Advertising

 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven"Matthew:5:14-16

Some years ago , before I was in the ministry "full time",  I worked in the field of  Adverting .

I had the opportunity to handle many different types of accounts, some were large, some small. 

Some of our clients understood the value of having a well thought out ad  program, others had a less than structured program or clear understanding of how advertising works. Businesses  which advertised  ,in general  did, and do,  more business.

I helped  clients develop   a lot of newspaper advertising schedules over the years that were effective in getting their message out to the public and as a result their markets and revenues increased. In short adverting really does work.

 Ad Mistakes

I would get calls from clients who wanted to place ads in the paper, they would want a rather large ad often with color,  which they hoped would attract attention to their goods or services they would want to place it in the paper one time.  They would have their ad placed it would appear one time only and sadly, yet predictably, the results would be minimal.

Others however would want to insert  small ads crammed full of too much information, it would be displayed a few times then stopped, again with minimal results. Too much, too small.

 Some new clients would place a mid size ad and have it in the paper only a few times "to see what happens" . They would then discontinue the ads only after a short time.

Other business would  place an ad only when they had a special event or sale.

These advertisers would hope that their ads would be noticed and bring results , yet they ended up almost always disappointed, and concluded that advertising was ineffective. Others would declare that the cost was too much, the price too high.

Some times the text or copy was not well thought out, other times it was not carefully reviewed , one such ad was for a day care center for children. The ad copy was meant to read "bring us your children and we'll nurture them"  , instead it read "bring us your children and we'll neuter them" . Needless to say these "typos" do not help a business to be profitable.

What Goes Wrong?

Why did the advertisers ads fail them? What went wrong? In adverting there are principles that bring results. An ad, regardless of it's size and even if it is full color will soon be forgotten by the public it is is displayed only once, no matter how well the ad is desigen.

A small ad with too much information will be ignored by the public, simply due to the public's' limited attention span. or they just do not have time to read it therefore they will not read it to find out how the advertisers can benefit them. This type of adv becomes printed background noise and is ignored.

An ad displayed for a one time event then  drops from view is soon forgotten when the event ends . 

Those who are just trying "to see what will happens"  by placing a few ads then discontinue will find little results because the public has no time to become familiar with them, who they are where they are and what they do and will not know what they have to offer. This occurs when business owners loses patience.

T.O.M.A

What these advertisers failed to do, was to develop  Top of Mind Awareness, or T.O.M.A,  which means that when the public becomes so familiar with a business' name after being exposed repeatedly  and constantly to their adverting , they begin to have name recognition. That is,  when a person has a need they think of the a particular business for goods and or services.  Simply,  when they have a need they think of  the ads they have seen.

TOMA is developed when a advertisers displays their ads with a balanced size and frequency . When this is done both the advertiser and the public profit. They discover  what they gain far out weighs the cost.

A Lesson for Christians

Like advertises , Christians  can make some of the same mistakes concerning the Christian life and our relationship with the world around us. Part of our calling of being Christians is to present a message to the world around us of what a relationship with Jesus Christ  is about , the benefits  which they can have in this relationship  in such away that they too would want to be Christians.

 Ads

Often Christians or even churches will do one big thing hoping that this will bring the results of others coming to believe in Jesus. There maybe some initial interest, but without reinforcement on a frequent basis , this interest  fades and is soon forgotten.

Some Christians are too full of information and are very willing to share it with others often at the most inopportune moments that become more of a distraction and in the end a nuisance, they become just so much "background noise"  and tuned out. They are ignored and over looked. A few might take a moment to investigate their claims but most will not.

Some Christians will attempt to advertise  their faith "to see what  happens" When the results are not what they hoped for they discontinue and give up.Some may fall back into old patterns and life styles

Some will  have a one time event in their lives, some unique occurrence they will tell others about Jesus, but often they run out of reasons for sharing their faith fore it was based on a one time event.

Spiritual TOMA

What will work, what should a Christian's ad program look like if we are to develop TOMA in the minds of those around us? How can we advertise our relationship with Jesus so that when people think of Christianity they think of us? When they become aware of their need for Jesus will they know that we can help them? In others words is there  is Spiritual TOMA,  Top of Mind Awareness,  that we are Christians?

We are to be living advertisements of and for Jesus Christ, ads that are noticed with the right placement , size and frequency .

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven"Matthew:5:14-16

Jesus tells us here that we should be in plain view that others might see.

 I might add the right copy, with no typos so others will see in us the benefits (blessings) of being in a relationship with Jesus Christ for all to see.We are to have an accurate  and informed message that attracts others to Jesus.

 " Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" .2Timothy:2:15

 Jesus  tells us that the fruit of this relationship with Him should be seen as well.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."John:15:5-8

This fruit is seen by those around us and will lead them to glorify God.

The Apostle Peter writing to Christians tells us that others should see our lives properly displaying all that is available in a relationship with Jesus , and that this is a large part of our calling , but to do so in a balance way that is genuine without pretense, and this is to have ongoing frequency , which means it is our life.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light"

"Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1Peter:2:9, 12

We are to be able to answer the inquiries from those who address us regarding our faith in Christ.

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,"1Peter:3:15

The Best Ad Program

 The best advertisement we can have, is that others see the unselfish love that we have for and toward one another. This above all things will reflect not just our love for each others but God's love for all, this has the greatest power to attract others and is the best advertisement there can be , it will point others to our Lord Jesus Who has and is everything that any and all could ever need or want.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”John:13:34-35

This Love,  when it is  seen in our lives , will best the best ad program to develop that TOMA  in the minds of others,  so that when they think of Christians they will will think of us....Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

Refusing Rescue

There is a Television  program that is on here in America, where a man,  who is an experts in the food service industry is invited to come to failing business  establishments. He then  reviews how they conduct, or rather don't conduct business  and then proceeds to help them,  that is , to  rescue and salvage their failing business.

What is astounding is the conflict that arises when this expert, who has either owned or lunched multiple highly successful businesses in the food service industry , encounters resistance from the very people he is there to freely help.

The various business owners at times are combative uncooperative, stubborn and at timers belligerent. The owners of failing business just do not want to let go of the ways they are conducting their businesses which have proven completely unsuccessful and placed them in a position of being on the verge  closing .

Often the business owners have invested large sums of money into the failing business, to the point of bankruptcy, yet   nothing is working.  It is when they after reaching this point of need they call for this expert who comes and freely offers to help, yet they almost always resist his freely given advice.
At time he seems more interested in their success than they do. He will at ,times offer some blunt  evaluations of  business owners personal practices and conduct which have caused for much of their quandary  that are finding them selves in. Often they will recoil and be defensive and even self justifying .

What is unfortunate ,is ,  that  this expert knows what he is talking about and understands their problems better than they do. They need to heed his input. He is there to rescue them out of their bad situation.

Often after much conflict and resistance , and a time when the owner is finally  placed in a personal conversation with this expert  that the business owners will  come to see that this expert has their best interest at heart and is there to help and rescue them  and to salvage their business and succeed;  if they will just receive his free help.

When they set aside their pride,  stubbornness and self justification and accept what is freely offered them and heed the input of this expert and allow him to make the needed changes, which often requires a complete change in the appearance and practices and most of the time even the name of the business,    they find that,  in the end ,  even after some stress in placed upon them and their staffs that , that this expert was right all along.

Generally  at then end of each program,  there is short update on the businesses and owners , each time that the business owners followed  the input of this expert they have founded them selves positioned for success and  now succeeding  they have been rescued. They have been shown a better way of  conducting their business.They have a whole new life to their business and it works.

No Market

 On one episode  there was a business owner who had their establishment dressed in an illogical theme  that had no appeal to the market where their establishment was located.  The owner  and the  business were only a short time from closing down and being out of business. In the location which  they  were located in  had the environment to succeed , but the establishment with it's theme simply would not be sustained, there was no market for them as they were.

This owner, in desperation called to the expert who came and  reviewed her , the staff and the whole establishment in general. He concluded that the whole theme of the business, and the poorly trained staff  including this woman's' self willed husband , were the  leading demises of the business.  When the expert  shared his conclusions with the owner and staff there was conflict, they argued and resisted,  justified themselves and let him know that in spite of his expertise in the industry  , they thought him to be wrong.

Guest were invited in to see how the staff preformed under pressure. In a short amount of time it became evident that they had a dismal failure on their hand. They were ill prepared  for the test, ill trained, ill equipped and no leadership, as the guest went away disappointed. How they conducted business did not work . 

After the evening was concluded the expert reviewed how they did. The owner still justified them her self. Many of the staff could see that a change was need and hoped that she would agree to the changes.

 Changes But Not Changed 

After some tenses discussion with the expert she agrees to allow the changes. The expert oversee the transformation of the  moves forward in the end he has freely offered and provided for  her a renovataion and better positioned the business to capitalize on the market.

The staff was enthusiastic and liked the changes and they could see the opportunity that was before them, there was chance to rescue this business.The expert's changes were implemented, there was a complete change undertaken. A new name, new everything  it was "born again" as a business.

Guests were then, again invited in,  the place was  filled with genuinely pleased customers who asserted positively that they  will return.  It looks as if   all would be well. The  potential is great , there is now nothing to stop them from succeeding.

But,  rather than embracing the all new life of her business;. the owner  was  unhappy and clings to the her past ideas as to how it should be, she liked her old theme , which was apparent to everyone  obviously  not working. But she  and wanted to hold on to it, even though it  produced little profit. She becomes negative.

At the end of the episode it is reported that she walked away form what was freely given,  it was her's  there was nothing to stop her from having it , but,  her  own unwillingness to receive it,  and is now back to facing a bleak future.
There was change but she was not changed. She refused to be rescued. All the remodeling and name changes was merely cosmetic. There was no transformation of  herself . She and her business has walked away from being rescued. At the end of the episode the update said that she returned to her old theme and things were not going well.

A Lesson For All of Us.

 

What can we learn from this?  The ideas which govern the business of our lives often lead us to be on the brink of failure and closure.  Humanity needs the help of an expert,  One Who knows the industry of living  and how things best operate  for success in life.   That expert who knows the industry of living is Jesus Christ.

Jesus however is more than just a expert on "moral and ethical" living . Jesus is more than  just a self help teacher ( and the Bible  which speaks of Jesus, is more than a self help book, though some treat is as one) ,  or One Who teaches strategies for living or positive thinking  or practical philosophy.

Jesus is life itself and the Creator of all things.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made In him was life; and the life was the light of men."John:1:14

This One Who designed and brought into being all things came to us , to rescue us and transform us, and the businesses of our lives.

"and the Word became flesh"(14)

He has come to us and and offers to rescues us , if we will but freely receive it. This life that Jesus offers us is a life which we could never accomplish on our own. It is His life in us. He is our life as Paul wrote.

"When Christ, who is your life, ." Colssians:3:4

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."Galatians:2:20


Jesus is our very life and if we will but freely  receive it from Him He will  do more than just give us a new look or upgrade to our existence , Jesus ,like the a fore mentioned expert will give us an all new life, we can experience being  " born again".   Even to the point of giving us a new name. We share in His son ship. This can be ours freely if we will just freely receive it. A new name as children of God. These changes however only reflect what God has made true for us in Jesus, they more than cosmetic.

 "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" 1John:3:2

"To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it." Revelation:2:17

This tells us that we are being more than renovated we are all new, "born again" . Now we are now positioned to share in all that is our Lord's except His deity.

"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together" Romans:8:17

Jesus has given us  all  a new life that is made to take us into eternity.

 Won't Let Go

Unfortunately ,we can  find that at times , we are  like the owner who did not want to let go of old theme  which produce little or no results, we want to keep the old theme of our lives as she did.  We can't put new wine into old skins. It will not work.

"No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins."Mark:2:22

Our old ways need to be let go of, left behind us we need to receive from Jesus all that He offers us, it is freely given if we will but freely receive it. Jesus offers us a whole new theme for our lives this new theme will bring us success, he knows for He lived it, and is it.   Jesus has positioned us for the best possible outcome that of  eternity with Him.

We need to embrace all that is offered us and  not to be stubborn as the owner whose theme was leading to failure. Jesus is the expert that truly knows the industry of life. Jesus has come and provided rescue for humanity.  Jesus understands all our problems better than we do, we need to heed Jesus' input. Some sadly will refused to hear and accept  what is given ,  and walk away from the cross of our Lord instant on their ways....this leads only to heart ache and failure.... Please do not refuse to be rescued ..Amen 

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com