If the word "marketing" makes you wince, you're not alone. Plenty of pastors hear it and think slick, corporate, sales-driven. But according to an article from CareyNieuwhof.com, you're likely marketing your church already, whether you've named it that or not.

The article reframes church marketing as communication: sharing who you are, what you believe, and why it matters to people who need to hear it. Most churches are already doing pieces of this without a strategy behind it—branding through signage and social profiles, weekly video content, word-of-mouth invitations. The article walks through five organic digital tactics (website, SEO, social media, email, online community) and argues consistency matters more than production value.

For growth-minded leaders, the takeaway is less about adding new tactics and more about connecting the ones you're already running. A church that preaches well but has a confusing website or an inactive Google listing is losing people before they ever walk through the door. Communication gaps cost visitors just as much as ministry gaps do.

Three ways to sharpen your church's marketing this week:

Why Church Outreach Programs Fail: 7 Common Mistakes | ChurchLeaders

Thom Rainer argues that most church outreach programs fail for a simple reason: the program becomes the goal instead of the tool. A church fills its calendar, recruits volunteers, and checks the box when the event ends, but few members can explain what actually changed as a result. Rainer points to structural causes, including outward focus never being set as a membership expectation, evangelism training that feels scripted rather than natural, and outreach getting outsourced to a small committee while the rest of the congregation opts out. His fix is building a culture where outward focus is expected, taught, and modeled from day one, not treated as a side ministry.

This week: Before your next outreach event, ask your team Rainer's core question: what do we want members to keep doing after this program ends? If no one can answer, the event needs a clearer purpose before it needs a bigger budget.

Read Article: Why Church Outreach Programs Fail: 7 Common Mistakes

Church Volunteer Screening Should Require Institutional References, Not Personal Ones | Church Law & Tax

Attorney Richard Hammar's abuse-prevention checklist, first built in the early 1990s with five screening steps, has grown to 14. One of the most significant updates: churches should stop accepting personal references from youth worker applicants altogether. Hammar cites FBI research showing that pedophiles' only adult friendships tend to be with other pedophiles, which makes personal references unreliable by design. Instead, he calls institutional references, from a school, another church, or a youth sports program that has actually observed the applicant with minors, the "gold standard." Churches should also log the date, time, and content of every reference call, ideally with a second person on the line to witness and sign the notes.

This week: Pull your current volunteer application. If it still lists personal references as an acceptable option, revise the form before your next round of youth or children's ministry hires.

Read Article: Why Institutional References Matter When Screening Church Volunteers

What would you like to see more of? Hit reply and let us know.

You're receiving this because you care about growing healthy churches. Forward this to a fellow pastor who could use some encouragement.