The document discusses the uses of social media in faith communities. It provides examples of how churches and faith-based groups utilize platforms like blogs, Facebook, and Twitter for pastoral counseling, teaching, outreach, community building, and administration. Case studies of The Crossing and Mission Bay Community Church illustrate how different sized groups have successfully engaged online audiences. The document advocates using social media to facilitate connections and evangelism within faith communities.

1. Social Media and
Christian Community

2. Twitter Hashtag
#epv_Boston

4. What is “social media,” really?

5. What is “social media,” really?
How much does social media actually cost?

6. What is “social media,” really?
How much does social media actually cost?
Does social media separate us from each
other? (and other myths…)

7. What is “social media,” really?
How much does social media actually cost?
Does social media separate us from each
other? (and other myths…)
How is social media used differently by
different people?

8. What is “social media,” really?
How much does social media actually cost?
Does social media separate us from each
other? (and other myths…)
How is social media used differently by
different people?
Case examples

9. ?
What is social media?

10. “
Social media is any form of online publication or
presence that allows end users to engage in multi-
directional conversations in or around the content on
the website.

11. “
Social media is any form of online publication or
presence that allows end users to engage in multi-
directional conversations in or around the content on
the website.
Social media uses web-based technologies to transform
and broadcast media monologues into social media
dialogues.

14. “
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit…”
Matthew 28:19-20

15. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 - the Message translation

16. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 - the Message translation
God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate from the
same spirit...Each person is given something to do that shows who God is:
Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out
but the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! Their variety is wonderful:
wise counsel
clear understanding
simple trust
healing the sick
miraculous acts
proclamation
distinguishing between spirits
tongues
interpretation of tongues.
All these gifts have common origin, but are handed out by the one Spirit of
God.

17. Uses of Social Media in a Faith Context

18. Uses of Social Media in a Faith Context
Pastoral Counseling

19. Uses of Social Media in a Faith Context
Pastoral Counseling
Teaching

20. Uses of Social Media in a Faith Context
Pastoral Counseling
Teaching
Outreach/Evangelism

21. Uses of Social Media in a Faith Context
Pastoral Counseling
Teaching
Outreach/Evangelism
Community building

22. Uses of Social Media in a Faith Context
Pastoral Counseling
Teaching
Outreach/Evangelism
Community building
Faith-Based Social Justice Work

23. Uses of Social Media in a Faith Context
Pastoral Counseling
Teaching
Outreach/Evangelism
Community building
Faith-Based Social Justice Work
Administration

24. Social media is a
tool for…
ministry.

26. Who uses social media?

27. 239,893, 600

28. 239,893, 600

29. 239,893, 600
116,010,760
users

30. I thought all cupcake bakers were miracle makers!!

31. = 38 years old
I thought all cupcake bakers were miracle makers!!
(61% of users over 35)

32. = 38 years old
I thought all cupcake bakers were miracle makers!!
(61% of users over 35)

33. = 38 years old
I thought all cupcake bakers were miracle makers!!
(61% of users over 35)
= 39 years old

34. 37

36. $
How much does social
media cost?

38. (very few people actually use these things)

39. = all Google blogs, twitter blogs
and thechurchisalive.com
= nytimes.com, TED.com,
Wall Street Journal

42. ?
Doesn’t social media separate
us from one another?

43. no.

47. ?
Is social media used differently
for different communities?

48. Know Church Demographics

49. Know Church Demographics
Age

50. Know Church Demographics
Age
Gender

51. Know Church Demographics
Age
Gender
Race/Ethnicity

52. Know Church Demographics
Age
Gender
Race/Ethnicity
Socioeconomic Status

53. Know Church Demographics
Age
Gender
Race/Ethnicity
Socioeconomic Status
Family Status

54. Age

55. Age

56. Age

57. Gender

58. Learning Styles

59. Learning Styles

60. Case Examples!

61. The Crossing

62. Blogs

64. The situation:
• Disparate community
• No “location”
• A community solely connected through
social media
• Cause/action-based

65. Technologies Used
• Blogger (highly modified)
• Facebook (group)
• Twitter
• Gchat/facebook chat

66. Blog Structure
• 5-person “team” of bloggers, 1 “owner” of
the blog
• 60% of posts are written by non-
teammembers
• outreach-oriented

67. $5,000 raised

68. $5,000 raised
vibrant online community

69. Mission Bay Community Church
(www.blogs.missionbaycc.org)

70. Mission Bay Community Church
The situation:
• stationary church in San Francisco
• small, young congregation
• 2-5 full time staff, small session
• tech-savvy congregation
• emergent

72. Technologies Used
• Typepad (blogging service)
• Facebook (page, not group)
• Twitter - @mbcc
• Yelp

73. Blog Structure
• Set “owners” of blog
• Dedicated staff of 7 people, 1 “owner” of
blog
• Regular updates about church events,
community (non-church) events, and
general theological musings

75. “Missed Opportunities”

76. “Missed Opportunities”
1) Communicate More – Clearly people would like to
see their church do more on Facebook.
2) Ministry Pages – A second opportunity for churches is
for individual ministries to engage with people through
Facebook pages.
3) Facilitate Connections – A third opportunity for
churches is to help their people connect with one another.
4) Evangelism – A fourth opportunity for churches is to
encourage and train their people to develop relationships
with those who are not Christians and show God’s grace and
love to them.
5) Facebook Ads – A fifth opportunity for churches is to
use Facebook ads to reach out to people in their community.

77. “I would subscribe to the Facebook pages/groups of the
ministries within my church that I’m involved with if they had
them.”

78. “I would subscribe to the Facebook pages/groups of the
ministries within my church that I’m involved with if they had
them.”
87%

80. Grace Church
The situation:
• stationary church in Eerie, PA
• larger congregation (1,000+)
• 6 pastors, 9 full-time staff
• a “mixed” congregation (old and young)

81. Technologies Used

82. Communications Department
• Mass Communication: We have a
church Facebook page that we use to post
upcoming events and initiatives. I encourage
staff not to re-post/share those, but to
“like” or comment on them when
appropriate.
• Individual Communication: Anyone
who indicates that they want information
exclusively over Facebook gets their
information that way.

83. Staff
• Individual Communication: We’ve found
that some of our volunteers like to communicate
via Facebook, so we’ll message them that way, as
opposed to email or phone calls. Some staff do
random check-ins and set up meetings through
Facebook, too.
• Transparency and Encouragement:
Pastor Mike has turned this into an art form. He
simply posts about his day, thoughts and highlights
life moments that are encouraging and uplifting to
those who follow him. He’s our most popular
Facebooker, and this just might be why.

84. Staff
• Conversation Starters: Pastor Al, our senior
pastor, is the best at this. He likes to pose questions that
let other people talk it through, rather than him doing all
the talking. It’s a great way to engage Christians and non-
Christians to dialogue together, and it helps people in
our church understand each other better.
• Meeting Prep: Derek, our executive pastor, looks
people up on Facebook before he meets with them
because it gives him a snapshot of things that have been
going on and issues they may be wrestling with.

85. Result:
Vibrant online
community and a well-
informed, engaged
church community

86. Facebook/Blog
promotion tips
• Tell your congregation about it
• Put it on your website
• Print it in your bulletins
• Solicit help FROM the church community
(young adults, anyone?)

87. Try it out!

88. ?
Questions/
Brainstorming