Why and How to Craft Your Message
Purpose precedes process.
Plans will change. Strategies will change. Messages evolve.
It is critically important to have done the hard work of crafting your message – who your ministry is, how you got there, and what you see the Lord doing in a common language, so that you are right, clear, and consistently communicating it to others – before beginning any new venture.
These days simplicity is rare. No matter the size of your ministry, you must have a simple message. Simple is funded; complicated is not.
Your message, though meant as a way of delivering your ministry’s purpose, is an internal document. It will become the cornerstone you come back to again and again to help guide you to maintain consistency, clarity, and simplicity in your communications.
The core language of your message requires you to dig deep into your heart and head to place on paper what you can willingly work and live with for awhile.
Vision is the easy part…because it usually is given to us by God. Vision emerges as we come together and pray. Pursuing the vision is the challenge.
Before you draft your message, or if you’re back to the drawing table to refine, my hope is that these questions will help your drafting process.
What is your vision statement – your vision for impacting lives? More importantly, how would you describe it with pictures? How would you paint a picture of your vision?
What are some of the stories that truly exemplify the outcome of your vision? If you, thirty years from now, step into your organization, what evidence would signal success?
If you close your ministry tomorrow, is anyone going to notice? Who? In other words, are you making an impact today that could be missed tomorrow?
Who do you serve? We all serve the Lord, and have been called to serve His people. I want you to identify who your customer is. Can you describe them in detail? How would you describe who you serve in a way that people can understand who you’re looking for?
What do you still lack to accomplish your vision? Many will answer resources, but go beyond the obvious.
What are you willing to do? How hard are you willing to work? What of yourself are you willing to give to your vision? Is your vision so compelling you’re willing to invest a lifetime on it?
Why is it important for people to give everything they have? I am not talking about realistic asks, but rather to get you to ask yourselves if your vision is so compelling someone would be willing and wanting to surrender all they own for its success and development. If people could give to only one organization, do you think it would be yours?
Why should someone invest their lives in your mission? You will be asking people to give their time, talent, and treasure. Is it worth it? Why?
What is at stake if you don’t accomplish this vision? Locally? Nationally? Globally? How does your ministry fit into contemporary society and culture? What is it that makes it so valuable that it must work?
I encourage you and your team to meditate on and discuss these deep questions. Let these questions spark your thinking.
Dig down deep to distinguish your ministry.
I look forward to seeing what comes of your purposeful planning!
We have a tool to help you craft your message and create a simple strategy statement for your ministry. Click here to download and get started!