Ministry Marketing CoachMinistry Branding and Marketing that Works

The past few months things have been in transition at MMC as I have been blogging about. I am very excited about the changes and what it means to what we have been doing on this blog. So, let’s do this thing!

In the weeks ahead a new team of bloggers will be adding to the conversation here and I want to set the stage by introducing them. I think you will agree the new team has the qualifications to help in not only ministry marketing, but also in design, in strategic planning, in ministry administration–every aspect that touches how your ministry resonates with your community and congregation.

Kerry Bural is the principal of The Resonate Group, that’s the group at the helm at MMC now. So, I guess you could say, the new head coach for MMC is Kerry. (He’s on Twitter too)

He has 25+ years in ministry and business and is devoted to brand development. He’s passionate about helping organizations translate their vision and mission into communication that resonates with their constituents through branding, strategic thinking, marketing, public relations and visual presentation.

Personally, I like that he not only has the chops in marketing and branding, but for ministry he also has an M.A. in Theology and History. He understands ministry and marketing!

I asked Kerry a few questions. Here is part one of my interview with him.

MMC: How long have you been involved in ministry communications?

KB: Sooooo long that I’ve often wondered what would happen if I totally walked away from ministry communications and went a completely different direction in my ministry? Would anyone hire me or take me seriously? So, if you see me selling killer mountain bikes at the local bike store, or pushin’ hot dogs at the stadium, you’ll know what happened. [Smiles]

MMC: What are some projects you have done?

KB: Hmmmm, let’s see. Here are a few that have been forever etched in my brainspace:

In my early years, I was on staff at the corporate headquarters of Neiman Marcus in Dallas in their Visual Planning and Presentation division. I then moved on and started my own design firm and we were awarded a project for Stanley Marcus’ (President of Neiman Marcus, 1950-1975) 90th birthday celebration. It was a huge event. You literally had to walk through this massive lighted birthday cake to get on the elevator. Our assignment was to reproduce a commissioned cartoon caricature of Mr. Marcus that would be displayed throughout the store during the party. Our work took several weeks and 2 full days to install the graphics.

Main lesson learned: If you hang with harnesses from the ceiling three stories above the escalator, you will risk your life and there will be adrenaline!That was an interesting one.

iVote Values

In late 2003, I was asked to develop a campaign to help evangelicals focus on their rights and responsibilities for the presidential election. After being divinely disturbed for 2 sleepless nights, the “I Vote Values” concept was born and we were given approval to fast track the project. Our plans integrated web, print, media, marketing, strategic partnerships and a nationwide tour of an 18-wheeler voter awareness and voter registration mobile unit. It was a massive undertaking.

Lesson #1: Every relationship in life matters. More people than I could imagine stepped up and helped pull off this project. Without them, it simply would not have been possible.

Lesson #2: When awakened in the middle of the night with your brain on fire, don’t fight it. Get up and embrace it! God may be stirring your heart. That was a wild one!

MMC: What prompted you to start up the Resonate Group?

KB: Through a series of personal experiences that caused my wife (of nearly 20 years) and I to look deeply into our ministry calling and the fulfillment of that calling. We asked a bunch of questions for nearly a year. The more we prayed and talked it out, the more we were burdened with the sense that it was time for a new chapter in our lives and ministry. We also grew in our understanding that we had a “life stewardship” responsibility to not limit what God may wish to do in and through us.

As a result, we became increasingly passionate about the need to expand our capacity to help more ministries connect with and resonate with more people. Ministries possess the single most significant message in the universe—the life-transformational message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Shouldn’t more people hear it?