This deck was shared on Thursday, July 6, 2017 as the sixth live training session in the Church Online Communications Comprehensive, a 14-week online training course.

1. GIVING YOUR
COMMUNICATIONS FOCUS
Session Six
Church Online Communications Comprehensive
How can we focus our message?

2. OUTLINE
Quick review of previous session
What is a message map?
Why is a message map important?
How do you build a message map?
How do you put the map into practice?
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3. WHAT DID I MISS LAST WEEK?
A journey map tracks your audience’s actions
from the first point of contact through the
completion of your desired church goals.
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4. WHAT DID I MISS LAST WEEK?
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ATTENDED
FELLOWSHIP
EVENT
ATTENDED
WORSHIP
FIRST TIME
ATTENDED
BIBLE
STUDY
STARTED
NEW MEMBER
CLASS
BECAME
CONFIRMED
MEMBER
ATTENDED
WORSHIP
REGULARLY
ATTENDED
BIBLE STUDY
REGULARLY
PROSPECT VISITOR POTENTIAL
MEMBER
PRE-
MEMBER
NEW
MEMBER
ENGAGED
MEMBER

5. WHAT IS A MESSAGE MAP?
A message map is a visual representation of your
primary messages developed for the sake of
aligning and prioritizing your communication.
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6. EXAMPLE MESSAGE MAP
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Mission
Statement
Goal
# 1
Goal
# 2
Goal
# 3
Goal
# 4

7. CENTRAL MESSAGE
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Mission
Statement
Great Commission
Mission / Vision Statement
Annual Theme

8. CHURCH GOALS
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Goal
# 1
Goal
# 2
Mission
Statement
Church Goals, Not Communication Goals
Should Not Change Frequently

9. MESSAGES
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Goal
# 1
Goal
# 2
Mission
Statement
How You Are Pursuing Church Goals
Ongoing Ministries or Specific Events

10. TALKING POINTS
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Goal
# 1
Goal
# 2
Mission
Statement
Additional Information for Each Message
Most Important Details of Message
May Change Frequently
l
l
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11. WHY USE A MESSAGE MAP?
Keep Messages Aligned
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12. WHY USE A MESSAGE MAP?
Prioritize Your Communication
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13. EXAMPLE MESSAGE MAP
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The Great
Commission
Matthew 28:16-20
Increase active
participation in
Bible Studies to
35% of the
congregation.
Grow average
weekly
Sunday School
attendance to
50 kids.
Increase number of
community-
focused events to
one per quarter.
Rally Day
Every Week
Sunday
School
Christmas
Caroling
Valentine's
Day Dinner
All Congregation
Bible Study
Small Group
Bible Studies

14. EXAMPLE MESSAGE MAP
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15. EXAMPLE MESSAGE MAP
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The Great Commission,
Matthew 28:16-20
Increase active participation
in Bible Studies to 35% of the
congregation.
All
Congregation
Bible Study
Bible Study
for the entire
congregation.
No specific
demographic
s but is
encouraged
for all
members.
Small Group
Bible Studies
Each group is
designed for
a specific
demographic
s: men,
women,
youth, etc.
Bible Studies
are geared
toward a
gender, age,
or role.
Grow average weekly
Sunday School attendance
to 50 kids.
Rally Day
Kick-off for
the Sunday
School Year
Games,
Prizes, Food,
to encourage
future
attendance
Every Week
Sunday
School
Split into age
groups to
provide
specialized
lessons
Begins with
general
opening for
all attendees
Increase number of
community-focused events
to one per quarter.
Christmas
Caroling
All ages
included and
encouraged
Visit shut-ins
and other
who express
interest to
sing a few
carols.
Valentine's
Day Dinner
5-course
dinner at
$30/ticket
Child-care
provided by
youth

16. EXAMPLE MESSAGE MAP - POWERPOINT
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The Great Commission,
Matthew 28:16-20
Increase active participation
in Bible Studies to 35% of the
congregation.
All
Congregation
Bible Study
Bible Study
for the entire
congregation.
No specific
demographic
s but is
encouraged
for all
members.
Small Group
Bible Studies
Each group is
designed for
a specific
demographic
s: men,
women,
youth, etc.
Bible Studies
are geared
toward a
gender, age,
or role.
Grow average weekly
Sunday School attendance
to 50 kids.
Rally Day
Kick-off for
the Sunday
School Year
Games,
Prizes, Food,
to encourage
future
attendance
Every Week
Sunday
School
Split into age
groups to
provide
specialized
lessons
Begins with
general
opening for
all attendees
Increase number of
community-focused events
to one per quarter.
Christmas
Caroling
All ages
included and
encouraged
Visit shut-ins
and other
who express
interest to
sing a few
carols.
Valentine's
Day Dinner
5-course
dinner at
$30/ticket
Child-care
provided by
youth

17. PRACTICAL USES OF A MESSAGE MAP
Bulletin / Newsletter
Structures Your Message
Fills the Space
Allows You to Say No
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18. PRACTICAL USES OF A MESSAGE MAP
Social Media
Provides Relevant Messaging
Keeps Posts Consist
Works as an Idea Generator
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19. PRACTICAL USES OF A MESSAGE MAP
Announcements
Prevents Wasted Attention
Shares Your Priorities
Keeps People Excited
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20. PRACTICAL USES OF A MESSAGE MAP
Church Website
Directs Your Navigation
Outlines Visual Weight
Helps Clarify Perceptions
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21. CHURCH WEBSITE EXAMPLE
Increase active participation in Bible Studies
to 35% of the congregation.
Grow average weekly Sunday School
attendance to 50 kids.
Increase number of community-focused
events to one per quarter.
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22. CHURCH WEBSITE EXAMPLE
Church360° Unite
Church Website Builder
from Concordia Technology Solutions
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23. WHAT IF…
What if our messages don’t have a
natural place on the message map?
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24. WHAT IF…
What if people get upset when
we don’t share their message?
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25. WHAT IF…
What if our pastors/office staff/leaders
don’t use the message map?
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26. SUMMARY
Create a message map by starting with
your church goals and getting more detailed.
Train the church staff and leaders
how to use it in a practical way.
Use the map as your measurement
for alignment and consistency.
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27. BLOG
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ConcordiaTechnology.org/Blog

28. FREE DOWNLOAD
Church Communications Message Map Template
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29. FACEBOOK GROUP
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/groups/ChurchOnlineCommunicationsComprehensive/

30. NEXT LIVE TRAINING SESSION
Communicating in the Right Context
Next Thursday, July 13 at 11:30 a.m. CDT
/ConcordiaTechnology
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31. SCHEDULE
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Jul 13 | Communicating in the Right Context
Jul 20 | Making the Most of Each Communication Channel
Jul 27 | Building a Great Website for Church Communications*
Aug 3 | Establishing a Communication Hub for Your Church
*Presentation may be recorded

32. SCHEDULE
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Aug 10 | Utilizing Social Media in the Church to the Fullest
Aug 17 | Understanding Search Engine Optimization
Aug 24 | Saving Time in Your Online Communications
Aug 31 | Sharing Excitement about Your Communication Strategy

33. CONTACT
Peter Frank
peter.frank@cph.org
peterfrank235
(314) 268-1408
35Church Online Communications Comprehensive