I’ve changed my mind.
For over 10 years, I’ve been a proponent of church marketing, but I’m at the place now where I think it needs to end. It’s time for churches to stop marketing.
No more direct mail postcards. Stop the billboards and the radio ads. Take down the clever cliches on the church sign out front. End the platform announcements the bulletin announcements and the email blasts. These tactics need to be avoided.
Don’t read any more Seth Godin books. Stop visiting the Church Marketing Sucks website. (Most of it still sucks by the way.) Don’t go to workshops and conferences on marketing topics. And, whatever you do, don’t take advice from ex-marketing-proponents like me.
Marketing is becoming a barrier to the advancement of the Gospel message. It’s becoming a hindrance for the church. Ministry is being negatively impacted because churches are attempting to use marketing tactics to reach people for Jesus and help them take steps in their faith.
I’m serious about this. It has to stop. And sometime in the next few days I’ll explain why.
Go ahead. Tell your friends. Everyone needs to know.
Marketing is evil.
