SILENT WORDS LOUDLY SPOKEN

? Phrases should be short enough and letters large enough for effortless drive-by reading. ? Messages should be changed regularly, especially date-specific ones. ? In-house announcements better suited for the church bulletin should not be wasted on a disinterested public. ? Give the gift of a positive, inspirational message, negative statements turn off those the church wants to attract. David J. Claassen has been the pastor of Mayfair-Plymouth Congregational Church in Toledo, Ohio, since 1975. He is a contributing editor for his denominational magazine (The Congregationalist), and writes a weekly inspirational newspaper column. He is also the author of Object Lessons for a Year (Baker). Claassen is a graduate of Central College and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.