What’s your name?
Benton Cole
Where do you serve, what is your title, and how long have you served there?
Five Lakes Church in Sylvania, Ohio, Executive Pastor, 10 years (5 in current position)
How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t go to church?
A mashup of COO, CIO, and CFO also officiates weddings/funerals and preaches occasionally.
What were some of the things that you experienced that shaped the way you approach your work?
Serving as an associate director of HR for a ministry with 100 staff, completing a seminary degree in transformational leadership, leading worship and planning worship services for many years, being involved in both a church plant and a church closure.
What’s the one thing you wish people knew about your job?
The blend of Spirit, faith, talent, intellectual flexibility, determination, and character, and emotional maturity that are required to be effective.
What is the one tool for your job that you can’t live without, and why?
Other than the Bible… Evernote. Compatibility and sync abilities across all phone, tablet, and computer platforms, both Mac & PC.
What is the biggest mistake that you see churches making when it comes to communications and marketing?
Speaking more to the people, we are trying to keep the people we are trying to reach. Our members/attenders must be communicated directly, but greater attention is often needed to draw in the new or prospective member of the family.
Who is someone that you look up to in the church communications world?
Andy Stanley re: making the complex more simple. TD Jakes re: making a powerful point. My team at our church re: bringing ideas to life with ever-increasing creativity and excellence.
We agree with your insights to put in greater effort in reaching prospective members and the unchurched. And you deserve so much appreciation for being such a multi-tasker, Benton! Keep spreading your light!
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