Many churches choose branding without clarity—like picking clothes in the dark. This article unpacks why brand strategy must come before design and how to create a brand that truly fits your church’s mission.

Branding isn’t just about looking good—it’s about removing distractions from the Gospel. For church planters, professional design is ministry. It builds trust, communicates clearly, and reflects God’s excellence.

Today, we’ll look at VOUS Church (Miami, FL) and Epiphany Brooklyn (Brooklyn, NY). Both of these churches have incredibly dynamic ministries, with both reaching their respective cities with the Gospel of Jesus. Both are seeing lives transformed and souls saved! But they have some differences: their branding (personality and identity), their design approach, and their expected audiences. Let’s explore these two churches.

When it comes to establishing a brand identity for your church, it can be tempting to just Google what’s trending or, worse, copy the branding from your favorite church you watch online. However, effective church branding is more than aesthetics—it’s about identity.