The Social Media Church

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By: Larry Lewis

I have been thinking long and hard about the issue of THE CHURCH and SOCIAL MEDIA. The Church, especially smaller churches, have a unique opportunity to utilize social media tools to reach out to it’s community and engaging it’s members through the use of Web.2.0 techniques.

Web based tools now make it possible for Churches to record a podcast of Sermons or Skype evening Bible studies so that members of smaller study groups can unite online.

Here are a few of the areas I think more churches can begin utilizing Social  Media:

Churches as other non-profits are facing tough times trying to keep funding for their various ministries coming in. A good idea might be to create a sponsored events page which the church could then use Twitter to send e-blast out in support of their sponsor(s). In that way the church can drive traffic to the sponsors site or store and build traffic through it’s own membership.

Create a Facebook page with event data, video content, and links to various audio and e-content.

Implement online collaboration web applications so that members that are elderly, sick or the disable who have a hard time traveling might participate in weekly bible studies. This would also help any member of the church increase their participation in study group.

Live podcasting of services and weekly topics put together by the church leadership. If the leadership  smaller churches want to build their membership, podcasting is an excellent way to involve members of the community in your online broadcast. Since many podcasting platforms offer free access, there is no cost to the Church to broadcast their podcast.

Resources and Tools

1. www.Facebook.com
2. www.Myspace.com
3. www.Ustreamtv.com
4. www.Blogtalkradio.com
5. www.WordPress.com
6. www.Ning.com
7. www.Skype.com
8. www.Twitter.com
9. www.Talkshoe.com

The Flamingo Road Church provides a good example of a Church that is using Social Media tools in the best way possible to reach out to the community and it’s membership.

Finally, in these tough times people really need help and direction, and many are reaching out to the church. If churches makes better use of Social Media, and works with someone who understands Social Media tools and applications, they will find a hidden flock of lambs.

These are just a few ideas, and by no-means an all-inclusive list, but I wanted to begin somewhere in my ongoing discussion of The Social Media Church

Happy Holidays to you all.

Larry Lewis is a Social Media Consultant with over 20 years of Experience in the Broadcasting and Barter industries. He can be contacted as follows

Larry.Lewis@supinn.com

Twitter: Realmatrix

Facebook: Larry Lewis