the Monday Morning Debrief: Making sure people know

Self-promotion is not something I’m very good at.  In fact, I’m terrible at it.  I just don’t feel that I need to be promoting the good things I am doing to others.  I know, call me crazy…real crazy if you want, but I just feel that “word of mouth” will spread and people will know what our ministry is doing is really good and impactful.

However, I also believe that if I am not sharing that “yay God” stories and all that good that IS happening, there is the possibly that people don’t find out the great stuff that is happening in your ministry.  That is why we need to be self-promoting our ministry.  But how?  What are ways you can promote without tooting your own horn unnecessarily?  Here is what I do:

• Send emails to my superiors about what is happening.  Some are weekly updating them on some highlights of what happened the week prior.  Others are special ones that I communicate a specific “yay God” story such as a baptism or great leader moment in which an impact was made.
• Let parents (specifically key parents) know what is happening and how lives are being changed.  This can be done via email or even snail mail.  It can even happen during simple conversations you have with parents at church on a Sunday morning.
• Post updates on your Facebook page (and your Group’s page) and put links to those pages on your Twitter, Instagram and even Google+ accounts.  Just like with the emails, people need to know stuff is happening and this is a great place for this.

As I write this piece, I’m particularly convicted myself that I don’t do enough to share what great things are happening.  And, when people know what is happening or how God is working, people will continue to ask themselves, “Does _____ even have a youth program.  I never hear anything about it”.

Regardless of how you spread the word, the important thing is that you share with others all the great things God is doing in your ministry.  That way people will know that God is up to something and that they should get on the train with it.

Thoughts?  Experiences?  Post a comment or suggestion on what you have done in the past to make sure people know all the great things God is doing in your ministry.