Church Publicity: The Modern Way to Compel Them to Come In
A book of about 400 pages by Christian F. Reisner, a Methodist pastor in New York, published by the Methodist Book Concern.
What it is
A book of about 400 pages by Christian F. Reisner, a Methodist pastor in New York, published by the Methodist Book Concern. It argues that churches must use the advertising methods of business to fill empty pews, and answers the objection that advertising is "the devil's method". Reisner built it from a questionnaire to ministers, whose answers are printed by name, and from a dinner discussion with advertising men such as O. J. Gude and W. C. Freeman. Its nineteen chapters cover why churches should advertise, whether publicity pays (several pastors report collections rising above the cost of the ads), the minister as advertiser, newspaper cooperation and paid space, wording and "cuts", outdoor and electric signs, and campaigns for Sunday night services, Sunday schools, Bible classes, revivals and membership. It reproduces hundreds of church notices, cards and bulletins, and ends on mailing lists and follow-up card systems borrowed from business.
Why read it now
Read it as a playbook for any mission-led or non-profit organization that thinks marketing is beneath it. Its best evidence is plain: pastors who tracked spending against collections, such as $25 a week bringing in at least $100, show that publicity for a cause can pay its way, and the answers admitting "We cannot tell" show the measurement problem non-profits still face. The advice to put yourself in the place of the person you want to reach, to write to "you", to keep in touch with members by personal postcards, and to follow up every newcomer with a card system holds and matches donor-retention practice today. What has dated: the results are self-reported by enthusiasts, with no control for novelty or a growing city; the claim that no firm can last long unless it tells the absolute truth is a hope, not a finding; and the newspaper economics are gone. Use it this way: pick one number, such as visitors or donations per campaign, record it against what each announcement cost, and review it monthly.
Passages worth keeping
We are not going to lose the power of advertising because the devil used it first.
لا يصح أن نترك أداة الإعلان لأن المحتالين استخدموها أولًا، فالوسيلة ليست ملكًا لمن أساء استعمالها.
We spend $1,200 a year for advertising, keep our church jammed with 3,000 people, get an average of $200 a Sunday in loose collections over and above all regular contributions.
قس يذكر أرقامه: 1200 دولار سنويًا للإعلان، وكنيسة ممتلئة بـ3000 شخص، و200 دولار تبرعات إضافية كل أحد، فالإعلان يغطي تكلفته ويزيد.
Let a man put himself in the place of the man he wishes to reach.
ضع نفسك مكان الشخص الذي تريد الوصول إليه، ثم اعرض عليه ما يهمه بطريقة تلفت انتباهه.
The word "you" is the biggest word in the language.
أهم كلمة في الإعلان هي «أنت»، لأن القارئ يسأل دائمًا عما سيحصل عليه هو.
A pastor may be so dignified as to make himself ridiculous. He may walk so straight as to be only a stick. Dignity is valuable only when it stamps a coin in circulation.
الوقار الزائد قد يجعل صاحبه مثار سخرية، فالهيبة لا قيمة لها إلا إذا خدمت التواصل مع الناس.
The scanned text has OCR errors. The passages are quoted from it, with only obvious slips fixed.
What it teaches best
Read the original archive.org
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