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Directories were traditionally used to put names with faces and record the ministries, history, and activities of a church. But today that's just the beginning. "A pictorial directory can be so much more," says Lynda Holland, product manager at Lifetouch Church Directories. "An effective directory tells the story of the church and depicts the church's values, mission, and vision."

A well-planned, professionally produced pictorial directory can help solidify connections between members, thereby strengthening the entire church. These connections can actually inspire inactive members, encouraging a more active role in the family of faith. A directory can also be an outreach tool—a professional marketing piece to prospective members.

But these results are not automatically achieved. Your congregation will get no satisfaction from a half-hearted effort at creating a pictorial directory, or from the decision to accept less than professional results. People want a directory to present themselves and their church at their very best. Even though hard work is required to create a pictorial directory, the effort is worthwhile.

The lure of affordable digital photography and desktop publishing capabilities might tempt you into a "do-it-yourself" pictorial directory. But companies that regularly create directories have the process down to a science, and it's unlikely that you'll save much by doing it yourself. Directory companies are ready to provide photographers, design, layout, printing, and sales assistance to help churches create a valuable and lasting directory. In addition, members have the welcome opportunity to purchase professionally photographed family portraits.

Churches are increasingly making their directories available online. There are some real benefits to an electronic directory. Holland says an online directory can be a dynamic communications tool and can tie into the church member database. "The church can send mass e-mails to the entire congregation or to groups within the congregation, including shut-ins, military personnel, college students, and other specialized groups," she says. "Churches find this useful for prayer requests, event updates, or announcements."

With an online directory, members can search by any number of fields. For example, someone from the church interested in forming a softball league could search the directory for all members who listed softball as a hobby. In the very next step, an e-mail can be sent to all those members.

It's important to note that access to any part or all of an online directory can be restricted to church members only, preventing the misuse of personal information.

Members can also choose to list their business contact information, notes Richard Hane, CEO of Memory-book.com. Any church member looking for a plumber or insurance agent can perform a key word search in the membership directory to see who in the congregation provides that service or product.

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