Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

Baptist church perception and marketing: 3 cautions to consider

  • January 18, 2022
  • Mark MacDonald
  • Church Life, Latest News

Baptist church perception and marketing: 3 cautions to consider

Baptist church perception matters. What you’re known for is critical if you want people to pay attention to you, engage with you or believe what you say.

You can control church perception. It’s called marketing. No, it’s not evil or sinful. It’s not about getting profits or gaining power. Instead, it’s about influence, as you take a product to a market (in a way they’ll receive it). We, as Christians, should want to influence our congregation and community for Christ. But perception can become a barrier.

In John 13, Jesus taught the disciples about positive perception. “All people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (v. 35). How should people perceive Christ-followers? By love.

Contrarily, the community (those not following Christ) has a church perception, but it’s not about love. Instead, it’s about what we’re against. It’s always easier to be known for what we’re against than what we’re for.

Often, when “Baptist” is added to church perception, there’s heavy baggage attached: legalism, greed, politics and more. Being known for those could keep people away from our churches.

It’s one thing for the world to not desire spiritual matters, but let’s eliminate church perception barriers that would keep interested people from pursuing the gospel and our ministries.

Baptist church perception can and should be controlled, but here are 3 cautions:

  1. Baptist church perception usually starts from reality. Many believe marketing is getting someone to believe what isn’t true. Instead, start with Baptist church perception in your area, and understand how it started. Is there something you need to change to become more biblical? Do it. Now.
  2. Baptist church perception isn’t about dropping “Baptist.” Many believe dropping Baptist from their name will improve everything. I’m not convinced we’re fooling anyone by changing nomenclature. Most who pursue a local church want to know what they believe. A denominational name can actually answer those questions. Many nondenominational churches must overly explain doctrinal beliefs to establish who they are. If you believe “The Baptist Faith and Message,” are structured like a Baptist church and give to the Cooperative Program, you’re a Baptist church. Say it!
  3. Baptist church perception change starts with understanding your community. For most local churches, change the perception, not the name. Become known for something relevant and needed. Investigate nagging needs, concerns and goals in your audience. Because you’re known for love, become their experts by helping them discover solutions and paths to their goals. This will be perceived as love. And because you’re a church, build on that temporal engagement and point them to the transformational power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Be known for love.

Mark MacDonald is communication pastor, speaker, consultant, bestselling author, church branding strategist for BeKnownforSomething.com and executive director of the Center for Church Communication, empowering 10,000+ churches to become known for something relevant (a communication thread) throughout their ministries, websites and social media. His book, “Be Known for Something,” is available at BeKnownBook.com.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Amendment on women pastors falls short again
    Amendment on women pastors falls short again
    June 12, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • SBC affirms resolution on gender, marriage and family
    SBC affirms resolution on gender, marriage and family
    June 12, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Southern Baptists defeat motion to abolish the ERLC
    Southern Baptists defeat motion to abolish the ERLC
    June 12, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Amendment on women pastors falls short again

Messengers voted 3,421 to 2,191—60.74 percent to 38.90 percent—in favor of a motion to “clarify” only churches with male pastors are considered in “friendly cooperation” with the SBC.

SBC affirms resolution on gender, marriage and family

Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas voted to affirm all eight resolutions brought to the floor — with some debate — but with only one amendment, deemed friendly.

Southern Baptists defeat motion to abolish the ERLC

Messengers to the SBC annual meeting in Dallas voted 3,744 (56.89 percent) to 2,819 (42.84 percent) on June 11 to reject a motion introduced by Willy Rice of Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, Fla., to abolish the ERLC.

Lifeway aims to ‘build things’ to come alongside churches as they make disciples

In his report to the Southern Baptist Convention on June 11, Ben Mandrell said Lifeway’s role is to “build things for the body of Christ,” not to be one-size-fits-all.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel