007 - How to Convince Stubborn Leaders that Church Media is Important

http://prochurchtools.com/007 - How do you convince stubborn leaders that media is important? I thought the best person to answer this question was a lead pastor himself. On this session of the Pro Church Podcast I have a discussion with Pastor Brett Esslinger, the lead pastor of Engage City Church. We talk about closed minded pastors, and what NOT to say when you're proposing a church media idea to leadership.

Show Notes & Resources Mentioned

• Follow Pastor Brett on Twitter here.
• ProPresenter: mentioned and highly recommended on the podcast.

3 Instant Takeaways

1. Make allies. If you're a media-savvy churchgoer or volunteer with great media ideas, get some weight and influence on board before you approach senior leadership. No doubt you know exactly what you're talking about, but gaining some credibility with other leadership will make it easier for the senior leader to value your input. Once you have an audience, be sure you have a solid plan to present.
2. Come under the church's vision. While you may have the best media ideas ever imagined, you won't get any traction if your vision contradicts the church's. Bring your digital plans to the leadership in ways that media will enhance and support the current goals. Find the intersection between the church's passions and your own.
3. Don't start with an all-in approach. Walking up to your pastor with a comprehensive makeover -- fog machines, expensive stage lights, and stage backdrops -- is probably too much too soon. Introduce a few useful, purposeful changes and keep a long-term perspective. Too much change can freak people out.