This document discusses how churches need to engage with new communication methods online to reach more people. It provides examples of how figures like Martin Luther and Johannes Gutenberg changed church communications by making the Bible more accessible. Modern examples of viral social media posts are presented. The key points are that churches must go where people are online, be nimble to act quickly, and empower individuals to create new faith communities. A user-centered design process for websites is outlined that involves discovery, analysis, strategy, design, and building based on user research. Churches are encouraged to engage authentically on their own terms using new forms of communication.

1. WELCOME

2. BETA
MATT CARLISLE
Version 1.0

3. Much has changed
with church communications

4. Much has changed

5. HOW MUCH HAVE THINGS CHANGED?
*Karl Fisch, Colorado high school teacher

6. WHAT DOES THIS
MEAN FOR CHURCHES?

7. IT MEANS CHANGE!

8. ENGAGE IN
NEW WAYS
Weavings: A publication of
The Upper Room; a
Christian spiritual journal.
Blogging
Facebook
Twitter
Reading Groups
Spiritual Event Calendar

9. ENGAGE IN NEW WAYS
A free Bible phone application;
41 translations of Bible in 22 languages;
13 million installs;

10. ENGAGE IN NEW WAYS
The Gathering: A new church start
located in Nashville.
Meet in movie theatre;
No building = Nimble;
Stream worship online;
Online opportunities throughout week.

11. BE AUTHENTIC!
Embrace new forms of
communications!
Do it on your terms.
Be authentic!

12. “The Churchʼs message never changes
but its methods must change.”
Craig Groeschel, LifeChurch.tv

13. “To reach people no one is
reaching, you have to do
things that no one is doing.”
Craig Groeschel, LifeChurch.tv
SOME EXAMPLES ...

14. MARTIN LUTHER
His translation of the Bible into the language of the people made
it more accessible, causing a tremendous impact on the church.

15. Excommunicated
MARTIN LUTHER
His translation of the Bible into the language of the people made
it more accessible, causing a tremendous impact on the church.

16. JOHANNES GUTENBERG
Inventor of the mechanical printing press.
His major work, the Gutenberg Bible.

17. Exiled
JOHANNES GUTENBERG
Inventor of the mechanical printing press.
His major work, the Gutenberg Bible.

18. MODERN
DAY EXAMPLE
Janis Krums from Sarasota,
Florida posts the first photo of
U.S. Airways flight 1549 on
Twitter from his iPhone.
Thirty-four minutes after Janis
posted his photo, MSNBC
interviewed him live on TV as

19. MODERN DAY EXAMPLE
Wall Street protestors organize
using the Vibe phone app.

20. MODERN DAY EXAMPLE
The Man With the Golden Voice,
Ted Williams’ online video goes viral.

21. WHAT ARE THE EXCUSES?

22. Our membership is older Ministry doesn’t
happen online
It’s too
expensive Our members
I’m already
prefer to receive
Too many working two
print resources
members are full-time jobs
on dial-up
We like
We don’t have things the
enough staff way they are
WHAT ARE THE EXCUSES?

23. CHANGE = OPPORTUNITY

24. 5 KEYSTONES
1
Those communication programs
breaking new ground are fueled by

25. 5 KEYSTONES
2
For your message to be heard,
you must go where the people are.
The people are online!

26. 5 KEYSTONES
3
You will be forced to be
nimble so you can act quickly.
Decision-by-committee won’t work.

27. 5 KEYSTONES
4
The individual is charged to make disciples.
They now have the tools to create and
foster new faith communities.

28. 5 KEYSTONES
5
Be AUTHENTIC!

29. GROUP DISCUSSION
5 MINUTES
Share one new way your church could
authentically communicate with the
your community to make disciples.

30. WHATʼS WRONG?

31. WHATʼS WRONG?

32. WHATʼS WRONG?

33. USER-CENTERED
DESIGN
A design process in which the needs,
wants and limitations of the Web user
and organization are given extensive
attention at each stage of

34. THE BENEFITS
Based upon and informed by research;
A focus on user needs leads to more effective
websites;
Helps unify decision-makers with diverse
opinions;
It’s cost-effective: minimize the risk of having to
fix poor design decisions.

35. USER-CENTERED DESIGN
PROCESS
It’s like building a house

36. USER-CENTERED DESIGN
PROCESS
Discovery: Gather research needed to

37. STEPS OF DISCOVERY
Stakeholder interviews
User interviews (see handout)

38. STEPS OF DISCOVERY
Stakeholders: Users:
Pastors New members
Church staff Parents of young families
Committee leaders Singles

39. USER-CENTERED DESIGN
PROCESS
Analysis: choose best technology

40. STEPS OF ANALYSIS
Gather technical requirements
Know what you can afford!
Research solutions and interview vendors
Determine optimal Web platform/software

41. USER-CENTERED DESIGN
PROCESS
Strategy: The architecture & design
principles of your new website are created.

42. STEPS OF STRATEGY
Develop personas and scenarios of users
Content needs analysis (card sort)
Create site map (example)
Create page wireframes (example)

43. USER-CENTERED DESIGN
PROCESS
Design: The visual branding and

44. STEPS OF DESIGN
Conduct visual design workshop
Create page comprehensives or “comp”

45. USER-CENTERED DESIGN
PROCESS
Build: Implement design

46. STEPS OF BUILD
Page comps are implemented
Content, media and images are populated
Site is launched

47. KEEP IN MIND
Develop in phases;
Hire local talent;
Soft launch is the only way to go;
Start planning for phase 2 before site launch;
Don’t stop researching the needs of your
audience.

48. NETWORKING TIME
15 MINUTES

49. Top-down & push method of
CHURCHES MUST ENGAGE IN NEW WAYS

50. THE SOCIALIZATION
OF THE WEB
“What if the “new evangelist” did what
great teachers and preachers, just like
Jesus, have always done: Take the
stuff of life, the stories of our culture,
the news of our world, and the
practical challenges and felt needs we
daily face, and offer spiritual insight,
practical wisdom and life modeling to help people live better.”
Nick Charalambous, former Web Pastor at NewSpring Church; Anderson, SC

51. “Every 500 years, the
Church goes through a
rummage sale, and cleans
out the old forms of
spirituality and replaces
it with new ones.”
Phyllis Tickle, author