How Marketing Consultations Create Impact: The Rise at 75 Story

When Celebration Community Church approached branding and marketing firm Vast Strategies, they were looking for support in for their annual event Rise at 75. They worked directly with our CEO, Tammy Vasbinder, who guided the church through the entire marketing strategy process. She helped them think strategically about outreach, engagement, communication and long-term impact.

Consultation Before Creation

At Vast Strategies, we believe that a consultation is the main cornerstone of effective marketing. Before we launch a marketing campaign, we take the time to understand our client’s mission, goals, and audience. That’s exactly what we did with Celebration Community Church.

Through weekly planning meetings, we dug deeper into the “why” behind the event and discovered opportunities to enhance both structure and message. Instead of rushing into a marketing plan, we started by laying the groundwork and identifying what would make the event meaningful and sustainable.

Together, we:

• Renamed the event from Church on the Land to Rise at 75

• Created a sponsorship packet that raised over $12,500 to support the event.

• Designed a landing page to provide clear event details and capture interest.

• Wrote scripts and communication tools for Celebration's pastors to share the vision from the pulpit.

• Suggested grassroots marketing materials, such as postcards, signage, and flyers.

• Coordinated community giveaways and partner engagement.

• Crafted and distributed a press release that generated earned media coverage and increased visibility.

Each piece of the strategy was designed not only to promote the event but to empower the church team to take ownership of their outreach.

Pastor Mike Hammer, Connie Hammer, Pastor Jeff Newhard, and Pastor Luke Yoder from Celebration Community Church at ABC27 for Good Day PA

Media Coaching and On-Site Support

When Tammy placed the media buy with ABC27, she negotiated a great deal including value added for digital marketing and an appearance on Good Day PA. She worked directly with the pastoral staff to ensure they felt prepared and camera-ready. From refining answers to advising them on attire, posture, and delivery, Tammy's PR support helped cultivate confidence in the church's team.

The Power of Strategic Partnership

The result of this collaborative consultation was truly remarkable! Attendance for the event tripled compared to previous years growing from around 500 attendees to over 1,500. Even more meaningful were the dozens of individuals who made life-changing faith decisions that day.

Beyond the numbers, what truly stands out is how the church now views its outreach. With clear messaging, new processes, and stronger community relationships, Celebration Community Church is better equipped to continue connecting with people long after the event ended. Tammy is now working with their team on a follow-up communication strategy to ensure those new relationships are nurtured. Since launching the marketing campaign, the church has also seen a 12 percent year-over-year increase in Sunday attendance, demonstrating the lasting impact of strategic consultation and mission-driven marketing.

Why Consultation Matters

This project perfectly captures what makes Vast Strategies’ consultation process unique. We genuinely enjoy walking alongside our clients to help them think bigger, communicate better, and execute with purpose.

Our role is to ask the right questions, build the right systems, and develop strategies that align with both goals and values. When we are successful in our consultation, our clients are effective in their marketing. By guiding Celebration Community Church through each step of the process, we helped them transform an annual event into a powerful, community-wide celebration of faith and connection.