Brad Abare shared in the second session of the pre-conference intensive. He imparted 9 lessons he has learned in not sucking at communications.

1. Change the way people experience church.
2. Just because it communicates doesn’t mean it works.
3. Marketing is being turned on its head. The church really needs to evaluate who and what they are at the core. What we do needs to flow out of who we are.
4. Quit looking for results in things you are nit investing in.
5. Cute, clever and cool should be used to enhance, not dominate.
6. How is our message being translated?
7. The results will speak to the question of success in marketing and communication.
8. Design matters
9. Be ready for success.

Brad said that before we plan a marketing or communication piece we should consider the following:
Message – what is the core message you are trying to communicate? 
Movement – what is the result you want to achieve?
Method – this is the bridge from the message to the movement. What is the best way to make the movement happen as a result of the message?

I loved Brad’s heart in sharing why we need to employ marketing in the Church as long as we keep what is important first – Jesus!