How great thy brand: the impact of church branding on perceived benefits

There are mixed opinions in the literature in regards of the appropriateness, relevance and significance of church branding in the context of church participation. This pilot study applied the 'perceived brand orientation' (PBO) construct in church context and examines its impact on perceived benefits among regular church goers of one Pentecostal denomination and non-regular church goers. The results indicate that PBO is significantly related to perceived spiritual, social and purpose-in-life benefits in both sample groups. A multigroup analysis also found that PBO has a stronger effect on perceived benefits among non-regular church goers. This study highlights the importance of being brand-oriented to attract members' participation. Relevant implications for church leaders and managers of nonprofit organizations are also identified. Copyright (C) 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.