Faith FEED May 2015

Social Media Christians

F@ ith FE D

36 Innovation is the new Pulpit

32 The IPad 8 Church

E

Exploring Christianity 3.0

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F@it h FE D E

Chief Editor Assistance Editor Editorial Staff

Linda Pintus Rebecca Hines Stephen Crawley Tim Robinson

Contributors Production

Jason Hunt Jamiel Cotman Will Doniker Lance Cummins

Connect Contribute Promote

FaithFEEDMag@gmail.com 804-833-7628

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.