I’ll admit, this seems like making a fuss over nothing.

I’m used to having business cards in the world of work. It is a convenient way to exchange contact information, and it’s expected. Of course, you want good quality stock and a good looking layout/color scheme, etc. The card represents you. Maybe creating a “Christian business card” wouldn’t occur to some people, but to me, it seemed a natural tool one would use.

So, I spent an afternoon looking through some card designs I might use with something simple as I meet people in the apartments and in nearby shopping centers, etc. There are thousands of professional designs to choose from, and they don’t cost very much. Maybe I would just put our names (Deb and I), email address, physical address and phone numbers on our card. I found a number of possibilities, but didn’t find anything where I said, “Yes, this will work nicely.” I guess I thought about this for about a week, becoming more uneasy about the whole idea by the day.

I thought, too, how those I am meeting probably don’t have a card to give me back. And, really, I want to have their contact information more than they have mine–I will call them! So, it really doesn’t send an “I am going to you” message as much as it sends a “you must come to me” message. Sure, maybe I’m making too much of this.

For a number of reasons, this seemed like it would be sending the wrong message, creating a mixed message. I am looking for a much less formal, more familial connection as a new church. A business card seems to send an “institutional” message. I want to say that every believer is already prepared to share in His life and work, even (especially) brand new believers. A business card may well send, to some at least, a “professional” message. I don’t want to perpetuate in any way the idea of clergy/laity. I suppose we could get everyone a business card, and some will feel this is really cool and some will feel this is really awkward, and what is the message this sends to ourselves and to those we come in contact with? A card, in a way, is meant to be self-promoting, which is expected in business. Do I want to draw this expectation and practice into the life of a new church? And, if you give someone your business card, and they don’t have one, that makes you sorta better/bigger/more important. They either feel awkward because they don’t have one, or (more likely) realize you are sort of a pompous, self-important dope. Well, I would feel like that (that I was a pompous dope for having one, not that they–nevermind). Oh, this was beginning to seem, although only a small thing in a little teacup, a great storm brewing.

Yes, sometimes I agonize over the littlest things *sigh*

Now, if I ever do develop a business card down the road, everyone gets one. But it won’t have the name of a church on it. “Representing Jesus Christ” perhaps. OK, this is why I should not be the one designing the cards anyway. I suppose if the members are working professionals, who are comfortable using business cards, and whose friends are in that same segment, cards would make sense.

If you use them, God bless you for your labors in His fields! As far as possible, I want to be authentic (which partly means I’m comfortable doing something and it is natural, I’m not trying to be something I am not) and send a consistent message. For me, Cards? not so much.

So, when I meet someone, how will I share contact information? What will send that simple, informal, mutual message?

Well, so I’ve been carrying 3×5 cards, and I started carrying two pens (OK, somehow I’m less concerned about sending the nerdy message). Now, when we meet someone, and have had some conversation together, I say, “let me give you our number.” And I pull out a 3×5 card, and rip it in half (they are already folded and scored, knowing I am hoping to get the chance to exchange contact info). I hand them the other half and a pen and ask, “Could we get yours?” Voila! Now, we both have the same “business card.” They have our contact info, and we, theirs.

Yes, this will work nicely!

(In the interests of full disclosure, I do have a Christian business card for use with “professional” Christians for sharing about seminars/workshops/online training. In that setting and circumstance, it seems quite natural.)

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010 at 6:16 am by Art and is filed under Church Planting, Evangelism, Personal Note. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.