Big Events:Finance, Plan and Execute Big Outreach In Your City

BIG EVENTS: Finance, Plan and Execute Big

Outreach In Your City

Josh RhodesEvent Team Leader

Connect Ministrieswww.connect-ministries.com

The Seed

The Church

The Life of a Church Leader

Church activities every weeknight Building projects New ideas Maintaining the gym Basketball leagues Finding volunteers Managing your team Monitor spending – budget issues Meeting face to face with others Counseling Sifting through mail Summer planning Marketing your programs Lead a bible study Entertain 3 families for dinner Find the recipe Set up Sunday’s classrooms Trouble shoot Return phone calls

Designing your materials Updating websites Staff meetings Dealing with conflict Going on mission trips Organization Casting Vision Administration Building relationships Outreach Responding to email Finding volunteers and coaches Hospital visitation Decision making Retreats Meals with meetings Try to catch up Blah Blah Blah More More More

Today’s to-do list:

Resources available to the Church More Christian publishers than ever before New web pages every day Downloadable products Extensive research Turn key operations Instant access to immediate help

The Real World 90% of ministers work more than 46 hours a week (Fuller

Institute of Church Growth) Over 50% do not meet with a prayer partner regularly

(Focus on the Family) 80% of minister’s spouses feel their spouse is overworked 80% of ministers believe full-time ministry affected their

families negatively (Fuller Institute of Church Growth) 50% felt themselves unable to meet the needs of the job

(Fuller Institute of Church Growth) 70% say they have a lower self esteem now compared to

when they started in ministry (Fuller Institute of Church Growth)

81% spend insufficient time together with their spouse and 53% experience difficulty in raising their children (Leadership)

Image of the Parallels

The Church

Bubba

Who is Bubba? Maybe he used to come to your church Maybe he has never been to your church Burned by the church Does not want to hear about the church Tired of the church asking for his money His real life circumstances did not line up with the message

of the church Not interested in church at all No orientation towards Christ Does not feel like he can relate to anyone at the church Has many other things he would like to do on Sunday

morning Does not like what he sees when he actually comes to your

church

Stats about Bubba Two out of three born again Christians

(64%) accept Jesus Christ as their savior before their 18th birthday. (2004) (Barna)

Mosaics are the generation least likely to strongly agree that they have a personal responsibility to tell others people about their religious beliefs. Compared to the 25% of Mosaics who strongly agree with the tested statement, 30% of Busters, 39% of Boomers and 41% of Elders strongly agree. (2007) (Barna)

Stats about BubbaOf over 1,400 adults polled who have not attended

church in at least 6 months (LifeWay): A majority are turned off by the institutional

church and don’t have a biblical understanding about God and Jesus

71% believe Jesus makes a positive difference in a person’s life and would enjoy an honest discussion with a friend about spiritual matters.

A full 72% of the people interviewed said they think the church is full of hypocrites

78% said they would be willing to listen to someone who wanted to share what they believed about Christianity

Stats about Bubba 79% think Christianity is more about

organized religion than about loving God and loving people

72% said they think the church is full of hypocrites, people who criticize others for doing the same things they do themselves

86% believe they can have a good relationship with God without being involved in church

Stats about Bubba 78% said they would be willing to listen to

someone who wanted to talk about their Christian beliefs. The number rose to 89% among adults 18-29 years of age.

Only 28% of adults 30 years and older said they think Christians they know talk to them too much about their beliefs.

78% of adults 30 years and older said they would enjoy an honest conversation with a friend about religious and spiritual beliefs, even if they disagreed with the friend.

89% of these unchurched people say they have close friends who are Christians

Jesus’ Example Romans 5:8 – Even in our sin…Christ steps

towards the ungodly and dies for them John 8 – Jesus defends a woman on the

verge of being stoned John 4 – Jesus moves towards the woman

at the well

Paul’s Example Acts 17 – Paul in Athens Paul went where they were (synagogue full of

idols) Paul entered into conversation (about idol

worship) Paul listened to their philosophy Paul spoke their language (noticed an altar for an

“unknown god”) Paul answered their questions (they were

intrigued) Paul presented the gospel of Jesus (AFTER he had

established a relationship) Paul realized that not everyone would believe

(only some followed Christ)

Jesus (and Paul) show us… God calls the Church to move towards Bubba God helps the Church speak Bubba’s

language God has given the Church what Bubba is

looking for (through Jesus) Bubba does not need our church, he needs

Jesus (and eventually the church) Bubba wants to be in conversation

(relationship) without immediately being invited to church

The Image of the Intersection

The Church

Bubba

Intersections

Church Barriers “That is not the way we do ministry here” “We have very little in common with them” “We have nothing against their race, we are

just different from them.” “We have a very tight budget” They will catch on to the fact that we are

selling something” “It is just uncomfortable” “They will not like our church once they see

the inside of it”

One must Cast a Vision for the Event…Why? Gives motivation Gives a forward motion Provides Energy to the Idea Focuses Priorities Unites people and ideas Sets high expectation and goals (must

remain realistic)

How to Communicate Visionto your Church? Pray. Cast it often. Then cast it again. Cast it sincerely and honestly. Cast it clearly – be precise. Cast it at the right time.

Implementing Change Create Dissatisfaction with the status quo

Involve people in the process

Create an atmosphere of celebration – reward people.

Define everyone’s roles

Measure the progress

Educate the team/church throughout the process

Re-thinking your System Parking Lot Lobby Welcome Small Groups Worship Staff Volunteers

Ill. Sophie Grace and picking up toys – I will continue to experience discontent until I create a system that encourages cooperation from my children

Summary Dealt with tension between the Church and

Bubba The stats prove the tension Christ shows us how to overcome the tension Vision, Change, and System

Moving Forward This info is foundational in conducting events that

Connect your church to your community

If you move to dreaming before this is understood – you put the cart before the horse

Events sometimes fail in the idea stage because they are not presented from a foundational level

John 21 – We are “sent” people

The Blue Print

10 Key Essentials for Launching a Successful Event

Key Ingredients1. The church must be spiritually prepared. Moving the church through the mentality that people

“know where we are and they will visit when they get ready” is a difficult scenario. It takes time.

Create a plan (through God’s direction) to help prepare the church for a “new way of thinking.”

Some people might have already grasped the idea of “getting outside the walls” but they are not willing to put forth the effort to join the team – we must prepare them also.

We must understand – it is a spiritual battle. Reduce the clump factor

Key Ingredients2. Research and Identify your target

demographic. One must know the specific demographic you are

targeting. This will drive your marketing, partnership, and scope of the event.

As you cast the vision, include the results of your research. This helps the “negative voices” understand the necessity and relevancy of the event.

Key Ingredients3. Generate staff wide support. Massive community events must have the support of the

Senior Pastor. Involve him in the process as much as he desires without

it becoming a burden. Sit down with each staff member and share the vision

individually. This will help you know their level of excitement and involvement.

One Team – Communicating!

Pastor

Task Force Director

Staff Liaison

Key Ingredients4. Build a well balanced task force team. Pray for people that are gifted in the areas you need

leaders. Communicate clearly the time commitment involved to

serve on the team. Spread the responsibilities out as evenly as possible.

Sample Task Force Team

Task Force DirectorCorporate Sponsor Dir.

Personnel DirectorFollow Up Dir.

Courtesy DirectorRecreation Program

ManagerOperations Director

Co-Corporate Sponsor Director

Marketing Dir.

Family Fun ZoneDirector

Spiritual Development Director

Volunteer Dir.

Concession Dir.

Hospitality Dir.

Tip Off Meal Dir.

Technical Director

Logistics Dir.

Tournament Dir.

Registration Dir.

Organizational Chart(Another Option)

Task Force Director

TournamentDirector

Family Fun Zone Director

Follow-up Director

Concession Director

Marketing Director

Hospitality Director

Logistics Directors

Registration Director

Technical Director

Spiritual Development

Director

CorporateSponsor Director

VolunteerDirector

Tip-offMeal

Director

Key Ingredients5. Develop the event budget

Is your event going to be cost recovery? If yes, what are some ways to generate revenue while at the same time attracting the demographic you desire to reach?

Is it supported through the operating budget of the church?

*Do not under estimate your financial needs. This has a way of putting the event at risk. God will provide for every vision He inspires.

Key Ingredients6. Identify potential partnering organizations

and businesses.-What organizations in the community have an interest in the demographic you are targeting?

-What benefits would they like to receive as a result of partnering with you? (Create win-win relationships)

-Approach the right people.

-Cast the vision well and cast it large.

Key Ingredients7. Execute your marketing plan.

Utilize every channel you (and your team) have to distribute the materials.

Create a marketing distribution team. Utilize everyone. Ensure that your material is well designed and provides

the information people will need to make a decision. Make sure the material has a “Call to Action.”

Key Ingredients8. Implement a comprehensive logistics plan A well thought through logistics plan is like putting

together a 1000 piece puzzle. Create an event timeline that details everything that has

to be done leading up to the event. By investing time in the logistics area, you reduce the

amount of stress on the day of the event. People notice events that “think of everything.”

Key Ingredients9. Mobilize volunteers. Impress upon your church the necessity of involving as

many people as possible in the actual event. It is impossible to have too many. The more people…the more conversations…the more conversations…the more intersections…the more life change.

Training the volunteers prior to the event (Tip-off Meal) Provide guidance during the event through a coordinator Celebrate the volunteers after the event.

Key Ingredients10. Assimilate new people into the life of the

church. Begin developing a “follow-up” plan day one. Provide adequate resources to do excellent follow-up. Make your follow-up strategy relevant to the demographic

you are targeting.

Planning an Event

Details of your Event Plan1. Event Concept- ”Lightning Rod”2. Marketing Plan- Media + Grassroots3. Partnership- Sponsorship4. Venue- Needed Facilities5. Cost Recovery (Revenue vs. Expenses)6. One or more Follow-up Ideas7. Target Demographic

Picture of the Day Connect 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament

Family Fun Zone

Picture of the DaySample Schedule for the Weekend

Friday4:00 p.m. Meet to set up for tip-off meal6:00 Tip-off meal6:45 Tip-off meal program7:30 Meet with volunteers for each task force work group8:15 Begin assembling the hospitality bags

Saturday5:00 a.m. Meet for prayer experience5:15 Begin set-up for tournament registration and family fun zone7:00 Set-up complete7:05 Registration begins8:00 Team captain meeting8:30 Games begin10:00 Family Fun Zone Opens11:30 Lunch12:15 p.m. $10,000 Hot Shot competition(optional) and Gospel presentation12:30 Games resume (Tournament begins)3:00 Family Fun Zone Closes3:00 Championship Rounds begin4:45 Award Ceremony5:00 Clean-up efforts begin5:30 Follow-up team meets to immediately respond to all eventparticipants

Basketball Tournament Approach to league play and elimination

play Enforce rules and etiquette (Captain’s

Meeting) Security (Logistics will help this part) Court host and referees Bracket Development for league and

elimination play $10,000 Hot Shot Trophy Presentation

Marketing Director Responsible for all advertising and publicity

surrounding the 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament and Family Fun Zone.

Recruit and motivate a team of people who can creatively promote this event to both the community and to the church body.

Implement and expand the provided Marketing Plan.

Invite the community to come to this event.

Red Zone-Blue Zone-Orange Zone-Green Zone-

Yellow Zone-

April 9th, 2011 Regions Park, Hoover, AL

www.connect3on3.com

www.connect3on3.com

www.connect3on3.com

www.connect3on3.com

Poster

Registration Flyer Front

Registration Flyer Back

Yard Sign

Postcard Front and Back

Family FunZone Flyer

Mass Media

Social Networking

@connectjosh

Become A “Fan”! “Connect 3on3 Basketball Tournaments”

Youtube.com/connect3on3bball

Corporate Sponsor Director Leads the effort to raise enough financial

resources to support the event. This is done through a 3-tier sponsorship

opportunity (provided by Connect 3 on 3) Cultivate marketing support in the

sponsor’s place of business (i.e. Publix)

118 TEAMS! Connect 3on3 Record!

$10,000 Hot Shot Contest

$10,000 HOT SHOT WinnerPineville, LA- 10.13.07

Contact Information

Josh [email protected]

@connectjosh

www.connect-ministries.com