Survey Report 3
Part 3 of a report on the information obtained through a CBT survey earlier this year. We discuss the need for the church to participate in social media ministry.
Undeniable Statistics
In developing a solid case, you need rationale. I think this research and data speaks for itself.
Look at the numbers and ask yourself this question: “What does this mean for the church today?”
If Social Media is a “fundamental shift in the way we communicate,” shouldn’t we (1) know how to utilize this medium and (2) be using it to communicate the message of Christ?
What are your thoughts?
Welcome to Social Media Ministry
Welcome to SMM. This site exists as a resource to ministers and those who are interested in ministering to individuals both in and outside the church. Our aim is to give practical tips welded together with theological principles to assist in the use of technology, especially social media, to initiate and enhance ministry opportunities.
It is our prayer that these tools will be used to improve communication and support relationships where the name of Christ will be shared and the name of God will be glorified.
If you are a social media beginner we hope you find the sight helpful. Please don’t hesitate to ask for assistance. If you are a social media expert, please join in the conversation and help all who desire develop and improve their skills to engage the world for the cause of Christ.
Daily Booth
Last week a former student directed me to Daily Booth. I generally have enough social media projects going on to keep me busy but I decided to check it out. Here is my review and suggestion for ministry.
Daily Booth is a mix between photo sharing, blogging and microblogging mixed into one. As it integrates together it forms a social networking type vibe. It allows you to snap a photo from your webcam or upload a recently taken photo from your camera. In addition to that, Daily Booth offers mobile/email upload features. Once your photo is in the pipe, you can add your post to it (no length restrictions). Your profile allows you to follow and be followed by other Daily Boothers where comments and conversation can ensue. Their live feed scrolls all the user uploads in real time allowing users to watch and interact.
Comparing Daily Booth to other social media sites makes it look insignificant in the grand scheme of things. While it does integrate with Twitter, there is no RSS feed or badge features to integrate with another blog or Facebook notes. I’m sure this deters many from using it.
BUT, in my few moments of establishing an account and watching the live feed I saw a post that said “I cant keep doing this…God please help me..” I was amazed. People kept revealing some heavy things going on in their lives and their pictures showed a lot of pain. What surprised me the most was that they were predominantly teenagers.
While Daily Booth isn’t the most high tech social media service I feel like it has potential as a useful ministry tool in 3 ways.
- Understanding the hurts and lives of today’s youth.
- Direct ministry to the youth on Daily Booth
- I tool to suggest to your teenagers as a way to express themselves and begin a conversation for teaching and mentoring.
What do you think about Daily Booth?
The Future of Social Media
In a post today, Wes Woodell, on his blog West Coast Witness, asked the question(s) “Is Social Media Just a Fad? Will Facebook Fade Like Vanilla Ice?” Included in that post was a YouTube video from Socialnomics (Watch Below). Both reaffirm the reality that social media has parked its massive rear end in our culture/world and isn’t getting up in the foreseeable future. The question for the church is: WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? Several lectures and conversations I have heard recently have been quick to demonize social media. A substantial number of professors I have encountered in a college that trains ministers, are outwardly opposed to it. Likewise, there is no curriculum to train ministers to use it. Regardless of your opinion on the dangers of texting in traffic or the deficits of grammar in today’s youth, it is negligent to conclude that the form of communication among the world’s population is going to miraculously digress to 20th century practices. Communication will continue to evolve, but it is apparent that social media is going to be part of the method. If we cannot embrace social media sufficiently to deliver the message of Christ in a way that a significant portion of the population communicates, we do nothing more than do evangelism on OUR TERMS rather than following the pattern of the Bible.
What do you think?