Creative Christian Companies
Preachers of Detroit
Christian Business Ideas
@ F ith FE
20 Firing the 8 Pastor
28 The Christian Advertising Playbook
E
What millennial Christians want at work?
D
Be the Church
T
own Square. Throughout history,
it’s the one place where ideas and people meet. It’s where solutions
tackle problems with innovation and boldness. That’s what you do as a
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F@it h FE D E
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Linda Pintus Rebecca Hines Stephen Crawley Tim Robinson
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Jason Hunt Jamiel Cotman Will Doniker Lance Cummins
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Your Christian product not selling? We’ve found the cure! It’s just not what you expected
34
What do Gen Y Christians want from leaders and organizations?
54
Are You?
Click to join us at the cross section of faith and innovation.
I am Christian I am Innovative I am Faith FEED
Editors Feed
A
wrong with me. This month we peer into Innovative Christian s goes the body of Christ,
Companies, who they are, what
so goes its businesses. There
they know and what they need
are far too many none
to hear from everyday
innovators in the Christian
Chrisitans they’re trying to sell
business community. Its as
to. What do we want from our
though believers think that
business leaders? How best
because they’re Christians,
can they serve us and advance
they don’t have to be creative,
Gods kingdom and values in
add value and know their stuff.
the process?
That somehow they’ve got a heavenly pass. I feel the opposite way. My belonging to God makes me more adamant to glorify him in the business arena, more and more each day. Obviously somethings
With innovative Christian companies like yours is mind, we’ve plotted out a clear roadmap to mutual success for you and the Christian community, realizing that the two can’t be severed.
For instance, we take a look at
from around the world, so do
Christians@work, analyzing
take the time to look into each
what your workforce wants in a
and share your thoughts with
Christian organization and how
our group for Creative Christian
their happiness as believers
Companies by clicking the
their translates to higher
microphone below.
productivity. From there, we even get into, ‘The Christian Advertising Playbook’ jocking down best practices from leading Christian organizations
XOXOX
-Linda What do you think?
Have ideas for Christian businesses? Click here and speak your mind to our group on Google plus.
Christians@Work
W
Ith over 24,000,000 professed
Christians going to work each and every day, its safe to say they are now a group of their own. Amongst that group even, you have self-employed Christian designers, authors and speakers; none profit bloggers, pastors and leaders; along with mega brand business owners trying to think up the next trend among Christian consumers and most of all, the everyday believer, looking for innovative ways to live by faith, apply Gods Word and be successful in their career.
Yet with all of these persons, bearing the name of Christ amongst
me feel more welcome,
the global workforce, few feel their
comfortable and thus productive.”
values are being accepted on the job
Sounds like millennials aren’t as
and that this is in fact, what is
secular as we’d like to think.
causing them to be less productive.
Another question we asked 5,000
Sound like an excuse? We sure
working Christians were, “What’s
thought so, but that’s until we did
the number one hindrance to your
some digging around of our own and
productivity at work?” Most
looked into it.
chose, “Not finding a sense of purpose and meaning in what I do” and though secular Click here to view our survey about the Christian workforce.
survey takers answered the exact same way when the following question was same question. asked of them, Christians more
What did we find? Christians were totally open to spiritual practices being allowed at work, via chapel, public prayer or optional devotion. Our findings showed Christian responses such as, “Would make
frequently pointed to “pleasing God”, “honoring the LORD” and “advancing the kingdom” in lieu of “doing good to others” as none Christians .
What do we take from this? Christian millennials want more than just a place for doing good, they want an
Christian Branded Businesses
opportunity to acknowledge their values in particular. “We’re
Millennial Christians are
supposed to stand out” says Justin,
taking it a step further and calling
a youth leader who volunteered to
on business leaders to innovate
give his name in our survey. It
upon their values. So while yes,
seems, millennial Christians feel
they’re asking for their principles
most productive, creative and
to be celebrated and not
resourceful when they know that
suppressed, they want the
their specific values are welcome,
innovative edge of doing it
not simply “general” good. And while
creatively. “I’d love to have an
we certainly don’t recommend
actual “Christmas party” says one
forcing your staff to pray in Jesus
woman [no name given] having
name, we do advise having a culture
took our survey. “We have to do
that is lenient towards biblical values
a “winter celebration” because
As you develop your company,
the owners want to include none
be mindful to implement these things
Christian workers too.” And while
to attract top Christian talent. If you
this is a generic example, how
don’t, we’re seeing that they either
many times have you
won’t come, or worse, show up and
“celebrated” Christian
underperform.
Continued on page 18
We asked 17,000 Christians and none Christians about work and faith
Top talent Christians, those with special education, training, experience and track records, wanted to see strong Christian values up front and center amongst their employment leaders
1 out of 4 Christians said they don’t want marital aid provided by an employer The remaining three said that they’d like work to acknowledge marital status with some type of benefit or assistance
Do you want top Christian talent? Look at what they look for in a work environment
Christian Work is a place to find purpose Morals are important Morals make me more productive
Secular Work is a place to make money Keep religion out of work Morals have little to do with being productive
Click here to share how you attract millennial Christian workers in our Google Plus group.
Christian millennials actively seek beliefs or took a stand as a “Christian” business? This survey shows that these are the precise behaviors that will draw in the sort of Christian leaders who will push your brand forward. Yet most business owners who identified as Christians in our report didn’t make these types of claims. Indeed, they made efforts to conceal it corporately. So while yes, we do believe in doing things the right way at the right time, our studies are showing us that
business leaders who let their light shine before men. They want to work for Christian businesses that simultaneously make them better believers and push the cause of Christ forward. It’s hard to do that when you’re trying to fit in. “The way to look at this is PR” says Larry Cohen, owner of SkyOffice, a Christian telemarketing group in Northern Virginia. The sort of top talent you want, bold, edgy, and intelligent
aren’t going to apply for wuss boy
They’re looking to work for
business leader firms. They want
companies whose making a
to do what their calling is pushing
mark for Christ in the culture,
them towards, and that aint being
while also innovating upon
stuffed behind a cubicle while
Christian values for the future.
secularists are out promoting their
Being in the Christian business
values on the mountaintops. If you
directory just won’t cut it
can promise them that, they’ll
anymore.
perform for you, push your sales forward and may even die for you. It’s just so rare”
Turn Over Tables
Are you a millennial Christian worker? Share how you stand for Christ in the workplace here.
The Jesus millennial workers seemed to identify with isn’t as stiff as we make him out to be. And though we’re not asking Christian entrepreneurs to turn over church money tables to get their attention, millennials are expecting to see a little more boldness from Christian employers
W
hat your about to
experience is something few pastors get a chance to, and that’s the opportunity to hear what people are saying when he or she isn’t around. Enter Kate Johnson, long term member of several churches throughout the east U.S. region. She views church as “the ultimate pass time” choosing to root the bulk of her social activities there. However she has a strange suggestion for some ministries she’s encountered. And you might be shocked at what it is.
Firing the Pastor
Why Kate Johnson believes drastic change amongst leaders is key to change amongst people.
It’s about 7 A.M. or so as
blessed by the example. But it
we discuss all of this with Katie
won’t necessarily rub off on or
in a Starbucks in downtown
trickle down to us.” Kate believes
Richmond, VA. “It’s not that I
the “people centered
don’t like preachers, I just feel
metrics” take the emphasis off of
they need different metrics to
what a leader accomplishes and instead places it on
We look at what Pastors do through their people, more than what they do
what they’ve done for others. “I mean suppose we rated Jesus by the size of the building he put up?” It’s time we said what we’ve all been thinking, it’s time
be judged by. Thus far, Christians have looked at their life and ministry, how they treat their family and build the church. However, those are all ‘preacher’ centric, not ‘people’ centric measures. A pastor being good to his family is for him more so. Sure, we will be
we fire what we know today as “pastors” theoretically or, in some cases literally. However you want to look at it, drastic leadership changes are needed in today’s churches. Just living right and driving a nice car won’t cut it anymore. Atheist can do that.
“Buying new buildings, jets for
be the main thing a ministry is
the ministry, church vehicles
known for” All too often, we
and so forth are all examples of
look at these trinkets of
‘preacher centric’ measures.”
pastoral success, without
says Johnson “People centric
realizing it doesn’t have much
measures, would be how many
baring on changed lives.
families are doing better, how many Christians now have the funds to pay for the jet. But we don’t look at that. We just get caught up in all of the star acrobatics, financial and otherwise that preachers do,
What does a new church or jet for the ministry mean to the people; the answer? Not much!
namely for themselves.” Of course we don’t think ministries should’t have jets or churches shouldn’t have multiple locations, but that shouldn’t be the metric we use to rate their performance. That shouldn’t
Secular rap artist and actors have the very same success trinkets but are in fact misleading the culture. Should we be glorifying the same accomplishments?
Kate, our serial church hopper, goes over a few things that her
point, Moore Life Ministries pastored by Keith Moore. “I
experience on trustee boards,
haven’t been, but I heard they
women’s groups and more
don’t call their groups
have told her about what ministry leaders, especially pastors have to change
Instead of ministries, Keith Moore’s church has service teams to see Gods glory present on their church. And the first, and
“ministries” but “service teams” I think that’s a good step in the right direction” The expectation of a “ministry” today is more about how holy and blessed you are, not what you’ve done for others. When Girl Scouts leader Sarah Gormley was told that
most foremost is a people centric culture. “That’s not a people centered culture, because we’re here to serve God, however, it does mean all of our milestones are based on helping others” Kates case and
What does a new church or jet for the ministry mean to the people; the answer? Not much!
she has an amazing group
Organizational expertise is the
of young girls working for
second, simply put, leadership
her, at the Adobe
should have education and
Pastors must view themselves as the Chief Servant Officer, the one person who would die for the group
training and even ongoing training to run the church efficiently. “Church is a delicate combination of both ministry and business. However, ministry is more important because it’s what feeds the
Conference for 2014, she interrupted them only to say, “They don’t. I work for them.” That’s the discipline pastors must return to. They’re going to have to see themselves as chief servant officer, the one person who would die for the group. It’s that attitude that becomes the guiding force of a people centered culture. One where everyone is hungry to get others ahead.
business. Too many pastors think they have a business problem when they really have a ministry problem and vice versa. You need to have skills in both, with a bias towards ministry” she explains. The best churches she’s seen were led by pastors with experience in two areas. One is ministry such as church volunteering and office, the other is business.
“But business is easier because in business, others get paid to follow your instructions. That’s why being an effective volunteer leader is key, but you still have to approach it as a business that
Using business acumen to accomplish ministry objectives is the skeleton key [so Kate says] to organizational expertise, but it is far from the last. “Courageous creativity is
you can expand and innovate
the one deciding factor of
upon or else it dies”.
whether or not a pastor should
Kate is a huge fan of the Girl Scouts. “They’re structured as a none profit yet launch HUGE for profit initiatives and
pack his How do you foster courageous creativity in your church? Share your thoughts here.
own product. They’re teaching young women professional skills like salesmanship, leadership and beyond. That’s an example of people centered metrics set by an organization. That’s an example of a service based culture”
and get another job.” Kate believes. “If you’re not creative, you can’t stand out and be heard anymore. Nobody cares how loud you can yell” she gives our most innovative ministry leader, Pastor Steve Furtick and his creative team
at Elevation Church as an example. “They maintain a ‘I’m not scared to be different if different is being Christian’ energy. I can’t put my finger around it but every church, whether or not they plan to grow that big needs to think that way. There’s a boldness that creativity demands and a courage that demands creativity”
We’re in the fourth Quarter and it’s almost third down, however secular brands are still better at reaching Christians than Christians are. We need something. Something different.
The Christian
Advertising
Playbook So what are the key
mistakes Christian themed business owners are making when advertising to saints? We’ve plotted them out here.
F
Irst, figure out your, “why”.
reach Christian consumers.
According to Nancy Wright,
And the why? Why, the
founder of Cakes for Christ, a
importance of advancing Gods
company she bought and sold
kingdom of course! Your own
for over a million dollars. “If
personal relationship with God
your why isn’t strong enough,
and thirst to see His rule,
you won’t persist long enough
dominion, values and person
to figure out how.” Yea, we’ll take that as a credible source, but the real “why” has to be founded upon Christ. Especially if we’re aiming to
Ifreah your why isn’t strong enough, you won’t persist long enough to figure out how
Buyers want a Christian brand with a real cause
penetrate the culture. And there is no better tool to do that than offers provided by a creative Christian business.
Business ownership is a place of influence. Are we using it for Christ?
Christian entrepreneurs decide to own the most innovative movie collections, housing providers and beyond? That’s a culture strongly influenced by Christ via products and
“Products and services
services. “Believers have to
influence us perhaps more than
see that “why” and sell from it”
anything else outside of the
Says Nancy Wright. A concept
home we’re raised in” Modern
to which, as we listen more and
Research’s Becky Pallman
more to her talk, is one to
says. The clothes you buy, the
which we agree. Tetsunao
stores you shop, and the
Yamamori and Kenneth A.
conversations you have online
Eldred, founders of Ariba
are all centered around
Technologies, Inc. [NASDAQ:
business” she continues. “It’s
ARBA], the leader in the
just for most of us, we’re on the
Internet business-to-business
receiving or consumer side.
industry, and Inmac, which
Only about 10% of the world
went public in 1987 and later
are business owners”
merged with Micro Warehouse,
So what happens when
wrote about this in their book
Kingdom Business: Transforming Missions
Niche up. The more subtle, the
Through Entrepreneurial
less sales. Don’t get us wrong,
Strategies. However,
you have to be good, but, you
nowadays, millennials are
have to be bold too. Watering
looking for businesses with a
down the message of Christ is just the thing that’s going to destroy your sales as a kingdom entrepreneur. And don’t think for one moment that today’s pastors and ministers
If they don’t see Christ in your why, they won’t buy. philanthropic edge. And that’s just the “why” Christian business owners have to inject into their offers and marketing. “If they don’t see “Christ” in your why, the Christian consumer community won’t buy” Wright mentions.
are the example that you should seek. All too often, they’re MISS-leading the Christian business community on how to advertise. You stand by Gods Word no matter what, in your interviews, PR and beyond. Don’t think for a moment that your going to shove Jesus under the bus to get sales, the moment you do
you’re going to lose business and Jesus. In the words of Tyler Perry, “Where Jesus isn’t welcome, I’m not welcome”. Believers who take that approach in leading their
It’s a product one. “Its like they’re trying to fit in when they’re supposed to stand out” Wright explains. “And the world can see right through it”
companies will find higher support from Christian buyers. So the lesson is this:
If Jesus isn’t welcome, I’m not welcome
develop products and services that Christian’s want, and it will sell itself. Oh sure, you’ll have to do some promotion, but it won’t be an uphill battle
Trying to please everybody, is
because you’ve responded to a
the playbook strategy for
real market need. The biggest
failure.
take away our experts are providing Christian entrepreneurs is that they don’t really have a promotional problem at all
It’s the one Christians have been playing by in business. Unfortunately.
Why Christians Don’t
Buy from Y
Straight talk from Wyndell Green
ou
W
orking with countless
has some serious warnings for Christian entrepreneurs, namely that, the industry does
business executives,
exist. “Too many people
Wyndell Green, business
starting a Christian business
specialist for Anointed
don’t really have a Christian
Entrepreneur, a consulting
product per se, they just have a
firm in Richmond, VA
product that they’ve thrown
a Christian title on. So instead of calling it Better Bagels, as they should, they call it
So what’s the difference? A Christian based business can be any business owned by
A Christian themed business is one that identifies itself as Christian to the remaining business community
“Bethlemeham Bagels” or something foolish like that” So what do you recommend they do instead? They have to distinguish between a Christian based business and a Christian themed one. If not, they’re going to have serious brand identity; more foundational problems going forward.
Christians, particularly if they’re aiming to run it using biblical principles. And a Christian themed business? A Christian themed business is one that identifies itself as Christian to the remaining business community, intentionally targets Christian consumers and is selling a product identified as religious.
Believe it or not, these
secular in order to fit in. Lay a
businesses tend to make more
firm foundation for yourself.
money, because they have
Companies that generalize themselves too much, particularly as it pertains to identity, don’t do well.
stronger brand identity and
Then the thing is to innovate
accountability to a group.
upon that foundation. So if
Companies that generalize themselves too much, particularly as it pertains to identity, don’t do well. Given that one has a Christian themed business, how do they
you’re a Christian book publisher, you think, “what’s the core reason Christians buy my books?” whatever your answer to that is, is what you use to anchor your advertisements and even guide what you sell
get more sales?
next.
Well first, realize your strength
But everyone does that
is in the theme, and don’t deter from that. Don’t try to go
right? It seems like common sense.
I wish it were common knowledge but it isn’t. Everyone’s focused on
Brands sell themselves, so you don’t have to building a shiny new ad, a very tiny percentage of business people are focused on building a brand. Brands sells themselves, so you don’t have to. The catch is, brand building involves so much more than financial capital. It takes intellectual capital, time capital and creative capital to figure out what your business stands for, the problem it solves and how to position that in an ad. Amongst Christian business people it’s very rare.
So is that it, build a brand, and that will increase sales? [how does one get started building a strong Christian brand]? Time. It’s like spending time with something or someone, it begins to develop a personality. You even give it a name. You may know people who call their cars ‘bruser’’ or give their friends a second nick name. It’s our psyche as humans. We assign personality to people, places and things based on our experience with it. That’s why you’d never name a girl butch or a boy Shelby. People’s experience with those names don’t fit that gender. A Christian software company for instance, should look to its behavior with clients
to establish what the brand is,
, you carve out your difference
what it stands for and why it’s
and put it up front and center.
different. So if people like their
It’s like building a doctor’s
software because of how easy to
office to sell your medicine in.
use it is, then don’t give the
Now they recognize it. Now
company a complicated-tech-
they see it. Where do I sign
savvy name. Call it something
up? The brand frames,
like ‘Easy Worship’ Then give it a
positions and gives people a
tagline about being easy and
reason to buy your offers.
position your ads around that theme.
Any last words of advice?
So you don’t think
No.
practical ad advice or sales tips are what Christin b owner’s need? Not in my experience. Ads without branding is sort of like giving medicine to people who don’t know they’re sick. However, when you brand build, instead of advertise
5
Christian Business Ideas Nobody’s Doing
Your business idea is stupid! Ahh, got the hard part out of the way. Because we’ve gone to several venture capitalist, Christian consumers, and private investors and asked them what they would like to invest in instead.
Marriage Coach Why aren’t there many big marriage teachers? With marriage rates at an all time low, I think its time Christians have a relationship company that’s customized for them. And while you think that there are ministries that do that for free. However, they have
“Christians need a brand.” says Harry Whalberg, private investor in the Hanover, VA region. “And there aren’t any companies out there for hire to help them in marriage” Harry wants to buy from and invest in a marriage education company that has books, seminars, chat rooms, retreats and more. “We have those things for singles, but for married couples, nope! And it’s the married couples who need it more and have it to spend. But nobody’s doing it”
to focus on countless people at a time, or in free session where there
Have some ideas we missed?
services are often
Share them with our Creative
taken for granted
Christian Companies group on Google+
Financial Services
industry to get into to, but it is a lucrative one. Case Western university says it’s one of the
“Where are the banks that prize
most overlooked high growth
giving, family and church? I say
industries amongst startups.
church because that’s the platform whereby I give to the community.” says Harry’s
Christians need their own banks
Christian Education Christian education just needs an upgrade. Where’s the school for teens that’s addressing Christian courtship
Jr. investment assistant, Harry Brown [no relation]. “A bank that teaches ethics and finance in junction with providing services is one that’s needed. It’s one I’d look into for Harry. “ Financial services is a complex
and making headlines in international news. We all see teen pregnancies on Maruy and Jerry, whose teaching godly kids to do the opposite? Christian education is a big business already, but it sure could use more innovation.
“We need something that’s
even better if some of “these
housed primarily online though”
young guys’ would come in and
says Mary Yavant, elementary
commit to advancing him
school teacher in Richmond,
technologically. “I need more
VA. “CES conference dealt with
than a computer, I need a full
educational technologies that
blown technology strategy
could update textbooks in real
that’s intertwined with my
time, do seminars from within
ministries plan to grow, expand
its pages and even provide
and reach more people. There
tests then and there. That’s
is nothing out there like that”
what we need in Christian education, only for bible based curriculums”
Langston also thinks executive coaching should be a part of the deal. “Adapting older
Ministry
more established pastors to be
Consultant
behold. Whose doing that?
Business consultants specializing in ministry growth are super duper rare.” Says Maple leaf Church’s pastor Langston Turner in New, York, New York. He believes that his ministry would have been
‘digital ministers’ is a sight to
Who’s helping guys with older more established ministries adapt their platforms to the digital age? “We totally agree with this at Faith FEED as Faith + Innovation is our main focus.
Film Production And we’re not talking about the string of one hit wonders like ‘the Passion” or Mark Burnetts Bible series. Christianity needs a production company that’s committed to putting out epic Christian films that are box office hits on a regular basis. The secular brands do it, but, it’s as if Christian movies come in spurts. Every five years or so, one great Christian film hits and then it resides. Having something like a Christian version of Miramax films would not be bad at all, given one has the passion and capability to start it.
Innovative Christian Companies So which Christian businesses making Innovative Christian are Companies
a distinctive mark for
Christ, one that can stand out and glorify him in their respective industries?
W
hen you think of an innovative company, you probably think Apple, Walt Disney or Nike. And while those are definitely creative, we’ve outlined Christian themed firms that are making just as much a distinctive impact in their own industries.
Smart Church
Smart Church is just what it sounds like, the digital version of your church, with all of its Since you have an app for
contacts, social media feeds
everything, your Sm, your
and branding. So instead of
alarm, and today, even your ac,
toggling between your pastors
why not have one for your
Facebook, Google + and
church? Oh sure, some
Twitter, you get it all in one stream.
Smart Church is just what it sounds like, the digital version of your church
“I use it to stay updated on current events because I’m always traveling” says Will Turner of St Pauls Baptist Church in Chicago, Maryland.
Churches have a customized app, but, Smart Church has taken it a step further and allows all churches to have one! Not to sound like their commercial, but that’s pretty good!
“So glad someone thought of this” The updated or premium version allows church goers to create networks for those outside of their church and share it with moderators.
Wing Clips
Who wants to use a scene from X Men to make a point about God given gifts, they can just go to Wing Clips and use the
And while there are many
video bite for free.
video content networks that
“This is just the sort of thing
Christians can use, Wing
that we need at the local
Clips remains the eldest
church level” says a pastor in
having been around for over
our Christian Creative Class group. “We need more
This is just the sort of thing that we need at the local church level
companies that rise up to meet the needs of today’s churches, for the sake of the gospel”. We like Wing Clips because
10 years. It secures
they’re thinking. And today,
licensing agreements with
many Christian leaders aren’t
major film makers in both
doing this. For instance, Wing
the Christian and secular
Clips has a web taxonomy that
markets, and allows
allows you to pick clips just by
anyone, let’s say, a
scrolling the side bars. It shows
presenter at your church
categories such as “suspense” Continued on Page 49
Christian companies that go digital are the ones we see innovating the most
action’ or even ‘horror’. You can take inspiration from a myriad of video clips in their opinion, and we agree. Finally, we believe Wing Clips has excellent brand identity. The wing logo structure, the brand association with major films and its emotional link with inspiration, makes it a top tier Christian brand in our book.
Explore the Bible
It has a version for leaders, kids, adults, women and men. But beyond that, you can subscribe to its simulcasts hosted by the likes of Priscilla Shirer and Alas, while we could have given their parent company [Lifeway] the recognition, we’ll play to the underdog vibe The publisher has released a myriad of study guide bibles that are retro fitted for different groups
Anthony Evans. “What Lifeway has done with their explore product, is created a sub culture for bible addicts” says Christian business consult Eddie Trifke. “We need more brands like that, that are centered around biblical values. There aren’t
and consider the subsidiary,
enough of them, at least not
‘Explore the Bible’. What does
any that are intriguing or
it do? Oh we’re glad you asked.
innovative enough to scale”.
The publisher has released a myriad of study guide bibles that are retro fitted for different groups amongst Christians.
With the explore brand, the bible has been taken from a book on the shelf, to an experience that connects
people with modernity. Brinigng
Explore already has a following
the bible to life with current
of 30,000 followers spread
conversations, meetings and
across the social media
such, used to be the job of the
landscape.
church, though it is failing. We feel Lifeway has met a real need with this one and the evidence is in our favor.
Xplore brings the bible to life with conversations, meetings, and community. That used to be the church’s job.
We miss anything? Share your thoughts about other Christian companies with our Google e+ groups.
Gen X Speaks
What do they want from church leaders, businesses and innovators?
Stop following me
Jose Taylor, New Mexico,
I want leaders that aren’t trying to be “cool” but trying to be “Christians”. Too often I feel like churches I attend are more about being accepted by the culture instead of trying to change it.
Anne Washington, Jesse Taylor, Arnold Dodson and Lee Smithers
Hang With Us
We want pastors or company leaders to kick it with us outside of church, even if that’s online. Something like ‘A day in the park with Pastor Joe’ or a night on the town theme conference for singles. Anything that gets us outside of the Bible Study to Sunday service weekly routine. The last thing we Christians need to be seen as is routine.
Andre Scott
Substance Please
Everyone feel happy, for now. So to me the cry for
Where is all the substance from pastors today? I feel like when I drop into church [no I don’t attend] the messages are so light, fluffy and friendly. I don’t feel they’re slaying giants like gay marriage, world hunger or poverty. Just a sermon about something that’s going to make
content online is another version of this. Companies that sell product should also give product away in the form of substance. I want to look through free and fee based products. I just feel everyone wants something for nothing. There
just isn’t any substance
and workshop on Saturday all revolving around what I heard
The Church
on Sunday.
Immobile
Where we’re
I want to plug in to my
Going In 20 years the face of
church all week long, not just on Sunday. And that includes
Christian leadership will either
the sermon. Why should I
be gone or completely
settle? Why not have pastors
reformed. We hope the latter. If
who write content plans instead
it’s to be reformed, a few of the
of sermons? Simply put, I get
changes Generation x adults
the sermons on Sunday, the
are seeding seems to be far
chat experience on Monday,
more
the study guide on Tuesday, bible study on Wednesday, Q&A on Thursday, banquet on Friday
Michael Cunningham
creative, snazzy and outright
What we’re hearing above
bold. They don’t want another
all is that people are forgetting
sermon, but an in depth
about people, it’s all about their
movement that they can be
ministry or business.
apart of. One that shows up in their social media streams, inboxes and yes, at their churches as well. They want innovate leaders who are thinking of new ways to change lives, because like technology, solutions outdate themselves very quickly. They want organizations that keep up with these changes and exceed them. Are you that different? Is your Christian blog, organization or church going to begin providing that? What
Gen X Christians just want Jesus.
Preachers of Detroit
W
e don’t need another
show about preachers” says an angry black millennial, Sharon Jones. To her, ‘Preachers of Detroit’ is a step back for her community and the city of Detroit which is mostly African American. “I’m a Christian
and don’t think we need another show positioning preachers or church as a solution” This is a common theme amongst millennials. Nobody thinks that ‘church as usual’ is going to help. The big call, “Innovation, - we need to innov-
Who cares how many preachers we have in Detroit? ate. Who cares how many preachers we have in Detroit? I mean come on!” says Lacy, a
At least compared to how much money they’re taking” In spite its critics,
Caucasian single mother, and
Preachers of Detroit has had a
former drug addict from the
successful launch, garnering
area.
over 1,000,000 viewers its first After telling her our
week.
thoughts, namely that it’s a
We hope the show does
good idea to showcase the
reach millennials viewers and
great things churches can do
continues to address their
for the community, she
needs for programming that
basically held her ground.
suits their values, whether or
“I’m tired of attention going to organizations that aren’t really having an impact
not they do so perfectly.
What Career Christians Want
A sense of Christian purpose
TO be a part of a real movement
A successful mentor and personal attention
Faith FEED Survey of 20,000 employees