CHURCH and SOCIAL MEDIA 2016 – Year in Review, Part 1

2016 has, most definitely, been a year of creative innovation and unexpected change in the Church, Social Media, and Technology space!

To celebrate this exciting year, I’m happy to spotlight my favorite picks for the very best Church and Social Media news, views, and trends of 2016.

Congratulations to all of this year’s truly remarkable church social media innovators, contributors, and colleagues. And, of course, a big “Thank You” goes out to all my amazing social media family, followers, and friends for all your fantastic suggestions, support and encouragement throughout the year. Much Love & Appreciation!

Here’s my ‘Best of 2016 Church and Social Media’ stories:

• 3 Tips to Kick Start Year-End Giving With #GivingTuesday – Church Tech Today
• 3 Tips to Simplify Church Purchasing and Enhance Expense Control – Church Tech Today
• 4 Areas of Focus to Visualize Church Tech’s Next Decade – Church Tech Today
• 5 Best Bible Study Programs on the Market Today – Church Tech Today
• 5 Creative Ways to Use Instagram to Promote Church Events – United Methodist Communications
• 5 Disruptive Church Trends That Will Rule 2016 – Carey Nieuwhof
• 5 Easy Ways For Your Church to Thrive on Social Media – @SocialMediaChurch
• 5 Free Apps You Can Use to Give Back – CNET
• 5 Keys to a Happy New Year – Relevant Magazine
• 5 Reasons to be Thankful for Social Media This Thanksgiving – Sendible
• 5 Reasons to Launch an Online Church Campus in 2016 – Nils Smith
• 5 Reasons You Should Embrace Digital Bible Study –  Church Tech Today
• 6 Church Website Essentials – Church Media Tech
• 6 Free Android Bible Study Apps That You Can’t Miss – Church Mag
• 6 Tools for Creating Great Church Apps – Capterra Church Management Blog
• 7 Apps That Changed My Life – Church Mag
• 7 Tips on How to Host a Successful Event for Your Church – DialMyCalls
• 7 Top Church Website Companies – Church Tech Today
• 8 Effective Uses of Twitter for Churches – Thom S. Rainer
• 9 Keys to Maximizing Your Church Facebook Page – Thom S. Rainer
• 10 Blogs to Follow in 2016 – Church Mag
• 10 Predictions About the Future Church and Shifting Attendance Patterns – ChristianWeek
• 10 Reasons Videos Should be on Your Radar in 2016 – Church Tech Today
• 10 Remarkable Achievements of Barack Obama’s Presidency – T. D. Jakes
• 10 Social Media Reporting Apps You Can’t Live Another Day Without – Successful Blog
• 10 Steps to Building an Effective Digital Strategy – Social Media Today
• 15 Martin Luther King, Jr. Quotes That Will Challenge You to Take Action – Relevant Magazine
• 34 Best Church WordPress Themes 2016 – ATHEMES
• 70 Most Inspiring Church Websites of 2016 – ShareFaith Magazine
• 77 Of The Best Church Websites in 2016 – Pro Church Tools
• 100 Top Christian Blogs – Redeeming God
• 100 Top Faith Blogs for Christian Women – Women’s Bible Cafe

What favorite Church Social Media stories of 2016 would you like to share with our readers? Would love to hear from you!

Btw, stay on top of the latest Church Social Media news, stories, and trends at SOCIAL MEDIA and MINISTRY NEWS.

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

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

Sincerely,

Kenneth Lillard

 

 

 

Church and Social Media 2015 Year in Review, Part 1

Can you believe the year has flown by already? Yes, it’s true! As we close out 2015, what better time than now to take a look back at the top Church and Social Media stories that have shone in the social media spotlight this year.

2015 has, definitely, been a very busy, challenging, and exciting year in church social media. Some of the major developments we’ve witnessed this year have revolved around: 1) the impact of social issues on church social media; 2) the emergence of mobile live streaming technology, especially the increasing popularity of the Periscope and Meerkat apps; and 3) the steady adaptation and implementation of the latest technology, and social media strategies and tools by today’s churches and ministries as they continue to evolve in the Digital Age.

The following compilation includes social media posts highlighting very practical information that can be readily applied by church social media practitioners. So, here are my picks for the top church social media #churchsocialmedia #chsocm stories of 2015:

• 3 Mistakes Churches Make with Social Media – ChurchTechToday.com
• 3 Reasons I Love My Tablet – ChurchMag
• 3 Surprising Facts About Churches on Social Media – TonyMorganLive.com
• 4 Predictions For Online Church in 2016 and Beyond – TonyMorganLive.com
• 4 Things Your Church Website Must Do – ChurchMag
• 4 Tips to Keep Teens Engaged in Church – ChurchTechToday.com
• 4 Ways Churches Should Be Using Text Messaging –  ChristianMedia Magazine
• 5 Easy Tips for Using Periscope in Ministry – ChurchMag
• 5 Reasons to Record and Post Sermons Online – Church Media Blog
• 5 Tips for Periscoping Your Church Service – Nils Smith
• 5 Tips for Promoting Your Church on Facebook – pastors.com
• 5 Ways to Market Your Church Using Pinterest – ChurchTechToday.com
• 5 Ways Social Media Can Help Churches Connect at Christmas – ChurchPlants
• 5 Ways to Use Google Hangouts on Air for Ministry – lifeway.com
• 6 Church Live Streaming Best Practices – ChurchTechToday.com
• 6 Steps to Creating An Effective Guest Follow-up System – ChurchTechToday.com
• 6 Ways Churches Can Use Instagram – JoshBlankenship/ Church Media Made Easy
• 6 Ways to Use Mobile Technology to Power Up Your Spiritual Life / Valorie Burton – thebridge.att.net
• 7 Keys to an Effective Church Social Media Strategy – factsandtrends.net
• 7 Online Church Trends We Have Seen in 2015 – TonyMorganLive.com
• 8 Things Christians Need to Do More on Social Media – Relevant Magazine
• 8 Tips to Get Your Church Started with Twitter – Internet Toolbox for Churches
• 9 Books Every Leader Should Read – Time.com
• 9 Fascinating Facts About People Who Attend Megachurches – Leadership Network
• 9 Steps to Engaging Your Church Through Facebook – Ministry Communicators Association
• 9 Technology Podcasts I’m Enjoying Right Now – ChurchMag
• 10 Books Every Pastor Should Take on Vacation This Summer – ChurchLeaders.com
• 10 Fundamentals to a Creative Church YouTube Strategy – Nils Smith
• 10 Reasons Video Should Be on Your Radar in 2016 – ChurchTechToday.com
• 10 Reasons Why Pastors Should be on Social Media – ymsidekick.com
• 16 Seriously Impressive Gifts That Give Back This Holiday – mashable.com
• 21 Social Media Tips For Your Church – stevefogg.com
• 25 Must Listen to Christian Podcasts – TheologyDegrees.org

Well, that concludes Part 1 of our Church Social Media 2015 Year in Review. Stay tuned for Part 2. Would love to hear your top church social media #chsocm stories of 2015. Btw, for all the latest stories and developments in the church, technology, and social media space be sure to read SOCIAL MEDIA and MINISTRY NEWS each week!

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

Wishing You A Happy, Healthy & Prosperous New Year!

Be Blessed Everyone,

Kenneth Lillard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2014 Church and Social Media Year In Review, Part 2

As 2014 draws rapidly to a close, now is a great time to look back at the top Church and Social Media events and stories of the past year. Hope you had a chance to take a look at ‘2014 Church and Social Media Year in Review, Part 1,’ shared earlier on this site.

Here, in Part 2, we share more of 2014’s top #churchsocialmedia news and developments posted on social media!

Best Christian YouTube Channels – ThinkInternational

Blogging While Brown 2014/ Conference Highlights – Rothesia Stokes/ She Has Purpose

Christianity Today’s 2015 Book Awards – Christianity Today

Christian Bestsellers, December 2014 – Christian Book Expo

#ChSocM Chat/ ChurchSocMed Using social media to build church and deepen faith – Storify

#ChSocM Integrating Technology Into Life and Faith – #ChSocM Founder, Meredith Gould

#ChSocM Searching and Finding Information About Social Media for Church – #ChSocM Founder, Meredith Gould

#ChSocM Strategy and Mission in Church Social Media – #ChSocM Founder, Meredith Gould

#Ferguson and the Cross – Derwin L. Gray/ Christianity Today

Forest Hill Church on Pinterest – Forest Hill Church/ Pinterest

Great Free Resources From Top Churches – djchuang.com

Haley Veturis of Saddleback Church: Episode 85, Social Media Church Podcast – @djchuang

How We Read the Bible: Bible Gateway’s 2014 Year in Review – Biblegateway.com

Is An Online Church Really A Church? – Ed Stetzer/ Christianity Today

Joel Osteen Radio – SiriusXM subscription satellite radio service. Joel Osteen Radio on SiriusXM launched on Sept. 29, 2014.

Jason Caston: The Internet Church Campus/ Biola Digital 2014 – Jason Caston/ WebMatters

Just the Top Bible Websites, Plain and Simple – DJ Chuang/ American Bible Society

Lessons From Mars Hill Church – Gerry & Sherry Breshears/ Living Grace to the World

Maya Angelou: Award Winning Poet, Author, and Activist Dies at 86 – Huffington Post

My Proverbial Summer – Kenneth Lillard

Social Media in Youth Ministry: Tumblr – Rachel Blom/ churchleaders.com

The Potter’s House – T. D. Jakes/ thepottershouse.org

The Year In Gospel: Lecrae Dominates – Billboard

Top 300 Christian Blogs – Kent Shaffer/ Church Relevance

Top Church Tech Blogs 2014 – ChurchMag

Top Churches On Facebook – Social Media Church

Twitter and the Rise of Microprayer – Casey Cep/ The Kernel

Btw, you can stay update-to-date on all the latest news and developments in Church and Social Media by reading SOCIAL MEDIA and MINISTRY NEWS. And you can follow me at kennethlillard.com.

What were your top Church and Social Media stories of 2014?

As we count down to a brand New Year, I sincerely wish all my wonderful readers, family, and friends a Happy, Healthy, and Blessed 2015!

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

Be Blessed!

Kenneth Lillard

2014 Church and Social Media Year In Review, Part 1

Can you believe that 2014 is almost over? Yes, we just have a few more days until the start of a brand New Year! 2014 has flown by like a jet plane. However, it has truly been an exciting and eventful year in Church and Social Media.

FAITH BASED MEDIA 2.0 continues to tell the fascinating story of how today’s churches are using the latest technology and social media to share the Gospel. Here are some of the top #churchsocialmedia stories shared online via social media over the past twelve (12) months.

4 Ways to Make Your New Year’s Resolutions Count – Relevant

10 Apps to Grab for Your New Smartphone or Tablet – Spiritual Living, Christian Faith/ crosswalk.com

10 Best Religious Personal Finance Blogs – Shared via @ChristianPF

10 Social Media Tools That Make Everything Easier – Chris C. Ducker

11 Imaginative Ways to Use Social Media for Your Church – Steve Fogg

20 Great Ways to Use Instagram at Your Church – TheCreativePastor.com

20 Tips to Tap Into Your Divine ‘Instinct’ for Business Success: T. D. Jakes – blackenterprise.com

21 Of the Best Social Media Articles This Year – SocialMediaToday

31 Days of Thanks – Our Daily Bread

49 Church Blogging Tips – Dave Hakes/ Internet Toolbox for Churches

55 of the Best Church Website Designs – Vandelay Design

100 Years of Glorious History From the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference – Huffington Post Religion

Stay tuned for ‘2014 Church and Social Media Year In Review, Part 2’ where we’ll share more of the top #churchsocialmedia events and stories of 2014!

What were your top #churchsocialmedia stories of 2014?

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

Be Blessed

Kenneth Lillard

The Best of ‘SOCIAL MEDIA and MINISTRY NEWS’ – June 2013

SOCIAL MEDIA and MINISTRY NEWS is a daily online publication which brings you the very best information from across the Internet on all the latest developments, news, and views in the social media, faith, and technology space.

It’s halfway through  Summer 2013 and we’ve pulled together the top inspirational stories, chats, podcasts, and thought-provoking opinion pieces from the June editions of SOCIAL MEDIA and MINISTRY NEWS for your information, convenience, and enjoyment.  The following represent the summer’s hottest church social media stories – the Very ‘Best of SOCIAL MEDIA and MINISTRY NEWS’ – June 2013:

• ‘2 Minute Pastor’ Takes Daily Devotionals to High Tech Land of Video App – Christian Post Tech
• 5 Incredible Takeaways From Behind the Scenes with Carl George, A Master Church Consultant – Will Mancini
• 9 Hispanic Christian Celebrities You Should Know– Christian Post
• 12 Twitter Chats for Community Managers and Social Media Pros –  Simply Measured
• BET’s Lift Every Voice on Pinterest – Black Entertainment Television
• Church Documents You Should Post on Your Website – The iChurch Method
• Church Internet Strategy: How to Make it More Than a Pile of Paper – Internet Toolbox for Churches
• Church Mag’s 2013 Top Church Tech Blogs – ChurchMag
• Creating and Sustaining a Social Media Voice for Your Church – #ChSocM Weekly Twitter Chat/ Meredith Gould
• Dr. Martin Luther King Nominated for Canonization by the Christian Orthodox Church – Christian Post
• How to Get Your Church Started on Twitter – Episcopal Share
• Joel Osteen iPhone App Reaching Tens of Thousands – Christian Post
• List of Online Churches – djChauang.com
• Pursuit of Diversity and the Local Church – Christianity Today/ Trillia Newbell
• The Rise of the @Pastor – The Barna Group
• Top 5 Churches That Use Social Media Best – Christian Post
• Top Ten List for Using Social Media for Ministry – Catholic Web Solutions
• Social Media and the Church – Social Media Today
• Summer Boone of Church by the Glades: Episode 51 – Social Media Podcast/ Social Media Church
• Why Your Church Should Have a Podcast – Media\Outreach

Are there any June 2013 church social media articles, online chats, podcasts, or posts you would recommend to our readers?

During Summer 2013, stay on top of all the latest SOCIAL MEDIA and MINISTRY NEWS by subscribing today!

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

Stay Blessed,

Kenneth Lillard

Facebook Fast For Lent?

Did you know that a number of people have chosen to fast from Facebook for Lent? That’s right! They have already gone cold turkey from the world’s largest social network in order to draw closer to God during this period of spiritual preparation for Easter. If you are reading this post on Facebook, I assume you have decided not go that route.

Many have chosen to embark on other types of fasts. In Biblical times, fasting meant subsisting on water alone, or abstaining from rich foods and eating a vegetable only diet, e.g., the Daniel fast (see Daniel 1:8-16).

However, in 2013, we Christians fast, not only from food, but also from television, video games, carbon, electronic devices, media, and social networking – including, of course, Facebook and Twitter.

There is now a vigorous debate going on as to the costs and benefits of going on a social media fast for Lent. While some have chosen to do the social media fast for several days, others have decided to unplug from the social networking grid for the whole 40 days. And many others have refused to fast at all from Facebook, or any other social network, during Lent.

The goal of any Lenten fast (or other Lenten discipline, such as repentance, prayer, study, works of love) is to give up something we’ve become accustomed to, in order to remind ourselves of how we should be dependent on God. “Man does not live by bread alone.” Dueteronomy 8:3.

Believe it or not, some spend more time in the digital world than in the real world! Man does not live by Facebook alone, either. So, here are some of the pros and cons of going on a social networking fast for Lent.

Benefits of unplugging from the social networking grid:

• You’re not being constantly distracted from focusing on God by a steady barrage of status updates, tweets, likes, RT’s, DM’s, etc.
• You can get outside more – breathe fresh air and sunshine.
• Pace of life slows down – you don’t feel so hurried or rushed all the time. Enables you to better focus on Jesus and his meaning in your life.
• Reclaim valuable time from continual social networking.
• Sharing everything is not always such a good thing.
• Decreases tendencies to narcissism and selfishness.
• Reconnect face-to-face with family, friends, loved-ones, and neighbors.
• More time available for prayer.
• More quiet time to meditate on the Word of God.
• Beneficial to one’s spiritual and relational health.
• More time to appreciate the hope of God whose “steadfast love endures forever”!

Disadvantages of going on a social media fast:

• Social media helps you to see and appreciate the hand of God at work in the world.
• FB helps to deepen community by connecting you to those you care about, as well as others around the globe.
• Social media helps you to minister, care for, and love your neighbors in  a broader spectrum of ways.
• Social media is not a distraction from God, but rather reminds you of how truly awesome He is, giving you new reasons to appreciate Him even more.
• Helps one to grow and develop spiritually, personally and professionally.
• Social media helps to enrich one’s life through exposure to new knowledge, ideas, and friendships.
• Social media provides more opportunities to share the Gospel, as well as, serve and minister to others, both locally and globally.

While the debate continues, the important thing to remember during Lent is to stay plugged in to God, drawing closer to Him, and seeking to deepen an understanding  of His purposes in our lives. This can be done whether we’re on Facebook or totally unplugged from the social networking grid!

The following are some reflections on this debate:

How to Give Up Facebook for Lent and Keep Your Friends – CNET

Why I’m Fasting From Facebook This Lent – Becky Garrison

Why I’m Not Giving Up Facebook For Lent – Christ and Pop Culture

Four Lessons From My Lenten Social Media Fast – Robert Talbert

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

Be Blessed,

Kenneth Lillard

Churches Use Social Media in Disaster Relief #HurricaneSandy

 

Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc across the Jersey Shore, NY, and Long Island a couple of weeks ago. People immediately jumped on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to post and share their stories, images, and videos of the super storm.

Social media sites provided platforms for people around the tri-state area to map the flooding from Hurricane Sandy, and of course, help news organizations cover the crisis. Many took to social media to connect, share and collaborate around core needs, even as the region’s own infrastructure  struggled or totally failed. Local people even posted maps of open gas stations!

While NYC has a sophisticated digital initiative, NYC Digital, that sprang into action, local churches also used the Internet and social media to help respond to the disaster. Oasis Church in Springfield, NJ has been using the Internet to respond to the super storm,  including attracting hundreds of volunteers from across the country to help make the Thanksgiving holiday season a little brighter for those affected by the devastation.  And even though the megastorm has passed, many still need assistance, and much recovery work remains to be done.

Here are 10 ways churches can use social media to assist during disasters:

• Use FB and Twitter as an early warning system for members and the community-at-large. Twitter, often, comes out with the news  before the news organizations.
• Share news updates, storm experiences, prayer requests, and calls for assistance.
• Use FB and Twitter to let people know how to prepare, what’s coming, and where to get help.
• Provide links to official disaster response organizations like FEMA, NVOAD, local police and fire departments, hospitals, Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.
• Create bulletin boards, using #hashtags on Twitter linked to FB, to post the latest news, injury reports, power outages, evacuations, dangerous situations, damage reports of churches and elsewhere in the community, relief resources, etc.
• Prepare a crisis plan/ phone tree. (Btw, social media is actually the new phone tree tool.) Remind members to check on each other and those in the community, especially the vulnerable and elderly.
• Use FB and Twitter to organize, mobilize, and publicize relief and recovery efforts.
• Provide prayer and pastoral care for those whose lives have been impacted by the disaster.
• Establish relationships and digital connections with relief organizations before the disaster strikes.
• Prepare your plan for the next disaster now, and begin communicating it ASAP!

For more information on social media response to disasters see the following links:

72 Hour Lutheran – TX-LA Gulf Coast Synod Disaster Preparations and Response

Church Media: Being Ready In and Out of Season – Church Mag

Hurricane Sandy Resources: How You Can Volunteer and Donate – NJ.com

Instagram Users Share 10 Hurricane Sandy Photos Per Second – Mashable

Oasis Church Uses Web to Recruit Hundreds of Volunteers for Hurricane Sandy Aid– NJ.com

Recovers.org – Community software that helps organize volunteers, donations, and information during disaster situations

Texting Connects Families During Disaster – Orlando Sentinel

Social Media Aids Hurricane Sandy Cleanup on Staten Island – silive.com

Social Media’s Crucial Role in Disaster Relief Efforts – Guardian.co.uk

Social Media Follow Hurricane Sandy’s Destructive Path Up the East Coast – USA Today

Social Media Tools For Disaster Planning and Communications (Twitter Chat) – Church Social Media Blog #Chsocm

What Was Novel About Social Media During Hurricane Sandy? – Patrick Meier, iRevolution 

How is your church/ministry preparing for the next disaster? How is digital social media included in your strategy?

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

Stay Blessed,

Kenneth Lillard

Instagram and Ministry – Telling the Story

New Life Church Celebration Weekend (above) on Webstagram

In the African American preaching tradition, “telling the story” is highly prized. Storytelling is very powerful. It captures the imagination and connects with people on a deep emotional level like no other approach can. Instagram provides a new and exciting way to connect with others online and tell the story of Jesus, and of your congregation in action, in a fresh and innovative fashion. It’s, virtually, a new way to visually share the Word!

A photograph can tell a story in ways words often cannot express. After all, “a picture is worth a thousand word.” People naturally connect with stories, and sometimes those stories are most eloquently told in pictures.

Because of digital social media and the ubiquity of web 2.0 technologies, the church is becoming increasingly more interactive. Many congregation members are already on Instagram, as well as Facebook and Twitter. And more often than not, they are connecting via smartphones, iPad’s, and other mobile devices.

Rapidly rising visual social media sites like Instagram and Pinterest are part of a new trend influenced by the shifting habits of technology users. They are moving toward greater visual social sharing. Why? Social engagement appears to increase when pictures are shared. In our fast paced digital age, pictures (with minimal hashtags and/or captions) can communicate lots of information quickly and succintly.

So, what is Instagram anyway? It is a free photo-sharing service, and social networking site launched in 2010. In 2011  Apple named Instagram, “App of the Year”!  In a nutshell, Instagram allows users to take photos, apply filters to them, and then share them with other Instagram users, as well as on other social media networks like Facebook and Twitter. It currently has over 100 million users.

Something surprising happened in August 2012. The average number of daily active Instagram users hit 7.3 million, topping Twitter’s 6.9 million. Pictures beat words! In addition, the average Instagram user spent 257 minutes accessing the photo-sharing site by mobile device in August, as compared to the average Twitter user who spent 170 minutes on that site during the same time period. Instagram has taken storytelling to mobile devices in a really big way!

So, how can the church tap into this remarkable social media phenomenon known as Instagram to help tell its story? The following are just a few examples:

• “Instagram” church services by posting pictures on FB, Twitter, and other social media platforms.
• Post pictures of baptisms, gospel concerts, and conferences. Behind the scenes glimpses at conferences and other special events are always interesting.
• Use Instagram to creatively market your church.
• Post pictures of small group activities.
• Post pictures of volunteers engaged in community service  and other outreach projects.
• Post pictures of mission trips.

For greater impact, help boost your Instagram pictures with these tips:

• Try to get the best, most compelling original photos you possibly can.
• Make sure you photo captures the essence of the story you’re telling.
• Pull multiple images together in a collage using apps like Frametastic and PicFrame.
• Deft use of hashtags and captions in picture descriptions can create compelling themes and tags to reinforce the story’s message.
• Use apps like Hipstamatic, Camera+ and iPhoto to add additional pop to your pictures.
• Finally, it’s the quality of your photos that matter most, not the quantity!

For more on Instagram and it’s many applications to ministry checkout  the following links:

• CNET How To: Creative Ways to Use Instagram – [YouTube Video]
• Gizmo – Instagram Updated w/ New Features – ItsOnBTV – [YouTube Video]
• How to Use Instagram for iPhone or Android – Merlin Dean [YouTubeVideo]
• Instagram – Wikipedia
• Instagram Cheat Sheet: 14 Steps to Master It All [Infographic] – Bit Rebels
• Instagram Blog
• 12 Ways to Share Your Faith Online With Instagram – Paul Steinbrueck
• Using Instagram in Church Ministry – Catholic Tech Talk
• 5 Ways to Use Instagram for Youth Churches – Leadership Collective
• Instagram for the Church Planter – ChurchMarketing.Com
• Instagram Your Church? – Media BLEEP
• Real-Time Engagement: Using Instagram for Your Church or Ministry – Church Mag
• The Interactive Church – Kevin D. Hendricks
• Instagram Use Is Exploding – Wired Business
• The Rise of Visual Social Media – Fast Company
• Mars Hill Church’s Instagram Photos –  Statigram
• Hillsong Church Popular Photos on Instagram – Populagram
• Telling the Story and Making Your Points While Preaching – Sherman Haywood Cox II

How are you using Instagram to tell the story?

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

Be Blessed

Kenneth Lillard

 

 

Leveraging Online Discipleship

“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Everyday, more and more people are coming to Christ over the Internet! It’s a truly amazing phenomenon! Who would have ever imagined that people would be giving their lives to Christ over twitter, through church portals on Facebook, and via church apps on their iPads?

The church’s challenge today is to effectively reach out and meet the needs of these new (and often returning) online believers. In our digital age, as more churches deploy digital technologies (including streaming live services on smart phones, and establishing internet campuses) there is an increasing need to extend discipleship training into the digital space beyond the traditional walls of the church.

The church’s online presence will continue to direct people into the church’s physical sanctuary to fellowship and connect offline. However, a new and unique church community of believers is emerging on the Internet – an online community that needs to be ministered to by qualified ministry professionals, familiar not only with the Word of God, but also knowledgeable about online networking, social media platforms and strategies, and the latest web 2.0 technologies! In no area is this need greater than in discipleship.

Christian discipleship is the transformational process that turns a believer into the person God wants them to be. It’s the calling of every believer – to follow in the footsteps of Christ!

We are instructed by Jesus, in the Great Commission, to make disciples. A disciple is a student or adherent of the teachings of Jesus Christ. Discipleship is the process of learning the teachings of Jesus, internalizing them, and then acting upon them.

The discipleship process begins with the believer desiring to be a disciple of Christ.The believer, with the help of the Holy Spirit, then learns what Jesus taught, follows through by living out those principles in his/her daily life, and finally passes them on to others.

The discipleship process can be described as eight distinct steps: 1) interest, 2) awareness, 3) decision, 4) commitment, 5) application, 6) inculcation, 7) transformation, and finally 8) replication.

Extending discipleship online (i-discipleship) through relational e-learning, enables churches and ministries to disciple more people, more effectively, locally, as well as,  globally. And, financially, the cost of i-discipleship is much lower than traditional discipleship strategies!

For more on effective online discipleship check out the following resources:

• A Theology of Discipleship – UMC.org
• Digital Church Tools – LifeWay Christian Services
• Discipleship Tools – DiscipleshipTools.org
• Discipleship Training – eBibleLearning.com
• Monvee – An Online Discipleship Tool
• Online Discipleship – High Ground
• Online Discipleship – OnlineDiscipleship.com
• Online Discipleship Community – E-Church Network
• This Is Monvee – Monvee.com
• Touch One Life – Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

God is calling you to transform the world – one person at a time. What better time to start than right now?

How are you using social media to leverage online discipleship?

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

Stay Blessed!

Kenneth Lillard

Creative Use of Social Media by Churches Continues to Grow

Digital technology and social media definitely enable churches to expand their reach far beyond the four walls of the sanctuary! Ministries have begun to get a firm grip on these new, exciting, web 2.0 technologies. Many churches are expanding their creative and strategic use of a wide variety of social media platforms to effectively share the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

A recent FACT study of 11,077 congregations by the Hartford Institute for Religious Research revealed 7 out of 10 U. S. congregations have websites. In addition, 4 in 10 had Facebook pages in 2010! The following are examples of how some congregations are creatively using the continually expanding array of social media tools to enhance their effectiveness:

• YesHeIs is using short documentary video to very creatively point people to Jesus.
• Churches are making it much easier for people to find them online by putting up their own website or Facebook page.
• Christ Fellowship Church in McKinney, Texas allows you to download their worship program by scanning a customized QR code.
• Many churches allow you to watch worship services streamed online from their internet campus with live chat running, so you can share spiritual insights in real-time.
• Church apps are available to watch sermons, donate, and do much more, including even swapping goods and services to help others in the community.
• Confession: A Roman Catholic app was recently released for the iPhone. It prompts the user through pre-confession soul-searching prior to meeting with the priest.
• The Internet evangelism project, PeaceWithGod, employs search-engine algorithms to steer people toward salvation!
• Sing along with a new tablet hymnal from Church Publishing. In March the Episcopal Church’s publishing house released eHymnals for the iPad and other digital readers.
• Biola University, a private evangelical school in La Mirada, CA is hosting a Digital Ministry Conference, June 5-7, 2012! 
• The digital Bible  is available for your mobile devices, including smart phones and iPads, allowing you to connect with your faith in the checkout line at the grocery store, on the subway, or in the gym!
• FB and twitter status updates provide insight into the lives of many congregation members, availing ministries  ample opportunities for service and caring.
• Pastors can work relevant FB or twitter status updates into their sermons.
• Pastors and church leaders are creating blogs and e-newsletters to regularly deliver current updates on ministry activities within the church, on mission trips, and in the community at-large.
• Videos are being used to provide a virtual tour of churches.
• A number of churches have begun to use the new, fastest-growing social media platform, Pinterest , to create buzz and generate more interest and excitement around their ministries.

Get a free sample or buy Social Media and Ministry by Rev. Dr. Kenneth Lillard from iTunes for additional insights into how ministries can more effectively use social media to carry out the Great Commission. 

What creative/innovative way is your church/ministry employing social media?

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

Stay Blessed!

Kenneth Lillard