Written by Jessica Marston, CCK Communications Specialist
Every year, there is an increasing number of people signing up for and using social media. Did you know that 35 percent of the couples married between 2005 and 2012 met online? Back in 2010 less than a billion people were active on social media. By 2019, there were around 2.8 billion people using social media.
People are building important networks and connections online, and it is becoming a valuable way for people to connect. There’s no longer any question of if your church should be on social media. You need to prioritize using it well. In fact, it might be a secret weapon for struggling churches.
Michael Persaud of Church Brand Guide, proposes this idea of “digital missionaries” or people who serve, add value and point attention to Jesus through platforms like social media. Persaud wrote, “By embracing this perspective, individuals and organizations can approach social media with a genuine decide to impact lives and spread the love of Christ.”
Social media is a helpful tool that church leaders need to understand and use in their local churches. Churches and leaders that remain absent from social media are not able to use this tool to expand the Kingdom.
One of the great things social media does is it enables all types of leaders, not just pastors, to broaden their influence and impact. Effective social media campaigns require the collaborative work of many. For this, you need a team.
“These individuals can bring a diverse range of skills, perspectives, and talents to the table, making the ministry more dynamic and impactful,” said Persaud. “By involving volunteers, churches and ministries can foster a sense of ownership, engagement, and discipleship among their team members.”
A key component of social media is that it’s meant to be social. Encourage current members to interact with your posts and share your content to their personal pages. Doing so can also expand your reach into demographic circles that you would not have a connection to otherwise.
Persaud adds that in terms of social media content “one fundamental principle for effective social media ministry is to add value before asking for anything in return. Instead of bombarding followers with promotional content or constant requests, providing valuable and meaningful content that educates, inspires and engages the audience is essential.”
He explains that by providing content that adds value to your social media audience’s live, you build trust and by building trust the people you reach are more receptive to the message and ministry you share. You need to have a variety yet predictable pattern of timely and relatable content to engage your audience.
Here are a few ideas:
- Create a contest
- Go “behind the scenes” on an event or ministry
- Interview your pastor or church staff member
- Quote your pastor
- Share a reading list or book of the month
- Spotlight a volunteer