A new year brings us a fresh start again–hopes for a brighter future and a wiser us. We have so many things we want to achieve, to be productive and better than what we were the year before. As church communicators, we continuously learn and grow along the way. In 2021, there are many things we have yet to learn. Many books that have yet to be read. So we’re making it easy for you. We’re compiling a reading list. Here are some resources that we believe are Church Communicator must-reads for 2021!
Instagram Posts That Worked: Real-Life Examples from Church Communicators Across the Country by Katie Allred
“Do you feel like maybe your church’s Instagram isn’t reaching its full potential? It can be difficult to know what to post and how to get your congregation engaged with your content. We’ve seen churches struggle with these same issues, but we’ve also seen them overcome and develop effective church Instagram accounts. In this book, you will find real-life examples from church communications across the country. This is a guide filled with real Instagram posts from real churches, and insights from the church communicators who posted them.”
Less Chaos. Less Noise by Kem Meyer
“Do you ever wonder why people aren’t getting your message? You email, tweet, hang signs, create video announcements, send newsletters, and boost your posts … and the response isn’t what you want… What if you could cut through the chaos and the noise and find the direct route to your audience? It’s easier than you think. Less Chaos. Less Noise. delivers proven “now” strategies for church communications–practical solutions and best-practice principles that build trust instead of walls.”
Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
“Ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life. Hurry is the great enemy of the spiritual life…” Within the pages of this book, you’ll find a fascinating roadmap to staying emotionally healthy and spiritually alive in the chaos of the modern world.”
Know What You’re FOR by Jeff Henderson
“Working with companies like Chick-fil-A and the Atlanta Braves, then serving as a pastor for 15 years at one of the country’s largest and most influential churches, North Point, Jeff knows what success looks like for healthy organizations and healthy lives. With fascinating stories from a host of entrepreneurs and Jeff’s remarkable career, Know What You’re FOR equips you with a simple strategy and the tools for extraordinary growth.”
Neighborliness by David Docusen
“Jesus’ simple command can feel overwhelming when our neighbor looks and lives differently than we do. Racial and economic tensions across the country have resulted in deep dividing lines that seem really intimidating to cross. Neighborliness is a practical guide to bridging those dividing lines and learning to recognize and amplify the beauty of God in our communities.”
Sacred Pathways by Gary Thomas
“If your spiritual walk is not what you’d like it to be, you can change that, starting here. Sacred Pathways will show you the route you were made to travel, marked by growth and filled with the riches of a close walk with God.”
Upstream: The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen by Dan Heath
“Upstream delivers practical solutions for preventing problems rather than reacting to them. How many problems in our lives and in society are we tolerating simply because we’ve forgotten that we can fix them?”
Never Settle: Choices, Chain Reactions, and the Way Out of Lukewarminess by Greg Holder
“For those who want to know that their life has significance, that their choices matter, and that they can start a chain reaction in our world this missional book is for you. Never Settle is a tangible reminder that every choice in your day is crackling with God’s redemptive power – you, yes you, are called to be a part of what God is doing in the world.”
How (Not) to Read the Bible: Making Sense of the Anti-women, Anti-science, Pro-violence, Pro-slavery and Other Crazy-Sounding Parts of Scripture by Dan Kimball
“Filled with stories, visual illustrations, and memes reflecting popular cultural objections, How (Not) to Read the Bible is a lifeline for individuals who are confused or discouraged with questions about the Bible. It also works great as a small-group study or sermon series.”
Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership by Ruth Haley Barton
“Weaving together contemporary illustrations with penetrating insight from the life of Moses, Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership explores topics such as responding to the dynamics of calling, facing the loneliness of leadership, leading from your authentic self, cultivating spiritual community, reenvisioning the promised land, discerning God’s will together.”
Hook Point by Brendan Kane
“Hook Point: How to Stand Out in a 3-Second World, by out of the box thinker Brendan Kane, breaks down the most effective strategies to generate new opportunities, innovate and scale your business, and create a compelling brand—both online and off—so you can thrive in the new micro-attention world in which we live.”
Conclusion
2021 is a year for us to strengthen our passion and knowledge in our jobs as Church Communicators. These Church Communicator must-reads for 2021 can help us grow into the communicators we strive to be. They can help us become the best version of ourselves.
