The Hottest Thing this Summer: Your Story
It was a rough start to the week. There was the antisemitic attack in Boulder. A mass stabbing here in Salem at the Union Gospel Mission. And the perpetual chaos coming from D.C.
I needed a re-frame. Yesterday, I called a local company to ask them about printing a direct mail letter. Rrrring, rrrrring. Rrrrring, rrrrring (to clarify…this is my impression of a telephone ringing). On the other end was a sunny voice,
“My name is Debbie. How can I brighten your day?” I was so surprised and delighted by what she said and the way she said those words that I burst out laughing for about ten seconds.
“Well, Debbie. You have already brightened my day. Thank you.”
Sometimes all you need is one person to change your perspective.
Talk about perspective, it’s summer! Ah yes, time for relaxation, sipping fun drinks by the pool, immersing yourself in a romance novel, and tuning everything else out. Not a care in the world.
Squeeeegh (this is my impression of a record scratch). Sorry to break into your leisure time, but…
Summer is a season to remind people that the work of the church continues – even if you take time off for a well-deserved vacation.
In a recent article in Nonprofit Pro, public relations specialist Rhiannon Hendrikson shared why “telling your story is not a luxury, it’s a survival strategy.” This is especially true in the summer when everyone thinks everything – including the church – goes dormant.
Hendrikson writes:
If no one knows your work is happening or why it matters within the bigger picture, they can’t fund it, volunteer for it or champion it. And in a crowded, noisy, attention-strapped world, even the most powerful impact stories won’t gain traction unless they’re actively shared.
Your congregation needs to hear stories of change and transformation year-round…even in the summer.
How about focusing on one or two of these ideas between now and September?
Have a couple of people write up their testimonies (yes, I did use that word) about how Jesus, through the church, has changed their lives. Share it in a newsletter or in your quarterly giving statements.
Invite someone who rents space from you to come and talk during worship about what they do and why being in your building is important to them.
Pay a youth a stipend to regularly post on social media about what your congregation is doing.
Use the offering time to specifically mention a way that, through the generosity of the congregation, lives are being changed.
The work of the church continues – even in these upcoming hot summer months. Think of ways to delight your congregation with life-changing stories of impact that happen because your church exists.
When you inevitably say to someone, “How can I brighten your day?” and there’s a lull in the conversation, you’ll be ready to say,
“Let me tell you a story…”
Yippee! Hooray! (This is my impression of a cheerleader cheering you on.)
Image by Joe from Pixabay
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Cesie Delve Scheuermann (pronounced “CC Delv Sherman,” yes, really) is a Stewardship Consultant for the OR-ID Annual Conference. She is also a Senior Ministry Strategist with Horizons Stewardship – helping with capital campaigns and encouraging more generosity. For 25 years, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she has helped raise over three million dollars for numerous churches and non-profit organizations.
You can reach Cesie at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com, at CesieScheuermann.com, or at cesieds@horizons.net. Want to schedule a meeting? She’s got you covered! She wants to you to see something super entertaining and very odd. Stick with the report and listen to these twins. Surely there’s a sermon illustration here.
Schedule a meeting now.
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