in a little bit or my brother talked to in a little bit or my brother who, you know, I've been talking about who, you know, I've been talking about who, you know, I've been talking about faith things with. I'm not going to do faith things with. I'm not going to do faith things with. I'm not going to do that if I think when they arrive they're that if I think when they arrive they're that if I think when they arrive they're frankly just not going to have a guest a frankly just not going to have a guest a frankly just not going to have a guest a positive guest experience. There can be positive guest experience. There can be positive guest experience. There can be friction points around signage, around friction points around signage, around friction points around signage, around kids check-in, around just simply kids check-in, around just simply kids check-in, around just simply entrances that will kill this sort of entrances that will kill this sort of entrances that will kill this sort of momentum. So, what you need to do is momentum. So, what you need to do is momentum. So, what you need to do is audit your Sunday experience from a audit your Sunday experience from a audit your Sunday experience from a first-time guest point of view because first-time guest point of view because first-time guest point of view because if your church is not ready, if they're if your church is not ready, if they're if your church is not ready, if they're not ready to receive first-time guests, not ready to receive first-time guests, not ready to receive first-time guests, your people won't invite. And this this your people won't invite. And this this your people won't invite. And this this is really a myth for you. It's like, is really a myth for you. It's like, is really a myth for you. It's like, well, if we had more guests, we would well, if we had more guests, we would well, if we had more guests, we would start doing these things. No, no, no, start doing these things. No, no, no, start doing these things. No, no, no, no, no. You have to start doing it now.

no, no. You have to start doing it now. no, no. You have to start doing it now. You have to invest in hospitality now as You have to invest in hospitality now as You have to invest in hospitality now as a precursor to your people inviting your a precursor to your people inviting your a precursor to your people inviting your friends. Hospitality is an aside friends. Hospitality is an aside friends. Hospitality is an aside ministry. It is a front door. You need ministry. It is a front door. You need ministry. It is a front door. You need to fund the experience your people are to fund the experience your people are to fund the experience your people are proud to share. So listen, you cannot proud to share. So listen, you cannot proud to share. So listen, you cannot underfund hospitality. You've got to underfund hospitality. You've got to underfund hospitality. You've got to fund this area. Your people have got to fund this area. Your people have got to fund this area. Your people have got to want to invite their friends. What are want to invite their friends. What are want to invite their friends. What are you doing to make the hospitality side you doing to make the hospitality side you doing to make the hospitality side of what you do? How can you do a better of what you do? How can you do a better of what you do? How can you do a better job on that? Let's be thinking about job on that? Let's be thinking about job on that? Let's be thinking about that. Okay. Number four outreach myth is that. Okay. Number four outreach myth is that. Okay. Number four outreach myth is you're only celebrating conversions. We you're only celebrating conversions. We you're only celebrating conversions. We know this churches platform the know this churches platform the know this churches platform the touchdowns. You know those amazing touchdowns. You know those amazing touchdowns. You know those amazing testimonies. Maybe it's baptism. It's testimonies. Maybe it's baptism. It's testimonies. Maybe it's baptism. It's the story of the person who's journeying the story of the person who's journeying the story of the person who's journeying along and they have this incredible along and they have this incredible along and they have this incredible conversion experience and Jesus turns conversion experience and Jesus turns conversion experience and Jesus turns their life upside down. We celebrate their life upside down. We celebrate their life upside down. We celebrate that. But we don't celebrate the drive, that. But we don't celebrate the drive, that. But we don't celebrate the drive, what it took to get there. People start what it took to get there. People start what it took to get there. People start with conversations, not with with conversations, not with with conversations, not with conversions. When was the last time that conversions. When was the last time that conversions. When was the last time that as a church you stood up and told as a church you stood up and told as a church you stood up and told stories of people inviting people to stories of people inviting people to stories of people inviting people to your church whether or not they came or your church whether or not they came or your church whether or not they came or not? We know that people need to be not? We know that people need to be not? We know that people need to be invited multiple times. It's very rare invited multiple times. It's very rare invited multiple times. It's very rare that you reach out to a neighbor and that you reach out to a neighbor and that you reach out to a neighbor and say, "Hey, could you come uh to my say, "Hey, could you come uh to my say, "Hey, could you come uh to my church this weekend? We've got this church this weekend? We've got this church this weekend? We've got this special thing." And that they'll special thing." And that they'll special thing." And that they'll actually show up. If we only celebrate actually show up. If we only celebrate actually show up. If we only celebrate salvations, you teach your people that salvations, you teach your people that salvations, you teach your people that invitation doesn't matter. So, we've got invitation doesn't matter. So, we've got invitation doesn't matter. So, we've got to connect the dots for them. We've got to connect the dots for them. We've got to connect the dots for them. We've got to show people how the invite path to show people how the invite path to show people how the invite path worked and ultimately led led to worked and ultimately led led to worked and ultimately led led to salvation. As you're thinking about salvation. As you're thinking about salvation. As you're thinking about baptism testimonies, ask the question, baptism testimonies, ask the question, baptism testimonies, ask the question, "What what happened when you first came "What what happened when you first came "What what happened when you first came here? Who invited you? How did you get here? Who invited you? How did you get here? Who invited you? How did you get here?" Celebrate courage and attempts to

here?" Celebrate courage and attempts to here?" Celebrate courage and attempts to normalize the invite. So, go out of your normalize the invite. So, go out of your normalize the invite. So, go out of your way, celebrate courage. Celebrate way, celebrate courage. Celebrate way, celebrate courage. Celebrate courage and attempts. Normalize the courage and attempts. Normalize the courage and attempts. Normalize the invite. tell lots of stories about how invite. tell lots of stories about how invite. tell lots of stories about how people keep inviting their friends and people keep inviting their friends and people keep inviting their friends and talk about you from if you're a talk about you from if you're a talk about you from if you're a preacher, talk about how you've invited preacher, talk about how you've invited preacher, talk about how you've invited friends and they haven't said yes today, friends and they haven't said yes today, friends and they haven't said yes today, but that's okay. You're going to but that's okay. You're going to but that's okay. You're going to continue to invest in those continue to invest in those continue to invest in those relationships and involve them in in relationships and involve them in in relationships and involve them in in your life. These aren't people are these your life. These aren't people are these your life. These aren't people are these people aren't a project that you're people aren't a project that you're people aren't a project that you're working on. These are folks you love and working on. These are folks you love and working on. These are folks you love and like you share anything in your life. like you share anything in your life. like you share anything in your life. You want to draw them in. Listen, the You want to draw them in. Listen, the You want to draw them in. Listen, the old adage is true. What gets celebrated old adage is true. What gets celebrated old adage is true. What gets celebrated gets repeated. So, let's celebrate gets repeated. So, let's celebrate gets repeated. So, let's celebrate invite in your community. So, those are invite in your community. So, those are invite in your community. So, those are four outreach myths that are draining four outreach myths that are draining four outreach myths that are draining the invite momentum at your church and the invite momentum at your church and the invite momentum at your church and probably driving you towards thinking probably driving you towards thinking probably driving you towards thinking about marketing. Well, let's talk about about marketing. Well, let's talk about about marketing. Well, let's talk about the budget question for a second. Should the budget question for a second. Should the budget question for a second. Should you stop at all advertising? Well, not you stop at all advertising? Well, not you stop at all advertising? Well, not necessarily. Paid media can raise necessarily. Paid media can raise necessarily. Paid media can raise awareness, but relationships create awareness, but relationships create awareness, but relationships create action. I am we I think that you should action. I am we I think that you should action. I am we I think that you should do some paid media. I think you should do some paid media. I think you should do some paid media. I think you should do some advertising. I think you should do some advertising. I think you should do some advertising. I think you should have that billboard on the side of the have that billboard on the side of the have that billboard on the side of the highway. All of that should be in the highway. All of that should be in the highway. All of that should be in the context of a robust invite culture where context of a robust invite culture where context of a robust invite culture where you're actually talking to your people you're actually talking to your people you're actually talking to your people about the fact that you're doing these about the fact that you're doing these about the fact that you're doing these things so that their friends will see things so that their friends will see things so that their friends will see their friends will have awareness of the their friends will have awareness of the their friends will have awareness of the church. Although that's kind of like the church. Although that's kind of like the church. Although that's kind of like the air war that's getting the conversation air war that's getting the conversation air war that's getting the conversation started. We need boots on the ground. We started. We need boots on the ground. We started. We need boots on the ground. We need the ground war. We need them to need the ground war. We need them to need the ground war. We need them to actually go and do the inviting. Here's actually go and do the inviting. Here's actually go and do the inviting. Here's here's a little bit of data. 79% of here's a little bit of data. 79% of here's a little bit of data. 79% of guests come because of personal invite.

guests come because of personal invite. guests come because of personal invite. Let's just think about that. 80%. This Let's just think about that. 80%. This Let's just think about that. 80%. This is the most pessimistic I could find. is the most pessimistic I could find. is the most pessimistic I could find. Multiple studies show even more than Multiple studies show even more than Multiple studies show even more than that. Invitations are 10 times more that. Invitations are 10 times more that. Invitations are 10 times more powerful than marketing. You should be powerful than marketing. You should be powerful than marketing. You should be spending 10 times as much on your invite spending 10 times as much on your invite spending 10 times as much on your invite culture as you are on your marketing. culture as you are on your marketing. culture as you are on your marketing. Therefore, don't kill your marketing Therefore, don't kill your marketing Therefore, don't kill your marketing budget, but let's let's repurpose it. budget, but let's let's repurpose it. budget, but let's let's repurpose it. Let's take those resources that you were Let's take those resources that you were Let's take those resources that you were spending on those things and let's spending on those things and let's spending on those things and let's repurpose it into a building and invite repurpose it into a building and invite repurpose it into a building and invite culture. In fact, on the upcoming culture. In fact, on the upcoming culture. In fact, on the upcoming workshop, Churchgrowth Launchpad, again, workshop, Churchgrowth Launchpad, again, workshop, Churchgrowth Launchpad, again, you can just check that out at you can just check that out at you can just check that out at churchgrowthaunchpad.com. churchgrowthaunchpad.com. churchgrowthaunchpad.com. We're going to talk about how you can We're going to talk about how you can We're going to talk about how you can invest. I'm going to give you a 90-day invest. I'm going to give you a 90-day invest. I'm going to give you a 90-day plan. Here's the thing you should do to plan. Here's the thing you should do to plan. Here's the thing you should do to kind of finish this year strong, but kind of finish this year strong, but kind of finish this year strong, but then really look up over the horizon and then really look up over the horizon and then really look up over the horizon and talk about next year. What can we do to talk about next year. What can we do to talk about next year. What can we do to get ready in 2026 to reach even more get ready in 2026 to reach even more get ready in 2026 to reach even more people? I would love for your church to people? I would love for your church to people? I would love for your church to end 2026 much larger than it finished end 2026 much larger than it finished end 2026 much larger than it finished here. So, the things you should be here. So, the things you should be here. So, the things you should be spending on, you should be spending on spending on, you should be spending on spending on, you should be spending on training, equipping, and motivation. So training, equipping, and motivation. So training, equipping, and motivation. So this is like the staff and the systems, this is like the staff and the systems, this is like the staff and the systems, the tools for your congregation. These the tools for your congregation. These the tools for your congregation. These are things like invite cards, sharable are things like invite cards, sharable are things like invite cards, sharable social graphics, a mobile first landing social graphics, a mobile first landing social graphics, a mobile first landing page with RSVPs, that sort of thing.

page with RSVPs, that sort of thing. page with RSVPs, that sort of thing. Motivating people. You should be telling Motivating people. You should be telling Motivating people. You should be telling stories that stick, vision leaks. We stories that stick, vision leaks. We stories that stick, vision leaks. We know that we should be investing in know that we should be investing in know that we should be investing in great produced video that tells the great produced video that tells the great produced video that tells the story of people inviting. So friends, story of people inviting. So friends, story of people inviting. So friends, let's land this plane. The gospel let's land this plane. The gospel let's land this plane. The gospel doesn't spread through algorithms. It doesn't spread through algorithms. It doesn't spread through algorithms. It spreads through relationships. If you're spreads through relationships. If you're spreads through relationships. If you're buying attention, if you're spending buying attention, if you're spending buying attention, if you're spending money on marketing, all you're doing is money on marketing, all you're doing is money on marketing, all you're doing is paying rent to platforms. What you paying rent to platforms. What you paying rent to platforms. What you should be doing is building inviters, should be doing is building inviters, should be doing is building inviters, that's an asset that you will own. It's that's an asset that you will own. It's that's an asset that you will own. It's trust in the people that you're trust in the people that you're trust in the people that you're inviting. And ultimately, you're inviting. And ultimately, you're inviting. And ultimately, you're building a community over the long haul building a community over the long haul building a community over the long haul that will fuel growth for years to come. that will fuel growth for years to come. that will fuel growth for years to come. The most persuasive message won't come The most persuasive message won't come The most persuasive message won't come from your web page. It'll come from your from your web page. It'll come from your from your web page. It'll come from your people. So friends, stop buying people. So friends, stop buying people. So friends, stop buying marketing. Start building inviters. Drop marketing. Start building inviters. Drop marketing. Start building inviters. Drop by that website. Sign up for the by that website. Sign up for the by that website. Sign up for the workshop. It's coming up soon. workshop. It's coming up soon. workshop. It's coming up soon. churchgrowth launchpad.com. That is on churchgrowth launchpad.com. That is on churchgrowth launchpad.com. That is on November 12th, 12:00 noon Eastern. November 12th, 12:00 noon Eastern. November 12th, 12:00 noon Eastern. That's 9:00 a.m. for our friends on the That's 9:00 a.m. for our friends on the That's 9:00 a.m. for our friends on the Pacific Coast. Thanks so much, friends.

Pacific Coast. Thanks so much, friends. Pacific Coast. Thanks so much, friends. Reach out. Let me know if you got any Reach out. Let me know if you got any Reach out. Let me know if you got any questions. Would love to help in any way questions. Would love to help in any way questions. Would love to help in any way I possibly can.