Church Marketing Sucks

Summer is a great for taking extra time for yourself, learning new skills and improving old ones (like church communication). And what better way to do that than through a book? Here are our top 10 summer reads that can help you improve your church communication:

1. Overrated: Are We More in Love with the Idea of Changing the World than Actually Changing the World?
by Eugene Cho

We’re more interested in the idea of doing good than actually doing good. It’s pretty challenging for our cause-oriented age, especially for some of the dreams we have as churches.
(recommended by Kevin D. Hendricks)

2. The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do
by Jeff Goins

I’m reading Art of Work right now and loving it! It’s helping me identify long-ago passions and skills that I may not use as much anymore as I should.
(recommended by Theresa Decker)

3. Communicating for a Change: Seven Keys to Irresistible Communication
by Andy Stanley with Lane Jones

While it’s primarily targeted at pastors rather than marketers, this book is still a good lesson in how to craft messages that will actually impact people. It shows how great stories resonate with an audience to create meaningful change. The book has plenty of lessons that anyone within church communications can apply to their work.
(recommended by Robert Carnes)

4. CTRL ALT Delete: Reboot Your Business. Reboot Your Life. Your Future Depends on It.
by Mitch Joel

This book surveys ways technology has transformed how brands and businesses create, connect and adapt to a shifting new landscape. It’s a great insight book that I enjoyed!
(recommended by Karina Lopez)

5. Less Clutter, Less Noise: Beyond Bulletins, Brochures and Bake Sales (Read our review)
by Kem Meyer

Kem Meyer’s book is the holy grail of church communications.
(recommended by Crystal Kirkman)

6. What Would Google Do?: Reverse-Engineering the Fastest Growing Company in the History of the World
by Jeff Jarvis

While not a direct church book, this is one I read and reread at least once a year.
(recommended by Neal F. Fischer)

7. Do Over: Rescue Monday, Reinvent Your Work and Never Get Stuck
by Jon Acuff

This book uses the premise that hustle + relationships + skills can help you grow and advance in your career no matter what role or field you find yourself in. Be sure to check out the DO Summer challenge.
(recommended by Theresa Decker)

8. Die Empty: Unleash Your Best Work Every Day (Read our review)
by Todd Henry

Despite the ominous title, Henry seeks to remind each of us that we have a finite amount of time and that when we’re gone, our work, defined as anywhere that we add value, will stand as the biggest testament to who we were and what we believed. It’s the sum total of our focus, assets, time and energy.
(recommended by Denisse Leon)

9. Disunity in Christ: Uncovering the Hidden Forces that Keep Us Apart
by Christena Cleveland

Race continues to be a hot-button issue today and one the church often has a hard time addressing. This book explores the self-segregation prevalent in so many churches and how we can begin to recognize and dismantle it.
(recommended by Kevin D. Hendricks)

10. The Elements of Content Strategy
by Erin Kissane

While it gets some what academic at points, I think it provides a solid outline for those interested in developing a content strategy for their church or organization. It’s a short read, but packed full of valuable information. Most of the pages in mine are full of notes in the margin and yellow highlights.
(recommended by Andrew Hansen)

More:

• Need more books? Check out our summer reading list from a few years ago.
• You can also check out our library of books specifically addressing church communication.