Time management in communications: Two books that changed me and my business
Last summer, my business had become unmanageable. The workload felt impossible to handle, and I had lost the joy of being self-employed. Looking back, I see that unrealistic cultural expectations set during Covid and the processes I developed to meet them had finally taken their toll. Recently, when I asked a client what he still […]
Making Our Digital Spaces More Welcome to All
Volunteer Recruitment: Four Steps to Better Communication
One of the frustrations my clients frequently bring to my attention is the lack of willingness among their congregants to volunteer and contribute in non-financial ways. I work mostly with small to medium-sized churches, and without volunteers, many have had to downsize their programming and offerings. My clients regularly tell me that they just aren’t […]
Why Instagram Stories are More Important Than Any Other Kind of Post
Social media training for churches and faith-based non-profits requires finding the sweet spot where their needs, target audience, and resources intersect. Most of my clients can’t post everywhere all the time. For a while now, that sweet spot has been Instagram Stories. If you want to see your reach and impact grow on social media […]
Are you asking the right questions?
I started a new book this morning, of the self-help genre. If you know me personally, this will not surprise you in the least. The introduction of the book was written by Marc Benioff, the founder of Salesforce. He attributes much of his personal and professional success to five questions he asks himself whenever he […]
You’re not just not cool. You’re part of the problem.
A number of my worlds collided when I encountered this article by Baptist News Global about what has to be the coolest project I’ve heard of in a long time—a postmodern theological book shop and learning center in San Antonio. The owner of the book shop—Jillian—is quoted as saying, “I have only had good experiences […]
Is writing good social media captions sort of like writing good sermons?
In a meeting last week, a participant in my Membership Program “confessed” that she had recently used my caption-writing prompts to write a sermon. Those prompts are: – Who are we? – Why does it matter? – Why should you care? From my client: “Obviously, the questions need to be tweaked just a bit for […]
A quick social media strategy that works for everyone
Part of my job is to continue seeking out and thinking through new ways to assist my clients in their communication. Years ago, I developed a social media training structure that I teach individuals and groups all kinds—a process I will teach starting this Thursday in a four-part series. This process includes strategy development and […]
A Resource for Pastoral Musicians
Through my work, I often have the privilege of encountering organizations that are engaged in work that stands out as necessary and rare. Diakonos Solutions serves women in ministry leadership. Faith Commons promotes public discourse rooted in the common values of many faiths. And Polyphony Music Resources aims to nurture church musicians in their ministry […]
What Bartimaeus can teach the Church about faith
*This is a sermon I preached for the first time in Arlington, VA in 2021. Since then I have preached a version of it at several churches.* Jesus and his disciples came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting […]