Packaging is the “in” buzzword in marketing these days. It means the presentation of a product to the public in a way designed to build up a favorable image. While it may seem strange to hear the term packaging as it relates at a church conference, Rev. Jeff Scheich in a session at Best Practices, explained that packaging is fundamental for churches to use to build interest in a worship series they are introducing.
Movie posters like these are an example of packaging.
Like with the launch of a movie, it is important to “get the word out” in various forms of media: posters, banners, videos, special events, even trinkets like cups, lanyards and little flashlights. Most every parish has a member who is a vendor for items like this and would be willing to provide them at a discount or free of charge.
Building interest in a topic for a worship series is key because the topic being discussed may be of particular interest to a friend or a neighbor or even a lapsed member who would thoroughly enjoy attended the services during those particular weeks.
But if people don’t know about it, how will they know to come? Sounds like a Bible verse i know:
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? (Romans 10:14).
Scheich talked about one recent series at his church called “Bearded Men ohttps://www.facebook.com/ferosario.strother/posts/10207655314532994f History” in which they focused on the biblical stories of Moses, Eliah, Samson and Esau.
To build interest, they made a trailer for the series and put it on youtube.com. See it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF-LRfA54qY
They started a Facebook page. They had a “Best Beard” contest and invited anyone in the community to enter. They made beard trimming services available on Sundays to men who needed it.
Needless to say, people got excited about the series and it got them excited about hearing the messages that God was sending to them through the words of Scripture about these influential men of God.
Those who may not have step foot in that church before got a glimpse of what the Body of Christ was like and got to see that church people can have fun, too, while they learn about the Lord.
That is the power of packaging. And it’s not a concept to be afraid of. It is an idea to embrace in our parish planning because it is how people are used to receiving information.
So, have you used packaging in big and little ways to build momentum for something at your church? And what recommendations might you have for others? Feel free to share your thoughts.
