I’m working on an article on video podcasting for Vision Magazine. Just thought I’d post a short excerpt:

Around the turn of the 20th century, C.W. Post came up with a novel form of marketing called product sampling. He was trying to create market share for his caffeine-free coffee substitute called Postum.

In an unheard of marketing manuever, Post offered free samples to customers of local general stores in the Midwest. The sampling process gave Post market domination because he was able to directly touch the end consumer. He revolutionized the food industry forever.

Anybody ever eat a free lunch by sampling all the freebies at Costo? Or walk by a Chinese food court restuarant…seventeen times? You owe C.W. Post a thank-you. He basically bought your lunch.

What does that have to do with church?

Churches need to be intentional about product sampling.

Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”

Churches are in the taste test business. We’re offering people free samples. We’ve tried to create a culture at NCC that embraces those who are unconvinced about Christianity but they are genuinely seeking.

We have a motto: the most important decisions ought to be the most informed decisions. We want NCC to be a place where people can sample God. Why? Because we have confidence in the “product.” Once people taste and see that the Lord is good they are going to keep coming back! They are going to want more.

For what it’s worth, I think podcasting is product sampling at its best. It lets virtual visitors check out NCC via their iPod. I think blogs and websites are product samples. We’ve got to be intentional about letting people “taste” and “see” before they buy into the message we’re preaching.