I saw a great show on a Christian TV station. A Church aired a show to reach the ‘lost’. The entire show was a compelling presentation of the need for a savior. Speaking to a friend at the Church, I asked how response was…Low, only a couple calls for salvation. Which begged the question I had to ask, “Why would you as Christians advertise on Christian TV to Christians, with a message they already know?” Is the Church called to be fishers of men, or changers of the aquarium?
The answer is both. This was a classic case of “right medium, wrong message.” Successful companies know there’s a time to market to prospective 1st time buyers, and another time to market to people who don’t shop with you because they don’t know you’re product is better than the one they’ve always had. Their level of revelation is limited by their exposure.
Don’t be offended, I’m not advocating “stealing members”. But there’s a principle here: Successful marketing targets different messages to different groups. Ministries have 2 audiences to reach, with completely different strategies. One needs salvation. The other might need to be challenged beyond the tank they’re currently swimming in.
While reaching the ‘lost’, are you also infecting your community in a way that awakens those needing more out of “same-old, same-old” Church? Are you modeling passion and impact that challenges a person to want to BE church, not just DO Church? If pain of current circumstances (Church, relationships, business) is measurable, with nothing better in sight, people rarely make change.
When a thread of discontent surfaces in a person’s life, are you there… with the right, relevant message?
