This document provides an agenda and overview for a marketing plan development committee kickoff retreat. The retreat will cover marketing 101 concepts like the 4 P's of marketing - product, place, promotion, and price. The committee will discuss Bethel Church's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. They will also define goals and objectives, such as developing strategies to attract visitors, engage members, and "lift the savior up" in the community. The overall aim is to apply marketing best practices to improve Bethel's image and effectiveness.

1. Marketing Plan Development Committee Kickoff Retreat April 11th 2010

2. Agenda Brunch Getting to know you 3 things Your Ideal church definition Welcome and Overview Marketing 101 Goal and Objectives Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats Next Steps/Homework Evaluation

3. What is Marketing? Management of Perception Perception: the act or faculty of apprehending by means of the senses or of the mind; cognition; understanding. Or, “how people feel about a thing. It is how they see a thing in relationship to themselves and to other things…” Management: the act or manner of managing; handling, direction, or control. Or, “the ability to know where you are today, to know where you would to be in the future, and to make adjustments along the way.”

4. Biblical Basis There are over 30 references in the Bible to Jesus perceiving people’s perception and changing his ministry direction, re-communicating, or deciding to halt communications altogether. Examples: Matthew 16:8-9; John 11: 41-42 Jesus ministered on all levels: “grace to the sinner, His Word to the hungry, His challenges to the committed, and His unabated truth to the hardened of heart”

5. Marketing 101 Marketing must first affect who we become before it affects those who we pursue. How do people (your members and your community) think about your church (or if they do at all) What your clearly defined goal is for how you want them to think about your church (based in reality) 4 P’s: Product, Place, Promotion, and Price

6. Where have the people (and their money) gone?

7. Objectives Develop actionable strategies/tactics to “lift the savior up” in the greater-Gainesville area and in so doing attract visitors, engage and retain members/regular attendees Help Bethel members and regular attendees understand their role in “marketing” the church Apply proven marketing principles and best practices to improve image and effectiveness of Bethel ministries Provide a report to the Church Board at the July Board Meeting with detailed recommendations on how to accomplish the above.