I opened my mailbox today and tossed aside what I thought was another credit card solicitation.
The glossy envelope screamed: "Freedom from debt" Details enclosed..
As I flipped the envelope over I realized it was in fact a mailing from the WELS to its members from the "Ministry of Christian Giving." The giving note is the annual plea from the office of JD.
The letter outlines the need to eliminate $22.4 million in debt during this year of Jubilee.
What is surprizing is the slick "credit card" like mailing. I wonder how many WELS members are going to toss this solicitation aside or how many will view it as a bait and switch.
We all need to look at how we give to the Lord. I just wonder if JD took the right approach with this cheezy mailing.
The glossy envelope screamed: "Freedom from debt" Details enclosed..
As I flipped the envelope over I realized it was in fact a mailing from the WELS to its members from the "Ministry of Christian Giving." The giving note is the annual plea from the office of JD.
The letter outlines the need to eliminate $22.4 million in debt during this year of Jubilee.
What is surprizing is the slick "credit card" like mailing. I wonder how many WELS members are going to toss this solicitation aside or how many will view it as a bait and switch.
We all need to look at how we give to the Lord. I just wonder if JD took the right approach with this cheezy mailing.
12 comments:
I did not receive this mailing. Who is JD?
JD is Dave Ligget.
Don't you know our Planned Givers know how to use all the sleeky marketing trends.
Much better than preying on the widow's house...
I received that same mailer and actually thought the same thing myself. You will also note that if you send in your check you send it to St. Paul, MN not 2929...hmmm.
The WELS needs money..what's new with that?
Mail has arrived today....still nothing like this in my mailbox.
I got mine on Saturday 11/15.
rlschultz..
Any thoughts on how this plea was presented?
John,
Thanks for asking. I did not look at it very closely. I threw it into my pile for later perusal. Synod mailings (how did they get my address, anyway?), are not my highest priority. I'll make it a point to look at it tonight. Like so much from my WELS congregation, it probably falls into the category of "stewardship". When it comes to stewardship, the WELS should lead by example.
The St. Paul MN address is just the bank that WELS uses to process gifts. It's an automated process that is much more efficient than someone hand-entering each gift.
Regarding the "polish" of the mailing, there is nothing wrong with using marketing techniques in the church. Many churches use the same ideas to invite neighbors to worship (postcards, brochures). As long as our goal is Spirit-driven, not sinfully motivated.
One other note, you'll notice very little is printed in black and white nowadays. "Flashy" color printing is definitely an option to be considered for helping people take note and read the piece.
still have not received this mailing at our home......
I still do not have one of these mailings and am an active member in a WELS congregation. So how is it that I did not receive one? Is it, perhaps, that some pastors forwarded the addresses of their memberships and mine did not? Did the names/addresses perhaps come from Thrivent? I am not a member of Thrivent.
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