Discover how to prepare your church for Easter with strategic communication, not just activity. On today’s podcast, Leah Norton from Fishhook shares how to reach new people authentically, avoid overproduction, and create meaningful connections that last beyond Easter Sunday.
In this practical conversation, Leah walks through a clear, four-phase process to help churches communicate with intention instead of urgency. We discuss why pausing to pray before building a to-do list matters, how identifying a specific audience sharpens your message, and why empathy-driven communication reflects the heart of Christ. Leah also unpacks the “Dinner Party Principle,” explaining how overproducing Easter can unintentionally make guests uncomfortable, and why clarity—around parking, kids, dress, and expectations—is one of the kindest things you can offer visitors. Throughout the episode, you’ll hear why doing less with intentionality is more effective than trying to do everything—and how to think beyond Easter Sunday toward an ongoing journey of faith.
Leah Norton shepherds and stewards Fishhook and the churches they serve with compassion and clarity. Known for her ability to listen deeply, ask insightful questions, and translate vision into practical plans, she helps churches make mission-driven decisions rooted in empathy and action. Outside of work, she enjoys volunteering at her church, planning her next family adventure, and spending time with her husband and teenage daughters.
Links to Resources Mentioned or Related
- Website: Fishhook
- Find more content/support for their Easter communications/marketing efforts: https://www.fishhook.
us/learn/easter - Here is a downloadable resource: Easter Marketing Guide for churches
- Let’s Connect/Contact Us: https://www.fishhook.us/
contact - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
fishhookhq - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/fishhookhq/ - Email Leah
- Easter Devotional From Fishhook
- Link to NEW! Soul Care Essentials Online: 3-Session Video Series
- Link to NEW! Soul Care Essentials Cohort: 6 Weeks of Guided Conversations for Post-Conference Groups
- 95Network – Soul Care Essentials
- 95Network – Healthy Church Assessment
- Read Stalled: Hope and Help for Pastors Who Thought They’d Be There By Now
- Watch Podcast on YouTube
Key Takeaways
1. Pause Before You Plan. The enemy wants to drive you straight to your to-do list. Instead, pause to pray and ask intentional questions about your mission, your audience, and the message God wants you to bring this Easter season.
2. Know Your Specific Audience. Don’t try to reach “everybody.” Identify the specific demographic God is calling you to reach (curious college students, stressed families, etc.) and build your message around what they value and need.
3. Empathy-Driven Communication. Spend time understanding what your community is facing and feeling. Communications that show empathy demonstrate the love of Christ and create genuine connections.
4. The Dinner Party Principle. Like serving 20-year-olds on your grandmother’s china, over-producing Easter can make visitors uncomfortable. Meet people where they’re at—casual, approachable, and authentic beats elaborate productions.
5. Four-Phase Process: Listen, Plan, Create, Celebrate
- Listen: To God, each other, and your community’s needs
- Plan: Ask intentional questions about mission, audience, message, and goals
- Create: Develop consistent value-based messaging and visuals for all platforms
- Celebrate: Define success upfront (not just attendance) and celebrate wins along the way
6. Clarity Is Kindness. Anticipate visitor questions before they arrive: Where do I park? What door do I use? What about my kids? What should I wear? Answer these clearly on your website and communications.
7. Less Is More—With Intentionality. Doing less with your whole heart is better than doing more and being worn out. Fewer tactics executed with great intentionality will be more effective than an overwhelming production.
8. The Easter Journey, Not Just Easter Sunday. Plant seeds for ongoing connection. The goal isn’t just getting people to show up on Easter—it’s inviting them into a journey of faith that continues in the weeks and months ahead.
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