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Rethink Communication: A Playbook to Clarify and Communicate Everything in Your Church
The church doesn’t have a message problem. The church is facing a message delivery problem.
The old communication playbook no longer works. What worked before isn’t working anymore. It’s time to rethink communication and leverage the greatest opportunities we’ve ever had to communicate in the church.
In Rethink Communication, Phil Bowdle walks through the new reality for what attendance, engagement, and attention look like for the church. Then he offers a practical communication playbook you can use to communicate anything in your church—and actually connect. These practical tips and proven strategies will work regardless of size, staff, or budget.
Communication has been overlooked for far too long in the church. It’s time for that to change.
It’s time to rethink communication for the church.
The old communication playbook no longer works. What worked before isn’t working anymore. It’s time to rethink communication and leverage the greatest opportunities we’ve ever had to communicate in the church.
In Rethink Communication, Phil Bowdle walks through the new reality for what attendance, engagement, and attention look like for the church. Then he offers a practical communication playbook you can use to communicate anything in your church—and actually connect. These practical tips and proven strategies will work regardless of size, staff, or budget.
Communication has been overlooked for far too long in the church. It’s time for that to change.
It’s time to rethink communication for the church.
265 pages, Paperback
First published January 13, 2019
91 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 22, 2019
OK, I edited this book, so I'm completely biased. But I do think Phil does a great job bringing really practical, usable ideas to how churches communicate. His advice really drills down to the basics and he walks you through how to clarify ideas and make them successful.
April 10, 2019
Solid content, but nothing terribly new, and it really could have been a series of 4 or 5 blog posts. The words are printed so large, and there are so many charts and things, that the book is a comically fast read.
January 30, 2025
Bowdle cuts through the forest of church announcements and comes out on the other side with one clear goal: "advocate for your audience." He offers insight into communicating across varied online and in-person channels while aiding churches in understanding what to communicate in the first place. A helpful guide for those serious about getting their message across - and not letting it get lost.
March 21, 2024
Really helpful book. Key concepts include: clarifying the message, cutting through all the noise and low attention spans, helping prioritize what gets said where, and more. There wasn’t anything particularly mind-blowing but full of good reminders that come with strong why-arguments.
January 8, 2026
Good book. Very fast read, but the information is already beginning to be outdated
November 30, 2022
This book wasn’t earth shattering news for me, but always good reminders and practices.
Here are the notes I jotted down while reading:
“Before the digital revolution: one way communication happened between people and the church staff (mainly at services with verbal announcements and printed material).
After the digital revolution: two way communication happens on social, web, email, text, video using skills like graphic design, editing, writing, video, photography, and storytelling.”
3 things we can no longer assume when we communicate:
1. Stop assuming you have your audiences attention. Earn it and keep it.
2. Stop assuming that because it’s important to you, it’s important to your audience. Speak first to what’s important to them.
3. Stop adding to your message. Start simplifying.
Three questions to ask before communicating anything:
1. Who’s the target audience?
2. What’s the win for your message?
3. What are the barriers to your message? (Why WOULDNT someone act after this communication?)
Elevator pitch:
- Target audience (married people)
- Problem to solve (marriage is tough and worth investing in)
- Solution (attend our event for free, childcare provided)
- Next step (sign up:___)
Rule of seven: people need to hear your message seven times before they respond.
Evaluate everything: what worked? What did not work? What was missing? What was confusing?
“Change from what we want FROM people to what we want FOR people.”
“Urgent does not always equal important. Fairness should not be a value in church communication.”
“If you treat everything as important, nothing is important.”
(I also forgot I already copied this guy’s 7 reasons your announcement isn’t being communicated from the front 😂)
Here are the notes I jotted down while reading:
“Before the digital revolution: one way communication happened between people and the church staff (mainly at services with verbal announcements and printed material).
After the digital revolution: two way communication happens on social, web, email, text, video using skills like graphic design, editing, writing, video, photography, and storytelling.”
3 things we can no longer assume when we communicate:
1. Stop assuming you have your audiences attention. Earn it and keep it.
2. Stop assuming that because it’s important to you, it’s important to your audience. Speak first to what’s important to them.
3. Stop adding to your message. Start simplifying.
Three questions to ask before communicating anything:
1. Who’s the target audience?
2. What’s the win for your message?
3. What are the barriers to your message? (Why WOULDNT someone act after this communication?)
Elevator pitch:
- Target audience (married people)
- Problem to solve (marriage is tough and worth investing in)
- Solution (attend our event for free, childcare provided)
- Next step (sign up:___)
Rule of seven: people need to hear your message seven times before they respond.
Evaluate everything: what worked? What did not work? What was missing? What was confusing?
“Change from what we want FROM people to what we want FOR people.”
“Urgent does not always equal important. Fairness should not be a value in church communication.”
“If you treat everything as important, nothing is important.”
(I also forgot I already copied this guy’s 7 reasons your announcement isn’t being communicated from the front 😂)
February 3, 2019
The premise of this book is built on the idea that we are living through the biggest communication shift in 500 years. 📜➡️📰➡️📱It’s related to one of the parts of my job, leading our creative department at @epicchurch , so it’s pretty churchy focused. 🤓 I really want to lead that well and be strategic in 2019. By the way, if you’re a digital marketer, I’d love to be able to sit down with you and learn from what you’re learning and doing. ✍🏽 HMU
If you’re not responsible for church communications, then move on, this book isn’t for you. :) But if you are - then it’s time to get better.
Here’s a summary written by @tonymorganlive // The old playbook for communication in the church was built around the idea that people would come to you. When they came, you’d have a chance to share your message with them through announcements, bulletins, and signs. As our culture has changed, we’re seeing people attend church less frequently and communicate with a whole new set of rules. If you want to reach people with your message now, you’ll need an intentional strategy for how to communicate when people are inside (physically) and outside (digitally) the walls of your church.
If you’re not responsible for church communications, then move on, this book isn’t for you. :) But if you are - then it’s time to get better.
Here’s a summary written by @tonymorganlive // The old playbook for communication in the church was built around the idea that people would come to you. When they came, you’d have a chance to share your message with them through announcements, bulletins, and signs. As our culture has changed, we’re seeing people attend church less frequently and communicate with a whole new set of rules. If you want to reach people with your message now, you’ll need an intentional strategy for how to communicate when people are inside (physically) and outside (digitally) the walls of your church.
February 12, 2019
Good reminder and good paradigm shift for church communicators
Phil brings out church communication facts \statements that many small church , medium,and large church communicators need to.be reminded of while in the trenches. Not only for those with the communication title in their job description, but for those who communicate each week with a congregation - whether from the platform on Sunday or through the week with information that needs to get out.
If you are looking to start a.communication position in the church,get this book. If someone in leadership doesn't get it, get this book for them.
Phil brings out church communication facts \statements that many small church , medium,and large church communicators need to.be reminded of while in the trenches. Not only for those with the communication title in their job description, but for those who communicate each week with a congregation - whether from the platform on Sunday or through the week with information that needs to get out.
If you are looking to start a.communication position in the church,get this book. If someone in leadership doesn't get it, get this book for them.
May 31, 2020
A quick, easily-accessible book on now to improve church communications from announcements, to promotions, to social media. There are plenty of diagrams, check lists and charts to work through either individually or as a staff. He shows his reader the need for this information: the average church hasn’t changed the way it communicates in the last 30 years. A message must be succinct: the average attention span is 8 seconds. Before promoting your message, clarify it through three questions: (1) Who is your target audience? (2) What’s the win for your message? (3) What are the barriers to your message?
May 8, 2023
This book explores the importance of effective communication in today's digital age and provides practical advice on how to communicate more clearly and authentically. Although by the time I picked it up it was already a little outdated.
One of the things that I appreciated most about this book is how accessible and easy-to-read it is. Despite being written by a communications expert, the book is free of technical jargon and filled with relatable examples that any reader can understand.
This book highlights the importance of empathy in communication and stresses the importance of understanding your audience and tailoring your message to their needs and preferences.
One of the things that I appreciated most about this book is how accessible and easy-to-read it is. Despite being written by a communications expert, the book is free of technical jargon and filled with relatable examples that any reader can understand.
This book highlights the importance of empathy in communication and stresses the importance of understanding your audience and tailoring your message to their needs and preferences.
August 29, 2019
I'll probably come back to this one many times, and I expect I'll be recommending it to a lot of church communicators. It would be ideal for someone just starting out in church comms or looking to rethink the way communications works in their church. For more seasoned communicators, it would be too basic. It's clearly laid out and explained well, with steps to follow and real-life examples. A quick read.
July 13, 2020
Rethink Communication has some solid principles to practice. That being said, the layout of the book can be frustrating at times. You can have pages where paragraphs are no more than two sentences long. Which is ok occasionally for emphasis, but is used way to often. Little things like that cause frustration. Other than that, this is a fantastic read and worth your time.
August 1, 2020
I’m giving this 4 stars because the author is able to present a very practical communication strategy while avoiding a “business-like” approach. It’s clear that the author loves Jesus and has a genuine desire for the Church to make much of Him through better communication. Thank you Phil for giving the Church a much needed resource!
June 10, 2023
A must read for those working in church communications. The author gives helpful verbiage for different aspects and goals of church comms. Throughout this book there are helpful team discussion and evaluation questions. In addition, Bowdle gives practical steps and plans for elevating current communication strategies.
February 20, 2021
Would recommend for anyone new to the church communications world. I’ve been in it for awhile, so not much new here, if anything it was a lot of good reminders but not many next steps as we’re already initing these principles.
March 28, 2019
Small or larger your church needs to rethink how it communicates!
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August 17, 2019Excellent book on the changing needs in church communication. Loved many of Bowdle's examples and innovative ideas. Should be a must-read for anyone in church communications.
December 2, 2019
A must read for every communication director.
July 16, 2020
Quick read, very basic overview, not a lot of depth. Second half of the book is much better than the first. But definitely had good stuff to consider and some good starting points.
January 7, 2022
Good content, but nothing necessarily new or revolutionary. Good read for someone starting a comms job without much experience.
The formatting drove me a bit nuts, but that's personal preference.
The formatting drove me a bit nuts, but that's personal preference.
September 22, 2023
A decent book for communication when it comes to church. It was a bit "checklisty" for me, but it has some very helpful resources.
September 24, 2024
Good conversation starter with staff meeting at church. Reinforced some ideas that we've been working toward for a few years.
January 19, 2026
Easy read, and mostly still relevant. I enjoyed the reminders I needed and some of the strategies I look to employ. More a framework book, and that makes it more applicable to all churches.
February 22, 2022
As a church communicator, Phil nailed all things church communications. I found myself nodding and saying “yes” on most chapters. Great book!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews