Travis Johnson

Church Rocks!

Southbound US-1 just north of Home Depot and Wal Mart. 

new invite cards for fall schedule

Mailers Delivered

The Easter mailers have been delivered to the USPS.  That means that Easter is coming soon.  That is a BIG deal.  Reason?

#1 We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus without which there would be no forgiveness.
#2 We have a seasonal stage to point people to Christ...an opportunity unlike any other day of the year!

Playing it Safe Sucks!

We are coming down to the last days of the due diligence period for selling our church building.  The building and property is rock solid and the only contingency is the inspection.  Still, I know that anything can happen.  Deals are never deals until they are closed and the money is in the bank.  That's the way big deals work.  Chase, uncertainty, victory (immediate and delayed).

When I was in corporate sales and marketing, I loved the chase.  I loved the strategy behind long, complicated deals.  And, of course, winning tasted good.  Losing fuels the fire to be better next time.

To be honest, if I was in a typical church, surrounded by people fearful of change, I may miss it.  But, we are constantly in flux, pursuing change.  For the last two years we have been pressing every button, pursuing the angles, and going for broke.  At times, it has been difficult and even scary.  But, it has been right and God has always come through.  The journey has been an adventure.

So, as we wrestle and embrace change, we stand at the precipice of a new day in our existence. A multi-million dollar contract is teetering ready to close...but it is possible it might not...anything is possible until the deal is closed. We could wish for the perfect ingredients before we do anything.  Or, we can launch out and go for the mission of the Church of Jesus Christ in a big way.

Seth Godin said in a recent post that one of the biggest factors in the success of the US isn't our natural resources or location. It's that so many people in this country came here seeking a thrill.

I echo those sentiments.  Our success in mission does not rest with the selling of a physical church property.  It rests in the fact that God is who He says He is and we put our faith in action, seeking a great thrill on an eternal mission of connecting people with a Holy God.  God did not call us to play it safe, to give up on the verge of victory, or to become satisfied or stagnant upon realizing comfort.  Really, playing it safe sucks.  That's how you lose.  Going "all in" with a radical pursuit of the mission is the only way to get it done. 

Monday at 5 PM, the deal is set to go hard.  If it happens, we have less than a month to get out.  If it doesn't, we'll likely dip back into the market place and recontact potential buyers.  Regardless, I'm all in.

Easter Mailers Are In

 
56,000 of these suckers are sitting in the office right now ready to be delivered to the USPS.  They are conversation pieces for you to leverage.  The goal?  Get your neighbors in church on the day that everyone is most open to going to church.  The "Losing My Religion" series is going to rock.  It is four weeks away...plenty of time for you to make the difference in someone's life! 

We'll open with a little R.E.M. and an entirely new setup with video overflow into another theater and the lobby.  It's going to be a lot of fun.  As always we need your help.  If you aren't already serving somewhere, drop by the info desk in the lobby or sign up here.

Marketing the Mission

On Friday, I am speaking at a Missions Conference to about 70 missionaries on the topic of "Marketing the Mission."  The bulk of traditional fund raising for missionaries is accomplished by speaking in church services.  However, the way church is carried out today cuts the number of these opportunities by a third.  In the past, there were typically 3 services per week.  Today, there is typically one corporate gathering each week supplemented by small groups. 

This shift has created a significant financial challenge for missionaries.  Those who have make the shift have/will prosper(ed).  Those who fail to leverage new venues for communicating their stories will atrophy and be ignored.

My undergraduate degree is in communication.  My corporate background is in marketing.  My passion is the mission of Christ.  I absolutely look forward to opportunities like these.  I still have fire in my belly.  I love to close deals.  I hate fishing.  I love catching.  I love to challenge people to try new things.  I love to be around people who are totally sold out to Christ and who are putting their lives on the line for His cause.  I hate to see people with a significant message being ignored.  I am very much looking forward to Friday and the relationships that will emerge from the meetings.

New Logo

cleaner. direct. to the pointe.

Club Cards and T-Shirts

Below are our new invite cards/club cards.  Give them away to all your crazy friends.  We also have some t-shirts on order.  Pre-ordering begins Sunday.  Stop by the welcome center on Sunday to check out the designs and get your name on the list.

Church Marketing

Over the last year, beginning with our free gas promotion and the Miami Herald article done on our church, I have received a number of emails in the positive and the negative concerning the marketing and advertising Life Pointe employs.  Recently, I have entered into a great discussion via email with a young, articulate seminary student by the name of Derek Knoke.  I would like to carry that discussion on over to my blog because the content and discussion is good enough to warrant opening it up for others to read and participate.

First, marketing and advertising are two totally distinct practices.  Andy Havens of Sanestorm says, "Marketing is the study and practice of better, faster, cheaper and friendlier. “Making things go more smoothly,” as I put it to my students. The product or service a company provides is the “what” of its existence. Marketing is the “how.” In a church setting, our “what” is the spreading of the Word of Christ.

Brian Norris says, "Marketing is the ongoing process of moving people closer to making a decision to purchase, use, follow...or conform to someone else's products, services or values. Simply, if it doesn't facilitate a "sale" then it's not marketing."

The Apostle Paul says in the most radically transparent statement, "I have become all things to all men so that by all means I might save some." I Cor. 9:22-23

I would propose to those of you trying to get a handle on the appropriate mediums for communication of the Gospel that it is not only acceptable to market Christ and the Church, it is mandatory to do so.  Perhaps, the best marketing statement is found in Romans 3:13, "Let us walk honestly as in the day...". Obviously, the aim is not simply to pursuade people to also follow Christ.  The aim is to live out Christ in us.  Marketing as an event is not primary in this passage.  But, it is certainly a by-product.  In answer to some marketing/advertising concerns, it would express brand and image as an authentic expression of Imago Dei.

tagged: Imago  Dei - church marketing - derek knoke - brian norris - andy havens

NPR: Holy Start-up!

Listen to Marty's interview with National Public Radio.  Apparently, the Today Show will be at his church, Steven's Creek on Sunday morning.  Marty handled himself very well and made a great presentation not only for Secure Give but also for Christ.

related post: Marty Baker's Giving Kiosk

tagged:  npr - secure give - marty baker - Today Show - giving kiosk