What’s your name?
Vikki Huisman
Where do you serve, what is your title, and how long have you served there?
Communications Director, two years
How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t go to church?
I help people get the information they need about our church and assist them to navigate their next steps in their faith journey.
What were some of the things that you experienced that shaped the way you approach your work?
I have a list of family members and long time friends who are not yet believers. These loved ones are always in my mind through everything I do. What would they want to know? What would they have questions about? Would they understand what was communicated, or did we use insider language? They’re my filter.
What’s the one thing you wish people knew about your job?
It’s more than just being “the internet lady.” 🙂 It’s important to see how all the pieces are connected to the whole and to put myself in the shoes of a new visitor.
What is the one tool for your job that you can’t live without, and why?
The Church Communications Group on Facebook, without a doubt. I’m a team of one and my church’s first Communications Director. I thrive on the community in this Facebook group, and it’s comforting to know I have somewhere to go when I have questions or need encouragement.
What is the biggest mistake that you see churches making when it comes to communications and marketing?
We have to work very hard to address our blind spots. It’s so easy to fall into our routines and forget what it’s like to be new to a church or to start a faith journey. It’s vitally important to understand and have empathy for those who are at the beginning of their faith walk and are confused or scared to begin.
Who is someone that you look up to in the church communications world?
Lori Bailey at Life.Church. Several years ago, when Twitter was still new, and I was contemplating diving into church communications, I reached out to Lori Bailey on Twitter to ask her some questions. I never forgot how gracious she was and even spent some time with me on the phone to give advice.
The most essential thing Vikki has mentioned that we all should look into is perspective. If you have loved ones who are non-believers, instead of insisting your belief to them through endless discussions, look into their perspective and listen to their opinions. Let yourself be in their shoes and create your communications strategy for them. Thank you, Vikki, for reminding us of that. Keep on inspiring us!
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