One of the best marketing books I’ve read is Purple Cow by Seth Godin. The book revolves around this metaphor: if you’ve seen one brown cow you’ve seen them all. But a purple cow, now that would catch your attention.
One statement in the book has profound implications:
If you aren’t remarkable, you’re invisible.
Every church needs to paint itself purple. I’m not talking about gimmicks or about being different for difference’s sake. I’m talking about making such a remarkable, spirit-inspired difference in the hearts of people and their communities that we are un-ignorable.
Here are a few thoughts:
1) The good news should make news. Brown churches sit on the sideline and invite the community to come to them. Purple churches translate their faith, hope, and love into authentic action outside their walls, making them a highly visible part of their community.
2) The church should be a place where we find the most honest connections. If we are so flawed that Jesus had to die for us, yet so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for us, the church should be a place where the hurting find that same love and hope.
3) The church should be the most creative place on the planet. Too many churches have quit thinking and have justified burying our talent. Every church has a unique church-print and ought to be a unique expression of the gospel.
So how do we learn to paint ourselves purple? We can begin by disrupting our routine. Change of pace + change of place = change of perspective. You need to get out of your routine so you can have some purple thoughts that capture the imagination of our children, the church, and our communities.
Have you been to a purple church? How did it impact you or your community?
Some content from the blog of Mark Batterson
Ed,
To your third bullet point about the church being the most creative place on the planet…
Seth Godin talks up a book I purchased and loved…”The Ten faces of Innovation” by Tom Kelley. Tom talks about the ten personas any organization needs to be more innovative and to establish a culture of creativity. It’s a must read!
Another point…The church used to be patron of the arts – These days it’s clearly Hollywood. I wonder if we took some of the creativity back how much more relevant we would be?
Derek,
How did we surrender this to Hollywood?? Christianity used to be the energy and intellect behind education, health care, as well as the arts. There’s something to learn from our failure it seems.
So how do we take it back?
I’ll check the book out…thanks!
I look forward to your posts, Ed.
This one was like a smack to the forehead about something I’d forgotten.
One of the things that first attracted me to my present church was their openness to creativity. I’d suggested for first communion, the participants create a cup. I’d only been a member there a few weeks, but they said go for it, so I took the catechism class to a pottery place. Those kids have graduated from high school, but they still have their cups in their rooms as visual reminders.
Now the cups were nice, but what really impressed me was the encouragement of the church to exercise our talents.
Instead of purchasing a script for the Christmas program, a group of writers created one.
We used to encourage artists to write music, play their instruments, put on skits, build displays.
I’d forgotten. I’d forgotten. We’ve fallen into a brown cow mode.
Thanks
Ed:
A few of us visited a church this week that had what I thought was the most creative children’s ministry EVER. It had clever theming and decoration like many churches do. What was different is their theming becomes “alive” with their teaching. Their story tellers and teachers use the the clever sets to make God’s Word jump out and engage the kids. Example—a life-sized Bible that the story teller-in full costume–actually steps out of to tell a Bible story. And as you can guess, this church is swarming with young families who love to see their kids being taught this way and many parents also learning about Christ.
It was a great example of a church “getting it.”
Lynn
Good thought. I always loved Romans 12 1-8 (esp v6, “gifts differing”). I find people, when you get to know them, to be soo unique, and it is so sad when our establishments don’t bend over backward to open avenues for folks to develop those unique gifts.
It’s like insisting on a pasture full of hybrid daisies instead of a plethora of wild flowers.
Barb,
I really love the cup idea, it’s brilliant! Don’t you wonder how many other brilliant ideas are dying to be heard in the hearts and souls of all those about us?
Recently a friend turned me onto I Corinthians 12:7:
“Now to each gift the manifestation (public demonstration) of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
I never noticed that verse in the oh so familiar 1 Cor. 12. But I think it says God wants to publicly reveal Himself through each of our unique gifts! So could it be when we stifle each others creativity we are stifling the very spirit of God himself?
Now that’s a bit heavy for us parents, teachers, leaders, and pastors it seems.
Thanks for coming back Barb!
Lynn,
Thanks for another remarkably creative idea.
In this digital age with 200 cable channels, youtube, facebook, twitter, etc we better discover creative ways to speak through the clutter or our story will never be heard.
I know of a church who’s mission statement is:
“To be a church where kids love to bring their parents!”
Sounds like the church you visited had a similar DNA.
Thanks for your thoughts Lynn.
Bob,
Romans 12 is a good reminder of what we are called to as well as our role as influencers. What inhibits us from encouraging diversity and learning from each other in the way? Is it simply a lack of emotional security and grace? And if so what must that say about us?
Thanks Bob you always make me think!
I’m jazzed about the ideas I’ve read here. Such creativity.
What inhibits us???
For me, it’s often selfishness with my time. When someone suggests something, I often think: HOw much time is this going to take?” (Okay, I know it’s selfish. )
One Lenten season, the Church Arts committee made a giant paper mache’ whale’s mouth around the sanctuary doors. Worshippers entered “the whale” for reflection during the 40 days of Lent.
Folks loved it, and asked for more, but no one answered calls to help on future projects. It may be universal, but I’ll speak just for myself, I often tell myself: “The choir has the music covered. Those altar guild ladies LOOOOVe to take care of communion . The property committee has it under control. They don’t need me.
In other words, I don’t think about the purple cow: what could we do differently?
However, when someone suggests something different, my first thought is: How much time will this take; rather than how it affects relationships with God.
So, yes, it may be a lack of emotional security, but for me it’s often being stingy with grace.
But then, someone accepts my penurious attitude. Pleasantly accepts my excuses. Accepts me, miserly parts and all, then I melt.
Well……maybe I could spare some time, after all.
Funny how grace works, huh?
Barb,
I think the scary part of all of this is the sobering truth we all sense. This ministry effort does take a real time commitment.
Yes, creativity can a powerful and many times necessary tool to catch people’s attention for the sake of Christ. To speak into the crowded lives of people we need to use all the gifts in the church like never before. Getting involved does something for our own sense of commitment and connection with the spirit’s work as well. However, once we catch their attention and provoke their interest, then what?
Mentoring someone into an intimate walk with Christ requires a serious commitment. When a church can work selflessly to do so it will free those captive, transform lives, and change communities. And when it does it becomes really “purple”.
But it all starts by getting talented people like you engaged in this bigger issue of life and community transformation. And, if you and I remain on the sidelines it seems we’re leaving it to the government, who can’t solve these problems alone.
Great conversation Barb…