The Problem:
Is Your Church "Busy" or "Connected"?
In Northern Ohio, hard work is part of our daily rhythm. Every week, I see church teams investing countless hours into the mission: planning Vacation Bible School, laboring over Sunday's sermon, and organizing food pantries to serve the vulnerable.
But amid all this activity, a difficult reality often sets in: Churches have so many challenges that marketing ends up being the last thing on the list.
Most church teams work incredibly hard to make every detail of an event count, but they miss out on the rewards of that work. Churches miss out because they skip ahead in the discipleship journey. Your neighbors have questions about God, the world, and themselves. We find ourselves asking: Are we so caught up in "church work" that we've forgotten to introduce ourselves to the people living right next door?
The Invisible "Front Door"
The Guessing Game:
One of the biggest hurdles for new visitors is simply not knowing where to go or what to expect.
The Digital Gap:
While your team is busy inside the building, a lonely neighbor is searching for hope on a Tuesday night. If your "Digital Front Door" isn't open, they may never find the "friendly digital hello" they need.
The 1990s Paradox:
Many churches are still operating with communication styles from decades ago, expecting visitors to immediately jump into deep fellowship without any existing relationship.
Marketing Isn't "Corporate"—It's Stewardship
Many of us think of marketing as a flashy, corporate term that doesn't belong in the sanctuary. But if we believe our message is life-changing, then marketing is simply the first step in discipleship. It is the 30-second introduction that starts a relationship. If we don't clear the path for our neighbors to find us, we aren't just missing a "marketing opportunity"—we are missing a chance to be a good neighbor.
How We Build Your Discipleship Funnel
1 hr 30 min
300 US dollars
8 hr
1,000 US dollars
8 hr
15 min
Not sure which path is right for your church?
Let’s grab a 15-minute 'Coffee & Strategy' call to find your flavor.
About Me
Hi, I’m John Funtik.
If you attend church in Northern Ohio, there’s a good chance I’m sitting just a few pews away from you. My wife, Lindsey, is a pastor at Strongsville UMC, and our two kids, Arthur and Lucy, are usually running around nearby.
I launched John Funtik Marketing because I believe local churches have the most important message in the world, but they often lack the tools to share it effectively with their neighbors. Based right here in Strongsville, my mission is to help our local congregations stop being "busy" and start being visible.
Big Brand Strategy for the Local Sanctuary
I don’t just "do social media." I’ve spent over a decade in the trenches of high-stakes digital strategy, aiding over 300 businesses in finding their voice. My background gives your church access to professional-grade tools that are usually reserved for global brands:
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The Global Scale: In my role at Certified Angus Beef, I oversee an annual advertising spend of $1.7M, building high-performance systems from the ground up.
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The YouTube Success: I personally led a brand’s YouTube growth from 1,000 to 350,000+ subscribers by learning exactly how to tell stories people actually want to watch.
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The Local Search Expert: My time at RevLocal taught me the "secret sauce" of Local SEO—ensuring that when a neighbor searches for help, your church is the first thing they see.
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The Leadership Foundation: My experience in the AT&T Retail Leadership Development Program taught me how to move teams from "chaos" to "clear execution."
Why I Do This
With degrees from Cedarville University in Marketing and Operations Management, as well as a minor in the Bible, I view marketing as a form of stewardship. If God has given your church a message for your community, it’s a waste to let it die at noon on Sunday.
I’m a strategist by nature (and an Enneagram 7w8), which means I love solving puzzles. Whether I’m snowboarding, practicing jiu-jitsu, or studying a chessboard, I’m always looking for the most effective way to reach the goal.
I want to be the "God-thing" your team has been looking for. Let's stop the guessing games and start building a discipleship funnel that actually grows your community.
My Mission
I aim to assist churches, specifically those in Northern Ohio, to attract new members and be a good neighbor. With over a decade of experience and having aided over 300 businesses, I am dedicated to your success.
