Traverse City - Central United Methodist Church
Client Portfolio | Ongoing Partner Since 2024
At 989 Creative Group, we are proud to serve as the fractional marketing and communications team for Traverse City Central United Methodist Church (TC CUMC) — a thriving congregation at the heart of Northern Michigan.
With a mission rooted in connection, inclusivity, and community leadership, TC CUMC needed a modern communications partner who could uphold their values while expanding their reach. Through an ongoing partnership, we’ve become a seamless extension of their staff, managing digital strategy, creative content, and key communications touchpoints across platforms.
What We Do
As TC CUMC’s fractional marketing team, we bring clarity, creativity, and consistency to every message they share—whether it’s for Sunday worship or community-wide events. Here’s how we support them:
Fractional Marketing Management
✔️ Strategic direction and implementation across digital platforms
✔️ Seamless coordination with pastors, leadership, and staff
✔️ On-call collaboration for urgent communications
Creative & Content Services
✔️ Social media strategy, content creation, and community management
✔️ Mailchimp e-newsletter design and delivery
✔️ Worship slide decks, printed bulletins, and worship service collateral
Campaigns & Special Projects
✔️ Event marketing (e.g. Donkey Baseball, Pride Month, Community Panels)
✔️ Press releases and media coordination
✔️ Volunteer management and digital storytelling initiatives
We offer the kind of responsive, mission-aligned marketing support that most organizations can’t access with a traditional agency model—because we believe every organization deserves top-tier creative partnership, no matter their size.
See It In Action
Our work with TC CUMC spans strategy, storytelling, and execution. Here's a look at some of the ways we've helped them shine:
🎥 Event Promotion: From internal events like Music Midweek, Welcome Back Sunday, or weekly worship services, we've led marketing and communications campaigns that boosted attendance, sponsorships, and community engagement.
📩 Weekly E-Newsletters: Designed and delivered with consistency and care via Mailchimp—offering vital updates, pastor reflections, and community events straight to inboxes.
📱 Social Media Campaigns: Captivating posts for Pride Month, weather-based service changes, prayer vigils, and ongoing volunteer spotlights. All custom-crafted to reflect the tone and mission of TC CUMC. Real, human centered, and no fluff. Every post is built for connection, clarity, and resonance.
📰 Press Releases & Public Statements: Crafted timely media communications on sensitive and celebratory occasions, ensuring the church’s voice remains rooted in compassion and leadership.
🎨 Slide Decks & Bulletins: Visually aligned Sunday worship slides and printed bulletins that create a welcoming, unified worship experience for both in-person and virtual attendees.
🎯 Campaign Branding
From naming and design to rollout and messaging, we’ve branded church-wide initiatives like the Gratitude Report and Central to Our Future capital campaign—creating logos, visual systems, and messaging guidelines that honor tradition while inspiring momentum.
📘 Gratitude Report
A custom storytelling and impact report that celebrates donor generosity and reflects on a year of ministry, outreach, and growth—complete with interviews, data highlights, and heartfelt design to steward and re-engage supporters.
🛍️ Print Design & Merchandise
From welcome signs, t-shirts to event flyers and postcards, we ensure all printed and promotional materials carry the church’s brand identity, voice, values, and visual identity in every detail.
💬 Internal Communications
We help TC CUMC communicate effectively with its internal community—supporting staff memos, volunteer coordination, congregant updates, and donor touch points to build clarity and cohesion behind the scenes.
📣 External Communications
Whether it's crafting a press release, designing public-facing signage, launching digital campaigns, or responding to current events with pastoral messaging—we manage the church’s voice and visibility across platforms, ensuring consistency, compassion, and credibility in every outward message.
📊 Reporting & Analytics
We track and analyze performance across social media, email, and website metrics—then translate those insights into strategy shifts and campaign optimizations that keep communications growing stronger over time.
🧭 Strategic Planning & Visioning Support
We support TC CUMC’s long-term growth by facilitating planning conversations, offering consulting for capital campaigns and congregational development, and aligning communications with evolving ministry goals.
🧠 Values-Based Messaging & Pastoral Support
In moments of tragedy, advocacy, or transformation, we help shape timely, theologically aligned messaging that reflects the church’s commitments to justice, care, and radical hospitality.
📷 Photography & Visual Asset Coordination
We help curate and coordinate visual content—including branded graphics, photography, and short-form video—to ensure the church’s stories are both beautiful and aligned with its identity.
🤝 Community Partnerships & Collaborations
We’ve supported cross-organization events and initiatives by coordinating unified promotion and messaging across nonprofits, local businesses, and civic groups.
💡 Education & Volunteer Training
We provide hands-on support to onboard and train staff and volunteers—from Mailchimp and social media toolkits to internal guides for best practices and brand consistency.
Ready for a strategic partner who shows up like a team member, not just a vendor?
Explore how fractional marketing management can work for your organization—Let’s Talk »
