A few days ago, I was working on content for our website and noticed something strange.
I did a quick Google search on a church insurance topic to see what other businesses were saying about a particular topic. Something caught my eye very quickly.
An out-of-state agency had copied our content. Our words. Our tone. Even some of our exact phrasing. Oscar Wilde is often credited saying that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. But this just didn't feel right to this Texan.
Upon investigation, it didn’t take long to figure out this copycat is based in California. That place True Texans often call the land of fruits and nuts.
Now, we don’t mind a little competition. But this isn’t just a case of someone selling insurance. This is someone trying to sell “Texas church insurance” without having ever sat in a Texas church pew. And thinking they can just copy someone else's words and ideas.
While they may know how to use Chat-GPT and run ads, they don’t understand the integrity of Texans.
There is something special that comes from discussing church problems under the shade tree outside the sanctuary. There is an ethos that comes from joking about a fella's dry brisket. There is character that comes from driving three hours across the state and seeing nothing but cows and pump jacks.
But most importantly about this hullabaloo is they don’t know what makes Texas churches different.
Here’s why that matters more than you think.
Three Big Things You Need To Know Right Now
We understand that some Texans want things fast, here is a quick breakdown so you can get the info you need quickly.- Local Knowledge Protects What Matters
- Real Conversations Are Better Than Call Center Scripts
- The Spirit Of Stewardship Deserves Real Protection
And if you're the type that loves a set of FAQs, here you go. Now let's get back to the story.
1. Local Knowledge Protects What Matters
Church insurance isn’t just about steeples and sanctuaries. It’s about what goes on inside them. The mission and ministries of your church.
In Texas, that might include a summer VBS with 300 kids, a wild game dinner with a dozen fryers going out back, or a cowboy church with services held in a barn. If you don’t understand that context, you don’t know what risks to protect against.
When an out-of-state agent tries to sell church insurance using a premade template that someone else gave them, they’re not thinking about real Texas scenarios. At best, they’re guessing. And guesswork isn’t what you want when a tornado rolls through your town or a guest trips during the Sunday chili cook-off.
You need someone who actually understands the boots-on-the-ground reality of your ministry in your town.
2. Real Conversations Abe Better Than Call Center Scripts.
When we talk with Texas church leaders, it’s not a quick phone call and a generic quote from a guesswork template.
We start by asking questions that go deeper than your square footage and staff size.
- We want to know how your building gets used during the week.
- What your people are involved in.
- Where your youth group goes on mission trips.
- Who uses your fellowship hall and when.
The California copycats? They don’t know the right questions to ask because they don’t understand how Texas churches function. They’re chasing leads from behind a laptop, not listening to pastors and elders describe how they've helped the teachers at the local elementary school or how they helped provide clothes to the family that just had the house fire.
You deserve a conversation and understanding, not a call sheet.
3. The Spirit of Stewardship Deserves Real Protection
We’ve said it before and we will say it again now. Churches don’t buy insurance for buildings. They buy insurance to protect people, ministries, and the mission God’s given them.
A cookie-cutter policy from someone who doesn’t understand that difference can leave major gaps. And you may not find out until it’s too late.
Texans know what it means to take care of their own. To make sure the money given each week is used wisely. That means choosing someone who understands your ministry and helps you steward those dollars carefully.
We’re not here to push the highest premium. We’re here to build real protection around what matters most to you and your community.
Don’t Fall for a Slick Sales Job
The Californians might have shiny websites. They might even sound a little bit like us because they tried. But when it comes down to it, they’re copycats.
The harsh reality of the quote attributed to Oscar Wilde earlier was only a partial quote. The full quote is "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness". Let that sink in for a moment.
No matter how well they may try to copy others, it's because they are coming from a place of mediocrity. That means they’ll always miss the heart of what makes your church unique. Because they don’t live here. They don’t serve here. And they sure as heck don’t speak Texan.
We were born here, raised here, and serve here. That means we’re not guessing. We’re guiding.
I take up for the folks the work at Insurance For Texans because they are my family. I do believe they possess greatness. Especially when they are taking care of churches just like yours.
So if someone’s quoting you from a state where barbecue means tri-tip and flip-flops pass as boots, maybe it’s time to talk to someone who actually understands your world.
Click the button below and let’s start a conversation that actually makes sense.