Weekly Outlook - Is your ministry's message getting buried?

Dear readers, In our webinar last night, "When Words Work," former Nike marketing executive John Olinger reminded us that the average person encounters 5,000 messages a day from organizations competing for our attention. Five. Thousand. Messages. They come from everywhere — rug companies and olive oil brands, political candidates and liquor brands, animal shelters and small businesses, news outlets like the Presbyterian Outlook, and community organizations like your church. When you think about that number as a consumer, it tracks. I think of the sponsored posts on my social feeds. The texts urging me to buy, subscribe or donate. The emails about fall sales or the item I “forgot” in my cart. The billboards, podcast ads and TV spots. It’s loud out there. So loud, some days it’s tempting to give up. What difference does a drop make in a rushing river? Does an email matter if it’s never opened? And yet, those of us who communicate on behalf of faith communities live in a particular kind of tension. We have to understand the mechanics of the modern media world well enough to navigate it — even as the message we carry is meant to free people from a system that captures our attention, commodifies us and slices us into market segments. I’m sharing this reflection for three reasons: 1. To those doing faith-based communications: you’re not alone. The work is real, and the struggle is shared. 2. If you want help navigating this landscape, the recording of last night’s webinar will be sent to those who have registered — and it’s worth your time.  3. Since we’re swimming in messages every day, I'm reminded that it may be useful to re-share some of my favorite recent Outlook articles:  "The future of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): Decline, renewal and shifting trends" by Gregg Brekke "A new chapter for small churches" by Mark DeVries "From church closures to growth: Lessons from 133 presbyteries" by David Bonnema "Gen Z’s complicated return to faith — and what Presbyterians are seeing" by Gregg Brekke Peace, Rose Schrott Taylor Digital Content Editor Presbyterian Outlook

Two small Kansas churches uplift their rural communities by Catherine Neelly Burton A bold choice reaches beyond the pulpit by Jenny McDevitt How a youth minister became a lifeline for young athletes by Cindy Shania Eken Sobtafo The power of weekly preaching in a world of noise by Thomas Long A small New Jersey church connects with migrant workers by Lydia Griffiths The mother, the officer, the gun by Merideth Hite Estevez In case you missed it... Presbyterian Hunger Program approves over $1 million in grants Funding will support projects in nearly 30 countries, including the US. — Darla Carter New Columbia Seminary center equips faith leaders for public dialogue Columbia Seminary launches the Center for Theology and Contested Publics to equip faith leaders for dialogue and insight in today’s divided public life. — CTS Special committee works on drafting new confession Committee members said the in-person meeting was a turning point in their work ahead of the 227th General Assembly in 2026. — Layton Williams Berkes Wisconsin Churches offered new path to transform land into affordable housing and community spaces RootedGood launches $1.1 million Good Next Step Grant Program to turn vision into action. — Rooted Good For Such a Time as This: An Emergency Devotional Hanna Reichel’s "For Such a Time as This" offers brief, rich reflections and concrete practices to sustain faith, courage, and community in crisis, writes Amy Pagliarella. Unification Commission sets priorities for new structure Leaders outline five priorities and four work areas to guide the PC(USA) forward. — John Bolt A daily Advent devotional by Presbyterian Outlook Each Advent, we are invited to slow down and pay attention — not just to Christmas on the horizon, but to Christ’s presence with us here and now. This daily devotional by Teri McDowell Ott helps you do just that.

Each Advent, we are invited to slow down and pay attention — not just to Christmas on the horizon, but to Christ’s presence with us here and now. Draw Near, written by Outlook Editor/Publisher Teri McDowell Ott, is a daily devotional that helps you do just that.