FaceBook.com is THE social networking web site that attracts tens of millions of viewers world wide. You can create a presence on the site for free and build a "friends" list from your customers, staff, or, if you're a church, parishoners.

Best part, as you know, it's free!

Be sure to link to your FaceBook page from your web site.

The men of one church take turns patrolling highways in search of stranded motorists. Night patrols are often the most productive.

They have found that, even with cell phones to call for help, stranded motorists feel vulnerable while they wait on the side of the road. Your presence will be appreciated.

Take along a cell phone, gas can, jumper cables and light. You may want to have a consent for if your volunteers perform minor mechanical work. You will also want to have a church brochure.

Being well groomed -- even wearing a suit and tie -- will help calm fears of stranded motorists regarding your intentions.

Consider a magnetic sign that reads "HIGHWAY ANGEL: Helping Stranded Motorists - First Baptist Church attached to the back of a van; a similar sign on the front — in reverse — may be helpful. (At night, pull in front of the stranded motorist when possible. Headlights in the rearview mirror can be terrifying, especially to women.)

Be sure to consult with authories before you go regarding safety precautions, an attorney regardling legal and liability issues, and your insurance advisor.

Other than loyal members, few will post yard signs with your church name emblazoned on them.

Print attractive yard signs with "In God We Trust" in bold letters. In very small letters, include the phrase "Sponsored by First Community Church."

If your church name is small enough not to be obvious, non-church members will feel comfortable posting the signs. However, many in your community will know your church produced the signs and -- everytime they see one -- they will think of your church; hence "implied" marketing.

An option is to ask local businesses to help sponsor the cost of the yard signs. If you use this approach, the business names will be listed in tiny letters along with your church name. (The most common mistake is making your church name too large. It discourages others from using the signs and destroys the effectiveness.)

You may want to "sell" the signs for cost to avoid abuse.

Click on the sign to the right, then print a copy and take it to your sign manufacturer. The New Family Bureau can make the yard signs for you. Call 1-812-372-1663 for quote.

A similar strategy can be done with bumper stickers.

A church in Indianapolis partnered with a local school to help with the first day of the fall semester.
© New Family Bureau
"So we're gonna be involved in lots of different ways," said Associate Pastor Brent Wright of St. Luke's United Methodist Church. "We'll have folks there on a one time basis, helping on the grounds. We'll have folks there helping produce special activities for the kids and for the families. We'll have folks there on an ongoing basis in relationship working and mentoring and tutoring, folks supporting the teachers. Folks helping connect families to the school."

This idea comes from a client in South Carolina.

Ask a physician to come to your church one day each January to give free physicals for the under-privileged. Offer the doctor a tax receipt for his time (perhaps $2,000.)
© New Family Bureau
Each February, have an attorney offer free half-hour consultations. In March you may want to have a CPA offer free half-hour tax consultations. In April offer free cholesteral checks, etc.
© New Family Bureau
Professionals will appreciate the opportunity to help the under-privileged in your community, save on their taxes and increase their client base.
© New Family Bureau

"It's a shame," I thought. "Those billboards are not being used. I wonder if the billboard company would donate them to the church?"

And so I called the billboard company. Here's what they told me:

"We would rather let your church use the billboards for free than let them sit blank." Blank billboards are bad for business.

They added, "You can place your sign on our billboards for free. Your church will pay for the facing of the sign, but we won't charge you rent. All we ask is that you give us an insurance certificate."

We jumped at the opportunity and, within a few short weeks, our church had three free billboards on major highways leading into our city. We understood that, as soon as the boards were rented to paying customers, our signs would be removed. We also agreed to post no controversial messages.

We kept all three of those billboards for nearly two years. That's nearly $72,000 worth of free advertising.

Here's another idea.

A salesman stopped in my office. His company was printing a map of our city. They made money by selling advertisements on the map's edges. I took a sample of the map and thanked him for coming by.

After he left, I called the company that markets the maps. I told them our church was not interested in buying space on their map. But, if they had any unsold space, we would give them a tax receipt for the full value of the ad space if they would include our ad. They cheerfully agreed.

The bottom line is: look for opportunities to advertise for free. Always be courteous. Remember: The advertising agency is in business for a profit. They are not obligated to give you anything. But — they are often more than willing to help you when it is a win-win situation.

Start looking!

New Family Bureau.

It always results in blank stares. But that's a good thing. It means their brains are working as they digest the significance of the point being made. And the point? "What works is what works."

I know that sounds simple, but folks just can't seem to grasp it. They come up with all kinds of hair-brain schemes of what should work (but it doesn't) or — and this drives me nuts — they will offer 1,001 reasons to exlain why what obviously does work won't work.

So let me say it again. A little louder this time.

WHAT WORKS IS WHAT WORKS!

And to that I'll add, what doesn't work, doesn't work.

Here is what works. Argue with me if you want, but when you are done with your 1,001 reasons IT WILL STILL WORK.

Post cards work.

It's a fact. Studies have proven that the single most effective tool for direct marketing is post cards. There are good reasons for this.

First, post cards are the most frequently read piece of mail in existence. If you pick it up, you've read it.

Second, post card are the most inexpensive (if you do it right) to print and least expensive to mail. (Keep in mind, here, that postage is only one expense related to mailing. Time stuffing envelopes, printing fancy letters and brochures, the cost of folding, etc.)

Third, color post card are dumb.

Many churches opt for expensive color post cards because they want to project a "first class" image. That's nice. But what is your objective? To impress upon the reader that you have great taste? Or to get a response? (When I get a full-color post card in the mail, I think, "These people don't know much about marketing.")

I've been in direct marketing for twenty years. I've tested and retested a zillion types of mailing pieces and made some interesting — and unexpected — discoveries. I learned that color post cards actually get fewer responses that black and white post cards! Remember: what works is what works, not what you think should work. I also tested blank ink on color post cards. The result: no difference. Black ink on yellow cards worked no better than black ink on white cards.

Fourth, always offer something for free.

I've been harping on this for so many years, that even my competitors are starting to pick up on it. The objective here is to get a response. You don't know who is interested in your ministry unless you hear from them. Offer something of percieved value — a daily devotional booklet, for example — that will motivate the reader to pick up the phone and call you.

Fifth, sign you post cards.

How long will it take you to personally sign 1,000 post cards? A long time. Do it anyhow. It adds a personal touch — literally. If you are doing a mailing to your entire city, this may not be a reasonable option, but if you are mailing to your neighborhood, or to new movers, it is absolutely essential.

So, to summarize: 1 - use post cards, 2 - don't use color, 3 - use black ink on white cards, 4 - offer something for free, and 5 - sign the cards.

New Family Bureau.

Pastor Burns spent $25 per month on a new mover list. He spent another $30 per month on printing and postage.

Peering over his bifocals, he looked like a tired old hound dog. "I dunno," he moaned. "We've been doing this for two years, now, and we only got us one new church member."

Common courtesy kept me from saying, "Duh!"

So I didn't. I just took a sip of diet soda [that's "pop" to you folks in Michigan] and watched him munch his salad.

"So," I asked, "How much do you suppose [that's "reckon" to you folks in Kentucky] this family tithes each week?"

"Oh," he said, "I reckon [that's "suppose" to you folks in California] they give 'bout $50 per week."

Good tithers, I reckoned. [I'm Kentuckian.]

Writing on a restaurant napkin with a felt pen — even the fine point variety — is cumbersome. But I had a point to make.

"Let's run the numbers," I suggested. "Each month you spend $55. From that you got a family who gives $200 per month." The duh word wanted to come again, but didn't.

"Over the course of the year, you'll be $1,740 ahead."

"Yeah, well, I ain't in it for the money," he moaned again.

Funny, I thought, when he thought he was losing $55 per month, it was a stewardship issue. Suddenly, when he realizes he's money ahead, it becomes a greed issue.

I looked him dead in the eye.

"Duh!" I blurted out. Sorry, couldn't help it.

Supposing the right reverend pastor Gloom and Doom gets another tithing member over the next two years. His $660 investment is now bringing back $4,800 per year. No, my friend, that's not greed. It's good stewardship.

Reaching new movers is a powerful tool. And it's not just good stewardship. It is also an effective outreach ministry. Granted, you will become frustrated with number of errors in your list, but use them anyhow. Design your direct mail piece to appeal to the few folks who may have gotten on the list by mistake.

The New Family Bureau has been supplying new mover lists for nearly 20 years. To contact them, call, 1-812-372-1663. Have your fax number ready, if you have one. They will send you a free cost estimate by fax or by mail.

New Family Bureau.

The pastor of a small Indiana church decided to take the great commission seriously.

More pastors, he noticed, see the end of that commission: The uttermost parts of the earth. This pastor, however, determined to apply the commission literally: go first to Jerusalem.

Understanding that "Jerusalem" referred to one's immediate area, the pastor asked himself, "What is the immediate area of my church? What geographical region can I, personally, reach."

The pastor decided that his Jerusalem was the city block where the church building was located.

His strategy was simple. He would knock on every door on the block—every three months. His initial objective was not to get the people churched, it was to simply develop a relationship with each family on the block.

He knocked on the first neighbor's door, introduced himself and asked if there was anything the family needed. They were surprised that the preacher didn't try to cajol them into coming to church. They thanked him for his concern. Before leaving, the pastor was careful to get the names of the family, assured them he would pray for them and that he would check back in three months. In the meantime, they could call if they needed him.

His focus was to serve his neighbors and win their confidence before inviting them to church. His efforts were effective.

A deacon joined his effort, adopting the adjacent block. He and his wife would visit every family on their adopted block one time every three months. They would build a raport; learning names, birthdays, and meeting special needs.

Another family adopted another adjacent block. Soon, the five blocks surrounding the church were adopted. Every household was visited one time every three months by someone in the church. More blocks were adopted as other church members caught the vision. The pastor's prayer is that every block in the small city will someday be adopted and ever home will be visited every three months.

New Family Bureau.

Have you ever considered using the buying power of your congregation to for special funding?

Each month the people in your congregation spend thousands of dollars for services. These range from telephone bills, satelite TV service, credit card interest, and more.

Many of the companies that offer these services would love to give members of your congregation a discount — or better yet — contribute a portion of their payments to your special ministry.

For example, one church wanted to help the homeless. Their finances were strapped. But, The Church Solutions Bureau put them in contact with a phone company that paid the church $5 every month for every member who switched phone service.

What's more, the phone company gave them more. It agreed to pay the church — not only for members who switched services — but 10% of any other person the church referred.

With 1,000 referals, the phone company's monthly obligation? $5,000! Month in. Month out. And they were more than happy to pay it!

And then, they went one step beyond. They offered the members of the congregation free long distance service — anywhere in America! The power of this stewardship effort is that the members of the congregation didn't give one dime more than they were already giving. The phone company was happy to make that "donation" for enrolling "bulk customers."

New Family Bureau.

The telephone line stringing through the auditorium gave the congregation a clue. Something unusual was going to take place.

Our pastor announced that Sunday evening that he was going to call a missionary in Australia. The missionary had earlier agreed to be by his phone at the proper time.

It was a simple arrangement. The phone in the pulpit was a speaker phone. A microphone was placed above the speaker so everyone could hear the missionary. The pastor began with casual conversation.

The congregation was then invited to ask questions.

The missionary call was a refreshing change from boring newsletters. It also gave the congregation an opportunity to experience the missionary's work on the field. (Normally, they have to wait until missionaries return to the USA before speaking with them.)

Call it "The Macedonian Call" and make it a part of your monthly or quarterly missions program. Pre-arrange the call. You may want to have a flier or special bulletin printed with the missionary's family photo, a bio and description of their field. New Family Bureau.