Why Your Church Needs a One-Sentence Marketing Message
As a church planter, you’ve been called to share the greatest message the world has ever known. You’re building a community centered on Jesus—one that offers hope, healing, purpose, and belonging. But if the people in your city don’t know who you are or what your church is about, that message may never reach them.
That’s why developing a one-sentence marketing message is essential.
This is not your mission statement or a theological summary. It’s not the tagline of your denomination or a vision for internal alignment. This one sentence is an external message—a phrase designed specifically for the people you’re trying to reach. It’s the first thing you want your community to associate with your church when they see a yard sign, scroll past an ad, or meet someone from your launch team.
Think of it as your church’s “first impression.” In just a few words, it should capture attention, spark curiosity, and reflect the heart behind your church plant. A strong one-sentence message builds a bridge between your vision and your community’s needs.
Consider these examples:
- “A church for people who don’t go to church.”
- “Helping you find hope and purpose.”
- “See your mess become a message.”
- “Real people. Real faith. Real community.”
- “You Matter!”
These statements aren’t slogans—they’re invitations. They’re crafted to resonate with people who are spiritually curious, skeptical, or disconnected from church. They convey warmth, clarity, and purpose. Most importantly, they make it easy for someone to think, “Maybe that’s a place I could check out.”
In the early stages of your church plant, this sentence will shape your communication strategy. It should appear on your website, printed materials, social media, signage, and even spoken from stage. When your team knows the message and repeats it often, it brings consistency and alignment to everything you do.
At Passion for Planting, we’ve helped dozens of churches launch with clarity and intentionality. We’ve seen how a well-crafted sentence becomes a rallying cry for the launch team and a recognizable message in the community. It helps create awareness and anticipation—long before your grand opening.
Romans 10:14 asks a pointed question:
“How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?”
Let’s make sure they hear—and that what they hear is compelling, simple, and true.
So what’s the one sentence you want your city to associate with your church? What message do you want them to remember?
Craft it carefully. Make it memorable. And most importantly—use it everywhere.