Social Media for Churches. Share the news of the Gospel using the latest platforms in a creative and meaningful way. Social Media is your mission field to reach the world for Christ! Presentation delivered by Jason Ham at Plymouth Christian Centre, 03 March 2014 and delivered to Churches across Plymouth and the rest of Devon.

1. Go & make disciples:
Social media
for churches
Monday 3rd March 2014

2. Agenda
• Welcome / introduce yourself
• 3 areas of focus
– Join the conversation, be the conversation
• What impact can we make on the internet & does
anyone care?
– Social Media nuts n bolts
• Looking at the tools, techniques and opportunities
– Get a vision and run with it!
• Setting a vision as we reach Devon for Christ
• Toilets
• ask questions anytime!
• Prayer

3. It’s all about…
JESUS
This world needs him

4. LETS MAKE
JESUS
FAMOUS!

5. THE GREAT COMISSION
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority
in heaven and on earth has been given to
me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded
you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end
of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20

6. Salt and light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its
saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good
for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot
be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a
bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to
everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine
before others, that they may see your good deeds and
glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:13-16

7. Social media stats
• Of Facebook’s nearly one billion
strong users, approximately 200
million are mobile only
• The number of Facebook users is
nearly three times the population of
the United States
• 95 percent of Facebook users log
into their account every day. The
same number for Twitter is 60
percent
• On Facebook 350 million photos are
uploaded every single day

8. Social media stats
• 28% of Retweets on Twitter are due to inclusion of
“please RT!”
• On instagram 5 million photos uploaded every day
• Every second 8000 thousand users on Instagram
like a photo
• 1 billion unique monthly visitors to Youtube

9. "All this technology is
making us antisocial"

11. Adapting to technology does not mean
you change the message to fit the
culture. The Word of God stands and does
not need to be spiced up or watered down
to fit the taste buds of any culture or
generation. The Word is alive and active
as it was when God spoke it into
existence. The only thing that must
change is your mind-set about how you
must relate it to the culture around you.
- The Social Media Gospel
Meredith Gould

13. ‘Media that is social. Social Media is an ongoing conversation on
the internet, with new conversations beginning every time someone
makes a new post. People share content (status updates, video
uploads, photos and so on) and the social interaction begins.
When you post a video, article, church event, or any type of content on
a social network, you are initiating a conversation. People then Like,
Comment, Share or ignore the post. This interactive element
completely changes the game when it comes to church
communication.’
Social Media guide for ministry, Nils Smith

14. WHY social media?
• The Great Commission
• The message doesn’t change  communication tool
does
• God given tool – reach the world faster than ever
before
• Social Media is where people are!
• The welcome mat for your church
• Show God’s love, why God is SO good & change lives!
• Personal experiences
• 24/7 church – we do have the Bible. But someone
who can pray for me?

15. Cloud Culture: Walking the Walk & Typing the Talk:
Christian Living in the Social Media World –
Chuck Giacinto, Bryce Conlan

17. What to post?
Your presence on Social Media
same should be the same as your
presence on earth – a direct
outpouring of a life of worship,
faith, and love of the One who
gives you life
The Social Media Gospel
Meredith Gould

18. How should I post?
Cloud Culture: Walking the Walk & Typing the Talk:
Christian Living in the Social Media World –
Chuck Giacinto, Bryce Conlan

20. The Social Media Gospel
Meredith Gould

21. SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY?
•
•
•
•
The Methodist Church social media policy:
•
http://www.methodist.org.uk/ministers-and-office-holders/technology-andchurch/social-media-guidelines
Be credible. Be accurate, fair, thorough and transparent.
Be consistent. Encourage constructive criticism and deliberation.
Be cordial, honest and professional at all times. Be responsive.
When you gain insight, share it where appropriate.
• Be integrated. Wherever possible, align online participation with
other communications.
• Be a good representative of the Methodist Church. Remember that
you are an ambassador for Christ, the Church and your part of it.
Disclose your position as a member or officer of the Church,
making it clear when speaking personally. Let Galatians 5:22–26
guide your behaviour (fruits of the spirit).
• Be respectful: respect confidentiality. Respect the views of others
even where you disagree.

23. In which Way?
• In order to reach people – deeply personal and
relational – engage people in real way using everyday
language. No ‘corporate’ church accounts
• ‘Rubbish day today’, ‘Boss annoyed me today’ – reach
out! Via phone!
• Being connected (proximity) doesn’t equate to
intimacy
• Building connections between people who have
similar beliefs/experiences e.g. mental health

24. In which Way?
• When people post in a way that seeks a reaction,
it’s likely because they need one
• ‘It’s not good for man to be alone’ – Genesis 2: 18
– ‘iron sharpens iron’ Proverbs 27:7 - all about
relationships!
• Knowing a person involves more than an
unidimensional knowing about them

25. http://youtu.be/d0Y33WSf5Kg

26. The Social Media Gospel - Meredith Gould

29. Core functions of facebook
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Find friends
Post status updates
Comment on others photos
Post & Tag people in photos
Offer pastoral care (boundaries)
Leave public messages on the ‘wall’
Send private ‘messages’
Join Groups, Like Pages
Link to other social media
Set up events

30. Calls to action
Building community/interaction
• View it
• Like it
• Comment
• Share it
• Write a blog about it (link to
Facebook status/pic/web clip)

34. http://churchjuice.reframemedia.com/media/files/
pdf/Facebook_Best_Practices_2012.pdf

36. http://churchjui
ce.reframemedia
.com/media/file
s/pdf/Facebook
_Best_Practices
_2012.pdf

38. 1.
Go behind the scenes

39. 2.
Offer prayer

40. 3.
Get a size perspective

41. 4.
Celebrate volunteers

42. 5.
Celebrate significant milestones

43. 6.
Pic reviews

44. 7.
Advertise events (creatively)

45. 8.
Pastor quotes (creatively)

46. 9.
Thought provoking images

47. 10. Engage in fun way

48. 11.
Video

49. 12. Reflect on the news

50. 13. Slice of life

51. 14. Create montages

52. 15.Text based updates:
From the sermon (hashtag, Twitter handle)
Scripture

53. 16. Be fun!
Corinne Weisgerber
http://www.slideshare.net/corinnew/
social-media-for-churches-21623555

54. 17.
Get people thinking

55. 18. Tag people in pics

56. 19a.
Community – ask questions

57. 19b.
Community – ask questions

58. 20.
Invite collaboration

59. 21.
Share content to those who need it

60. When to post?
• For The River Church, 8am, 12pm and 7.00pm
• On Saturday’s PM only, Sunday AM and late PM
• Catching the wave e.g. Christmas, world events

61. When to post?

63. What’s twitter for?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Relationships
New connections through shared interests
Pre/During/Post service conversations
Breaking news
Asking questions
Sharing statements/quotes

64. Twitter features
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Tweet: 140 Characters
ReTweet: (RT) Acknowledge the source
@username
Direct Message (DM): ‘Private’ message
Trending Topic
#Hashtag
Lists

65. #verse14

69. bbc.co.uk/news

70. Tweeting away…
• Tweet to share answered prayer (e.g. “Praise God – the rain
held off til 3pm! A fantastic day – lots of people, good
conversations, tasty cupcakes, funky music. God is very
good.”)
• Tweet to share thought provoking quotes from other
Christians on Twitter (e.g. “”Sin is the despairing refusal to
find your deepest identity in your relationship and service to
God.”)
• Tweet to point people to resources that reinforce the themes
of recent sermons (e.g. “The heavens declare the glory of
God. Beautiful video to remind us of the wonder of creation.)
• Tweet lyrics from great Christian hymns and songs
(e.g. “Grace and love, like mighty rivers, poured incessant
from above. And Heav’n's peace and perfect justice.)
http://www.communicatejesus.com/2009/07/15-ways-for-churches-to-use-twitter/

71. Tweeting away…
• Tweet about upcoming church activities (e.g. “Community
lunch this Sunday at 12.30pm. Come along, meet local
members of our community, enjoy tasty food”.)
• Tweet to encourage church members to read beforehand, the
Bible passages that will be preached at church on the
weekend.
• Tweet to encourage people to read, and share what they are
reading (e.g. “I’m reading ‘Faith Beyond Feelings’ by
Jonathan Edwards. What are you reading?”)
• Tweet to urge people to pray (e.g. “Our 125-year anniversary
activities kick off this Saturday with the fair trade marketing
& winter appeal. Please pray.”)
www.communicatejesus.com/2009/07/15-ways-forchurches-to-use-twitter/

72. Richard
Littledale
Teddington
Baptist Church

75. Instagram IS VISUAL

76. INSTAGRAM VIDEO
It can be 3-15 seconds long
http://www.stevefogg.com/2013/11/28/instagram-videochurch/

77. Sharing video
Share the sermon
Testimonies e.g. healings
Promos/Adverts
Specialised content e.g.
C of E related to weddings
• Service roundup
• Youtube Capture App – easy upload
•
•
•
•

78. http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Ri9bvn9Uh4Y

79. Lots of other tools…
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Audioboo
Vimeo
WhatsApp
Livestream/Youtube
Pinterest
Slideshare
Snapchat
Wordpress/Blogger

80. Your ideas!
How could your
church/ministry use
Facebook?
e.g. what sort of things would you
post? Creative ideas?

81. Future of social
• 80% of visitors look at website/SM before visit*
• Collaboration e.g. Lifechurch.tv what do you fear?
• Lists highly sharable e.g. Buzzfeed
• Less text – focus on images
• Social will be apart of everyday
lives e.g. Snapchat
• How we use Social Media now effects future
• Paying to get your posts noticed
• *http://pastors.com/7-ways-to-have-a-great-church-facebook-page/

82. Tools
to help you in your
social media
ministry

83. Hootsuite

84. Tweetdeck

85. Facebook scheduler

86. Good IPhone apps
Piclab
A Beautiful Mess
Word Swag

87. Good IPhone apps
Replay
Phoster
PicFrame

88. Good IPhone apps
Facebook Pages

89. Other
Online communities
• CHURCH IS THE PEOPLE!
– Facebook communities
(comments/groups)
– Youtube comments/discussions
(heated?)
– Messageboards, chatrooms, wikis
– Church Online e.g. i-church, St
Pixels, Second Life
– ‘Experiences’ e.g. lifechurch.tv

92. Social media & your church
– What platforms are your
church members using? i.e.
be sustainable
– What people can work on
developing this ministry?
– Who you are you interested
in reaching?
– What can you put on your
platform(s) - developing a
‘vision’ instead of a strategy

93. Social media & your church
– Brain storming ideas e.g. events in your church,
telling your Sunday story digitally
– Tools e.g. apps for your phone/computer
– Routine (in part developed through experience)
– Try things out!
– Spend time in prayer/offline/reading the Bible
i.e. preventing Social Media fatigue
– Be authentic – don’t be false people will see
right through you/your church!

94. Sunday social media
checklist
• Update your Social Media Ministry channels with a
preview of the Sunday Morning Message e.g.
scripture, notes from message title
• Start the day by making a Declaration on Social
Media e.g. 'This is the Day that the Lord has made,
let us Rejoice and be Glad in it.' Give God praise
and encourage others to do the same.
• Status Update a Prayer asking God to have his way
in the service and that the needs of the people are
met. You can also pray for the Speaker and
Leadership.
http://www.socialmediaministry.org/2012/12/a-quick-sundaysocial-media-checklist.html?m=1

95. Sunday social media
checklist
• Post Images of your Ministry to Facebook, Twitter etc.
Allow people to visually experience the service.
• Have a member of your team post Scripture references,
Sermon Notes, and Quotes from the message to Social
Media. This will allow those that could not attend service
to follow and still receive the Word. People can also back
and review the updates. Offer Salvation, Prayer,
Encouragement, etc.
• Post a video clip of the Morning Service and Message to
YouTube. Making the preached Word available to
everyone beyond the four walls
• Blog post from Pastor
http://www.socialmediaministry.org/2012/12/a-quick-sundaysocial-media-checklist.html?m=1

96. Keep in touch…
/ham.jason @ijasonham
thedigitalgospel.co.uk

97. Let’s connect
• Fill out one of the feedback forms
• And fill out a connect form
• Devon Churches New Media Network –
breakfast, guest speakers at meetings?
• Christian New Media Conference,
November, London

98. Final thought…
'What some refer to as self-serving, personal
platform-building, ego-enhancing social networking
is transformed into a primary way the Body of Christ
can guide the lonely, hurt, confused, and lost people
in our world into community and a personal
relationship with Jesus.‘
– Dana Byers
http://blog.christianleadershipalliance.org/2014/01/13
/making-online-connections

99. Go & make disciples:
Social media
for churches
s