This document discusses effective communications strategies for ministry. It introduces the "Communications Tripod" approach of informing, inspiring and engaging others. It also proposes a 3D approach to setting up communications teams that discover, develop and deploy talent. Specific examples are provided about how improving communications, from signage to multimedia resources, can help "rethink church" and make ministry more inviting and impactful in sharing information and the gospel message.

1. Topic: The
Communications Tripod
(IIE) for Effective
Ministry
Presenter: Pastor Taurai Emmanuel Maforo
(Zimbabwe Episcopal Area Communicator)
Harare West District Leadership Retreat – Mabelreign South, Harare
Harare West District Leadership Retreat – Mabelreign South, Harare
10 – 12 October 2014
10 – 12 October 2014

2. α
The beginning(Alpha)

3. Introduction
• It is indeed my humble privilege and honour to be
afforded an opportunity to present this paper at the
2014 Harare west District Leadership Retreat.
• In my last presentation to the Harare West District
leadership at the 2013 Lay training entitled,
“Communications as a ministry driver in the 21st
Century”, the focus was that of raising awareness.
• This time I have yet again been presented with an
opportunity to share some detail in the arena of
Communications Ministry.
• I have therefore decided to take a more practical
route, hence the topic, “The Communications Tripod
(IIE) for Effective Ministry.”

4. Disclaimer
• This presentation does not aim to
present itself as the ultimate or pinnacle
in the field of communications ministry,
but seeks to create conversations for
further exploration for the relevant
contexts.

5. Aim
• To engage the Harare west District leaders in
conversation for the purpose of applying
appropriate communication tools and
methods for effective ministry.

6. Objectives
• Apply the communications tripod – Inform,
Inspire and Engage
• Propose a 3D Approach to creating a network
of communicators in the district – Discover,
Develop and Deploy

7. Definition
of
Terms

8. Communication
• Communication (from Latin commūnicāre, meaning
"to share") is the activity of conveying information
through the exchange of ideas, feelings, intentions,
attitudes, expectations, perceptions or commands,
as by speech, non-verbal gestures, writings,
behaviour and possibly by other means such as
electromagnetic, chemical or physical phenomena
and smell.
• It is the meaningful exchange of information
between two or more participants (machines,
organisms or their parts)

9. Communication requires
• a sender,
• a message,
• a medium and
• a recipient

10. Three Steps of Communicating with
others by Donald Clarke
Donald Clark. "Communication and Leadership". Retrieved 14 December 2013

11. Tripod
• Latin tripūs, tripod-, from Greek tripous, three-footed :
tri-, tri- + pous, foot
• an adjustable and usually collapsible three-legged
stand to which a camera, etc, can be
attached to hold it steady (http://www.collinsdictionary.com)
• A tripod provides stability against downward
forces and horizontal forces and movements
about horizontal axes. The positioning of the
three legs away from the vertical centre allows
the tripod better leverage for resisting lateral
forces.

12. Ministry
• “Ministry is meeting people where they are at and
taking them to where God wants them to be.” (J.R.
Briggs.com).
• In other words Ministry takes people from their
“here” to a “God-there”

13. Marketing
• Marketing is the messages and/or actions that cause messages
and/or actions. Jay Baer – President, Convince & Convert. Author
with Amber Naslund of The Now Revolution
• Marketing is creating irresistible experiences that connect with
people personally and create the desire to share with others. Saul
Colt – Head of Magic, Fresh Books
• Marketing is helping your customers understand how much they
need something they never knew they needed. Doreen Moran –
Digital Strategist
• P.Tailor of www.learnmarketing.net suggests that 'Marketing is
not about providing products or services it is essentially about
providing changing benefits to the changing needs and demands
of the customer (P.Tailor 7/00)'
• Marketing is the ongoing process of engagement whereby
strangers are nurtured into advocates. Trey Pennington

14. UUssiinngg TTrreeyy PPeennnniinnggttoonn’’ss
mmaarrkkeettiinngg ddeeffiinniittiioonn,, lleett uuss ttrryy
aanndd ttrraannssllaattee tthhaatt ttoo ddiisscciippllee--
mmaakkiinngg ..
TThheemmee:: MMaakkiinngg SSttrraannggeerrss
AAddvvooccaatteess..

15. “Missional Marketing”
• “Missional Marketing” as a concept therefore
may be understood as the how, when and
where to propagate the discipleship agenda
through connecting with the market place and
finally creating a transformative turn in
relationship exchanges.

16. In “Missional Marketing”
IMAGE IS EVERYTHING

17. Example:
• There are churches that are in
urgent need of understanding the
new paradigm in realizing
discipleship goals.
• (You don't use old methods to
achieve new results)

18. Example:
• I remember seeing a charge
conference report where the
church wanted to bring 50 souls
to Christ –
BRILLIANT
IDEA/TARGET
S

19. Example:
• All they did was hold
revivals at the church
and on Sunday and
praise God they won 6
new souls –
SURPRISING(NOT
AMAZING) RESULTS

20. Example:
• The members are proud
to have just completed a
1974-sanctuary-design in
2014 (40-year gap).
Dedication
Day!!!

21. Example:
• The sign
board was
fading.
• The gate
was on the
verge of
falling

22. Example:
• The plants around the
church are dying
• They hold evening Bible
study programs with a few
candles in the corners
(when there is a blackout).

23. At this church good theology
abounds but the packaging is
poor.
The church’s
membership
today is
“Begging for
REAL church”

24. Imagine If your church would look
like this!

26. So inviting.....

27. Communications as a Strategic
Function for the church
“Communication is a strategic function
necessary for the success of the mission of
The United Methodist Church.”
(Book Of Discipline 2012, 1806).
NB - Communications is not optional but a
necessity.

28. The UMC Communications
mandate
• “As United Methodists, our theological
understanding;
• (What?) Obligates us,
• (Who?) as members of the body of Christ, to
• (What?) communicate our faith
• (How?) by speaking and listening to persons both
within and outside the Church (where?) throughout
the world, and to utilize (what?) all appropriate
means of communication.” (Book Of Discipline 2012,
1801, p698)

29. The Communications Tripod
Inform Inspire
Engage

30. I
N
F
O
R
M
Who?
What?
Why?
When?
Where?
How?

31. Inform
• United Methodist Communications –
a.develops and
b.delivers news and information products and
services and various supporting media that
communicate the message of the Church and
share the Good News.
c. Informs the church and the world of the
activities and ministries – thus must work closely
with all ministries.

32. Inform
• Have you heard this common statement?
• “This topic must be presented on a Sunday when
everyone is there!”
• What causes that?
• For example Health and Welfare Committee invites a
medical professional during their week. They decide
to keep important information to themselves.
Members just get surprised on the day.
• NB – It is the responsibility of the circuit
communicator to get the circuit calendar as soon as
it is out then finds means of communicating
upcoming events.

33. Inspire
– Inspire – who and how
• United Methodist Communications develops
and delivers training, consulting, funding and
infrastructure that empower the Church at a
global, national, and local level to develop
communications or communication platforms.
• Communications therefore inspires relevant
boards and committees towards having up-to-date
infrastructure

34. Engage
• Engage – who, why and how
• United Methodist Communications offers
media production services, guidelines,
examples, and ready-to-use resources that
equip others at the conference or local
church levels to create or improve the
communications

35. NOW MINISTRIES
• This acronym depicts timeous
action; Nurturing, Outreaching
and Witnessing. These three
provide anchorage to the entire
discipleship enterprise.

36. NURTURING
• Nurturing – communications
ministry provides resources needed
for equipping of disciples. Eg.
Multimedia Christian Education kits
– projector, screens, television
screens

37. OUTREACHING
•Outreaching – prepares
packaging for all
outreach programs –
branding, posters, fliers.

38. WITNESSING
• Witnessing – facilitates fulfilment of
the Great Commission – “....to all
the world” through internet-based
platforms, sees the virtual
communities as equally important
as the physical communities in
spreading the Gospel.

39. WAY FORWARD

40. RE-THINK CHURCH
•What if church does not
only become the place
we go to but something
we do.

41. Set Up Effective
Communications
Teams

42. 3D APPROACH
Setting up an effective
communications team.
Setting up an effective
communications team.

44. Ω
The End(Omega)