Protecting Reputations Online
Educational video provider, Common Craft
has created an excellent new video about protecting reputations online. This information is excellent for youth, college students and anyone new to the social media realm. For the seasoned social media veterans, it is a good refresher on the power of our work online.
As we connect with and minister to individuals online, it is imperative that we both protect and educate them to avoid things that will tarnish their reputation or the image of others. In regards to Christian influence online, it is also important to teach Christians to refrain from activities that would hinder the spread of the gospel or taint people’s view of the Lord’s body. Likewise, conversations and debates over theological and doctrinal issues need to be seasoned with grace and wisdom. People decades from now will be able to read those comments. How will they be perceived?
Watch Protecting Reputations Online. Share it with others. May our presence online always bring glory and honor to our Lord and Savior!
http://www.commoncraft.com/protecting-reputations-video
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.
Survey Report 2
Part 2 of 3 reports over the data collected in the survey we conducted earlier this year. We discuss the participants concerns about Church Blog Theory.
Thank you for your participation. If you would like to discuss the results in more detail, please feel free to contact us via email at churchblogtheory@gmail.com
Survey Report 1
Part 1 of 3 reports over the data collected in the survey we conducted earlier this year. We discuss the participants feedback on the 3 goals of Church Blog Theory.
Thank you for your participation. If you would like to discuss the results in more detail, please feel free to contact us via email at churchblogtheory@gmail.com
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?
Upcoming Church Blog Theory and Social Media Ministry Webinar
There have been a number of people desiring to attend one of our presentations but but have been prevented from doing so due to time and geographical obstacles. In response to this, we are conducting our first Webinar on Monday, November 30th, 2009 at 7pm. Use your phone to hear the audio presentation while watching the visual presentation online. We hope you will join us.
Details - Is the use of social media valuable to 21st century ministry and evangelism? Is it biblical? How do I get started? Join us as we discuss the significance of social media to our culture and how it relates to our commission to make disciples of all nations.
Call into the number listed below on the day and time of the Webinar and enter the code.
Date: |
Monday, November 30, 2009 |
Start Time: |
07:00 PM Central Std Time |
Dial-in Number: 1-219-509-8111 (East Coast)
Participant Access Code: 855673
To see the visual presentation online visit the following link during the webinar.
SharePlus Link
LinkedIn is a social networking site for the business community. It boasts more than 45 million users worldwide. If you are a business professional, you have probably had some experience with LinkedIn already. If not, it would be beneficial for you to learn more about it. I liken it to Monster.com meets social media. It is encouraging to note that the Christian community is growing on LinkedIn and ministers are slowly beginning to use it as a tool to connect and share ministry opportunities with one another.
However, I would like to mention a very subtle but powerful way to share your faith on LinkedIn. There is a tool that allows the user to import and display their blog on their LinkedIn profile. For a Christian producing a faith-based blog, this is a great opportunity to deliver thought provoking spiritual material to colleagues.
Steps:
1. Sign in to LinkedIn
2. Click “Edit Profile”
3. Choose “Add Application”
4. Click “Blog Link”
5. Follow Blog Link Directions
For more information about LinkedIn, read this and watch this YouTube video.
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?