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When organizations discuss the idea of branding, it’s not uncommon to hear the phrase “everything speaks.”
Everything a company does, from is products to employees to marketing to cleanliness communicates something, whether good or bad. It all tells a story to a potential consumer or customer about what the company values, ignores, emphasizes, or avoids. And it all comes together to help create an impression with the customer regarding the company and whether its products and services are really worth pursuing.
If I, as a church tech or creative, was a brand, would people want to shop at my store?
Church is the same way. From the first moment an attendee enters the parking lot, everything speaks. How the flowers look. The attitude of the parking attendants. Whether signage is abundant and clear. The ease of checking in children. The intelligibility of the sound system. The lighting in the auditorium. The engagement of the staff and volunteers.
The facility. The experience.
The people.
What are we “speaking” to those who are looking at us and listening to our words and actions?
Beyond just how we may present ourselves to guests or regular attendees, what about in the other relationships I have in ministry? When others interact with me, what impression do they come away with from that encounter?
As a technician, it can be easy to try and avoid interacting with people on a weekend, and oftentimes it can be rationalized. There’s a service to prepare for, a rehearsal to run, technical glitches to fix.
But I can’t ever fully avoid interacting with others, whether they be volunteers on my team, peers in other ministry areas, my leaders and pastors, and even the vendors and contractors I rely on for purchases, installs, and support.
What am I speaking to them?
Take time to ask yourself
Does my volunteer team hear me complain about the worship pastor and grumble about how I feel disrespected or overlooked by superiors? Do my peers hear me say “no” to their requests and notice how little energy I have to support their ministry’s vision?
Do my bosses see me as inflexible? Do our vendors have to put up with my short fuse when things I paid for aren’t delivered as expected?
... many times we may not even think twice about what it’s like to be in the shoes of those we interact with on a regular basis.
If I, as a church tech or creative, was a brand, would people want to shop at my store? Would they want to acquire my goods or services, or are they only doing it because they’re stuck with no other option?
For those of us who aren’t naturally a “people person,” it can sometimes be difficult to look at the world through the lens of relationships and personal interaction. Sometimes we don’t focus on developing a “social EQ” or awareness that helps us improve at navigating relationships.
And many times we may not even think twice about what it’s like to be in the shoes of those we interact with on a regular basis.
Sometimes we don’t focus on developing a “social EQ” or awareness that helps us improve at navigating relationships.
But failing to do these things can cause incredible damage to a ministry as a whole, not to mention what it can do to my team and even my personal reputation.
Beyond that, do I stop to consider whether my words and actions have a negative reflection on Christianity?
Getting my faith, words, and actions in sync
Author William J. Toms is credited with saying, “Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some person ever reads.”
It’s a sobering thought to remember that my daily lifestyle should be a reflection of the Gospel I believe in. That my words and actions should be consistent with the One whom I follow. And even more so, when I serve in ministry, knowing that my every step in that environment should be undertaken to help bring people closer to the Lord.
Am I setting a healthy spiritual example for the team I lead?
When [people outside my church] hear my words and observe how I treat them and others, does it make them want to engage with a church?
What about those outside of the church I interact with who may not be saved, like a vendor or installer? When they hear my words and observe how I treat them and others, does it make them want to engage with a church?
Or does “reading” my lifestyle convince them that the real Bible isn’t really worth opening?
The book of James is an incredibly practical book, full of wisdom to help us navigate life on a daily basis. Much of its third chapter deals with the power of the tongue, and this passage is notable:
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? - James 3:9-11 NIV
With my words, I have power to speak life or death into any relationship or situation, and this puts incredible emphasis on the importance of living a deliberate life.
Knowing that everything I do speaks something to those around me, are there areas where I need to be more intentional in my words or deeds? Do I need to focus on being more positive, uplifting, and supportive? Do I need to bite my tongue instead of sharing all of the negative thoughts and feelings that come to mind?
Perhaps before I interact with vendors or contractors I could first pray for wisdom that God will guide my words and deeds to help me be a good witness for my beliefs.
Tech ministry just isn’t about equipment. More than anything, it’s still about ministry. And it's about understanding that every interaction I have with someone has the potential to be life-changing.
When I add new pages to the book of my life each day, I never know who will be reading.
