A21 The use of print in outreach

Rethinking your church's practice

First published on this website in June 2009 and last updated in May 2023

Synopsis

Websites have become a vital means of communication but print still has an important role to play. Here is an article to help you reassess your church’s use of print for outreach.

How to conduct a review
1 Analyse each item of print

2 Assess all your print

3 Think ‘their need’ not ‘our want’

4 Question means and distribution

5 Put someone in charge

This is then followed by a careful analysis of two example pieces of print.
  

Example 1 – an outreach leaflet
These often fall into a rut of copying what has been done before. Here are four ways to break free from this. Take a fresh look at

• purpose
• design and content
• distribution
• 'disconnection' 

Example 2 – a welcome leaflet/folder
The following features are all analysed and rethought:

• shapes and sizes
• content
• poor quality
• ideas to follow

This article has been updated in May 2023 with minor amendments to the text and formatting.