ARC COVER Invitation Cards & More - Effective Church

YvonYvon PrehnPrehn

from Yvon Prehn

About ArticleAbout ArticleAbout ArticleAbout ArticleAbout ArticleArchiveArchiveArchiveArchiveArchivePublicationsPublicationsPublicationsPublicationsPublicationsThere is much that is current, exciting, and new inchurch communications and my website:www.effectivechurchcom.com works hard to keepyou updated on all of this.

At the same time there is much that is timeless inchurch communications. No matter what channel orform you use to pass on your message, what makes a

good newsletter, bulletin, or church overview has similar characteristicswhether you communicate it on the digitally or in print.

I’ve been working in and writing about church communications for a longtime and have lots of materials in the form of scans and PDFs that, thoughthe format and quality varies tremendously, contains a lot of useful,timeless material. The material comes from a variety of newsletters,books, magazines I’ve written for in the past.

Some of it I’ve redone in books and web articles, but rather than hoardingit until I can make it pretty and perfect, I’m collecting what I have andmaking it available in inexpensive PDF format.

The bits of retro humor you get from old publications, Compuserve emailaddresses, observing my changes in weight, haircolor, and eyeglasses(how could I think that was stylish at one time?), are thrown in for free.Needless to say, ignore all addresses, emails, etc. that are in these. Mycurrent email is: [email protected].

Ministry business cards: outreach, PR, caring, and information all in one

yvon prehn, www.effectivechurchcom.com page 1

MinisMinisMinisMinisMinistrtrtrtrtry business cards—outreacy business cards—outreacy business cards—outreacy business cards—outreacy business cards—outreach, PR, caring and infh, PR, caring and infh, PR, caring and infh, PR, caring and infh, PR, caring and information allormation allormation allormation allormation allin one!in one!in one!in one!in one!

The secular business world has long understood the power of busi-ness cards—it’s unimaginable that anyone serious about doingbusiness would go anywhere without one.

Business cards are a great way to network, share about, and grow abusiness and they can accomplish the same things in the church. Thestaff. Leaders, and members of the congregation can all make gooduse of ministry and church business cards as a tasteful, culturallyappropriate way to share their faith by inviting people to your churchor ministry event.

TTTTTo enable yo enable yo enable yo enable yo enable you tou tou tou tou to mako mako mako mako make the best use of ministre the best use of ministre the best use of ministre the best use of ministre the best use of ministry business cary business cary business cary business cary business cards, thisds, thisds, thisds, thisds, thispublication contains:publication contains:publication contains:publication contains:publication contains:

An overview article: Invitation cards, business cards with andeternity-altering purpose

Samples: of basic business cards

Samples of business cards used as invitations to ministries

Sample of a business cared used to advertise a sermon series

Samples of business cards for single adult ministries and youthministries

Samples of cards used for outreach evangelism

Misc. ideas and resources for business cards

Resource if you need to create a logo

Final encouragement to prayer

AAAAAbout the sambout the sambout the sambout the sambout the samples:ples:ples:ples:ples:The samples in this publication are mostly scans of scans fromsamples given to me in my church communications and marketingseminars. Some are screen captures of ones I’ve worked on.

Granted some of them aren’t the greatest quality, but they are usefulfor illustration purposes and hopefully will inspire you to createfantastic ministry business cards for your church.

The poThe poThe poThe poThe powwwwwer of little things used ber of little things used ber of little things used ber of little things used ber of little things used by Gody Gody Gody Gody GodBusiness cards are little things, but God can use little things when wegive them to Him and pray that He use them for His glory and to bringpeople to Jesus. Have fun creating them and using them!

Yours in His service,

Yvon Prehn



InInInInInvitvitvitvitvitation Cards, business cards with an etation Cards, business cards with an etation Cards, business cards with an etation Cards, business cards with an etation Cards, business cards with an eternityernityernityernityernity-alt-alt-alt-alt-altering purering purering purering purering purposeposeposeposepose

How do you get unchurched people into your church?

Despite all the high-tech and expensive advertising methods availabletoday, one method remains the most effective and that is that peoplerespond to invitations from other people.

While it is sometimes sadly true that once someone becomes con-verted, they soon have few friends who are not believers, no onetotally withdraws from the world. Most people still work at secularjobs. Everyone has many contacts a week with people in the businesscommunity: the waitress or waiter at the coffee shop, the Starbucksemployees, the clerks at various stores, the person standing next tothem in lines at the grocery store, airports, or the driver’s licensebureau, the person sitting next to them on the bus or subway.

These brief moments are often filled with casual chatter, but thatcasual chatter could redirect an eternity with a simple statement suchas this….. “Yes, I agree our world is a mess today, but you know, thisweek we’ve having a Saturday night discussion (or a Sunday talk, or aWednesday soup and classes or whatever) and our topic is ‘How to beat peace in an unpeaceful world—I’d like to invite you to come.”

What happens next is incredibly important, because what moves thatencounter from a pleasant, momentary conversation to a potentiallylife-changing connection, is a an invitation card.

InInInInInvitation carvitation carvitation carvitation carvitation cards, a lods, a lods, a lods, a lods, a low tw tw tw tw tech connection tech connection tech connection tech connection tech connection tool with high imool with high imool with high imool with high imool with high impactpactpactpactpactAn invitation card is simply a business card you have created with yourchurch’s information on it: location, meeting times, map if necessaryAND most important of all these days, your website and email.

Business, invitation cards are simple to create. You’ve got the technol-ogy in your church to do it with many programs including MS Word, MSPublisher and any of the higher end graphic design programs. Theprogram you use or the complexity of the design is not important,what is important is that they provide a very nonthreatening link tomore information about your church and Jesus.

These cards do this for two reasons: one, because they give peoplethe specifics of time, location, address, etc. to actually get to yourchurch event. Without these vital details a nice verbal invitation iseasily forgotten no matter how appealing it seems at first.

Second, because the card provides a link to your website. It is part ofour culture today, when we want to check out anything from a nationalcar company to the latest movies, to airline prices and restaurantreviews, that we check out the website. Websites are great becausethey allow the viewer to not be pressured, to maintain their distanceand yet explore a product or service without commitment. Of courseto be useful to a curious, exploring, unchurched person, your websitemust have more on it than a list of service times, but if you areactively giving your people invitation cards with the intention of drivinglots of unchurched people to your website, this should be a greatmotivation for you to reevaluate your website and make sure it has onit information that is complete, up-to-date and in language under-standable to an unchurched person.

YYYYYOU can creatOU can creatOU can creatOU can creatOU can create the care the care the care the care the cardsdsdsdsdsyyyyyou need—you need—you need—you need—you need—you haou haou haou haou havvvvve thee thee thee thee thesofsofsofsofsoftwtwtwtwtware and the creativityare and the creativityare and the creativityare and the creativityare and the creativityttttto do it all at yo do it all at yo do it all at yo do it all at yo do it all at your cour cour cour cour churchurchurchurchurch.h.h.h.h.

YYYYYou don’t need tou don’t need tou don’t need tou don’t need tou don’t need to buyo buyo buyo buyo buyeeeeexpensivxpensivxpensivxpensivxpensive preprinte preprinte preprinte preprinte preprinted cared cared cared cared cardsdsdsdsdsand when yand when yand when yand when yand when you do themou do themou do themou do themou do themyyyyyourourourourourself theself theself theself theself they reflect they reflect they reflect they reflect they reflect theuniquniquniquniqunique minisue minisue minisue minisue ministrtrtrtrtry of yy of yy of yy of yy of yourourourourourccccchurchurchurchurchurch.h.h.h.h.

ChurcChurcChurcChurcChurch business carh business carh business carh business carh business cards areds areds areds areds areone of the BESone of the BESone of the BESone of the BESone of the BEST wT wT wT wT waaaaays tys tys tys tys tooooomarmarmarmarmarkkkkkeeeeet and grt and grt and grt and grt and grooooow yw yw yw yw yourourourourourccccchurchurchurchurchurch—because it inh—because it inh—because it inh—because it inh—because it invvvvvolvolvolvolvolvesesesesesyyyyyour people in the outreacour people in the outreacour people in the outreacour people in the outreacour people in the outreach.h.h.h.h.

FFFFForgeorgeorgeorgeorget et et et et expensivxpensivxpensivxpensivxpensive ads—arme ads—arme ads—arme ads—arme ads—armyyyyyour people with these tour people with these tour people with these tour people with these tour people with these toolsoolsoolsoolsoolsand inspire them tand inspire them tand inspire them tand inspire them tand inspire them to shareo shareo shareo shareo sharethem!them!them!them!them!



In addition, your website should contain invitations to specific ongoingevents of interest to an unchurched person, answers to their ques-tions and an email connection for more information or questions.From your website you can get as complex and innovative as you wantwith links to blogs, pod-casts, on-line discussions, email newsletters,videos, music, whatever your church creates to share the good newsabout Jesus.

In addition, the statistics from your web provider should give you agood idea of how effective your invitation card outreach might be, ifyou decide to do something like: make up enough cards for everyperson in your congregation to have 10 of them; make the mainmessage for example, something about Easter such as “Everybodyfeels like they will live forever…..the question is, in what neighbor-hood? Check out our website for some options and an upcomingevent…….” Challenge your people to give all of them out in the comingweek and then monitor your web statistics to see what happens.

More than a tMore than a tMore than a tMore than a tMore than a tool, a training purool, a training purool, a training purool, a training purool, a training purposeposeposeposeposeIn addition to being a great tool to invite people when you make upthese cards and give them out to your people, it provides training forthem in outreach and evangelism. Far too many church membersthink it is the pastor’s job or the music ministry or the advertisingbudget that is supposed to get new people into the church, when inreality it is everyone’s job.

When you create cards like these and encourage your people to prayfor opportunities to give them out, you are equipping the saints to dothe work of the ministry.

Always have ones available for your church or ministry overall; make upspecial ones for special events and holidays. On a regular basis mentionhow you use the card, interview people and share stories of how yourpeople have used them and you’ll find you will create a church culturewhere everyone is involved in inviting people to come to your church andexperience new life in Jesus.

MinisMinisMinisMinisMinistrtrtrtrtry and cy and cy and cy and cy and churchurchurchurchurchhhhhbusiness carbusiness carbusiness carbusiness carbusiness cards can activds can activds can activds can activds can activelyelyelyelyelyinininininvvvvvolvolvolvolvolve people in outreace people in outreace people in outreace people in outreace people in outreachhhhhminisminisminisminisministrtrtrtrtry in an easyy in an easyy in an easyy in an easyy in an easy, non-, non-, non-, non-, non-threatthreatthreatthreatthreatening wening wening wening wening waaaaayyyyy.....

One last thing............One last thing............One last thing............One last thing............One last thing............Doing up business cards is just plain fun!

They don’t take long and if you do them up and print them up in-house(more ideas on that later in this publication) you can test out logos, testout ministry ideas, PR ideas, whatever.

Don’t take them too seriously and don’t obsess over them, you canalways do up another one if the first try doesn’t work.

Open up that MS Publisher template, or whatever your softwareprogram of choice, and get busy!



Basic ChurcBasic ChurcBasic ChurcBasic ChurcBasic Church business cardsh business cardsh business cardsh business cardsh business cards

As the examples that follow show, a basic business/invitation card fora church can take a variety of forms from very simple to professionallyprinted and in full color.

ANY style can be effective! What is most important is that the stylereflect the personality of your church and that everyone in the churchcarry them at all times to share with the people they encounter.

I really likI really likI really likI really likI really liked this one—it wed this one—it wed this one—it wed this one—it wed this one—it wasasasasasfrfrfrfrfrom a com a com a com a com a churchurchurchurchurch that had ah that had ah that had ah that had ah that had anumber of languagenumber of languagenumber of languagenumber of languagenumber of languagegrgrgrgrgroups—their pasoups—their pasoups—their pasoups—their pasoups—their pastttttor tor tor tor tor told meold meold meold meold methethethethethey inty inty inty inty intentionally wentionally wentionally wentionally wentionally wantantantantantedededededtheir ctheir ctheir ctheir ctheir churchurchurchurchurch th th th th to be “moreo be “moreo be “moreo be “moreo be “morelikliklikliklike heae heae heae heae heavvvvven.”en.”en.”en.”en.”

YYYYYou don’t haou don’t haou don’t haou don’t haou don’t havvvvve te te te te to be fancyo be fancyo be fancyo be fancyo be fancy,,,,,jusjusjusjusjust do somet do somet do somet do somet do something so peoplething so peoplething so peoplething so peoplething so peopleknoknoknoknoknow who yw who yw who yw who yw who you are, whenou are, whenou are, whenou are, whenou are, whenyyyyyou meeou meeou meeou meeou meet, and hot, and hot, and hot, and hot, and how tw tw tw tw to fo fo fo fo findindindindindout more about yout more about yout more about yout more about yout more about you.ou.ou.ou.ou.



A more fA more fA more fA more fA more formal, but vormal, but vormal, but vormal, but vormal, but vererererery useful cardy useful cardy useful cardy useful cardy useful card

This is a really nice card, really fairly simple in design, but most-likelybecause of the fold and layout you would need to have it profession-ally printed. All of the basic information is here, but in addition, Iespecially like:

The space for the person using it to write a personalized note and toperhaps give their contact information.

The gospel presentation. Whenever possible, on all your publications,include a gospel presentation, simply and succinctly how someonecan become a Christian—you never know when someone mightrespond!

A brief gospel presntation isA brief gospel presntation isA brief gospel presntation isA brief gospel presntation isA brief gospel presntation isalwalwalwalwalwaaaaays good tys good tys good tys good tys good to include ono include ono include ono include ono include onananananany communication yy communication yy communication yy communication yy communication youououououcan.can.can.can.can.

Some sSome sSome sSome sSome studies shotudies shotudies shotudies shotudies show thatw thatw thatw thatw thattttttodaodaodaodaoday an individual needs ty an individual needs ty an individual needs ty an individual needs ty an individual needs tooooohear the gospel messagehear the gospel messagehear the gospel messagehear the gospel messagehear the gospel messagesesesesesevvvvven times befen times befen times befen times befen times before theore theore theore theore theyyyyyrespond—and yrespond—and yrespond—and yrespond—and yrespond—and yourourourourourpresentation might juspresentation might juspresentation might juspresentation might juspresentation might just bet bet bet bet bethe one needed tthe one needed tthe one needed tthe one needed tthe one needed to co co co co changehangehangehangehangetheir etheir etheir etheir etheir ettttternityernityernityernityernity.....



A friendlyA friendlyA friendlyA friendlyA friendly, casual card, casual card, casual card, casual card, casual card

Not for everyone, but if this style suits your church, it is a wonderful,friendly and a bit humorous card. Like the previous card, it forms asort of mini-brochure to tell you more about the church than a simplefront and back business card could.

This is a carThis is a carThis is a carThis is a carThis is a card sd sd sd sd style that wtyle that wtyle that wtyle that wtyle that would would would would would worororororkkkkkgreat fgreat fgreat fgreat fgreat for a cor a cor a cor a cor a churchurchurchurchurch that has a buildingh that has a buildingh that has a buildingh that has a buildingh that has a buildingrecognizable trecognizable trecognizable trecognizable trecognizable to the community .o the community .o the community .o the community .o the community .



FFFFFor a sermon seriesor a sermon seriesor a sermon seriesor a sermon seriesor a sermon seriesThis church does new cards for each upcoming sermon series. One greatadvantage of doing that is that people always have a new reason to get thecards and to give them out. You may not have the time to do them for everynew sermon series, but you may want to do some for special times of theyear such as the Easter or Christmas season, or for a special series like thisone on the family.

BeBeBeBeBeyyyyyond oond oond oond oond ovvvvverall cerall cerall cerall cerall churchurchurchurchurch inh inh inh inh invitvitvitvitvitationsationsationsationsations

Business cards can be used not only to advertise the church overall,but for ministries within the church and for inviting people to specificsermon series.

Below are two card for the Mom’s ministries in the churches. Thesekinds of cards that explain the program and give all the importantcontact information are essential if you want to get busy moms to theprograms—because no one can remember all the details on a PowerPoint slide in the church service while trying to hold a three-year old orkeep a five-year old occupied.

On the following pages are cards used to invite people to singles,young adult and youth programs. Even in our age of high tech, busi-ness cards are still one of the easiest ways to inform people aboutchurch events.



FFFFFor Single Adult Minisor Single Adult Minisor Single Adult Minisor Single Adult Minisor Single Adult Ministriestriestriestriestries

Singles are always looking for events and programs that are safe, low-cost, fun and worthwhile. Equip your people to tell others about them.Make up cards like this not only for the singles themselves, butremember that most married folks in the church have single friends orchildren and they should also have them handy to be able to invite thesingles they know.

Both of these need to be updatedwith the current dates, so be sure todo up new versions as needed. Thewebsite on them makes them usefuleven if someone gets one after thecurrent dates have passed



InInInInInvitvitvitvitvitations fations fations fations fations for specific eor specific eor specific eor specific eor specific evvvvventsentsentsentsents

This single adult ministry also created cards as specific invitations toa variety of events as the examples on this page illustrate. Theopposite side of the card could then have overall ministry information.

Another idea, trAnother idea, trAnother idea, trAnother idea, trAnother idea, try cards insy cards insy cards insy cards insy cards instttttead of brocead of brocead of brocead of brocead of brochures fhures fhures fhures fhures for vor vor vor vor voluntoluntoluntoluntolunteereereereereeropporopporopporopporopportunitiestunitiestunitiestunitiestunities

I recently heard about a church that did up a series of business cardsto describe the various ministries and volunteer opportunities in theirchurch. They did away with the larger brochures and brochure rackbecause they concluded that with people’s busy schedules today thatthe business cards would be easier and quicker to read.



PPPPPaper saper saper saper saper still wtill wtill wtill wtill worororororks fks fks fks fks for all agesor all agesor all agesor all agesor all ages

In an age of cell phones, email and myspace, a printed invitation to ayoung adult or youth program is still useful. Below is a simple doublesided card and then a more complex folded one. If you have a greatinternet presence, you can always direct people to it, but nothingbeats a printed piece of paper to enable someone to remember awebsite.



Cards needed fCards needed fCards needed fCards needed fCards needed for outreacor outreacor outreacor outreacor outreach eh eh eh eh evvvvvangelismangelismangelismangelismangelism

When your church doespublic acts of kindness andoutreach, you need to letpeople know about you—whoyou are and that you aredoing it in the name ofJesus.

Here is an example of onecard that did that.

For some great additionalexamples of cards to giveout and many wonderfulideas and articles onoutreach evangelism, go to:

wwwwwwwwwwwwwww.ser.ser.ser.ser.servvvvvantantantantanteeeeevvvvvangelism.com/carangelism.com/carangelism.com/carangelism.com/carangelism.com/cards.ds.ds.ds.ds.Below is an example fromtheir website. Please do gothere and read about thisfantastic way to reach yourcommunity with the love ofJesus.



Misc. tips and ideas about business/inMisc. tips and ideas about business/inMisc. tips and ideas about business/inMisc. tips and ideas about business/inMisc. tips and ideas about business/invitvitvitvitvitation cardsation cardsation cardsation cardsation cards

Misc. ideasMisc. ideasMisc. ideasMisc. ideasMisc. ideas* One pastor of a small, but growing church shared that she made uppersonalized invitation cards for the members of her church. When Iasked her why she went to all that trouble to personalize them, shereplied, “That way I can tell who is sharing and inviting because theyare the ones who ask for additional cards!”

* Personalized business cards are also nice to make up for people inministries at the church, for example for your various small groupleaders. In addition to providing information, it also is a way of affirm-ing the work they do.

* You can print up your own cards easily using templates for MS Wordand MS Publisher. The programs themselves have some templates,but if you want more, go to the www.microsoft.com site and click onthe template section.

RRRRResouresouresouresouresourcescescescesces* You can print up your own business cards on your in-house printersand copiers and with the little cutter below, it’s a snap to do them onANY cardstock!

* If you’d like glossy, full-color cards printed at very reasonable prices,check out: www.vistaprint.com and 48hourprint.com. Probablywouldn’t have the time or money to do this for everything, but forspecial occasions they look great.

* In addition to just giving out the business cards on cardstock, youcan also make them into magnets by purchasing the business cardsize magnets at your local office supply store.

* You don’t have to use the micro-perforated cardstock to createbusiness cards. Paper Direct sells the most incredible little businesscard cutter, picture below. You can also sometimes find these at localpaper supply stores. these enable you to print business cards on ANYcard stock and then cut them to size easily and quickly. I LOVE thislittle machine and use it lots.

available at:wwwwwwwwwwwwwww.paper.paper.paper.paper.paperdirect.com.direct.com.direct.com.direct.com.direct.com.

ChecChecChecChecCheck this out:k this out:k this out:k this out:k this out:RISO (http://us.riso.com, goRISO (http://us.riso.com, goRISO (http://us.riso.com, goRISO (http://us.riso.com, goRISO (http://us.riso.com, gothere fthere fthere fthere fthere for a dealer near yor a dealer near yor a dealer near yor a dealer near yor a dealer near you),ou),ou),ou),ou),has a full-color machas a full-color machas a full-color machas a full-color machas a full-color machine—it’shine—it’shine—it’shine—it’shine—it’snononononot a duplicatt a duplicatt a duplicatt a duplicatt a duplicatororororor, it is the fas, it is the fas, it is the fas, it is the fas, it is the fastttttesesesesestttttinkjeinkjeinkjeinkjeinkjet printt printt printt printt printer in the wer in the wer in the wer in the wer in the world (oorld (oorld (oorld (oorld (ovvvvvererererer1111100 pages a minut00 pages a minut00 pages a minut00 pages a minut00 pages a minute). Te). Te). Te). Te). Takakakakake ye ye ye ye yourourourourourbusiness carbusiness carbusiness carbusiness carbusiness card fd fd fd fd file tile tile tile tile to a dealero a dealero a dealero a dealero a dealerand ask tand ask tand ask tand ask tand ask to see a samo see a samo see a samo see a samo see a sample of hople of hople of hople of hople of howwwwwit runs on this macit runs on this macit runs on this macit runs on this macit runs on this machine—yhine—yhine—yhine—yhine—youououououwwwwwon’t belieon’t belieon’t belieon’t belieon’t believvvvve it—fe it—fe it—fe it—fe it—for less than 4or less than 4or less than 4or less than 4or less than 4centscentscentscentscents a page a page a page a page a page (no (no (no (no (not per cart per cart per cart per cart per card,d,d,d,d,that wthat wthat wthat wthat would be fould be fould be fould be fould be for 1or 1or 1or 1or 10 car0 car0 car0 car0 cards) yds) yds) yds) yds) youououououcould do up business carcould do up business carcould do up business carcould do up business carcould do up business cards fds fds fds fds forororororeeeeevvvvvererererery minisy minisy minisy minisy ministrtrtrtrtry in yy in yy in yy in yy in your cour cour cour cour churchurchurchurchurchhhhhand sand sand sand sand still hatill hatill hatill hatill havvvvve ce ce ce ce change lefhange lefhange lefhange lefhange left ft ft ft ft forororororlattlattlattlattlattes!es!es!es!es!



One more thing, sometimes yOne more thing, sometimes yOne more thing, sometimes yOne more thing, sometimes yOne more thing, sometimes you need a logo firou need a logo firou need a logo firou need a logo firou need a logo firsssssttttt

Before you can create a useful card you really need a logo for yourchurch or ministry within the church. Yes, you can spend hundreds ofdollars and months of time (and that may be appropriate for somechurches or ministries) but sometimes you simply need somethingthat is quick and easy and works. After checking out a number ofprograms and services, my current favorite is www. logosmartz.com. Ireally like this program. It is inexpensive, only $39. and very easy touse. You can download a free trial to check it out.

The mosThe mosThe mosThe mosThe most import import import import importttttant thing—praant thing—praant thing—praant thing—praant thing—pray and trusy and trusy and trusy and trusy and trust the Lord as yt the Lord as yt the Lord as yt the Lord as yt the Lord as you wou wou wou wou worororororkkkkk

“No“No“No“No“Not bt bt bt bt by might or by might or by might or by might or by might or by poy poy poy poy powwwwwererererer, but b, but b, but b, but b, but by my my my my my Spirit”y Spirit”y Spirit”y Spirit”y Spirit”Nothing we do, no matter how fancy, professional, timely or impres-sive will ever touch souls and change lives unless the Lord blessesour work. The most important thing we can do as we create ourbusiness/invitation cards and all our communications is to pray forthe Lord’s leading as we create our work and that He touch the heartsof those who will receive it.

We might never know in our earthly pilgrimage the effect of these littlecards, but heaven will be different because of them.

All three of these logos were created inless than 10 minutes using the LogoSmartz templates and they can be savedin a variety of print and digital formats.

End notes, Reprint Information, Resources, etc.End notes, Reprint Information, Resources, etc.End notes, Reprint Information, Resources, etc.End notes, Reprint Information, Resources, etc.End notes, Reprint Information, Resources, etc.

PPPPPermission termission termission termission termission to repro repro repro repro reproduce aroduce aroduce aroduce aroduce articles:ticles:ticles:ticles:ticles:You may reproduce single copies of any of the content in this publication for yourchurch staff or you may reprint it in any publication or website that is intended tohelp churches without additional permission and with my blessings.

PLEASE use the following citation:by Yvon Prehn, www.effectivechurchcom.comby Yvon Prehn, www.effectivechurchcom.comby Yvon Prehn, www.effectivechurchcom.comby Yvon Prehn, www.effectivechurchcom.comby Yvon Prehn, www.effectivechurchcom.com

I would appreciate you linking to the website, www.effectivechurchcom.com.PLEASE let your friends know about our ministry of helping church communicatorsand the resources we have for them at www.lulu.com/yvonprehn.

Interview info:Interview info:Interview info:Interview info:Interview info:If you would like to interview Yvon Prehn on any of the topics in this publication orany topic related to church communications for either print articles or othermedia, I’d be happy to chat—contact me through [email protected] have done extensive radio work, some television, and am comfortable withunscripted interviews, call-in, and talk formats.

Additional resources, training and church communication instruction:Additional resources, training and church communication instruction:Additional resources, training and church communication instruction:Additional resources, training and church communication instruction:Additional resources, training and church communication instruction:The website: www.effectivechurchcom.com has hundreds of articles, videos,podcasts and additional resources to help you grow as an effective churchcommunicator.T he website has free materials, low-cost downloadable communi-cation helps, and materials available to members only,

Effective Church Communications also has a church communication resourcesstorefront at www.lulu.com/yvonprehn that sells downloadable and paperbackbooks and instructional materials on CDs.

Citation note:Citation note:Citation note:Citation note:Citation note:Some of the material here appeared in earlier versions of articles in ChristianComputing Magazine, articles in my newsletters or other publications, my misc.books and reprints, or on my website, www.effectivechurchcom.com. I’m alwaysadvising church communicators of the importance of repetition and I repeat keyarticles, advice, and key communication teachings in many ways.

Scripture versions and citations:Scripture versions and citations:Scripture versions and citations:Scripture versions and citations:Scripture versions and citations:Unless otherwise noted, Bible verses are from the New International Version.Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zonder-van. All rights reserved.

Comments, corrections, qComments, corrections, qComments, corrections, qComments, corrections, qComments, corrections, questions, suggestions fuestions, suggestions fuestions, suggestions fuestions, suggestions fuestions, suggestions for additional aror additional aror additional aror additional aror additional articlesticlesticlesticlesticlesor information to help church communications etc.or information to help church communications etc.or information to help church communications etc.or information to help church communications etc.or information to help church communications etc.

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Yvon PrehnYvon PrehnYvon PrehnYvon PrehnYvon PrehnVentura, CA

About Effective ChurchAbout Effective ChurchAbout Effective ChurchAbout Effective ChurchAbout Effective ChurchCommunicationsCommunicationsCommunicationsCommunicationsCommunicationsEffective Church Communications is a ministry that providestraining, resources, and inspiration to help church communicators

fully fulfill the Great Commission. The hub of our ministry is our website: www.effectivechurchcom.com.

Our approach to church communications includes more than design and communication constructionhow-tos, though we have lots of them. It includes foundational, biblical teaching related to communica-tions, communication leadership, and church communciation teams. We constantly remind churchcommunicators that we have been entrusted with the words of eternal life and the eternal destinies ofpeople depend on how well we communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Though we work hard to stay current with technology (our training is web-based, we tweet, podcast, andare moderate tech junkies), we value and teach timeless communication skills and principles. Themajority of our training has application in every communication channel from print to podcasts.

We believe churches of every size, from tiny house churches to mega-churches benefit from clear,effective communication and we strongly emphasize that churches be who they are in their communica-tions to their unique congregation and to the community they are called to reach. We strongly encouragechurches to study their people, set goals, evaluate response to communication projects, consistently andclearly communicate, rather than copy the latest mega-church or marketing trend.

We do not allow, encourage, link to, or promote, in any way, irreverent, profane language or snarky, cynicalapproaches to church communication or in the discussion of it. We serve a holy God and we seek in allwe do to walk worthy and communicate a worthy message.

We strongly believe church communicators, from any size church, who use any software, with any skilllevel, can help and encourage each other and we have a number of ways church communicators canshare and interact through our website.

Though we encourage church communicators to pour their hearts, minds and souls into the hard work ofcommunicating the words of eternal life, we are constantly aware that our words will only accomplisheternal results because of the blessing of them, and His working through them, by our eternal God.

About Yvon PrehnAbout Yvon PrehnAbout Yvon PrehnAbout Yvon PrehnAbout Yvon PrehnYvon Prehn is the founder and director of the training site for church communicators,www.effectivechurchcom.com.

Yvon has worked in communication ministry for over 25 years. She was a free-lancenewspaper reporter and religion writer for the Colorado Springs SUN She was a top-rated,

national trainer in desktop publishing for Padgett/Thompson, the nation’s largest one-day seminarcompany when desktop publishing was first invented. She worked as a communications consultant andtrainer for many of the ministries headquartered in Colorado Springs and was senior editor at bothCompassion International and Young life International. For fourteen years she traveled full-time all overNorth America teaching seminars on church communications.

Yvon has written for many of the major Christian magazines. Her most recent books include: ChurchBulletins, how to create and use them to touch and change lives, Church Connection Cards, The FiveSteps of Effective Church Communications & Marketing, available at www.lulu.com/yvonprehn.

Yvon has a master’s degree in Church History and has done additional extensive graduate work intheology and communications. She has taught high school English and was an adjunct professor in churchhistory at Regis University.

In addition to her formal experience, Yvon gets the opportunity to practice church communications in verypractical ways. She is the wife of a bi-vocational pastor and does the secretarial and church communica-tions work for her husband Paul, in addition to co-teaching in a variety of ministry settings at the churchthey work with in Ventura, California.

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