Your members know these people.
Your congregation recognizes the greeters, worship team, and volunteers who serve each week. A post celebrating them connects with people who already know your church.
FREE TRAINING FOR PASTORS
A BETTER WAY TOREACH YOUR CITY.
Explore 13 church marketing ideas to reach your community: helpful local guides, recommended church lists, better guest pages, community shout-outs, good local news, posts that entertain, teach, and encourage, Christian memes, reaction videos, “watch this” clips, videos answering popular faith questions, church invite ads, personal team bios, and one-on-one video calls with a pastor.
All 13 ideas, explained by Kelby McNab.
A detailed guide to work through at your own pace. Read, explore the examples, and return to the chapters you need.
STRATEGY 01 OF 13 · YOUR WEBSITE
Become a local resource.
Help people find what they need in your city. Give them a reason to discover your church along the way.
Your website can serve people before they ever visit.
A parent is looking for a Christian school. A couple needs a marriage counselor. A family wants something to do this weekend. Those are real questions your neighbors bring to Google.
Create helpful pages that answer those questions. Put them in an articles area on your church website, where people can find resources connected to faith, family, and life in your city.
3–5useful local resource pages to start with.
The goal is to give someone a useful destination when they search. A parent who finds your school guide receives practical help and discovers the church that provided it.
That is the connection to ministry: your website becomes a place your community can turn to. People can get to know your church while exploring a resource that matters to them.
Picture the journey
- 1Someone searches for a local resource.
- 2Your page helps them explore their options.
- 3They have a reason to learn about your church.
Three examples from the training — choose a topic
Sample resource page
5 Recommended Christian Schools in [Your City]
Give local parents a starting point as they explore Christian education for their family.
- The question: Which Christian schools are nearby?
- The page: A helpful list of local schools your church would recommend.
- The value: Parents find somewhere useful to begin their research.
Sample resource page
3 Recommended Marriage Counselors in [Your City]
Help a couple find local resources to explore when they are looking for support.
- The question: Where can we find a marriage counselor?
- The page: Local counseling resources your church would recommend.
- The value: A couple has a clearer starting point for finding help.
Sample resource page
5 Fun Family Activities in [Your City]
Help a family plan time together with useful ideas close to home.
- The question: What could we do together this weekend?
- The page: A guide to family activities in your community.
- The value: Parents discover ideas they can enjoy with their children.
Illustrative page examples and community artwork. Replace [Your City] with your location and use real local recommendations.
Build your first resource pages.
A practical starting point from the training.
- 01 / CHOOSE THE QUESTIONS
Start with local needs.
Choose three to five topics connected to family, faith, Christianity, or church life. Start with the examples above and ask: “Would someone in our city find this useful?”
The topic should make sense to a neighbor who has never visited your church.
- 02 / BUILD THE PAGES
Give each topic a home.
Create a separate page for each question. Put the subject and your city in the title so people can quickly see what the page is about.
Make each page helpful enough to give readers a useful starting point. A school guide and a family activity guide serve different needs.
- 03 / MAKE IT USEFUL
Create a place to explore.
Group the pages in your website’s articles area. Give each one enough useful information to help someone find the resource they came for.
Ask: “If this were my first visit to our website, would this page help me?” That is the standard to build around.
Your starting checklist
Use this as you plan the first resource pages for your church.
Start by becoming useful to the people you hope to reach.
STRATEGY 02 OF 13 · RECOMMENDED CHURCHES
Recommend local churches.
Build a “Top 5” or “Top 10” church guide on your website. Help families compare their options and give them a reason to learn about you.
See the strategy in action
Agency example · Mauldin First Baptist · South Carolina
Look at what appeared
A useful guide for someone already looking.
The search is “churches in mauldin SC.” The highlighted result is the church’s page listing local churches.
- The search has a local need.Someone wants to explore churches in a specific city.
- The title answers that need.“Top 10 Churches in Mauldin, SC” tells the reader what they will find.
- The guide is on a church website.The reader can explore the recommendations and learn about the church that published them.
Look at how it is built
Your church first. Other local churches after it.
The screenshot shows Mauldin First Baptist in the first spot, followed by Kingdom Life Church.
- A clear topic and location.The page title names the list and the city it serves.
- Useful details for each church.The visible entries include a description, address, and website button.
- An easy way to keep exploring.Visitors can read the introductions and follow the website links.
Actual agency assets from this example. The Google position is shown as captured; search rankings can change. Select any image to see it larger.
Why put other churches on your website?
Someone searching for a church is already looking at their options. A helpful recommendation page gives that person a place to compare nearby churches.
Your church hosts the guide. As visitors read the list, they are already on your website. They can become curious about your church and explore what you offer.
This takes the local resource idea one step further: answer a question people have about churches in your city, then give them useful information to act on.
Help them compare.
Give them a reason to discover you.
Give them a reason to discover you.
The page to build
Start with five or ten churches.
Top 5 or Top 10 Recommended Churches in [Your City]
- Put your church first.Introduce your own church at the top of the list, as described in the training.
- Add churches you would recommend.Fill the remaining spots with nearby churches you would be comfortable pointing someone toward.
- Give every church the same four basics.Use the details below to make the recommendations clear and useful.
Four details. Every church.
The exact starting list from the training.
- 01
Church name
Make it clear which church you are introducing.
- 02
Mission statement
Help the reader understand what that church is about.
- 03
Website link
Give people a direct way to learn more.
- 04
Address
Show where the church is located in the community.
Your starting checklist
Use this to plan your recommended churches page.
Become the church that helps people find their next step.
STRATEGY 03 OF 13 · PLAN YOUR VISIT
Build trust before they visit.
Give first-time guests a place to meet you, see the church, and get answers before they decide to come.
10–15The engagement goal from the trainingminutes of useful discovery on your guest page.
Explore three client pages
Choose a church. See what makes the page worth exploring.
Let people see and hear the church
A welcome and a tour on one page.
Reach Church pairs a welcome video with a separate tour video beside its What to Expect section.
- The welcome creates an introduction.Guests have something to watch as they learn about the church.
- The tour shows the environment.A second video helps people explore the church before arriving.
- Practical information stays close by.The What to Expect copy sits alongside the tour.
Give someone more than one way to get comfortable with a first visit.
Make the first visit feel familiar
Help guests picture themselves there.
Mauldin First Baptist brings together what to expect, a church tour, and help finding your way.
- Show the experience.Photographs and practical information introduce the church environment.
- Walk people through the building.The Take a Tour of Our Church section gives visitors a video to explore.
- Make the setting easier to understand.The Find Your Way area includes a floor plan alongside the church information.
Help someone feel like they have already been there before they step inside.
Put people and practical answers together
Meet the pastor. Explore the visit.
Hillcrest’s page gives guests a message from the pastor, a church tour, and information about attending.
- Make a personal introduction.The pastor message has its own clear place on the page.
- Give guests another way to explore.The church tour adds a look at the physical space.
- Answer the practical questions.When We Meet and What to Expect help visitors learn about the visit.
Let the invitation feel personal and make the next step easier to picture.
Client page screenshots supplied for this training. Video players pictured here are part of the images. Enlarge a screenshot to read it more closely.
Your guest page is a chance to build trust.
A person considering your church may be interested and unsure at the same time. They have not met you. They do not know the building or what their children will experience. They may be working through something difficult or deciding to take their spiritual life seriously.
Give them useful time with your church before Sunday. A few pictures and a form leave a lot unexplored. A personal welcome, a tour, clear answers, and members’ stories give people more ways to get acquainted.
Build a page worth spending time on.
The pieces to add from the training.
-
Record a 4–10-minute welcome.
Speak as the pastor to the person considering a visit. Thank them for taking a look, share about the church, and let them hear how excited you are to welcome them.
Give your welcome a simple outline- Thank them for considering your church.
- Introduce the church and what you want them to know.
- Tell them you are excited about the possibility of meeting them.
- Address hesitation: a busy schedule, work, children, and other concerns you hear.
-
Give them a phone tour.
Start in the parking lot and walk through the church with your phone. Show the lobby, sanctuary, and children’s ministry as you explain the spaces.
The goal is familiarity. Help someone feel like they have already visited before they arrive in person.
- Parking lot
- Lobby
- Sanctuary
- Children’s ministry
-
Show what to expect and who you are.
Build out a What to Expect section. Add an introduction to the church, the team, or you as pastor, so guests can get to know the ministry behind the invitation.
Include more photographs throughout the page. Let people see the church and the people they are getting ready to meet.
-
Answer the top ten questions.
Think about the questions people have about your church or about going to church in general. Build an FAQ that answers those ten common questions directly on the page.
Write for someone considering their first visit. Each useful answer helps them understand something they would otherwise have to figure out on their own.
-
Give parents their own answer.
Create a dedicated section called “What about my kids?” Explain how your church cares for children and help parents understand what their family can expect.
Give this topic enough room to be useful. A parent should be able to find it easily and spend time learning about the children’s experience.
-
Let members tell their stories.
If you can, personally text 10–15 congregation members and ask for a 60-second video about how the church has served their life and what they love about belonging.
Place the videos together on the page. Aim for three or more so guests hear several experiences. One or two can still give you a place to start.
A simple request you can adapt“Would you record a 60-second video sharing how our church has served your life and what you’ve enjoyed about being part of it?”
Look at your own guest page
What could you add next?
Check the pieces you already have. Use what remains to plan your next recordings and page updates.
Then look at the time people spend. If analytics are installed, review time spent on this page as you improve it. Work toward the training’s 10–15-minute goal by making the page useful enough for guests to keep exploring.
Help people feel like they know your church before they walk through the doors.
STRATEGY 04 OF 13 · COMMUNITY APPRECIATION
Celebrate your city.
Show appreciation for the people who serve your community. Give neighbors something they can relate to and want to share.
See the difference in the audience
One idea: make your appreciation relevant throughout the city.
Their service matters to the city.
Local firefighters and first responders serve people throughout the community. An appreciation post gives neighbors a reason to connect with what your church is sharing.
Think about the person who has never attended.
Would someone who has never visited our church care about this post?
You want to keep your congregation engaged and reach people in your city. The person scrolling past your post may have never met your volunteers or been inside your building.
Start with something they already care about. In the training, the example is a local fire department: people whose work matters beyond the church. Your appreciation can be meaningful to someone who has no connection to your congregation.
Six photos. A message of appreciation.
The first-responder example from the training.
- 01 / FIND THE PEOPLE
Start with your local fire department.
Visit the department’s Instagram page and look at the people serving your city. The example in the training uses six photos to build the Facebook post.
Choose photos of the actual local team that you can use in your appreciation post.
- 02 / SAY THANK YOU
Make your support clear.
Tell them you appreciate them, believe in them, and are praying for them. Recognize what they do for the city and let them know they always have a place at your church.
Make the post about the people you are honoring.
- 03 / THINK BEYOND YOUR MEMBERS
Give the city a reason to relate.
Before posting, read it as someone who does not attend your church. Can they understand why these people deserve appreciation?
The question from the training is whether people throughout the city would also be willing to share it.
Your starting checklist
Prepare one appreciation post with your wider community in mind.
Celebrate people whose service gives your whole city a reason to care.
Strategy 05 of 13 · Positive local news
Be the church that shares the good.
Share good things happening in your city. Give people a reason to follow your church before they are ready to visit.
Your ChurchGood things in our community
SAMPLE
A LOCAL OPPORTUNITY WORTH SHARINGA big adventure.
A free field trip.
Parents of fourth graders: imagine your local school offering a free trip to the NASA Space Center. That is the kind of opportunity your church can help families discover.
- 1 Free school trip
- 2 Fourth graders
- 3 School’s sign-up deadline
The example from the video
One helpful post.
One helpful post.
Three reasons to care.
A parent may not be thinking about church at all. But a free opportunity for their child? That is relevant to their life right now.
Make the good news clear.
The opportunity is a free school trip to a space center. Lead with what a local family would be glad to discover.
Help the right person recognize it.
“Parents of fourth graders” gives the post a clear audience. Someone can immediately tell whether this is for their family.
Include the detail that lets them act.
In the video, families must sign up before a certain date. Share the actual deadline and where the school asks parents to register.
Think like the person scrolling
They care about their family. Start there.
This information can matter to someone who has never attended your church. They do not have to know your pastor or be looking for a Sunday service to find it useful.
When your page keeps sharing good things happening nearby, people have a reason to stay connected. The training’s first goal here is simple: get their attention.
“This church shares things I want to know about.”
Become a source of good things nearby.
Help your neighbors discover something worth knowing about, then give them a reason to keep following.
- 01 / DISCOVER
Find the good.
Look for positive local news and opportunities. The video suggests using AI to help research what is happening in your city.
- 02 / MAKE IT USEFUL
Share the details.
Explain what is happening, who it helps, and what they need to do. Give a neighbor enough information to take the next step.
- 03 / KEEP SHOWING UP
Be worth following.
Let people come to expect helpful local information from your church. Give them something interesting to discover again next week.
A simple way to start looking
Ask AI to help you find the good.
The video’s question is straightforward: what positive things are happening in our city? Use that question to find stories or opportunities a local resident would care about.
Then open the original announcement and confirm the details. AI can help you find a lead; the school or organizer is where you check the dates and participation information.
“What positive things are happening in [your city] that local families would want to know about?”
Ask for links to the original announcements and any sign-up deadlines.
Do we need to cover everything happening in town?
No. The training focuses on positive things people will find interesting or useful. Choose good news and opportunities your neighbors can enjoy or participate in. You do not need to cover every story, bad news, or political debates.
How is this different from a church announcement?
A church announcement usually matters most to people already connected to your congregation. A local opportunity can matter to someone with no connection to your church. Ask whether a person who lives nearby would find it useful even if they have never visited.
How does this connect to reaching more people?
The first challenge described in the training is getting people’s attention. A helpful post can give someone a reason to follow your page and become familiar with your church. That is an early step in a relationship; every post does not have to turn a reader into a member immediately.
Give your city something useful today.
Give people a reason to follow along.
Strategy 06 of 13 · The three E’s
Entertain. Educate.Encourage.
Give every post a clear purpose: make someone smile, help them understand, or offer encouragement. This is how we think about content in our agency.
Three purposes. Three visual examples.Tap a screenshot to see it at a larger size.
Entertain
Give someone a reason to smile.
Enlarge screenshot
A smile can start the connection.
This cat meme pairs a familiar biblical moment with a funny expression. Someone can understand the idea quickly and enjoy it without knowing your staff or your church.
Will this make someone smile?
Why this fits the strategy
In the training, “entertaining” begins with making people smile. It does not have to mean dancing on TikTok or doing something that makes your church uncomfortable.
The point is to offer a moment people enjoy. Memes and fun videos are two examples mentioned in the video. We explore the meme strategy in the next section.
Educate
Give someone something to understand.
Enlarge screenshot
Give curiosity somewhere to go.
The headline names a specific subject: what Jesus said about divorce. A viewer can immediately see the question being addressed and decide whether they want to learn more.
Will this help someone understand?
Why this fits the strategy
“Educating” is the second E in the agency’s process. Think about what someone will understand more clearly after watching or reading your post.
A specific faith or Bible question gives that purpose a clear direction. Later in the training, the Google Trends strategy explains how to find questions people are already asking.
Encourage
Give someone hope or perspective.
Enlarge screenshot
Connect faith with what people face.
The “Mysteries of Life” caption begins with the sorrows people experience. That connects a faith message with a real concern someone may bring into their day.
Will this offer encouragement?
Why this fits the strategy
“Encouraging” is the third E. Look for a message that offers hope, a meaningful testimony, or a perspective someone needs to hear.
The training later describes introducing encouraging videos and beautiful testimonies through the “Watch This” approach. The purpose comes first: what will this give the person watching?
Screenshots from the agency’s media examples. These are still images; tap to inspect the original screenshot.
The idea behind the three E’s
Start with what the viewer receives.
In our agency, we want the content we post to fit under entertaining, educating, or encouraging. That gives your team a useful question before choosing what to share: what does this give someone?
The training also explains why we began looking beyond sermon clips alone. More sermon material was competing for attention, so we needed more ways to connect with people.
A sermon clip can still teach or encourage. The three E’s help you see its purpose—and recognize other content that can serve your audience too.
THE QUESTION BEFORE YOU POSTTHE 3E FILTER
A clip. A meme. A video.
What does the person get from it?
A smile
An answer
Hope
Name the value before choosing the format.
Does “entertaining” mean changing who our church is?
No. The training directly addresses that concern. Entertaining can be as simple as making someone smile. A lighthearted, appropriate meme or fun video can offer enjoyment while still fitting the voice of your church.
Are we supposed to stop sharing sermon clips?
The training says to step outside of relying only on sermon material. Sermon clips can still educate or encourage. The opportunity is to give people additional reasons to connect with your content, including enjoyment, useful answers, and encouraging stories.
How do we use this when choosing content?
Look at the post your team is preparing and name what it gives the viewer. Does it make someone smile, help them understand something, or offer encouragement? Use that answer to explain why the post belongs on your page.
Before you ask, “What should we post?”
Ask, “What will this give someone?”
07 Christian memes & fun videos
GIVE PEOPLE A REASONTO SMILE.
A funny Christian meme. A familiar reaction. A playful post about your pastor. Give people something they enjoy—and a reason to engage with your church.
This is the “entertain” part of the Three E’s.
You don’t have to dance on TikTok or push the boundaries of your church’s values. Sometimes, making someone smile is as simple as posting the cat meme.
Three real examples
Select any screenshot to enlarge01 / A familiar Bible momentThe setup is biblical.
The setup is biblical.
The reaction is a cat.
14.6Klikes shown
544comments shown
Visible in the supplied screenshot.
Let the image deliver the punchline.
The text introduces a familiar Bible story. The cat’s expression does the rest. People can understand the joke without a long explanation or a polished production.
What your church can learn
The connection makes it work. The image and the words tell the same joke. A random funny picture with an unrelated church announcement would be a different experience.
Notice how little the viewer has to do: read the setup, recognize the reaction, and smile. That is the simple entertaining content described in the training.
02 / An invitation to play“Can you spot him?”
“Can you spot him?”
Now people can join in.
65likes shown
21comments shown
Visible in the supplied screenshot.
Give people a small way to participate.
“Find Pastor John” makes a familiar person part of a playful challenge. The caption asks one simple question: “Can you spot him?” The invitation is easy to understand.
What your church can learn
Fun content can come from your own church. This example uses the pastor and a game, rather than a borrowed meme format. It gives the audience something to do.
The screenshot shows the opening of a carousel. It illustrates the invitation to participate; it does not show the other slides or tell us how many people the post reached.
03 / A funny reaction video“Act normal.”
“Act normal.”
The face says everything.
95.6Klikes shown
622comments shown
Visible in the supplied screenshot. Still image of a video.
A short setup. An expressive reaction.
The words imagine meeting Jesus and trying to “act normal.” The surprised cats supply the punchline. A simple reaction can carry the humor without your staff filming a whole skit.
What your church can learn
The joke is immediately recognizable. The text supplies the situation, then the expression tells the viewer how the person feels.
The lesson is the format: a clear setup paired with a funny reaction. The screenshot is an example of that format, not a promise that every church post will receive the same response.
These examples show the posts and engagement counts captured in the screenshots. They do not establish reach, website visits, or church attendance.
The pattern behind the memes
Make the joke easy to get.
A recognizable setup
A Bible moment or situation people understand.
A fitting reaction
A face, image, or short clip that delivers the joke.
A reason to smile
A small, enjoyable moment in someone’s feed.
That is what these meme examples have in common. You are creating something people can enjoy, not asking them to read another announcement.
Keep production manageableYou don’t need a staff skit
You don’t need a staff skit
for every funny post.
A skit can be fun. It can also mean getting three or four staff members together, coordinating schedules, and recording. The training’s point is simple: don’t make that level of production a requirement for entertaining content.
PeopleSchedulesRecordingOr start with a simple meme
Give the content room to be funDon’t let a perfect grid
Don’t let a perfect grid
stop a good post.
A meme may look different from your carefully designed church graphics. That does not make it out of place. If every post has to fit a perfectly coordinated Instagram grid, you may leave out the content that makes people smile.
Fits your church’s valuesEasy to understand
Entertaining content can be simple.
Give people a reason to smile, alongside the content that educates and encourages.
08 Pastor react videos
YOUR FIRST REACTION.YOUR REAL VOICE.
Watch a video for the first time. Let the camera capture your reaction. Then share your perspective. People get to hear from you in a conversation that goes beyond the sermon clip.
A different way to create
You already have something to say. Give yourself something to respond to.
In our agency, we send a pastor a small batch of videos—about five to start. The pastor sits down, records the first watch, and responds to what they just saw. That unscripted response becomes the content.
- Start with the camera on.Keep the selected videos unwatched until you are recording.
- Watch the clip on your phone.Let your expression and response happen naturally.
- Look up and share your thoughts.Speak to the camera about what stood out to you.
Save the first watch for the recording.
The point is to capture the response as it happens. A laugh, a pause, or a thought you had not prepared can be the most natural part of the video.
Three finished examples
Watch the format in action.
See how the original clip and the pastor’s response become one video. As you watch, notice the clip, the reaction, and the perspective the pastor adds.
EXAMPLE 01Open on YouTube ↗
Notice the starting point.
The selected clip gives the pastor a subject to respond to. You do not have to begin with a blank script.
EXAMPLE 02Open on YouTube ↗
Notice the person.
Pay attention to expression and tone, as well as the words. The format leaves room for a pastor’s personality.
EXAMPLE 03Open on YouTube ↗
Listen for the added perspective.
The pastor has a chance to offer something beyond the clip itself: an observation, encouragement, or a thought to consider.
Examples from our react-video guide. These demonstrate the format; reach and engagement will vary. Each player also has a direct YouTube link.
Device 1: record youCamera, laptop, or second phone.
Device 2: play the clipYour phone with the selected videos.
Keep your face visible. When the clip ends, look back into the recording lens.
Keep the setup simpleMake it easy to see you
Make it easy to see you
and hear your response.
Set the recording device in front of you and use your phone to watch the clip. The camera captures both the moment you watch and the thoughts you share afterward.
A quiet place
Light on your face
A steady camera
A quick sound test
You supply the response. Our editors pair your recording with the source clip, as the finished examples show. Send the original recording so the team can assemble it.
From a batch of clips to a batch of responses
One clip at a time. One honest response.
Get the videos.
Have your team choose a small batch that fits your church. In our process, we send about five. Keep them unwatched.
Record the first watch.
Start the camera, then open the first clip on your phone. There is no need to rehearse a reaction.
Share what came to mind.
Look into the lens and explain what stood out. Let it sound like you speaking to a person.
Repeat, then hand it off.
Move through the remaining clips and send the recordings to your editor. You do not need to assemble the finished videos yourself.
Why does the first reaction matter?
In the training, Kelby explains that thoughts can come in the moment that you would not have prepared ahead of time. Recording that moment gives the response its natural quality. Let the expression and the words happen together instead of trying to recreate them afterward.
What if I do not have a big or funny reaction?
An honest response does not have to be dramatic. You may notice something meaningful, feel encouraged, or simply have a thoughtful observation. The value is your perspective. Give yourself room to respond without turning it into a performance.
How is this different from a “watch this” video?
Here, you record yourself watching a particular clip for the first time and responding to that clip. The next strategy uses short introductions recorded in advance and paired with selected videos later. This strategy is built around the fresh reaction itself.
Does this replace our sermon content?
It gives your church another kind of short video to share. The training encourages pastors to create content beyond sermon clips. React videos let people hear your voice and perspective in a different setting, alongside the teaching you already publish.
Let people hear you think, respond, and care.
Open the full recording guide A selected clip gives you the starting point. Your response is what makes the video yours.
09 The “Watch This” video strategy
RECORD THE INTRO.SHARE THE STORY.
A short introduction from you can lead someone to a meaningful testimony or encouraging story. Record a small collection of intros, then pair them with videos you choose to share.
A few seconds can be your partLook into the camera.
Look into the camera.
Say “watch this.” Point up.
That short recording becomes a personal invitation. Your team pairs it with an encouraging video, with the featured clip above and your introduction below.
- Record several short introductions.Vary the line and change shirts between some takes.
- Choose the videos you want to share.Review the options and select what fits your church.
- Let your team bring them together.A new approved clip can use an intro you already recorded.
Build an intro collection you can use again.
You do not need to sit down and prepare a new message every time. Keep choosing worthwhile videos, and give your team a few different ways to introduce them.
See the pieces come togetherA story worth sharing.
A story worth sharing.
A personal invitation from you.
The source clip carries the story. Your introduction tells people, “Take a moment to watch this.” Here is a source-content example and an illustration of the finished layout.
01 / A source-content example
Start with an encouraging idea.
7Kreactions visible in the supplied screenshot
This clip uses a simple visual illustration about Jesus and generations of a family. It is an example of the kind of faith-related content you might review before deciding to share it with your audience.
Source-video screenshot, not a finished CCM “Watch This” edit. The highlighted count belongs to this original post.
02 / The finished layout
Your intro gives it a personal start.
The video
you approvedAn encouraging story
or meaningful testimony
you approvedAn encouraging story
or meaningful testimony
“Watch this video.”You, introducing it from below
One short intro. Two parts on screen.
The editor places the featured video above your recording. Your upward point directs attention to it, then the selected clip plays. The illustration shows the arrangement your team is creating.
Format illustration only. The walkthrough above explains the strategy.
The recording example from the training
One session. A few different looks.
Bring three shirts and record about seven short introductions. Look at the lens, say the line, and point upward. Change your wording and shirt to give your editor some variety.
3shirts
~7short intros
Keep your face and pointing hand in the frame. Use your normal voice, and pair each introduction with a video you have reviewed and feel comfortable recommending.
What happens after the recording session
Record once. Keep choosing what to share.
Save the introductions.
Send the original recordings to your editor. Keep the different looks and lines together so they are ready for future videos.
Review a batch of clips.
In the training, Kelby describes sending 10–15 options and having the pastor choose three or four. The pastor decides which stories to share.
Pair an intro with a selection.
Your team combines an approved clip with a fitting introduction. A different story can use a recording from the same intro collection.
It can simply be encouraging.
The training points to meaningful testimonies and uplifting videos, including Tim Tebow telling his John 3:16 story. Political or controversial content is not required. Choose material that you would be glad to introduce to your church’s audience.
How is this different from react videos?
React videos capture you watching a particular clip for the first time, then giving your response. Here, you record short introductions in advance. Later, you review the source videos and choose which ones to pair with those introductions. The reusable intro is what makes this strategy different.
Why point upward?
Your introduction sits in the lower part of the finished video. The featured clip sits above it. The upward point gives viewers a visual cue that matches what you are saying. Keep that gesture visible when you record.
Do I have to record a new introduction for every clip?
The idea is to create a collection your team can use again. Change shirts and record several lines in the same session. When a new video is selected, your editor can choose an existing introduction that fits it. You can add fresh intros as the collection grows.
What should we look for when choosing videos?
The training recommends videos that are already doing well online and contain something worth sharing, such as an encouraging testimony. Watch the full clip, consider whether it fits your church, and select it yourself. An existing audience response can help identify a candidate; it does not guarantee the same results for your finished post.
A few seconds from you can introduce something meaningful.
Open the full recording guide Build the intro collection. Choose the stories. Let your team put the videos together.
10 Google Trends video strategy
Stop guessing.Answer real questions.
What are people near your church searching for about faith? Use Google Trends to find topics in your region, then turn those questions into short videos that help people understand the Bible.
Listen before you record
Your next video idea could start with a search.
You do not have to keep guessing what encouragement to share or spend hours scrolling for inspiration. Start by looking at the faith-related topics people are already searching for.
Open Google Trends, choose Explore, and try Christianity, faith, or Bible, one at a time. Select your state and look at the past 90 days or the past year. Then look for related searches you can thoughtfully address.
Let the question shape the video.
Choose something people want to understand, then bring a clear, helpful pastoral response to it.
Your research starting point
Google Trends → Explore
1 / Try one starting topic
ChristianityFaithBible
2 / LOCATIONYour state first
3 / TIME RANGE90 days or 12 months
4 / Look for “Related queries”
TopRelated searches that are most frequent.
RisingRelated searches with the biggest growth.
Start with your state.
Follow the training’s starting point. Get a useful regional view before narrowing your search.
Explore closer to home.
Check city or metro interest where available. Keep the location label in view as you interpret the results.
Broaden if you need to.
If local data is sparse, use your state or a longer time range. A small city may not have enough search activity.
Google Trends shows relative search interest, not exact numbers of people searching. Statewide results describe your state; they do not automatically describe your city.
Three examples from the training
A search becomes a conversation.
These are questions Kelby mentions in the video. They illustrate the strategy; they are not a report of what is trending in your city today.
Faith & current events
“How do I view Israel as a Christian?”
A current event can raise a biblical question. A short video gives you a way to bring context and a thoughtful response to something people are trying to understand.
Possible video opening
“How should Christians think about Israel? Here is where I would start.”
How to approach the video
Choose one specific question you can address in two or three minutes. Explain the biblical context behind your answer and help the viewer understand your reasoning. Keep the scope focused enough that the video actually answers its opening question.
Faith & popular culture
“Was Michael Jackson a Christian?”
People’s interest in culture can lead them to ask spiritual questions. The training uses this example to show how unexpected those searches can be.
Possible video direction
Use the question to explain what it means to be a Christian.
How to approach the video
Acknowledge the question without guessing about someone’s private beliefs. Distinguish verified public information from what you cannot know, then explain the Christian belief behind the question. The value comes from helping the viewer understand faith.
Faith & seasonal decisions
“Is celebrating Halloween a sin?”
Seasonal questions give you a timely way to help people. The training points to Halloween as an example of a decision people may seek guidance about.
Possible video opening
“Can Christians celebrate Halloween? Let’s talk through that question.”
How to approach the video
Explain your church’s perspective and the biblical reasoning behind it. Give the viewer something clear to consider as they make the decision. Use the timing of the question to make the teaching helpful when people are looking for it.
The video openings above are suggested wording based on the training’s examples.
Your phone is enough to start
One question.
A helpful answer.
A helpful answer.
Speak directly to the person
trying to understand.
The recording plan from the training
Find the topics.
Find the topics.
Pull out your phone.
Choose five or six topics that stand out and that you feel equipped to speak to. Record a short video addressing each one, then post it.
5–6topics you can
helpfully address
helpfully address
2–3minutes for
each video
each video
60days to test
and review
and review
- Start with the question. Tell the viewer exactly what you are addressing.
- Give a focused answer. Bring biblical context and encouragement to that specific topic.
- Post and learn. Test the approach for 60 days, then compare the videos with your sermon clips.
You can involve your team. The training specifically mentions a trusted associate pastor or volunteer. If you cannot record every video yourself, share the work with someone you trust to communicate clearly and represent your church well.
A few details that make this easier.
What should I look for in Top and Rising searches?
Use Top to see frequent related searches and Rising to notice searches gaining interest during your selected period. Look for topics that connect to faith and that you can address helpfully. You are choosing useful questions for your community, so the largest number alone does not have to decide your next video.
What if a related search is a topic rather than a question?
Use it as a starting point. Think about what someone searching that topic may want to understand, then frame a clear question you can answer. That question is your editorial interpretation; it may not be the exact wording shown in Google Trends.
What if my city does not show enough data?
Try the available metro area, broaden to your state, or extend the date range. Keep your description of the findings accurate: a statewide pattern can suggest a useful video idea, but it is not proof that your specific city is searching the same way.
What does a Google Trends score of 100 mean?
It marks peak relative interest in the selected data, not 100 searches or 100 people. Google adjusts interest for the location and time range, so use the tool to spot patterns and topic ideas rather than to count prospective visitors.
How do I know whether these videos are working?
Kelby recommends a 60-day test followed by a comparison with your sermon clips. As a practical way to make that comparison fair, look at videos on the same platform after a similar amount of time. Review views, watch time, shares, and the questions people leave. Let your own results show which topics and formats connect; performance is not guaranteed.
What is your next helpful answer?
Start with Christianity, faith, or Bible. Choose your region. Find a question you can speak to. Make that your next video.
Platform guidance: regional results · related searches · understanding the data.
11 Plan Your Visit ads
Make your adsworth stopping for.
A local church invitation needs to earn attention, give someone a reason to come, and help them feel comfortable taking the next step. Start with your hook. Then rethink your offer.
4–6invitation videos
to create
to create
3 secto give someone
a reason to watch
a reason to watch
5–10miles around church
as a starting area
as a starting area
Start with the video itself
Before changing the campaign, watch the invitation.
In the training, the starting plan is simple: record four to six videos inviting people to service and pay Facebook to put them in front of people near your church.
But getting an ad in front of someone does not mean they will pay attention. If it opens like every other church ad, it can get scrolled past before the invitation begins.
The first two things to work on are the hook and the offer. Your location, form, and website matter too. Begin by giving people something worth watching.
Build the invitation in this order
01
Catch their attention.Pair something worth seeing with something worth hearing.
02
Give them a reason.Explain what they can receive and why it matters in their life.
03
Make the next step clear.Invite them to plan a visit through a form or your website.
Part one · The hook
The first three seconds have two jobs.
Give the eye a reason to stop. Give the ear a reason to listen. Someone scrolling may have the sound off, so a strong spoken line needs a strong visual opening too.
Example 01 · Movement
“Why is he running
toward the camera?”
toward the camera?”
The Denver example from the training
Movement creates curiosity.
Kelby describes a pastor running across the street toward the camera. The movement caught the eye before the pastor delivered the opening line:
“How many more funerals is it gonna take?”
Then the message turned toward taking spiritual life seriously. The visual drew attention; the words gave that attention a purpose.
The lesson is the combination of movement and a meaningful line. Choose an opening that fits your message and film on a clear, safe path.
Example 02 · An unexpected prop
“Why is he holding
a bowl of cereal?”
a bowl of cereal?”
The Froot Loops example from the training
The visual does not need a speech.
Kelby’s second example is a pastor walking down a sidewalk with a bowl of cereal while the camera moves with him. He delivers the invitation as he walks.
You do not have to talk about the cereal.
The unusual visual creates the curiosity. The spoken message can stay focused on the person watching and the reason to come to church.
Pick a prop you can carry naturally. Keep the invitation clear so the visual supports the message.
AI-generated concept illustrations of the two openings described in the training. These are not frames from the original client ads.
Watch the opening with the sound off.
Then listen to the first sentence. “Hi, my name is Pastor…” uses your opening seconds before the viewer has a reason to care. Lead with the idea that earns their attention.
Part two · The offer
Why should this person come?
Your church feels familiar to you. To a first-time guest, the building, people, and pastor may all be unfamiliar. Explain the value of the invitation from their point of view.
An invitation without a clear reason“Come to our service.”
It tells someone what to do, but leaves them to figure out why it would matter to them.
An invitation with a clear offer“Here is what you can find here.”
Connect the invitation to meaningful relationships, support for a family, or a welcoming way to return to church.
Lead with relationships.
The university example in the training focuses on friends, a peer group, and future relationships. The offer speaks to what mattered to that audience.
Sample wording to adapt“Build meaningful friendships and grow in faith with people who want to know you.”
Understand the example
Kelby describes presenting church as a place to meet friends and potentially a future spouse, and shares that he met his own wife through church. The useful principle is to make the relationship opportunity tangible. Describe real community at your church without promising someone a spouse.
Make the family benefit clear.
The training asks: what is the offer for parents? Connect the invitation to the actual support, children’s ministry, and community your church provides.
Sample wording to adapt“Find a place to grow in faith together, with a children’s ministry you can get to know before Sunday.”
Make the offer specific
Show what you really offer: the children’s spaces, the people welcoming families, and what a first visit looks like. Match the ad to the “What about my kids?” information on your website.
Make a first step feel possible.
Kelby describes people who grew up around church but have not attended for years. Their reason to come back may differ from a student’s or a parent’s.
Sample wording to adapt“A fresh start can begin with one Sunday. Come meet us, ask questions, and see what church here is like.”
Make the welcome believable
Speak plainly about the first visit. Help people see where to go, whom they will meet, and what to expect. A warm invitation becomes more credible when the website and the Sunday welcome reflect it.
Use these as message directions, and adapt them to what your church actually provides. The offers should reflect the real experience you can invite people into.
Starting your first campaign?
Give yourself several invitations to learn from.
The training recommends four to six videos. One practical way to create six is to record two different openings for each of the three audience messages above.
Relationships
01Movement opening
+ relationship invitation
+ relationship invitation
02Unexpected visual
+ the same invitation
+ the same invitation
Family life
03Movement opening
+ family invitation
+ family invitation
04Unexpected visual
+ the same invitation
+ the same invitation
A fresh start
05Movement opening
+ return-to-church invitation
+ return-to-church invitation
06Unexpected visual
+ the same invitation
+ the same invitation
Keep the invitation local. Kelby suggests beginning with people roughly five to ten miles around the church. Use that as a planning starting point and check that the area makes sense for a real Sunday visit.
After the invitation
Give interested people a clear next step.
The training gives two options: a Facebook form or a Plan Your Visit landing page. Choose the destination, then make the ad’s invitation and that next step agree.
A Facebook form
Let people express interest and share contact information. The training mentions name, email, and phone number. Be clear about what planning a visit means and what happens after they submit.
Invitation ad→Form→Plan a visit
A Plan Your Visit page
Give people space to meet the pastor, see the church, understand children’s ministry, and get their questions answered before they decide to share their details.
Invitation ad→Guest page→Plan a visit
The path you may not see in a form reportSome people will research you.
Some people will research you.
Then simply show up.
Kelby points out that some people, including younger visitors, may hesitate to give a church their phone number. They may want to decide whether they like the church first.
- 1They see the ad.The invitation gets their attention.
- 2They look at Facebook or Instagram.Your content helps them get a feel for the church.
- 3They explore the website and team.They look for answers and people they can relate to.
- 4They attend without planning online.A missing form submission does not tell the whole story.
Give your team page more than names and titles. Add a short bio and a personal detail or quote that helps a stranger get to know the people behind the church. Kelby calls attention to this page in the training; check your own analytics to see how visitors use it.
Already running ads?
Where are your ads getting stuck?
Choose the pattern you are seeing. This guide turns the teaching into a place to start reviewing; it does not diagnose your campaign from numbers alone.
01
Start with the hook
Review the opening before rerecording everything.
Play the first three seconds with the sound off. Is there movement, an unexpected visual, or a reason to pause? Then listen to the first sentence. Does it create curiosity, or does it begin with a long introduction?
Try next: keep the invitation and record a different visual and spoken opening.
Do I have to be shocking or use the funeral line?
No. The training offers that line as one example paired with a particular visual. The underlying lesson is to create curiosity or give someone a compelling reason to listen. The cereal example does this in a completely different way. Choose an opening you can deliver naturally and connect honestly to your message.
Should every video make the same offer?
Kelby’s advice is to think about the person receiving the invitation. Students may connect with friendships; parents may want to understand the experience for their children; someone returning to church may need to see what taking that first step will feel like. Make the benefit specific and real instead of repeating one generic invitation in every video.
What should I compare when I change an existing ad?
Start with the part you changed. For a new opening, review whether people keep watching. For a clearer offer or next step, review responses and completed forms alongside actual guest feedback. Keep the rest of the comparison as similar as practical, including the reporting period. This is a practical application of the training, not a promise of a particular result.
Does a form submission mean someone will attend?
It shows interest, not confirmed attendance. The opposite matters too: someone can attend without ever submitting a form. Review planned visits and actual guest arrivals separately. A simple, optional “How did you hear about us?” conversation can add context, but it does not prove every new visitor came from an ad.
The main lesson
Earn the pause. Make the invitation matter. Build the trust.
A stronger ad begins with a better hook and a more meaningful offer. Your social content, visitor page, and team page then help people feel comfortable enough to take the next step.
Built around Kelby’s Plan Your Visit ad teaching. Example scripts and review prompts apply those ideas. Platform reference: Meta’s form options.
12 Personal team bios
Make your teamfeel familiar.
Before someone walks into your church, they may want to know who will be there. Give your team page enough personality to help a stranger get to know the people behind the names and titles.
A small page with a personal job
Help a guest picture meeting you.
In the training, Kelby describes someone seeing an ad, checking the church’s social content, and visiting the website to get questions answered. The team page is part of that research.
A name and title identify a leader. A short bio and a personal detail give the visitor something to connect with.
“Put a little bio in there.
Put a fun quote.”
Kelby’s advice in the training
Alex MorganLead Pastor
Name + title only
A warmer introduction
1Meet Alex.
Lead Pastor
2Alex loves helping people connect the Bible to everyday life. He wants a first visit to feel like a chance to ask questions, meet people, and take a meaningful step in faith.
Outside of church, he enjoys neighborhood walks, trying new coffee spots, and cooking for friends.
3“There is always room for one more chair at the table.”
What the better introduction adds
Give people something to recognize.
Keep the information useful and easy to read. The goal is to help a guest understand who this person is and what meeting them might feel like.
A clear introduction.
Keep the name and role. Add an approachable, current photo so visitors can connect a face with the person they may meet.
A guest can answer: “Who is this, and how do they serve?”
A short, human bio.
Explain what the person cares about and how they serve. A simple personal detail can make the introduction feel more natural.
A guest can answer: “What might we have in common?”
A quote with personality.
Use a line the person would actually say. It can be warm, lighthearted, or encouraging. It should sound like them.
A guest can answer: “What are they like as a person?”
Connect this to your ads
The introduction keeps working after the click.
Some people will explore quietly before completing a form. Make the team page useful for that person, too.
An example visitor path based on the training, not a required sequence.
- See the invitation.A local ad gets their attention.
- Look around.Social content introduces the church.
- Meet the people.The team page adds faces and personality.
- Consider a visit.They have more context for the decision.
A simple starting point
Ask each person for a few honest sentences.
Use these prompts to collect the raw material, then edit it into a short bio. Let each team member review their own introduction before you publish it.
My name is [name], and I serve as [role]. I love helping people [how you serve or what you care about]. Outside of church, you’ll usually find me [a real interest or personal detail]. A line that sounds like me is: “[your quote].”
Check your own team-page analytics.
Kelby calls this a frequently visited page in the training. Look at your church’s actual page traffic and engagement before assuming where it ranks. The practical question is whether the people arriving there find a helpful introduction.
Should the bio be a résumé?
Include background that helps a guest understand the person’s role, but leave room for personality. Someone researching a first visit may want to know what the leader cares about and what they are like, as well as their title.
Does everyone need a funny quote?
The training suggests a fun quote as a way to add personality. It does not need to be a joke. A sincere line, a favorite saying, or a warm personal detail can serve the same purpose if it reflects the person.
What should I review on the mobile version?
Read the page as someone meeting the team for the first time. Can you identify each person, understand their role, and read the bio without a wall of text? Keep the photo, name, role, and personal introduction together so the connection is easy to follow.
The takeaway
Give a first-time guest a familiar face.
Your team page can make the people behind the church easier to know. A personal conversation takes that introduction a step further.
Based on the team-page advice in the training. The sample profile and writing prompts illustrate how to apply it.
13 One-on-one calls with a pastor
Offer a conversation.Make a connection.
Invite people in your city to book a one-on-one video call with you. Hear their story, learn about their experience with church, and ask how you can pray for them.
A personal invitationA chance to speak with a pastor
A chance to speak with a pastor
before walking into church.
Kelby’s idea is to run a local ad that offers an actual conversation with you. Your willingness to listen is central to the invitation.
Take the conversation online.
Coffee with a pastor can be valuable. Kelby describes the practical challenges his team encountered: last-minute cancellations, travel, finding a location, and having enough quiet to talk.
- A video call removes the trip to a meeting location.
- Each person can choose a quiet place to join.
- You can focus the time on the conversation itself.
Changing the format does not eliminate cancellations or the time commitment.
They get a conversation
WITH YOU.The training emphasizes direct access to the pastor. People may be looking for someone to listen, offer guidance, or help them think through questions about faith and church.
When the invitation promises time with you, make sure you are the person who shows up for that conversation.
How the idea works
From a local invitation to a real conversation.
Keep the offer clear at every step. The ad, booking experience, and call should all describe the same personal opportunity.
- 01
Invite your city.
Run a local ad offering a one-on-one video conversation with the pastor.
- 02
Let them choose a time.
Offer times you can actually keep and explain how they will join.
- 03
Meet them online.
Show up ready to listen and give the person your attention.
- 04
Hear, understand, pray.
Use the three topics below to guide an open conversation.
An invitation people can understand
Tell them what the conversation is for.
Make it clear who they will speak with and what they can talk about. Use your own voice so the person who joins the call meets the same pastor they saw in the ad.
Suggested wording based on the strategy. Replace the name and adapt it to your church.
The three topics from the training
Give the person room to tell you who they are.
These questions provide a starting point. Listen to the answers, ask thoughtful follow-ups, and leave room for the conversation and prayer to unfold naturally.
01 / Their story“Tell me a little
“Tell me a little
about yourself.”
Start with the person.
Kelby suggests asking how they came to the city and inviting them to share a little of their story. Let them decide what they are comfortable sharing.
A natural follow-up
“What brought you to this area?” Then follow their answer. The goal is to understand the person in front of you, rather than move quickly through a list.
02 / Their church experience“What has church
“What has church
been like for you?”
Understand their starting point.
The training mentions past attendance, church hurt, and how someone thinks about church and faith. Give them space to explain their experience in their own words.
A natural follow-up
“Is there anything from that experience you would want me to understand?” Listen before explaining your church. Their answer can help you respond with care.
03 / Their prayer request“How can I
“How can I
pray for you?”
Make room for ministry.
This is the third question Kelby names. Let the person share what matters to them, then respond with a personal, thoughtful prayer.
A natural follow-up
“Would you be comfortable with us praying about that together now?” Keep the prayer connected to what they actually shared with you.
Use the questions as a guide, not a script to rush through.
The training leaves room for other things to happen organically and for the Holy Spirit to lead. Give yourself permission to listen longer when an answer opens up a meaningful conversation.
Prepare the experience before you run the ad.
Protect the time.
Set aside times you can reliably offer. The value of the strategy depends on your willingness to be present, so start with a commitment you can keep.
Make joining simple.
Clearly explain the day, time, time zone, who will be on the call, and how to join. Choose a call length that fits the time you can genuinely give.
Arrive ready to listen.
Choose a quiet place, set distractions aside, and have the three topics nearby. Let the person’s answers shape what you talk about next.
Practical setup suggestions for carrying out the training’s idea. The transcript does not prescribe a call length or a particular scheduling platform.
Can my team help with this?
Your team can help make the logistics clear, but the offer described in the training is a one-on-one conversation with the pastor. Make sure the invitation accurately names the person who will be meeting with them.
What if someone just wants to debate?
Kelby acknowledges that this can happen. It does not mean every conversation will go that way. Listen respectfully, keep the exchange useful, and recognize that different people will arrive with different questions and expectations.
Is this easier than meeting for coffee?
It can remove travel and location logistics. It still asks for your attention and time, and people can still cancel. The training presents virtual meetings as an alternative worth considering, not a guarantee that every booked conversation will happen.
What makes the strategy worth the effort?
The training’s point is that offering real access takes work, and that personal investment is part of its value. You are giving someone the chance to be heard by a pastor. The conversation can be meaningful even before they have decided whether to visit your church.
The takeaway
Your willingness to listen is part of the invitation.
Offer real access. Hear their story. Understand their experience with church. Ask how you can pray. Make the conversation itself valuable to the person who booked it.
Based on the virtual-meeting strategy in the training. The invitation example and setup suggestions show how to put that idea into practice.
FROM OUR CLIENT WORK
People behind the progress.
Liberation Church shared that new visitors were showing up each week and described CCM as a valuable addition to their team. Read the message below for their experience in their own words.
LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR CHURCHYou have the ideas.
You have the ideas.
Let’s talk about your next step.
You may already know what you want to try. You may want help choosing where to begin. Bring your questions, your current content, and the challenge you are working through. We can talk about what putting these ideas into practice could look like for your church.
Talk through my church’s strategy