MondayMorningInsight - Leadership & Encouragement for Church Leaders

Best Church “Brands”

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Thu, July 12, 2007
Viewed 70
(11) comments so far

I am sort of curious to know who you think the biggest, most recognized, or “baddest” churches are - and what do you think of when you hear their name. Please share your list.

Saddleback Church: Rick Warren

Willow Creek: CEO Driven

Mars Hill, Seattle: Biblically Driven

Life Church.tv: The Experience

Redeemer Church: Deeply Theological

Imago Dei: Emergent and Missional

Fellowship Church: Plastic

Granger Community Church: Cutting Edge

Mosaic: Artsy

What would you add to the list?

And… what one word would the people in your community ‘brand’ your church with?

It’s worth some thought… I’d love to hear your responses!

Todd

One Story Media has an interesting post going on: "I am sort of curious to know who you think the biggest, most recognized, or “baddest” churches are - and what do you think of when you hear their name... Here's what they've come up with so far...

Comments

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Bill A on Thu, July 12, 2007

I thought it was interesting that no church rated as “real” or “authentic”. Kind of sad actually… maybe we are a little to worried about being something (cool, artsy, cutting edge) and we’ve missed out on being authentic and real.
James Dalman on Thu, July 12, 2007

Todd,

Thanks for the reference on your blog! I’ll elaborate on what I am going to talk about in a few days but wanted to get other people’s thoughts on when a specific church name is mentioned - what is the very first thought that pops into your head. So please share your insight with us (and it doesn’t have to be a church already mentioned).

Good point Bill! However this is just my thoughts on these churches and someone else may have a different take. More about the conversation soon.

James
JHPW on Thu, July 12, 2007

Mars Hill, Michigan—Relationship-oriented

Crystal Cathedral—Money
Peter Hamm on Thu, July 12, 2007

Bill

We actually try here to be authentic almost to a fault. I’ll bet a lot of people would hear the name of our church in the community and say “real”. Either that or “fun.”
MG on Thu, July 12, 2007

Amid this branding flash I found it quite refreshing to find the following edifying news report:

What do the top two church-planting churches in America have in common?

5 07 2007

According to a recent survey by The Leadership Network, the top two reproducing churches in America are Redeemer Presbyterian (New York City-pastored by Tim Keller) and Mars Hill Church (Seattle-pastored by Mark Driscoll). Both churches have planted over 100 new churches since their inception.

Along with a radical commitment to the gospel both of these churches are confessionally reformed (Calvinistic). There is a prevailing false idea that Calvinists are not committed to evangelism. Aside from this being historically inaccurate (cf. Spurgeon, Edwards, Carey, etc..) it is also out of step with what is occurring in our lifetime.

(ht: steve mccoy)

http://www.irishcalvinist.com/?p=866

To Him alone be all the glory and all the honor, forever and ever, Amen! For He alone is worthy!
Tobias on Fri, July 13, 2007

The Dream Center, Los Angeles - Doing the dirty work (in a good way)
Peter Hamm on Fri, July 13, 2007

MG,

You’re right. Thanks for bringing that up. Many people are critical of calvinists because of a perceived lack of urgency in evangelism, when in reality they are very good at it!
Kevin on Sat, July 14, 2007

The first thing that I noticed in reading this list is that the ministries mentioned are all “young ministries.” I am curious to contrast the aforementioned list with the list below. What does it say about mega ministries of the past 30 years? Are the still relevant? Does the “brand” still have stying power? How many times have they been reinvented? Are they dead brands?

(in no particular order)

First Baptist Jacksonville

First Baptist Dallas

First Baptist Fort Lauderdale

Brooklyn Tabernacle

Thomas Road Baptist Church

First Baptist Atlanta

Landmark Baptist Church

There are many more, and yes, most of these churches if not all follow the SBC conservative model, however does branding a church only relevant to post-modern/seeker sensative/insert-your-denominational-stereotype here.

I’m not ranting here or speaking negatively of the this list of churches, I just wonder why these churches don’t think about branding and the impact it has on growth. Has anybody had experience in this?
Rick White on Mon, July 16, 2007

Kevin…it’s a good thought to bring those guys up…but if others are like me, I simply do not know much about those churches…except that I hear people wait in lines to attend Brooklyn Tab and that Charles Stanley pastors FBC Atlanta. That’s all I got. I’m guessing James is speaking to what he knows…which is probably similar to the rest of us. MG…appreciate the comment…and you are quite correct.
James Dalman on Mon, July 16, 2007

Thanks again MMI for picking up this post and for all of you who have been sharing your thoughts here! I tried to post earlier but my computer must have deleted the comment.

Rick hit it on the head about what I was going to say. I don’t know many of the older established churches and only presented the churches that stand out in my cluttered brain. The only one I did recognize was Brooklyn Tabernacle.

I will explain more in Part 2 of “Best Church Brands” but the thing I was/am looking for is:

1. What churches stand out in your mind (if any)

2. What does that church stand for in a few words or less

I don’t believe that you have to be a newer church in order to be a church “brand”. In fact, great brands in the secular world have been on the block for a very long time. You also do not have to be an SBC, postmodern, seeker-sensitive, Acts 29 church to be a relevant church or church brand.

Brand is about the emotional connection and positioning in the mind of the consumer - or your church members and community. This will be the foundation for part two in the series. But before I go into all of that I have to finish it and post it! So hold tight.

Rick…glad to see you on the web! MG…great comment!
Keith S on Mon, July 16, 2007

the Dream Center = Community outreach