Live Blog From Orange Conference ’15: How To Spread The Message Of Your Church From Jeff Henderson

In an effort to add value to pastors and church leaders, I am live blogging significant portions of this week’s Orange Conference and their amazing Senior Leader’ Track.  For pastors and church leaders, this is the most informative and thought-provocing three days you can spend all year.  It is “can’t miss” event for church leaders.

Today’s final session was led by one of America’s greatest communicators Jeff Henderson,  lead pastor of Gwinnett Church,

Before getting to Carey’s thoughts on why churches stop growing, INJOY Stewardship Solutions is offering a FREE download of Church Branding 101.  In this resource Ken Wilson, Director of NewSpring Creative, will be walking us through NewSpring Church’s recent rebranding process.  If you are unfamiliar with NewSpring, they are led by friend-of-Orange Senior Pastor Perry Noble.  You do not want to miss this.  Click here or on the image above to sign up.  Now onto Jeff’s thoughts on how to best spread your church’s message.

The following are 41 Leadership Quotes and Lessons from this brilliant communicator:

1. So many people who come to our church don’t feel like they belong.
2. We want to go out into the community and become contagious.
3. We believe the Gospel is contagious. We believe Jesus is contagious.
4. No matter how many people come to your church, God hasn’t blessed your church with success. God has blessed your church with potential.
5. I don’t want to hear anyone describe Buckhead Church as a success (when I was there)…Over 300,000 people in our area don’t go to church. Until we reach those 300,000 people I don’t want to describe us as a success.
6. Every Sunday I’m thinking about who’s not here.
7. You need the voice of the people who will not be there on Sunday.
8. We want to say “Yes” to those who have said “No” to what you believe and your church.
9. We want to say “Yes” to those who have said “No” to Jesus.
10. It is not unchurched people who rip apart a church. It is churched people who rip apart a church.
11. Turn the music up. I want to get younger.
12. We want to say “Yes” to people who just don’t know.
13. What causes most organizations including churches to implode is insider-thinking.
14. The church isn’t about me.
15. You will never know what the Church can do for you until you experience what the Church can do through you.
16. Every Sunday in this county alone over 280,000 say “No” to church.
17. Say “Yes” by listening more.
18. In the church we’re good talkers.
19. One of the best things we can do is be quiet and listen.
20. The challenge in church world is many churches could close and the community would never know.
21. Until we start adding value to the community they will not say “Yes” to us.
22. I have told our team to own a restaurant. Get to know the staff.
23. We need to listen to 18-34 year old. This is the fastest growing demographic with no religion in the United States.
24. 84% of unchurched 18-34 year olds are not interested in hanging out with a pastor or church staff member.
25. How do you make 18-34 year olds feel part of your community when they don’t come on Sunday?
26. Every single Sunday you need to say, “If this is your first time here or brought a first time guest we are thrilled you are here.” And then tell them how long your service will be.
27. Then say, “And the reason we are so excited you’re here is because you belong here.”
28. The tough question is do they belong there?
29. Don’t overlook the value and power of a hand-written note with a stamp on it.
30. Say “Yes” in a common, unifying language.
31. Brand Promise – What do we want to be known for?
32. The death spiral of any business is when they think they know what their customers are thinking.
33. Many people are more familiar with what the Church is against rather than what the Church is for. We want to be known for what we are FOR.
34. We are FOR Gwinnett.
35. The reason we are FOR Gwinnett is because God is FOR Gwinnett.
36. When the church is fun it is amazingly disarming. The people who have said “No” to the church think we take ourselves way too seriously.
37. It’s powerful when people who’ve said “No” to your church realize your church still said “Yes” to them.
38. When Jesus people show up the world gets better. Schools get better. Businesses get better. The community gets better.
39. We’re trying to get people just to invite…We’re trying to get people to be serial inviters. You’ve got to invite people seven times.
40. Business cards with service times didn’t really work.
41. Invest and invite. Invest and invite. Invest and invite.

I can’t wait for Day 3.

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