What’s your name?
Jared Rendell
Where do you serve, what is your title, and how long have you served there?
Director of Communications, Systems, & Acoustic Worship
How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t go to church?
I create spaces for people to connect with God and each other. I put systems and ideas in place and make them play nice together to maximize life for staff and leaders. And, I get to sing a little too.
What were some of the things that you experienced that shaped the way you approach your work?
I’ve spent time in small-town camp and church ministry, big-city corporate life, and at-home coaching consulting, and design. My current role smashed all these together in a really interesting way, and I’m confident I couldn’t do this as I do without each of those formative experiences. These turned into an adaptive, people-focused, curiosity-driven way of doing my job.
What’s the one thing you wish people knew about your job?
It’s much less about technology than it is creativity and connectivity. Communications Directors belong on high levels of leadership teams at churches – I wish more churches and their leaders knew this.
What is the one tool for your job that you can’t live without, and why?
I have to default to my Macbook Pro, based simply on the mileage it’s taken on and the work it’s produced over the last few years. When it dies, I’ll seek another the next day.
What is the biggest mistake that you see churches making when it comes to communications and marketing?
Not paying someone to do it well. Let’s say you’re creating a new church, a good Communications Director should be the second or third person you hire. So many still have a boxed-in, widget-producing view of what comms and marketing are, which turns into under-resourcing, under-listening, and under-valuing people who are really good at it.
Who is someone that you look up to in the church communications world?
Folks like Jonathan Carone, Kyler Nixon, and Rob Laughter who keep showing and reminding us that these spaces, as highly technical as they are sometimes, are about people, and stories, and Jesus, or they’re nothing.
We heard you when you say communications staff & directors should not be undervalued as they play a huge part in the building and growing a church. Communicators are also leaders and that is important to be emphasized. Thank you for reminding us of it, Jared! May you spread light to more aspiring communications leaders.
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