CHURCH and SOCIAL MEDIA 2016 – The Year in Review, Pt. 2

Welcome to Part 2 of “CHURCH and SOCIAL MEDIA 2016 – The Year in Review!”

Picking up where we left off in Part 1, here are my top choices for 2016’s Best Church and Social Media stories:

• Apple TV: An Exciting Way to Reach Your Congregation – Church Tech Today
• Apps for Lent (or Not) – Mobile Ministry Magazine
• #ATT28Days – Developing a Methodology – Jason Caston/ iChurch Method
• Award Winning ChurchStreamer – Church Mag
• BET’s Celebration of Gospel 2016 – Essence
• Big List of Notable Church Technology, Ministry Tools, and Christian Apps – Church Relevance
• Black Christian News Network One– BlackChristianNews.com
• Bible Apps for Mobile Devices – Mobile Ministry Magazine
• Celebration of Gospel: Taraji P. Henson – BET
• Checklist for an Effective Church Facebook Page – Lifeway
• Christian Best Sellers – Christian Book Expo
• Christian Books – Best Sellers – Family Christian
• Christianity Today’s 2016 Book Awards – Christianity Today
• Christmas Communications Checklist – RADideas
• Church Christmas Decorations – Pinterest
• Church Communicators Interview Series – Steven Fogg – Church Mag
• Church Online: The Steps – FaithVox
• Church Snapchat Guidelines – Church Mag
• Church Social Media #CHSOCM Chat 03/01/16 – Worship and Social Media – Storify
• Church Social Media #CHSOCM Twitter Chat 06/14/16 – Church and Social Media in Times of Tragedy – Storify
• Church Social Media #CHSOCM Chat 07/12/16 – Happy Five Years – Storify
• Church Social Media #CHSOCM Chat 09/27/16 – #SMS16 Debrief – Storify
• Church Social Media #CHSOCM Chat 12/06/16 – Celebrating 2016 & Dreaming About 2017 – Storify
• Church Social Media #CHSOCM Chat 12/13/16 – Spiritual Life and Self Care – Storify
• Collected Best Christian Books of 2016 –  Challies
• Devon Franklin on Finding Success in Hollywood Through Spirituality/ Podcast – Lewis Howes
• Devon Franklin, The Hottest Christian in Hollywood – ozy.com
• Digital Tech and Social Media Highlights From 2016 – Church Mag
• EasyWorship 6 Makes Worship Presentations Easy – Church Tech Today
• How Technology Helped Martin Luther Change Christianity – NPR
• List of Church Apps for Mobile Smartphones – @djchuang
• New Christian Fiction 2016/ Listopia – GoodReads
• Organize Your Church Communication for the New Year– Church Tech Today
• Secular Hollywood Quietly Courts the Faithful – Brooks Barnes, NYT
• ‘T.D. Jakes’ Daytime Talk Show Gets Launch Date – Deadline
• T.D. Jakes: Destiny Means Understanding Your Destination – Ebony
• Using Periscope – Jason Caston/ iChurch Method

Well, that completes our ‘CHURCH and SOCIAL MEDIA 2016 – The Year in Review, Part 2.’ Hope you enjoyed it.

What are your favorite Church Social Media stories of 2016?

Stay on top of the latest  Church Social Media news at SOCIAL MEDIA and MINISTRY NEWS! See you in 2017!

Until next time, remember, you can do all things thru Christ Jesus!

Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas and a Blessed, Happy, and Prosperous New Year!

Sincerely,

Kenneth Lillard

 

 

 

 

Happy 100th Anniversary Hampton University Ministers’ Conference

This week Hampton University hosts its Annual Hampton University Ministers’ Conference (HUMC)! This year’s centenary theme is, appropriately,  “Honoring Our Past, Anticipating Our Future.”

Begun in 1914, HUMC is one of the oldest gatherings of black clergy in America. Interdenominational and intergenerational, HUMC has grown from 40 attendees at its inception, to over 7,000 in 2013. This year’s attendance is expected to top that figure.

Former attendees and speakers at this dynamic, week-long conference have included Civil Rights Icon Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Theologian Dr. Howard Thurman, and Bishop T. D. Jakes, who is slated to be this year’s keynote speaker.

People have been tweeting at #HUMC2014, and posting FB, IG, and other social media updates from this phenomenal conference all week long. The Hampton University Ministers’ Conference (HUMC) continues to be a theological, spiritual, and educational jewel.

For more information on HUMC 2014 please see the following links:

100 Years of Glorious History From the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference [Photos] – HuffingtonPost

Hampton University Ministers’ Conference (1914-2014) – minconf.hamptonu.edu

Hampton Ministers’ Conference Celebrates 100th Anniversary – newsone.com

Hampton University Ministers’ Conference Kicks Off Celebration of 100 Years – Black Christian News

Hampton University Ministers’ Conference to Feature T. D. Jakes – ebony.com

Megachurch Pastor Bishop T. D. Jakes Addresses HU Conference – Daily Press

Why The Hampton Ministers’ Conference Still Matters – Suzan Johnson Cook/ HuffingtonPost.com

Btw, for a real taste of the Conference, IG (Instagram) has pics and video at #HUMC2014!

What are your thoughts on the role of digital technology and social media at ministerial conferences? Did you attend the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference 2014? If so, what did you think of it? Please share your thoughts, photos, and videos with our readers. Appreciate you!

Until next time, remember, you can do all things thru Christ Jesus!

Be Blessed

Kenneth Lillard

Faith And Social Media 2012 – The Year Ahead!

“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Welcome to 2012! It’s slated to be an exciting, eventful year – what with the Summer Olympics in London, and presidential elections in France and the United States, just to mention a few! And it’s also expected to be an exciting year for social media and faith, as well!

As you begin the journey into the new year, it’s critically important to know where you’re going, and to have a good roadmap or GPS to help get you there.  Advanced planning is vital for social media success in 2012! 

Do you have your new Facebook Timeline profile ready or activated? What is your social media strategy for this year? How does it differ from last year’s? Do you have  LinkedIn or Google+ strategies for your ministry or church? Have you established daily, weekly, and monthly social media schedules? What are your S. M.A. R. T. social media goals for the year ahead? 

Right out the gate, here are some of the major trends to look for in 2012: 1) An increased usage of mobile devices, especially smart phones and tablet computers (like the iPad 2) – Make sure your website is mobile friendly! ;  2) Social networking will remain huge – Can you believe Facebook will surpass one billion (with a “b”) registered users this year?; 3) Expect to see increased usage of short videos; 4) Social media will continue to play a major role in social and political mobilizations and movements; 5) Trust, transparency, and respect will become even more important;  and 6) Look for an increased adoption of social media by non-profits, churches and other faith based organizations. 

As you engage your social networks in 2012 remember to listen to and learn from them. They have a lot to teach you! Harvest insights and share them.  Use smart metrics to measure your social media effectiveness (ROI). Always seek to be helpful and to add value to the individuals in your networks. Your vision is your compass. And remember, your focus should always be on Jesus! The challenge is adapting digital technology and social media to share the Gospel more creatively and effectively, both locally and globally!  And finally, don’t neglect in person fellowship!

The following are examples, suggestions, tips, and tools that, hopefully, you’ll find helpful on the social media and faith journey ahead:

• [Infographic] The SMB Social Media Cheat Sheet – ReadWriteWeb, David Strom
• 4 Community Management Predictions for 2012 – Mashable
• 7 Resolutions For Your Website in 2012 – Christian Web Trends
• 10 Tips For Christians in Social Media – Faith, Media + Culture
• 50 Ways to Use Social Media – Jeremiah Owyang
• 60 Best Church Website Designs – VisualSwirl
• 2012 – Digital Opportunities in the Year Ahead – Digital Evangelism
• Build Your Platform/ Start – Chris Brogan
• Build Your Social Media Schedule for 2012 – Social Media Today
• CES 2012 – CNET
• The Church App – Subsplash
• Facebook Timeline Customization: 5 Tools for Killer Cover Photos – Mashable
• Facebook Timeline: The Complete Guide – Mashable
• Going Beyond Ministries – Priscilla Shirer
• Google+  The Complete Guide – Mashable
• How to Upload a Video to YouTube – YouTube Video
• Joel Osteen Ministries 
• John Maxwell On Leadership – John C. Maxwell
• Mars Hill Church – Mark Driscoll, Founding Pastor
• MobileAdvance – Mobileadvance.org 
• New Breed of Social Networking Sites w/ Mario Armstrong – YouTube Video
• Non-Profits and Social Media: Planning  For Success – Neal Schaffer
• Productivity Tips for 2012 – Copyblogger
• Social Media and Ministry – Rev. Dr. Kenneth Lillard
• Social Media for Churches – UMCom.org
• Social Media: What to Expect in 2012 – Social Media Today
• Social Media Strategy Map – WeAreMedia
• Ten Social Media Strategies to Define a Successful 2012 – Brian Solis
• The 8 Habits of Highly Effective Bloggers – Copyblogger 
• The Potter’s House – Bishop T. D. Jakes
• Top Five LinkedIn New Year’s Resolutions for 2012 – Social Media Today
• Why I Follow You On Twitter – Brad Lomenick

What are your social media goals for the next twelve months? 

We’re wishing you success, prosperity, and all the very best in 2012!

Until next time, remember, you can do all things thru Christ Jesus!

Stay Blessed!

Kenneth Lillard

Best of Technology and the Web 2011

It’s already that time of the year for the Faith Based Media 2.0 annual roundup of what’s hot and what’s not in technology and on the web for 2011! It seems that every time you blink your eyes new innovations appear in the ever evolving world of technology and social media. The challenge is how the people of faith can creatively adapt these new technologies to more effectively share the Gospel in our Digital Age!

The winds of change have blown through the digital world in 2011 leaving a radically changed landscape in its wake. The links below help tell the story of some of the major technological players, innovations, and ideas that affected the web in 2011, primarily from a faith perspective. We’d love to get your take on this year’s picks! 

5 Major Twitter Changes Coming to a Computer Screen Near You – BlogWorld

10 Apps You Should Download for iPad2 – Wired

10 Biggest Web News Stories of 2011 – ReadWriteWeb

2011 Christianity Today Book Awards – Christianity Today

2012 Web Predictions – ReadWriteWeb

Best and Worst of Everything in 2011: A Meta, Mega Mashup – Fast Company

Best Big Internet Company of 2011 – ReadWtiteWeb

Best Christian Blog of the Week – Blogspot

Book Interactions in 2011 – Ed Stetzer

Church App – Subsplash

f8 2011 Facebook Changes Full Guide – SlashGear

Faith Based Media 2.0 – Faith, Technology, and Social Media Blog ~Kenneth Lillard

Joel Osteen Ministries

John Maxwell On Leadership – Blog of Leadership Expert, John Maxwell

LinkedIn Changes Social Ads – Mashable

My Favorite Technologies of 2011 – Dan Zax,  MIT Technology Review

Potter’s House – Bishop T. D. Jakes

So You Got a Kindle Fire? Try Our First-Timer Guide – Mashable

Streaming Faith – Online Christian Broadcasting Portal

State of the Blogosphere 2011 – Technorati

Top 5 Internet Devices of 2011 – ReadWriteWeb

Top 10 Christian Blogs – blogs.com

Top 10 Enterprise Cloud Apps and Services 0f 2011 – ReadWrite Web

Top 10 Gadgets You Should Have In Your Go Bag – Lifehacker

Top 10 Posts of November 2011 – Tony Morgan Live

Top 10 Social Web Products of 2011 – ReadWriteWeb

Top 10 Startups of 2011 – ReadWriteWeb

Top 10 Tech Concepts You Always Wanted to Learn About – Lifehacker

Top 10 Web Products of 2011 – ReadWriteWeb

Top 11 Features of 2011 – ChurchLeaders.com

Top 200 Church Blogs – Churchrelevance.com

Top Trends of 2011: Content Shifting – ReadWriteWeb

World Vision – A Christian Humanitarian Organization

WOW Gospel 2011 – iTunes

YouVersion – Online Bible, reading plans, and community

Which of the above would make your list? How have they impacted you and/or your ministry in 2011? How might they increase your influence in 2012?

To all of my wonderful FBM 2.0 readers, “Wishing you a Happy, Blessed, and Prosperous 2012!”

Until next time, remember, you can do all things through Christ Jesus!

Stay Blessed!

Kenneth Lillard

Ministry Toolbox Upgrade for 2011

In striving to elevate our ministries in 2011, we first, and foremost look to the LORD for direction and guidance! “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” Psalm 127:1

In addition, we are fortunate to have a number of excellent tools to help us in this endeavor. Here are some incredible resources which are readily available. It is my sincere hope that some of them will help upgrade your ministry toolbox this year!

• 10 Killer iPhone Apps – Ministry Vault
• 20 Best Church Website Designs – Church Ideas: Websites
• 21 Facebook Apps For Your Church – Church Ideas: Websites
• 43 Top Church Resources Websites   – Zach Younkin
• 45 Twitter Apps For Churches – Church Ideas: Websites
• 100 Best Selling Christian Books of 2010 – Michael Hyatt
• Church Marketing Directory – Center For Church Communications
• Creating an iPhone App for Your Church – Tutorial
• Going Beyond Ministries – Priscilla Shirer
• Potter’s House – Bishop T. D. Jakes
• Rick Warren’s Ministry Toolbox
• SOCIAL MEDIA AND MINISTRY Sharing The Gospel In The Digital Age – Rev. Dr. Kenneth Lillard
• Technology and Small Groups, Part 1, Dave Treat
• Technology and Small Groups, Part 2, Dave Treat

As we seek to take our ministries to the next level, which tools would you recommend be added to upgrade the ministry toolbox?

Until next time, remember, you can do all things thru Christ Jesus!

Be Blessed!

Kenneth Lillard

Building An Online Home Base

A successful social media strategy should include at least two elements: 1) an online home base, and 2) outposts elsewhere on the web.

The home base is your online home. It is your own website, blog, or hosted online community. Your home base is the central focus of your online presence. For example, Faith Based Media 2.0 is my home base.

Outposts (also called satellites or embassies) are other places on the web where you maintain a presence. My outposts include Facebook, Twitter, Digg, and LinkedIn. Outposts allow you to grow your online presence by  building relationships, adding content,  listening, testing  ideas, and just trying to be helpful to others. BTW, outposts can also drive traffic back to your home base!

Your home base is the place from which you establish online credibility. It enables you to directly engage your target audience, to listen to them, and to describe the benefits of  your ministry or organization. Your home base gives you a personal voice online. It feeds your outposts. Your home base allows you to direct conversations around your ministry, and influences how others perceive and interact with it.

It is a good idea to establish goals for your home base. For example, your goal may be to share information and resources, tighten internal communications, keep your community updated, or gain insight into the community’s needs and desires through their comments and feedback. Your home base’s goals will determine its structure and direction.

Examples of effective home bases include Northland Church, T.D. Jakes, 10 Thousand Doors, and The Purpose Driven Connection.

Building an effective home base, definitely, requires planning, commitment, and a message worth sharing. And Lord knows we have the greatest message in the world: the Good News of Jesus Christ!

What are your ideas for building an effective, online home base?

(Many thanks to Chris Brogan at ChrisBrogan.com, and Darren Rowse at Problogger.net for some of the ideas used in this post.)

Until next time, remember, you can do all things thru Christ Jesus!

God Bless,

Kenneth Lillard