Socialcam may be trying to be the Instagram of video, but for those of us involved in church, it might be even more effective.
There are many ways to use Instagram in ministry, and we’ve talked about a few of them here on ChurchMag, but if a picture is worth 1,000 words, how many words is a moving picture worth?
Benefits
The benefits of social video are many, but there’s at least three:
- Video tells more of the story
A picture effectively tells part of the story, but a video gives the background behind the picture. The audience can see and hear what is happening, and it allows them to be “in the moment” with the person who is shooting the video. Mobile video does this well, especially when it is uploaded quickly.
- Video shows personality
The Church is made up of people, all of whom have personality. The more personality we can show, the better. Nothing shows personality on the web more than video. - Video is becoming more and more popular online
According to Cisco, mobile video may account for more than two-thirds of all mobile data consumption by 2015 (via ReelSEO). If this is true, it will be even more natural for people to consume video on a mobile device, giving us even more opportunities to share life and minister to each other.
Ideas
With these things in mind, I’ve been considering ways to use Socialcam and other quick, mobile videos for ministry. Here are some ideas I’ve come up with:
- Attractive announcements
Ministry leaders can shoot out announcements on video showing what things are going to be like. For example, a children’s ministry leader could make a quick video from the set of Vacation Bible School asking for prayer for what’s going to take place there in the following week. - Shared discussions
A discussion question from Sunday’s sermon or Bible study could be sent on Monday, inviting responses on social media sites like your church’s Facebook page or Twitter feed. - Service Projects
If a small group is involved in cleaning up a local park, a quick video from the location will help other members of the church know what’s going on and how they can be involved the next time.
One of the best things about online video is that there isn’t an expectation that it will be professionally polished and produced. It is a simple video that you shoot, edit, and upload directly from your smartphone, but these kinds of videos can help build community and tell the story of what God is doing in your Church.
What ideas do you have to include quick, social video in your ministry?
Let us know in the comments below.
Dale Aceron says
I’ve been testing out Socialcam for personal use but never thought about using it for the church.
Great idea. Will need to explore good uses for it and not just to do it.