As a church leader, communications can feel overwhelming. It’s easy to just stick to what you know, because who has time for anything else? Or maybe you really hate social media. You want to keep your discipleship and connection as face to face as possible. When you’re aware of the pitfalls of social media, it can feel inauthentic to “give in” to using it for your church marketing.
You’re not alone if any of those sentiments feel familiar. Technology changes so quickly that it can be hard to know where to start or how to keep up. But that’s not the entire story. Churches can use social media for good. Let’s find out why.
1. It allows us to be in the world, but not of it
This verse from John 17:14-15 serves as a guidepost for Christians to engage in the world in any way. Brady Shirer says “We are living through the most dramatic communications shift in 500 years (since the printing press).”
This dramatic shift and the knowledge that we can engage in the world while remaining set apart means we are uniquely positioned to reach the world around us through social media. Having a church presence on social media doesn’t mean that you have to sell out to the patterns of screen addiction and ignoring real life that so many brands perpetuate through their marketing materials. Instead, you can be a presence that stands out and engages with those who are lost. Used wisely, online spaces can reach thousands of people who you otherwise may never have a connection with.
2. You get to work for a common cause
The great news about doing church marketing is just like in other facets of ministry, other churches are your partners, not your enemy. The downside is that you have something trickier to compete with for attention – distraction.
Most people aren’t distracted by something that’s “bad,” it could be as simple as wanting to ski or stay in bed longer on a Sunday morning. But the beauty of this dilemma is that you get to use social media to show others how much better Jesus is than even the best hobbies.
3. You can do this – no matter your church size
Maybe it feels pointless to get on social media because your church is so small that you can effectively communicate with every member of your congregation in person. But whether you’re a large, medium, or small church, you have an amazing opportunity to use social media for good. This is your opportunity to dream about how you can use Instagram or Facebook to reach more people for Christ than you would be able to otherwise.
Your current number of seats filled at your church doesn’t disqualify you from taking the step to participate in this opportunity. We’re here to partner with you as you explore more ways to expand your reach and meet your congregation where they are – online.
The best way to start is to simply show up. Create or open your social media accounts and take one step towards posting more consistently, today.
