Pastor: Your Emails Are Too Long

As church leaders, we often rely on email as a primary mode of communication with our congregation. However, we’ve all experienced the dreaded long, text-heavy email that feels overwhelming to read. It’s time to change that.

Nearly every church email that has come across my desk is too long, and it’s time to start prioritizing brevity. A study found that the average adult's attention span is only eight seconds. That means if your email is too long or too difficult to read, your congregation is likely to tune out.

To make your emails more effective, aim to keep them under 150 words. This doesn't mean you should sacrifice important information, but rather make your message concise and to the point. Use bullet points or short paragraphs to break up text and make it more readable.

Additionally, consider using GIFs or images to make your emails more engaging. Visual content is a great way to grab your reader's attention and keep them interested in what you have to say.

Lastly, limit yourself to one call to action per email. Whether it’s inviting your congregation to an upcoming event or asking them to donate to a cause, keeping your focus on one action makes it clear and easy for your readers to follow through. Long gone are the days of 17 sectioned emails that should have been newspapers.

In James 1:19, we are reminded to be quick to listen and slow to speak. The same principle applies to email communication. By keeping our emails short and to the point, we can show respect for our congregation's time and help ensure our message is heard.