Faith FEED Apr 2015

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

creative Christian. That’s what we do as a community of believers.

Welcome to Faith FEED. Welcome to Christianity’s Town Square.

You Hungry?

Click icons on plate to join us on social media.

O

ur Google plus

community allows you to

Gods puts something

share content as well as

in you that we need.

receive. Discuss your

We’re waiting to hear

ideas for church growth,

from you.

leadership and more.

Click icon in cup to subscribe to our magazine.

Quench your thirst with a healthy mixture of both faith and innovation each month when you subscribe to our magazine on Issuu.

Wipe your mouth with

Click napkin to join the conversation

our new Google+ group for creative Christians, where we challenge the old paradigms of Christianity and become open to new things.

F@it h FE D E

Chief Editor Assistance Editor Editorial Staff

Linda Pintus Rebecca Hines Stephen Crawley Tim Robinson

Contributors Production

Jason Hunt Jamiel Cotman Will Doniker Lance Cummins

Connect Contribute

FaithFEEDMag@gmail.com

Promote

804-833-7628

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