For years, my personal motto has been this:
Love God. Love People. Create Interest.
Before I go into explaining further, I want to encourage anyone who doesn’t have some sort of personal mission statement, get one. The reason is simple: It brings some focus to your actions, thoughts, and the way you see people.
If you can’t think of one, you can have mine – I ripped it off from the Bible anyway.
Now that we’re squared, let me share with you the strategy behind my motto.
Love God.
I know what you’re thinking: “Is he really going to talk about ‘loving God’ on a ministry-focused website?”
Yes, I am.
The writers of the Bible express how specific Jesus was when he said that ‘Loving God’ is the most important commandment. If you are not focused in on this truth then you’re missing the point of everything else we talk about.
1 Corinthians 13:1 says:
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
In other words: “If I can cut video better than Hollywood, code with my eyes closed, or create killer atmosphere, but forget why I’m here to do what I do- I’m as useless to God as a computer with Windows.”
It’s a pretty modern translation.
Love People.
At the end of the day we are trying to create an atmosphere where people can listen to the message with an open heart, and although God doesn’t need any of our help to ultimately do His Work, it’s our opportunity to partner with Him in that glorious endeavor.
Jesus fills in his peeps on the 2nd greatest commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Let’s be honest, most of us love ourselves a lot – do we love others that much? We’re here because we love God and want to reach others for Him, so non of that ‘clanging cymbal’ mumbo-jumbo.
Create Interest.
This is what I really wanted to talk about. It goes a couple different directions. When you read the Great Commission you’ll see that we’re to do disciple, baptize, and teach. If I follow the what Jesus teaches, I know that I can’t really do any one of these things without someone being interested in how I live my life.
If they think the way I live my life is not genuine, they wont allow me to speak into their life, trust me enough to baptize them, or listen to what I teach if I can’t live my life in a way that is real. When you create interest by the you live, people wan to know more.
They want what you have, they like your brand.
In marketing, your brand is the first thing people think of when they think of you. Nike’s brand is athletics, Popeye’s brand is chicken, and Harley’s brand is loud, beefy motorcycles. When people talk about you when you’re not there, they talk about your brand. That could be good, or it could be bad.
Does your brand make people want Jesus?
3rd Part, 2 Pieces
The third part of my motto splits a second direction too.
As The Church, our goal is to reach and help people. So I think there are a lot of the elements of marketing can be used in our external public relations. Why not use some creative marketing to catch people’s eye? Why not put a funny commercial on the air instead of a stuffy 30-second spot that blends in with all the other churches in town? Stand out. Create Interest in your church.
People don’t pay attention to most churches, because most churches don’t go where people’s attention is.
Some translation of the Great Commission say “Go into all Nations” while others say, “Go far and near…” I think if Jesus were to re-phrase the Great Commission to us today, I think he would say something like this, “Go everywhere and use whatever method you can to reach people. Via the web, TV, radio or concerts, do whatever you can to go where they are, and tell them about Me.”
I used to get frustrated when decision-makers would discount creative ways to gather people at/for a ministry because the old mindset was, ‘God will bring people.’ That’s true, I believe that God works in people’s hearts way before they know about a church event, but if God made me this way…why is it not valid? I just used the gift God gave me to increase the attendance of a life-changing event by 30% because we were creative- I think God liked that.
Numbers and Effectiveness
Ministry is not about numbers, but numbers help us quantify our effectiveness. The more numbers we can reach and keep, the more numbers we can reach and keep. It seems self-serving to some, but people need Jesus and you can get them interested.
So there it is, my motto, explained and expanded. I feel like it focuses the walk that I talk. Do you have a personal motto?
If so, what is it?
benrwoodard says
You know I don’t have a motto. I have a life verse but I have never thought about having a personal motto. It could be a real positive driving force.
I love this question “Does your brand make people want Jesus?” I think if I asked myself this question more often, then I would probably stay more focused on the necessary things in my professional life. I’m going to start working on my motto today.
Nate Beaird says
I didn’t have a motto until a few years ago. I was amazed how my focused had changed from “me” to “God and others” when I applied it to my life. Maybe it’s a marketing thing, but I noticed how companies used their motto or slogan. It forced them to focus their energy, something this ADD kid needed! 🙂 God louck with your motto search!
greenhornet79 says
I like your point: “If forget why I’m here to do what I do- I’m as useless to God as a computer with Windows.”
Lately I’ve been thinking about not just what to do during a service, but why to do it. It doesn’t matter how cool an element is, if it doesn’t line up with God’s purpose for that weekend, then why do it?
Nate Beaird says
True- and the real truth of it is…if others see that it doesn’t fit or line up with the teaching- they wont think it’s cool in the first place. They’ll just be confused.
PhillipGibb says
I don’t have a motto, I don’t have a life verse. I am like a JackHammer in a ball pond.
Maybe I need to to hit the switch for a while and think about the important things like Loving God, my Family, my Chruch – People.
Thanks man – good post, good challenge.
Nate Beaird says
Let me know what you come up with!
Nick Shoemaker says
Like Ben I’ve had a life verse, but no motto.
I’m stealing yours. Thanks. 😉
Seriously though- it puts into action words what my life verse says,
Love God- seek Him above all else.
Love People- His people the He loves.
Create Interest- live righteously; as in Create Interest NOT cause a scene.
Thanks for this Nate- your motto was the first thing I noticed on your site and it’s great to get your thoughts behind it. (And to have a motto for myself now.) 🙂
Nate Beaird says
It’s my stolen gift to you! 🙂
Chris says
My motto is “Becoming the man I should have been all along.”
peace | dewde