Social Media in Ministry 2.0

Effectively using social media as a helpful tool in ministry

“We don’t have a choice on whether we do social media. The choice is how well we do it.” ~Eric Qualman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxpa4dNVd3c

5 Ways to Use Social Media in Your Ministry

1. Google Hangouts & Skype2. Online resourcing3. Quick-Response (QR) Codes4. Text Messaging5. Twitter, Instagram, & Hashtags

(Oh my!)

Google Hangouts & Skype

Perfect for:Bible studiesConnecting with college studentsConnecting with youth groupsMeetingsConversations with missionaries…….

Google Hangouts & Skype

Benefits:

Can be used on multiple devices

Join in from the comforts of wherever

Up to 10 people can join a conversation

What you need:

A web camera

A laptop or smart phone device

Resourcing Congregations Through

WeeblyPerfect for providing congregation

members & friends with:Daily and weekly devotionalsFaith-based activities for kidsFaith-based articles for teens

and adultsSuggestions for church season

activities……

Resourcing Congregations Through

WeeblyBenefits:Resources the congregation outside

of the building on personal computer and mobile devices

Provides ways for members and friends to incorporate spirituality in their lives throughout the week

What you need:A computer with internet

Quick-Response (QR) Codes

Perfect for linking congregation members and friends to:

Church websitesEvent registrationsLiturgy and church

announcementsWebsites pertinent to specific

church projects…

Quick-Response (QR) Codes

Benefits:Provides a quick way to gain

access to information without a long URL or taking up too much space on paper

What you need:Smart phone (for scanning)Computer and printer

Text Messaging

Perfect for:Contacting people about a small

amount of information, the more concise the better

Using as an interactive tool in various settings

Text MessagingBenefits: Contacting people quickly with important

information Allows the receiver time to receive the

message and respond on an as-needed basis Invites introverts to pose thoughts and

questions without speaking to an entire group

What you need: A cell phone with text messaging capabilities (Please make sure to ask others if it is ok that you text them. Some would prefer a call. Others still may be charged for texting services.)

Twitter, Instagram, & Hashtagging

Perfect for:Sharing updates and events

related to your churches, youth groups, ministry teams, etc.

Creating social communities where church members and friends can interact with one another

…

TwitterTwitter allows each post to be only

140 charactersHelpful for sharing updates about the

church, upcoming events, inspiration, etc.

Twitter includes private messaging Instead of “friending” you “follow,”

which gives an option for following many different people & organizations

Instead of “sharing” you “retweet” any informative or meaningful tweets

Instagram

Instagram is a photo-sharing space

Allows a person to post photos for those who follow them to view

Hashtags allow others to see related photos

Can be used to incorporate all ages in worship

Can be used for various youth activities

#Hashtags Creates an online community which allows

different people or groups to post photos or statuses separately but be connect by them

To properly create a hashtag, the number (or pound) sign must be placed in front of words and characters. There cannot be any spaces, as that breaks up the hashtag

Examples of hashtags:#IceBucketChallenge, #AddAWordRuinATheologian, #YourChurchNameHere, #WorldCup, #UCC, #ReadingChangesLives

Twitter, Instagram, & Hashtagging

Benefits:Creating online social communities

within the churchConnecting with members and friends

outside of Sunday mornings/eveningsAllows others to share information

and insight

What you need:ComputerSmart phone device

BewareFlooding your church social media pages can ultimately turn your followers off. Post 3-4 times a week, and include pictures and videos.

Get permission to post pictures and videos that have people in them

Add a section to your safe church policy to include social media boundaries

Don’t video chat with someone else alone. Consider recording all video chats.

Unplug yourself! Being in ministry during an age when you can be connected at all times can be draining. Take technology Sabbaths.

Questions??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXiNSeSoBUM