The faith community, in all candor, is pretty inept with media. Most congregations fumble the ball. There isnt even a consistent pattern of generating news for external consumption for those outside the walls of the church or temple. If they can get essential information out to their own congregations in weekend worship bulletins or weekly/monthly newsletters, they think theyve succeeded.With most congregations now trying to showcase themselves with a website homepage, they have sought to go directly to the world to get exposure and hope that surfers will come across their attractive sites. Smart churches splatter their web addresses on everything they print or mail. Certainly websites speak volumes about the congregations. Those sites that have rich depth, extensive pages of information, photos, history, commentary, links and contact information show their energy and intentionality of reaching out and being inviting. Blessed are the congregations that have talented and dependable webmasters able to construct sites and keep the sites current and fresh and full of surprises — so people will come back.
All too often web sites are frozen in time. Started up with the best intentions by a friend of the church who knows web design, the site has rudimentary information about the church, but its stale. Nothing has been added for weeks or months. They are especially neglected during the summers, and church members must wince when they go on the sites and see how old — and useless — much of the material is. The responsibility for regularly updating a website often goes wanting. It may be left to overworked church staff to keep up or to a church volunteer, invariably strapped for time. Its all too easy to let expired events stay on sites or new monthly calendars never filled in.
Often, someone from a congregation will send me a press release about an event for the Tribune, and it will encourage readers to go to the churchs web site for more information. But I will check out the site and find nothing regarding the event for which they want publicity.
With the advent of e-mail, it has become easier for congregations to put volunteers to work writing and firing off information to the media for news briefs and calendar listings. Was a time when it all came by mail, or it was dropped off at our offices. Then faxes became the popular vehicle. Today, it is clearly e-mail, and I often find the office mailbox empty.
Some congregations have never gotten around to sending information to the newspaper to promote events. Some denominations are especially silent. They either are not interested in touting their work or events, or they dont have a clue of where to start, or they have no one on staff or as a volunteer to handle the chore. Mainline denominations are the most absent, On the other hand, the Jewish community, relatively small as it is in membership, profusely produces press releases and news. So listings and news briefs are inordinately out of balance compared to their numbers.
Dear Mr. Griffiths,
I have been a East Mesa resident for almost 36 years . I am familliar with your collumn and your committment to profiling the faith community from an informative and unbiased perspective; I would like to say thanks for that.
However, in response to an article written by you and published July 19th ,,, I’d like to ask if you would consider doing a more NEWSWORTHY piece on a new church community …very alive and very involved in “east valley “communities at large. The cool thing about LIFECHURCH.TV is that they often volunteer and invest time and money in local charities and organizations that have little OR NOTHING to do with “The Church”, or our particular church or denomination or even Christianity….Reflecting TRUE SERVANTHOOD.
As a member of this community I can attest to the fact that we are quite intentional about “getting the word out” concerning who we are and what we “stand for”. Interestingly, the message isn’t simply come to our CHURCH…we ROCK….but instead, “let us show you what Jesus was like”…having the heart and mind of Christ….serving and loving our Neighbors.
The faith community I am referencing here is LIFECHURCH.TV in east Mesa. Now, I am aware that a very “limited” and somewhat nationally themed piece was printed July 29th . While it was indeed truthful and generally informative…it by no means expresses this growing east valley faith community’s passion, which is community service and investment on many levels and reaching unique individuals that conventional churches (of various affiliations) have been largely unsuccessful at “Bringing IN, Taining UP and Sending OUT”…
LIFECHURCH.TV has THE ONLY LIVE INTERNET CAMPUS that we are aware of…in “the world”…( this topic alone has made local TV news in Oklahoma City as well as a quick plug on KLOVE Christian radio.) Approximately 450 people “attend the 2 “LIVE” online weekly “experiences” on the world wide web. Furhtermore, LC.TV has advertisements on MYSPACE.COM and communities are springing up there as well.
Lifechurch is missionally minded and has participated with and worked along side of several valley charities and service agencies since coming to the east valley almost a year ago. Althought the East Valley satellite campus boasts only about 500 plus members and regular attenders, the majority of those individuals are activly involved in smaller cell groups called LIFEGROUPS, which participate in micro missions and ministry opportunities sepparte from the LC.TV sponsored “local Mission” opportunities.
Recently LIFECHURCH.TV made the list of the top 50 most influential churches in AMERICA…placing 7th it’s first time nominated…slightly behind the non denominational giants…Willow Creek , Saddleback Community and Lakewood Church.
Senior Pastor Craig GROESCHEL…recently made the list of AMERICAS most INFLUENTIAL Pastors….(15th) Quite an accomplishment since the church is only 10 years old and began with 7 people meeting in a TWO car garage in Edmond Oklahoma in 1996.
Lifechurch.TV as one huge community ( over 18,000 members strong) is PHENOMINAL…BUT the real news for Mesa and surrounding east valley is the local campus….whose goals are to be truly relevant to our very diverse society AND serving the Valley of the Sun by cooperating and joining forces with those agencies that have proven records for meeting specific needs of the community in general.( IE: Rio Vista Mission, Paz De Christo, City of Tempe and PF Chang’s marathon, American Cancer Society, Child Crisis Center of the east Valley and summer BEAT the HEAT day shelter sponsored by Word of Grace Church in Mesa.)
I thank you for your time and consideration and do hope that you will eventually choose to feature a “piece” that articulates the very unique concept and mission of LIFECHURCH.TV
Affectionately,
Joy Schroeder
480-668-4767
LIFECHURCH.TV contact information
Scott Rodgers ( Mesa campus pastor)
480-497-5433