General Information
Guide Book Publishing produces several different products for local non-profit organizations at no cost. Costs are covered by local family friendly businesses that advertise within the products.
Printed Guide Book & Directory:
- Custom designed cover art
- Information layout assistance for the Guide Section
- A Directory Section of contact information including addresses, phones, and emails for members
- Direct-mail the book to all members of the congregation
- Extra books for new members that join throughout the year
- Easy online access of the Guide Section through our website
- Advertisements sold by GBP throughout the Directory Section
- Emails PDF versions of the Guide Section and the entire book to contact person at organization
Benefits of the printed Guide Book & Directory:
- In one book, the congregation can have a venue for describing everything pertinent: the various ministries, organizations, committees, activities, pertinent dates, functions, stewardship information, and more. PLUS a complete directory of contact information for all members.
- Annual Publication, which allows new members to be added each year.
- A resource book that members continually use throughout the year on an almost weekly basis.
- The members take pride in having a Guide Book & Directory that represents their particular congregation.
- An excellent advertising medium for local businesses that want to reach readers through guaranteed direct-mail to target market areas.
- The book serves as a reference point for all ministries throughout the year.
- Provides an easy way to contact church staff and fellow members.
- New members become acquainted with their congregation faster.
What does free mean?
Just that! Everything is completely done at no charge to the congregation, including the preparation and cost of mailing the books to the families! This is and will be your congregation’s Guide Book & Directory! Costs are underwritten by family-oriented businesses in your community who are happy to participate in this form of advertising. This is a beneficial opportunity for businesses in your congregation and in your community.
Why do we need a Guide Book & Directory?
- Is a book that is uniquely designed for your congregation.
- Is designed to keep all of your congregation’s members informed as well as involved.
- Provides essential ministry information to your members in a format that each household will keep and use all year long.
- Includes a complete directory of all members of the church that will be referred to and used all year long.
- Is professionally produced to meet your congregation’s specific wants and needs.
- Is direct-mailed to each household in your congregation.
- Provides extra books for you to distribute to new members throughout the year.
- Is updated annually to keep all the information current.
- Is accomplished, unlike other communication tools you may now use, in a turn-key manner for your congregation … with minimum work for your staff and/or volunteers.
- Is provided at NO COST to your congregation.
Who gets the advertisers? Who collects?
GBP handles all of this for you!
Will this conflict with other congregation projects?
It will not. The Guide Book & Directory serves a completely different need than the photo directory. These are both useful, but serve a different communication function. Normally, when your congregation plans to produce a pictorial in the same year, they space it out six months, so that one does not interfere with the other. This does not put any undo workload on the staff who works with these projects. With LifeTouch for churches going out of business, we also fit the photo directory need through our Online Directory & Mobile App program.
Why an annual Guide Book & Directory?
Like the community you live in, our research shows us that most congregations have an average of 12% turnover each year (people moving in and out of the congregation). In addition, committees, organizations and activities usually change to some degree each year, so an annual Guide Book & Directory keeps the information current.
Does it require a lot of work?
The congregations we currently serve all say NO. Most are genuinely surprised that our company makes it so easy. Remember, we do all the work of putting the final book together for you. The name and phone numbers for the directory can be retrieved from your computer in a matter of minutes. We will be most happy to supply you with references who will attest to this. We believe it is worth the small amount of work necessary on your part.
Does it require a lot of work? How much space do we get for our congregation information?
We provide up to 20 pages of information about your congregation, then as many pages as needed for the directory. However, our experience tells us that if it gets too big, many members will not read it all.
Is the membership list kept confidential?
Yes it is! This is your congregation’s book and your congregation’s book alone. We are not in the business of selling mailing lists. Understanding your concern, we even put that in writing in our Publishing Agreement.