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As we enter the home stretch of 2007, it's a pleasure to look back on the incredible year of growth and learning we've enjoyed with you so far. It seems like just yesterday when we were welcoming in this year together, yet as you've shared with us your creative series ideas, effective outreach efforts, revolutionary children's programming results and more; it's evident that we certainly have packed a lot in. But we're not done yet! The upcoming holiday season is ripe with potential for your church and mine. Here are three key areas we're focusing on at Fellowship Church as we wrap up 2007:
End-of-year giving
At first view, the holidays may seem like poor timing to talk about giving to the church. After all, aren't people already stretching their finances to the limit during this season? But when we take a step back and get a bigger perspective—God's perspective—on our money, it's the perfect opportunity to rise above the consumerism and instead look to where we can make an eternal investment.
At Fellowship Church, we're in the middle of a series called Off the Chain, where I'm focusing on how we can take part in the colossal vision God has for our community and beyond. As we continue with our Town and Country capital campaign, we're implementing a December push called "The Gift." God has revealed his standard for generosity in the most significant gift that has been given us, Jesus Christ. Fellowship Church continues to respond to God's example as we strive to communicate his gift to the world. But the reality of reaching people with God's love is that it takes money: completing our campus in downtown Dallas, making great progress with our camp and retreat center in East Texas, and beginning work on the permanent home for our campus in downtown Ft. Worth. This December, we're striving for a church-wide cash gift of $5 million to fast forward these projects and also contribute to an effort by Fellowship of Maceio in Brazil to eliminate hunger and homelessness in two cardboard cities. We're eagerly anticipating what God will do in and through Fellowship Church this December as we discover something that reaches far beyond our gifts—changed lives. To see an example of how we're communicating these goals with our church, click here for the full print piece.
Christmas services
We're celebrating Christmas at Fellowship Church with multiple services at multiple campuses, and spreading them out over the course of five days (Thursday the 20th through Monday the 24th). Preparations are already well underway for the look, feel and sound of these services. As for the message, our creative team has been brainstorming ideas and narrowing our focus. We're leaning towards a series that will lead up to and include Christmas, but we'll keep you posted as we finalize our plans. And as always, I'll make an early draft of my Christmas message available to you on CreativePastors so you can get a sneak peek at what I'll be teaching.
Christmas promotion
Right now we're concentrating strategic energy on making sure our community can't ignore Christmas services at FC this year. We're inviting them to "Christmas at our house" in the following ways:
- We'll be equipping our members and attendees with promotional packets containing: Christmas cards with accompanying envelopes they can use to jot a quick personal invitation, a pack of themed business cards with service times, and a window decal they can use in their vehicles.
- Taking a cue from our ineed2change series promotion, we'll be using online share-with-a-friend tools like email tags, e-invites, blog/website banners and more.
- We're planning billboards for high-traffic areas and considering some other advertising opportunities.
- As Fellowship Church participates in Turkey Trots in both Dallas and Ft. Worth this Thanksgiving, we'll come out in force in a bright green t-shirts that will spread the word about our Christmas services.
From what we've experienced at Fellowship Church over the years, Christmas is our best prospect for reaching people who won't attend church at any other time. Let's not miss out on this opportunity! We're excited to hear what you have planned and eager to help you in your preparations. Don't forget about the specials on our Christmas resources that we've developed to assist you in those efforts. It's going to be an unforgettable season!
