New places inspire new ideas.

August 20, 2016 by Chris Parker Leave a Comment

Amazon is on to something. Consider this leading “you want it, we have it” industry that can make something magically appear on your doorstep within 48 hours and now some items within the hour.

In reading a current article on their newest “office” in Seattle, I contemplated what this could mean for the church. Amazon is investing millions of dollars and hours of thought into something that won’t give an immediate return on it’s use. This outside the box idea for a creative space is pointing towards a larger idea and I think we can learn from it as the church. [Read more…]

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March 9, 2015 by Chris Parker Leave a Comment

Perhaps this is your first time to stop by lifeofayouthpastor.com or you have been here before. How about from now on you don’t need to “remember” to come back and check out new content, let me take care of that for you. Subscribe in the top right corner of this page and each new post will be delivered directly to your inbox for FREE. What kind of stuff will you get when you subscribe?

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A free download of my student ministry handbook.
For student pastors and youth workers that feel alone – DIY student ministry.
An important question for you to answer, “What kind of youth pastor do you think you are?”
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Your sign to get a new sign.

April 29, 2014 by Chris Parker Leave a Comment

If it’s not simple.
If it’s not short.
If it’s not synchronized.

SIMPLE – If you are running a program or ministry project that requires signs, directions, or logos, you want people to read it and read it correctly, right? So keep it simple, make sure it’s legible and not too crazy with unnecessary fluff. Remember, simple is clean, clean is attractive.

SHORT – I just finished visiting a church and walked through a 12,000 sq. ft. space of a church lobby. There was only ONE word on the giant wall as people left the auditorium. “CONNECTIONS” Simply one word says it all. There is not a question in anyone’s mind about where to go to get further connected to what is going on in that church. The more words, artwork, phrases, pictures, random, useless, meaningless…well you get the idea, people stop reading or lose interest. Keep it short. Whatever you desire to have the most attention in your space dial it down to one or two words.

SYNCHRONIZED – You might have the coolest sign ever, but if it doesn’t match anything else in the church you are sticking out like a sore thumb in a bad way. Figure out your churches style and fit into it, if you don’t like the style or the style is too outdated, sketch up some proposals and get some feedback before purchasing that big sign or multiple signs for your space.

Here is what I did with our student space at our church to communicate to the general public where students hang out on Sundays and the program times we offer.

If you are coming from the visitor parking lot and don’t see the doors, at least the 8ft. tall word STUDENTS will give it away.

Good signage following these three rules does not cost your church an arm and a leg, it just takes some brainstorming, creativity, and agreeing on next steps. The paint on the building and vinyl work on the doors gets complimented every other week. People share how helpful the signage was in directing them. It only cost a few hundred bucks, 3 sit down meetings and roughly 4 email threads. Small investments of budget and time can make a huge difference and leave a big impression to those visiting for the first time.