What is ComArts?
The mission of Redwood Park Church is:
This means communication that doesn't just invite people to attend stuff and do things, but communication that expresses vision and values that invites people into another way of inhabiting time and space; communication that conveys the beauty and simplicity of life in Christ.
To join God in His work
to see all people reconciled
to God, the earth, each other, and themselves.
Communication Arts (or ComArts) is to be in service of that mission.to God, the earth, each other, and themselves.
This means communication that doesn't just invite people to attend stuff and do things, but communication that expresses vision and values that invites people into another way of inhabiting time and space; communication that conveys the beauty and simplicity of life in Christ.
Show & Tell
Let's move beyond merely telling people what our ministries are, let's show them what community life in the Body of Christ looks like, sounds like, and feels like.
Let's articulate clearly and succinctly what our ministries are and the needs they are seeking to meet, and how they fulfill our mission... AND let's show them what our ministries are in a way that captures the imagination of what saying "yes" to Jesus can mean for them.
Let's articulate clearly and succinctly what our ministries are and the needs they are seeking to meet, and how they fulfill our mission... AND let's show them what our ministries are in a way that captures the imagination of what saying "yes" to Jesus can mean for them.
Beauty
Let's move beyond utility in communication and strive towards a beauty that conveys an arresting vision of what is possible in Christ and what is important in Christ; a beauty that moves the heart towards Christ (in the way that beauty and hope intrinsically do), so that, even if they don’t sign up for whatever the thing is, a subtle shift in their heart has the potential to occur.
And let's allow ourselves to be a little gratituitious at times. Creator God is a God of gratuitious beauty, let's allow ourselves, as image-bearers to reflect this.
And let's allow ourselves to be a little gratituitious at times. Creator God is a God of gratuitious beauty, let's allow ourselves, as image-bearers to reflect this.
Understanding the ComArts Process: AIDA
In many communication models, the goal is to move people through a funnel that begins with Awareness (this exists), and moves from Interest (tell me more...), to Desire (I want this), and finally to Action (I'm gonna do it!). All of our communication channels and mediums are geared towards at least one of these - many are capable of hitting multiple at the same time.
In all stages of communication we should be striving for a clarity of Message (what am I saying?), and a directness of Action (what do we want people to do with the information?). In addition, we also want to try to encourage people to Share (how can we inspire them to invite others?).
In all stages of communication we should be striving for a clarity of Message (what am I saying?), and a directness of Action (what do we want people to do with the information?). In addition, we also want to try to encourage people to Share (how can we inspire them to invite others?).
Our Many Channels
Website & App
The core of all of our communication is our website & app. It is from here that all of the rest of our communication branches out from. The website is the central hub of the communication of the church.
Other Places
Here is a list of the other channels of communication that we have access to. There isn't a single channel that can do it all, but when all of the channels, with their various strengths and weaknesses, are working together a fuller, more comprehensive and invitational picture can emerge.
And remember, the broader goal is that people are formed through our communication so that their pursuit of Jesus and growth in him is sustained and encouraged beyond just the Sunday morning gathering.
• Sunday Walk-in Loop (Awareness)
• Foyer Posters & iPads (Awareness & Action)
• Instagram & Facebook (Awareness, Interest & Desire)
• Monthly Newsletter & Blog Posts (an extension of the website that can hit all of AIDA, but can be limited by volume).
In all of these, robust communication isn't just the announcing of things, but also the stories of what happens at these things, the impact they make on lives. When putting together your communication plans, also come up with a plan for follow-up; ways to capture the stories that can be shared through our various channels.
The core of all of our communication is our website & app. It is from here that all of the rest of our communication branches out from. The website is the central hub of the communication of the church.
•It is the only digital space that is fully ours - not subject to the whims of 3rd party agendas that create and change the algorithms that dictacte what people see and when they see it.
•It is reliably the first place that people will go when they want to know what is happening in the church.
•It is the first place newcomer's visit before the step into the church building.
•It is the place of smallest distance between receiving the information and being able to act on it.
The information, invitation, descriptions and visuals used to create the event listing informs and becomes what is remixed and shared in all of the other places.
Other Places
Here is a list of the other channels of communication that we have access to. There isn't a single channel that can do it all, but when all of the channels, with their various strengths and weaknesses, are working together a fuller, more comprehensive and invitational picture can emerge.
And remember, the broader goal is that people are formed through our communication so that their pursuit of Jesus and growth in him is sustained and encouraged beyond just the Sunday morning gathering.
• Sunday Walk-in Loop (Awareness)
• Foyer Posters & iPads (Awareness & Action)
• Instagram & Facebook (Awareness, Interest & Desire)
• Monthly Newsletter & Blog Posts (an extension of the website that can hit all of AIDA, but can be limited by volume).
In all of these, robust communication isn't just the announcing of things, but also the stories of what happens at these things, the impact they make on lives. When putting together your communication plans, also come up with a plan for follow-up; ways to capture the stories that can be shared through our various channels.
The "Holy Grail" of Communication
Through all of these different means and mediums, as we seek to move people from awareness to action, there is one tool that stands heads and tails above all others for making people Aware of something and moving them through Interest and Desire towards Action: Word-of-Mouth.
There is no method of communication that will ever be more effective than people so bought in to what you are doing that they personally invite other people in their life to do it with them. This means that in every communication plan, thought and intention should be given to how to equip and empower people involved in your ministry to spread the word. We need to invest in ways to create, encourage, and foster communication within the body, not just from "the front" or through "official" channels.
And of course, we do not rely merely on wise and persuasive words, but instead pray for and trust the Spirit to draw hearts towards him and embolden us to share his good news and invitation.
There is no method of communication that will ever be more effective than people so bought in to what you are doing that they personally invite other people in their life to do it with them. This means that in every communication plan, thought and intention should be given to how to equip and empower people involved in your ministry to spread the word. We need to invest in ways to create, encourage, and foster communication within the body, not just from "the front" or through "official" channels.
And of course, we do not rely merely on wise and persuasive words, but instead pray for and trust the Spirit to draw hearts towards him and embolden us to share his good news and invitation.
More Than Shouting Into the Void...
Imagine...
• Small groups talking about events and attending together.
• Ministries pumping other ministries as part of their ministry.
• People sharing social media content in their own feeds.
• No one registering for an event by themselves.
• Ministries pumping other ministries as part of their ministry.
- NextGen communicating Midweek Worship,
- YA communicating Alpha (instead of running their own),
- Men’s Group Chat communicating Steve Bell Concert, etc.
• Key leaders and participants inviting people personally in the foyer on Sundays.
• People sharing social media content in their own feeds.
• No one registering for an event by themselves.
[Message] ➡️ [Action] ➡️ [Share]
[Message]: The "what" and "why" - what is it and what need it is seeking to meet/why it matters.
[Action]: "How" they take the next step?
[Share] - "Who" can they invite?
[Action]: "How" they take the next step?
[Share] - "Who" can they invite?
Tips for filling out the form
1. Please fill out all the fields with as much relevant information as possible.
2. Include in the description of the Event, not just the when and where, but your vision and passion for your ministry. Why and how is it a meaningful expression of our Vision and Mission? What do you hope people experience and/or walk away with?
3. For the "Sell your event in 3 sentences" field: Condense your event/ministry into the most inspiring, invitational "elevator pitch" that you can come up with. How would you invite someone to this if you only had 15 seconds? This often becomes the first part of any communication (it is what will hook them and want them to read more) or the last part of any communication (it will be what pushes them over the line to saying "yes") - so give it your all!
4. Arguably, more important than the upfront communication about your ministry is the follow-up communication: the stories, the photos, the videos, etc. The ongoing sharing of fruit from your ministry, not only cheers the heart of those who hear it (beautiful communication), but it becomes the best argument for making sure to not miss out the next time you are wanting to communicate. Additionally, meaningful stories about what people have experienced in the past will always be more compelling than simply details of what a thing is. Please come up with a specific and achievable plan for how you will capture the fruit of your ministry - in stories, and photo and video. If you need help or inspiration, Shawn would be happy to work with you to come up with ideas.
5. Early communication creates the most opportunities for strategic communication, and it takes time to turn the form into a meaningful campaign (with graphics, posters, slides, schedules, social content and event listings/registrations on the website, app, etc.) So don't procrastinate on submitting your form! Please allow at least two weeks for processing/creation before we start getting the word out.
2. Include in the description of the Event, not just the when and where, but your vision and passion for your ministry. Why and how is it a meaningful expression of our Vision and Mission? What do you hope people experience and/or walk away with?
3. For the "Sell your event in 3 sentences" field: Condense your event/ministry into the most inspiring, invitational "elevator pitch" that you can come up with. How would you invite someone to this if you only had 15 seconds? This often becomes the first part of any communication (it is what will hook them and want them to read more) or the last part of any communication (it will be what pushes them over the line to saying "yes") - so give it your all!
4. Arguably, more important than the upfront communication about your ministry is the follow-up communication: the stories, the photos, the videos, etc. The ongoing sharing of fruit from your ministry, not only cheers the heart of those who hear it (beautiful communication), but it becomes the best argument for making sure to not miss out the next time you are wanting to communicate. Additionally, meaningful stories about what people have experienced in the past will always be more compelling than simply details of what a thing is. Please come up with a specific and achievable plan for how you will capture the fruit of your ministry - in stories, and photo and video. If you need help or inspiration, Shawn would be happy to work with you to come up with ideas.
5. Early communication creates the most opportunities for strategic communication, and it takes time to turn the form into a meaningful campaign (with graphics, posters, slides, schedules, social content and event listings/registrations on the website, app, etc.) So don't procrastinate on submitting your form! Please allow at least two weeks for processing/creation before we start getting the word out.