I know I’ve been on the sidelines for a bit. I’ve been saving up some thoughts and questions, though, over the last couple of weeks. When I’ve had a moment to let my brain go, here’s what’s been on my mind:
- 78% of people think their church’s website isn’t worth bragging about. In a day when we rely so heavily on the web to gather information, make decisions and interact with each other, this should be alarming. I remember when it was music style that used to make the church look dated and irrelevant…
- Next time I talk to Terry, I want to ask him if he really thinks there’s any benefit to a "church blog." I don’t think people like reading about "the company line" whether it’s GM or Fellowship Church. The real value of blogging is hearing people on the inside share their story without the spin. Corporate blogs are just glorified advertisements, aren’t they?
- Tim’s attending the Blogapalooza this week at the Innovative Church Conference. Bob’s going to be there too.
- I took my older two kids to watch the Cleveland Indians beat the White Sox on Wednesday evening. They’re pretty excited about the pennant race. On August 1, the Sox had a 15-game division lead. It’s down 1 1/2 games. The Tribe is also leading the wild card race.
- The Business 2.0 blog shared this post on Virgin Mobile’s viral marketing campaign to help kids convince their parents they need a cell phone. It’s funny, but it also reflects reality. Makes you wonder, though, the impact your student ministry could have on reaching parents…at least it should. (Go Corey!)
- I wish I would have thought of the leadership interview idea before Josh did.
- This is a big music week. The David Crowder Band and Sheryl Crow both release new albums this week.
- In case you missed this, you really ought to read Tomato TomA[h]to by Tom Peters, a ChangeThis manifesto.
- My wife just read Sheet Music by Kevin Leman. And, I’m pretty sure she’s going to do a little guest-blogging on this topic sometime in the next couple of weeks. I love my wife.
Thanks for the link Tony! The series has been crazy! I just got an email from a major leader saying how they loved the blog. On the church blogs, I noticed on Fellowship’s Blog that they only have like 200 people subscribed to their feed out of a church of 17000+. Thought that was strange.
I thought “Sheet Music” would be of interest to a musician such as I. After finding out the kind of sheets…well, I will buy a copy for my wife and myself…I enjoy your blog, by the way,Tony.
Rich
Tony,
Is there a benefit to a church blog? Yes, a huge benefit! Let me first stomp down on the idea of “share their story without the spin.” I think that is a crazy statement! Everyone has their own spin. Tony you have spin on your blog, I have spin on my blog…it is the spin of who we are! There is no way around that.
Now, putting a communications or PR department in charge of a blog is a total waste of what a blog exists for. Blogs needs to be the heart and soul of communication, not a press release. I encourage you and your readers to listen to Mark Batterson’s podcast on BloggingChurch.com on Monday! He, as a Sr. Pastor has so many great stories and some wonderful examples of why a Church blog is a great thing.
Terry, you’re making my point. Mark’s blog is the perfect example. It’s one person opening up his life and his ministry for others to see. It’s not a corporate deal. It’s not the church’s blog. It’s Mark’s blog that just happens to have a link on the church’s website. That’s why we’re reading about his son’s first soccer goal. You don’t get the unfiltered stories like that from a corporate blog. We love blogs that have a personality and say stuff beyond the “approved” message.
You’re right, though. I have to admit–there’s probably some spin on my blog. :-)
By the way, I’m looking forward to hearing the podcast with Mark. It’s about time more people heard his story. He’s a great leader, and God’s using him to do some incredible stuff in the DC area.
Tony
I totally agree about the corportate blog thing. I would have no desire to read a corporate blog, but I would love to read the CEO’s blog who lets me into his life outside of the company.
Daryl and I are reading sheet music together right now, great book. Hope Emily hands it off to you Tony!
Terry,
If church blogs are a good thing, why is FC discontinuing it?
(I don’t mean to cause offence / trouble. Just wondered…)
Tony,
great stuff as usual, we’ve been thinking of you all and praying for you this week as a staff. Looking forward to the ICC and the blogapalooza! Will there be t-shirts?
Sheet Music is a great read, we owe Dr. Leman big time, it’s funny, frank and right on, Barb is reading it too, I don’t think she’ll be guest blogging quite yet, I can only hope.
If you’re interested, Brian has addressed some the “church blog” questions over on BloggingChurch.com.
Tony
Terry…as “Communications” Pastor I am hurt…(not really I hear you screamin’)…
My comment would be – lets have both. Many of our pastors, including Greg Surrat – our Senior Pastor – are blogging – and we have the “corporate line” Seacoast official blog.
The Secoast blog does allow us to get information out quickly that would never make it to an announcement or on our website, stories that we dont have time to use on a weekend and constant reminders of whats coming up. I know all of this could be done on a website – but while blogs are hot – lets serve em’ up…I think we can have a both and world…