Social Media Christians
F@ ith FE D
36 Innovation is the new Pulpit
32 The IPad 8 Church
E
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F@it h FE D E
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Linda Pintus Rebecca Hines Stephen Crawley Tim Robinson
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Jason Hunt Jamiel Cotman Will Doniker Lance Cummins
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How a church with no bibles still has a biblical impact on the culture.
30 Church incubator Manhattan, New York.
41
Editors Feed
G
have come to enjoy. And this iven that this is our
special, “Social Media Edition” I though it necessary to share
month, we continue in that tradition. Check out, ‘Social Media
our rich roots on Twitter,
Christians’ [p23] where we
namely that, it’s where we
explain the chronology of how
started. That’s right, we
believers have migrated online.
weren’t a company with several
Also, don’t forget to look at, ‘
employees in a downtown urban area, just a simple Twitter profile, trying to keep up with creative Christianity. We followed, talked about and shared the webs most innovative Christian tech, strategies and lifestyle solutions that so many
Now is the BEST time for Christians to take over the social media space.
Churches that meet the real ‘Growing your Church on
needs of people, not just
Twitter’ [p10] we reveal the
preachers! [p41]
secrets of our growth on the famous platform. We also touch basis with Creative Christian Companies, our think tank group meeting in upstate New York, to brainstorm creative ways to develop
We plan to continue unearthing innovative Christianity on every social media platform we encounter. Our single greatest hope is that you would join us for the journey.
-Linda
Click below to engage with creative Christians in our Google + group.
Growing Your
Church on Twitter
o
Vernon Christian Center in German Town, Maryland. r does it matter?
He debates, not whether or
That’s the big question so
not Twitter is important to
many church marketers
the body of Christ, but
are beginning to ask?�
whether or not Christians
says Tyler Mason media
understand that it is.
specialist at Mt.
“Because let’s face it, the reputation of Christianity
are at about 22%. “Are you
has dropped” Tyler
surprised?” our friend
continues. “And now more
Tyler explains in the media
than ever, we need to
room of his church. “I have
have a strong presence on
the hardest time
the second biggest, but,
convincing ministries to
the world’s fastest social
get out there and be
network. And that’s twitter.
creative, but to no avail.
But my church doesn’t
Now look whose winning!”
seem to understand that. “
Case and point, Christians
Tyler has a point, according
need to do church without
to the Pew Forum’s new
walls. And Twitter is where,
survey, evangelicals make
for the most part, they
up about 25% of the
haven’t begun. Secular
Christian landscape,
organizations and groups
however, the all famous
shouldn’t be making the
“nones” , secularists who
strongest connections there.
don’t identify with any
But they are. The question
religion [Note: Nones
is how?
consider atheism a religion]
Continued on page 15
Credit monitoring site Credit Karma does weekly trend chats with its followers giving advice on brushing up your finances.
Like many other restaurants, Chick-fil-a uses Twitter to showcase its awesomeness and promote its overall brand.
Though no longer pastoring, @PastorMark page stands as a tribute to how well the millennial leading Christian used the platform to make his mark.
Philadelphia based Lifestyle Brand, Bear Fruit, uses Twitter to build discussions around its products and services, creating viral promotion.
Continued from page 12 How Churches Can Grow On Twitter Forget promotion and focus on product. “It’s a quicksand effect” says social media strategist Kate Horn. “If you use Twitter to promote, you’ll be demoted. However, if you use Twitter to provide content, visual, verbal and beyond that is uncommonly engaging, you’ll be promoted. “Twitter she says, “Punishes the impure in motive”.
quite the opposite. Twitter is the marketing! Christian leaders have been using it to do their marketing, without realizing it is the marketing. It’s sort of like using a brochure to sell something, without realizing the brochure itself is representing your brand. And if it’s not visually appealing, has good offers, and engaging substance, nobody will read it” Viewing Twitter as a brochure for your church, blog or website is a good bit of advice. Why visit your
Kate Horn also urges
sanctuary when something
churches to not think this
as basic as its Twitter page
devalues marketing. “Its
is utterly boring?
Lead with why
How are you engaging others on Twitter? Click to share
“Leading with why you want them to follow, is a great way to get followers” says Andy Broestein none profit specialists at Zale’s Consulting, “You have to create a strong “why” before they do “what” you say. In this case, give them a reason to go to your Twitter account”. So instead of asking them to follow your blog on Twitter, say, “Get exclusive interviews, chats and more at our Twitter account”. The more customized you can be, the better! “There should be something there that I can’t get anywhere else. You should leverage the difference of Twitter from the other social media accounts. Namely that they get
Andy continues by saying, “So if you’re on Twitter, your organization needs to have content unique to Twitter or, content that best gels with WHY people come to Twitter. Too often, people use their Twitter to send people somewhere else, like Instagram. This gives them more work to do and just causes them to either unfollow or disengage.”
something there that they can’t get
All in all, Christian organizations
from your Facebook or other SM
should be utilizing Twitter’s
profiles.”
uniqueness to their advantage.
Have Good Copy write There are titles, messages and
Targeted titles. ‘The Geeks Guide to Fashion’ for instance would get the interest of apparel fanatics.
word arrangements that sell, and there are those that don’t. You want to be the former. For instance, saying, “How to Pray” on your tweet with a link to the blog isn’t nearly as good as saying, ‘3 Keys to Effective Prayer’. Why? Book marketing expert Roger C. Parker says, “People want to know that they’re going to get something, and having a numbered title helps that”. Other good ideas from him: Benefit emphasis, simply put, you should title your tweets with emphasis on the benefit it brings
Curiosity creators, ‘Never Eat Alone’ for instance, is a best seller with a title that makes you think, “Why?”
Finally, we would add to this following and unfollowing. Simply follow people who would most likely be interested in your tweets and unfollow them at a date later than 24 hours. This promotes you within their account while maintaining Twitter’s policies. Do as many as possible each week, as Twitter will tell you when you’ve reached the follow limit. Apply these tips to your church’s Twitter account and spark a growth curve like never before!
What’s the code of conduct for evangelicals online?
I
ts not for me to bring them Facebook and Instagram. The
to Christ, that’s the Holy Spirit’s
honest truth is this, most
job, is the answer you’ll hear
believers don’t know how to
from most evangelicals. When
engage others effectively for
you ask them why they aren’t
Christ. And the fact that we live
engaging the lost on YouTube
in a post social media world
The 10 Online
Commandments
doesn’t make it any better. So
are going with their complaints
how do we do this? There must
about Christ. And if we are wise,
be a way for tech savvy
that’s also where we’ll go with
believers to advance Gods
Christian solutions. These are
kingdom in their realm, because
the rules.
let’s face it, that’s where the lost are
1
Get off of Christian sites. “Men
onto none Christian platforms,
don’t take a candle and put it
sites and blogs to comment and
under a bush” [Matt 5:15].
interact in such a way that
Believers have to realize that
brings others into the faith.
Christian sites are great starts, but, we’re to take that light
Behave. if you don’t observe protocol you won’t win others.
3
2
Behave. If you don’t observe protocol on the sites, blogs and places online where you want to win others, you won’t win others. You have to find commonalities with the world before you can change it [1 Cor 9:22]
Be brief. Blogs, comments and
other factor contributed to it.
texts that are too long, just
Learn to communicate briefly,
don’t get read. In the seldom
and only extend conversations
cases that they are, its because
when it’s absolutely necessary.
the brief opening sentence or
Not as the norm.
some
4
Communicate. That’s to say,
emotionless comments seen
learn to express yourself both
online by Christians prove
casually and cordially online.
otherwise. You have to be a
This sounds obvious but the
good communicator in order to
plethora of misspelled words,
win others online.
unclear explanations and
5 6
Do warfare. This means
When you refute anti
apologetics. The Christian
Christian arguments, those
who knows how to
who are in the valley of
strategically tear down none
decision are able to enter
Christian values in debate
the kingdom. It’s just the
will win souls by the dozen.
assurance they needed.
Love through action. Drop
simple to grasp. Avoid
all the Christiane-eese
trolling, name calling and
language. Even when
bigotry. Be direct. Be
discussing scripture, be
immovable. But don’t be
sure you keep things kind
rude. Speak the truth in
and clear enough for the
love [Eph 4:15].
7
Contribute to the overall community. Debating and winning souls shouldn’t be all you’re
8
Be vivid. Dan Roam, author of ‘Blah-Blah-Blah’ created this term. Namely that, your words have a visual and
doing. Be sure you are
verbal interdependency. Use
adding value online.
statements that help them picture what you’re saying. Be lightly poetic when
Drop the Christian-eese and speak normal.
9
witnessing to others. Make them see what you mean.
10
Respect it as ministry. This is perhaps the most important of the ten. If you think your time
Challenge yourself. Join
online, is just time online,
groups online that
and not an opportunity to
challenge what and how
witness for Christ, you’ll
you believe for the
never take any of the
better. It’s the only way
former seriously.
you’ll grow and develop as an evangelical online.
W
hat does it take to be an effective Christian on Social Media?
Social Media Christian
First you have to know it. “Christians who wish to live their
solid profiles are created there,
faith on Social Media need to
the worst thing you can do is try
comprehend it, perhaps better
to update them daily. This
than most people” Tim Weinstein,
doesn’t work” Tim says. Instead,
media specialist at Faith Works, a
to get into the game of being a
ministry consulting firm in
Christian with a solid social
Richmond, VA. Tim advises his
media presence, Weinstein
ministry clients to establish a solid
believes you should pick one
presence on the three biggest
favorite that you like the most.
social networks as a starter.
“Again, be sure you complete
“Facebook, Twitter and Google+
step one, that is, you’re on all
should be the minimum for every
three networks, but after that,
forward thinking believer and
pick one to be active on more
especially at the organizational
frequently. Siphon off the rest to
level. Once
your team, if you have one. If not, simply update those ones when you find the time.”
Facebook, Twitter and Google+ should be the minimum for every forward thinking believer
How cool! Nobody wants to get updates on social media from a Christian whose only life is putting updates on social media. Pick one for more fun and, as Tim said, more effectiveness.
But social media Christianity doesn’t stop there. The one thing you must do to develop your presence as a believer on SM is provide quality content. “It’s good to know scripture, but,
People are looking for fresh insights into the Christian faith.
followers would rather see it creatively applied in your posts. You should aid others into the
being discouraged by it” See the
Christian worldview with good
twist? People are looking for
visuals, copy write and other
fresh insights into the Christian
effective behaviors than
faith, so if you’re not providing
thumping the bible” Tim
that, your content is off kilter.
finalizes.
And that doesn’t mean you go
Content Content is what people are looking for. Case and point, Rick Warren. Oh sure, he’s a mega church pastor of one of the largest Baptist congregations in the U.S., but, he’s a tweet machine! “Faith is not denying reality. Faith is facing reality without
off like Rick Warren on a perfect tweet stampede! Rather, it means your Facebook posts and Google+ updates are about things that aren’t unbiblical for starters and creative when you have to go Christian. This means visual aid, creative writing and innovative insights into good ol Christian values. Continued on page 28
The rule here is to join groups that organize around your values and interests. Then participate in addition to posting on your main profile.
Brevity and timelines is king on Twitter. You’ll get re-tweets and follows as you post quality content in live time before others do.
Since Google+ connects to the search engines, you want to focus on quality more than quantity, as what you post will end up there.
Your videos should be well planned and thought out. Be sure they have quality recording and are tackling real issues in addition to being fun to watch.
Even if you hate taking pics, you should have a decent presence on Instagram as it’s the top photo sharing network.
Linked-In should reflect your more professional self and house your business interactions correctly.
Continued from page 28 But you should still have fun. The part of social media that gets the most attention is the casual part, sharing engaging life experiences with others, a
If you can’t show others that your faith transcends religious sayings and scripture quotes, and gets into your day to day life with photos, audios and videos, it’s less convincing.
day at the mall, club, church or fun park should appear in your
Sociability Christians have to adapt a more
The part of social media that gets the most attention is the casual
sociable and open psychology online, and that means social media. We have to begin communicating with others while still being able to maintain our own faith. This is what the world loves to see from
timeline. The Christians who
believers, and that means being
shares their professional,
a social media Christian of
casual and all aspects of their
sorts. One who can succinctly,
life, not just their Christianity,
briefly and socially interact with
will find greater following and
others within the confines of
impact for the kingdom. Overall
Christian values. It has little to
the approach is more
do with
welcoming.
only talking to Christians, and in fact, is intended for none Christians too experience. The need has never been greater. More and more, we’re seeing the “nones” that is, none
Communicate with others, and still maintain your faith.
theistic asking questions and wondering if “that faith stuff” is even valid in this day and age. Who better to show them that you can live a full and abundant life while still being sharp in the principles of God’s Word, than a social media adept Christian? Start by following your favorite accounts on social media, both Christian and not. Study their techniques, glean wisdom and figure out how you can share your values as a believer using the same. Remember to keep this on top of healthy interaction with others on the platform as well. We’ll begin to see a world changed the moment we see
creative christians on social media, being the light God intended them to be, not folded up in a corner of a Christian blog somewhere.
S
ay it with me,
“This is my bible. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I can have. I can do what it says I can do. I’m about to receive, the engrafted word”
The IPad Church
Here, we chart down 3 major ways we could be using our tablets to heighten the church experience.
One problem with this though, nobody’s holding up a bible as such, they’re holding up tablets. They may as well begin starting the chant off with, “This is my bible app…” and go
Christian Town square, things like live Q&A’s, comments, questions and the like, can be facilitated during the sermon or with an ‘After Church’ segment.
from there. But this is
Imagine a live chat
such a cool thing, one that
surrounding the subject
most churches are likely
matter, permitting everyone’s
sleeping on.
voice to be heard at a preselected facilitator’s request. This means we can address real issues on Sunday, not
This means we can address
Clifford Stott, and John
real issues on Sunday, not
Drury have found that
just the ones targeted in a
individuals in crowds do not
scripted sermon. British
abandon their rationality or
academics Stephen Reicher,
surrender their identity to a
Clifford Stott, and John Drury
mob mentality. They do not lose their minds. They do, however, become highly sensitive to what those around them are doing, and become strongly cooperative as a result. Use this! Ask them questions during the service via text and take live surveys to get
Continuity, - Why does it have to end at church? Again, the ‘After Church’ segment can begin an hour or so after the last service, online. Now, you can say how you felt, discuss what about the message you struggle with and what you want
feedback in real time. Turn
Change, - In churches
the Sunday monologue into
today, the pastor is the
a dialogue, everyone can
chief change agent.
look forward to.
However, when Jesus walked the earth, it was the people’s faith that caused the shift. What happens when we return to that model? Imagine a church where solutions connect to problem s
with greater quality. Why? Because nobody, even the pastor, gets EVERYTHING from God. The body as a whole can contribute, and the IPad can be the tool we’ve been waiting for! The mobile digital church, is a more effective one. Only, we haven’t been acting on the advantages and thus leaving ministries as is. Pastors today and ministry leaders alike, have to wake up to the change that has occurred, see it as divine, and take advantage of it.
Nobody hears your message unless its spoken creatively.
Innovation is the New Pulpit
Picture if you would, a
And to be specific, nobody
world with no churches.
wants a podium sermon.
No, forget that, a world
Nobody grows like that
with no churches as we know them today. No buildings. No steeples No baskets with offerings from the people. I think we’re going, and in
What’s become more important is theology, mission and culture.
fact, are now there. Simply put, church as we know it, is no longer necessary. Buildings, people, and donations. What’s become more important is theology, mission and culture. The church building, size and preference is now officially of lesser importance.
You’ve heard of it before as edutainment. Its colors, actions, and beyond that are designed to make the
The big underline is
message more
innovation!
memorable.
color, movement, smells, Educational instructor
emotional experiences and
and author of, ‘The
lots of play and fun.” she
Accounting Game’ Judith
says. The churches and
Orloff, believes that too
ministries that reach
much attention to detail
others will begin, more and
in lectures is the main
more, to take on this
reason nobody
learns anything.
methodology if
Church as we know it is no longer necessary.
“While in elementary elementary school,
much of the information school, you learned went directly information much of theyou to your long-term learned went directly to information memory, because it was your long-term you learned peppered with music, memory, because it went
color, movement, was peppered withsmells, directly to emotional experiences music, color, your longand lots of play and fun. movement, smells, term
for nothing Other than the fact that it’s more effective. Ordith who founded
her own college In Burlington, Vermont puts it this way “Kindergarten is the best learning model, we have! In grade however, we moved
away from colors, maps,
This thing for quite some
visuals and the like and
time. Namely that,
went into memorization so
creativity, is what makes
we could pass tests. But
your brain push it’s “save
this only stores data into
button”.
your short term memory.
The Purple Cow This all reminds us of an
Creativity makes your brain push it’s ‘save button’
article we did in a recent ideas issue of Faith FEED.
Christian entrepreneurs,
In it, we mention Seth
authors, and leaders
Godin’s theory of the purple
would do well to take note.
cow. That nobody
If the message isn’t
remembers something that
edutaining, that is to say,
isn’t remarkable, or worthy of
colorful, emotional and
remark. If Judith’s
creative, it’s not
educational approach is
uncommon and is thus
right, then we’ve been on
unworthy of remark. Nobody will remember it.
So how do we get there?
together. To make a
How do creative Christian
complex and confusing
leaders re-spark the fire
thing simple and clear, you
that they once had?
have to get into the mindset, not of a preacher,
Go Kindergarten “You learned the alphabet by singing. You learned the multiplication tables by saying them out loud with each other. You laughed a
but of a kindergarten teacher. Focus on the big picture. Use visual aid. And get them involved.
Invoke Emotion
lot. You were creative.”
The sad thing about the
According to Judith. Why
bible is that we don’t get to
now, when evangelizing as
see how Jesus said it, we
adults, we switch things up?
only know what he said.
“Most attempts to teach fail
But we can be sure that,
because of too much
many of the plain vanilla
attention to detail and a
bible sayings we read,
failure to present the big
were filled with emotion.
picture framework of how it
You have to do the same.
all works and fits
The sad thing about the bible is that we don’t get to see how Jesus said it, we only know what he said.
Coming to Christ, learning to pray or the like, with a mark of progress or completion, it becomes even more effective.
This means
The more game
communicating how you
concepts you can apply
feel about your message
to their learning process,
and why? People want
the more effective it will
something human to
be.
connect with on your blog, during your sermon or lecture. Give them that!
Gamification People, more than anything, remember what they do. However, if you can reward them, for
So before winning another person to the kingdom be sure you’re innovative. Be sure your using the new pulpit!
Building a Team of Teams
M
anhatten, New York. We
The issue,-bureaucracy! One thing that begins to
gathered in an East End office
stifle any organizations
park to conduct creative
growth is bureaucratic
class, where believers get
systems and procedures,
together and brainstorm
namely no accountability
solutions to the world’s
amongst leaders and thus
problems, only this time, the
confused followers and
church! And it has become an
volunteers. All in all,
incubator of sorts for
bureaucratic churches
developing ministries
become ineffective.
One approach was suggested
growing, the people do as well.”
by Pastor Brown, a volunteer at
Pastor Brown shared his
First Christian Church in
innovative approach to
Harlem. “Ongoing training.
ongoing leader training in
Once you stop training you stop
today’s churches during the
growing. Church leaders should
brainstorm. “There has to
undergo ongoing training that’s specific to them as leaders. But somehow those lines get blurred as ministries develop, and we consider “everybody” a leader, which means nobody is” That was heavy. But we need It! A whopping 80% of the 100 churches we surveyed did not have a distinguished program for their leaders ongoing development. “When the leaders stop
be clear distinctions in what you want them to learn, vs what the other members do” To much criticism. “I don’t think that’s healthy as other members would feel left out” another pastor began.
But as Pastor Brown finalized,
beneath.” This is seen below:
“We can’t expect something different from lay leaders if we’re not giving them anything different.”
Teaming Up Your Team The second idea was to create healthier team dynamics. Our own Rebecca Hines proposed We can’t expect something different from lay leaders if we’re not
“While this is certainly better than no order at all, it permits bureaucracy [what we don’t want], when it becomes too layered, which is often as those at the top get lazy” A better organizational chart would be”
giving them anything different
a solution mapped out in book, ‘Team of Teams’ by former U.S. Marine general Stanley McChrystal. “Churches have the old linear chart where the pastor is at the top and the workers
When leaders facilitate connections amongst their team, idea flow and productivity is higher!
It’s a matter of good better and
Think of it this way, when was
best” Rebecca tells the room full
the last time you had a ‘Town
of Christian leaders. Referring
Hall’ meeting for your staff,
to Sandy Pentland of MIT.
volunteers and members? That
“Collective intelligence has little to do with individuals but more to do with the connections between them and the easy flow of ideas”. So the height for Christian
When leaders facilitate connections amongst their team, idea flow and productivity is higher!
leaders to reach for their organizations are as follows:
would be one example of a team of teams, working together to grow the organization. Are you overly layered in your leadership approach? You may want to consider what our church incubator discovered
When a leader is at the center
before bureaucracy brings your
of multiple interconnected
organization down.
teams, facilitating discussion, brainstorm and ideas, instead of being above it, churches will see growth in all the right areas.
If style was your concern, the worry is over.
Apple IWatch Review So what’s the skinny? Namely
S
this,-it’s freaking sexy! The o the IWatch is here. And
apple fans are going wild, mostly with good comments. However, amongst its complaints is loading speed, insensitive touch screen and overall bugginess. But we can expect that with new products, especially of this caliber.
design appeal of the watch can match any of the following:
Elegant Tech
This one most tickles our fancy. Namely that, many watch companies, who claim they aren’t worried about the IWatch, said Apple wouldn’t delve into this category. But clearly it has.
Of course, this, like other Apple devices is a tech product. So, the nerds must be catered to. And we’re all nerds in one area or another [in case you feel insulted]. So while no, they haven’t
Urban Geek
come up with a bible app for
Let’s face it, Apple is
that the device is able to fit
known for making tech
all of our style preferences.
a cool space, namely
Whether it’s Chic, urban or
by taking it out of the
mega geek!
business realm and into pop culture. This design continues in that legacy. And while yes, the bands are interchangeable, we notice the rectangular head design is fitting for today’s squares.
IWatch, we can be proud
Adapt or Die In May 2015 Twitter re-invited its partnership with Google, meaning its visibility will be higher on the search engine.
Can the world see you? If you’re a creative Christian they need to. Now more than ever.