Hey Church, Stop Talking to Christians

Let’s be real for a minute. Most church messaging? It’s written for the already-convinced.

It’s packed with insider language, spiritual shorthand, and Sunday invitations that only make sense if you’ve already got a pew picked out. But what about the people who’ve never set foot in a church? The ones who’ve been hurt by religion, ignored by Christians, or just aren’t sure what any of this means?

Because let’s face it—the people who need Jesus most are often the least likely to walk through your doors.

Start with Who's Not in the Room

If your website, social media, or printed materials only make sense to church people, you’re not speaking to the folks Jesus spent most of His time with.

Most unchurched people aren't searching "Bible study" or "Sunday worship." They’re Googling:

• “Grief support group near me”

• “Fun kids’ summer camps”

• “How to find community as a single parent”

• “Affordable mental health support”

Translation? They’re looking for hope, help, and human connection—not a sermon series title with a Greek word in it.

Meet People in Their Pain

Your church probably already offers programs that speak to these needs. But if your messaging only says “Join us Sunday at 10am,” you’re missing the mark. Start promoting what solves real-life problems:

• Showcase your summer camp on parenting forums.

• List your grief support group in local mental health directories.

• Turn your small group launch into a “find your people” campaign.

• Highlight stories of transformation without churchy language.

And when they do find you? Make sure your design and branding feels cohesive, trustworthy, and welcoming. Your visuals matter more than you think—especially for someone who’s skeptical.

75% of people judge an organization’s credibility by its website design (Stanford Web Credibility Research). Consistent branding tells people: You can trust us.

Here’s the Practical Takeaway:

Stop leading with Sunday. Start leading with service.

Show up in their search results not as a church, but as a safe place to belong. Build your content around pain points, not programs. Design every piece—your posts, flyers, podcast cover, and homepage—to communicate hope before doctrine.

Because people may never search “church near me.” But they are looking for what you already have.

Want help making your messaging more welcoming to outsiders?