In the world of digital and social media church communication there are many individuals doing some great work and paving a path forward that the church has not been yet. Some of these individuals you may have had interactions with or have even seen a product of their work. Others might have slipped through the radar as they continue to work in the trenches of church communications. I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight them. Here is a small window into their world.
Steven Fogg is the Communications and Church Online Pastor at Crossway Church in Australia. He is also the host of the #cmschat on Thursdays at 9pm on Twitter. I first connected with Steven on Twitter through the chat on Thursdays. If you have yet to join one of the tweet chats I highly recommend them. They are great opportunities to connect with others doing church communications. Here is my interview with Steven.
MH: Steven you have been working with communications and the digital side of ministry for sometime. How did you get started in doing so?
SF: Previously, I had been in the creative marketing/advertising services agency world working as a Creative Director.
Originally, I thought I was being led into pastoral ministry so I started out as an intern in our life groups ministry. But that didn’t work out. Then I was tapped on the shoulder and offered the comm’s role 10 years ago.
MH: After all this time doing church communications, what excites you most about your job?
SF:Recently it has been to put my digital and social media strategy skills into practice after launching our online campus. We now have 13 Sunday services with over 2,300 people who show up since launching August 2015.
I’m now our Church Online Pastor as well as the Comm’s Pastor. A fun growth of the role.
I haven’t felt like I’ve been ‘working’ for 10 years now. My job isn’t a job, I don’t feel like I’m clocking on or off. It just feels like something I do, not work if that makes sense!
MH: With every job there will me moments, in the midst of the excitement, that are not fun and at times can be very difficult. What is one of the hardest things to deal with?
SF: I think it has to be having tough conversations where we can’t do what people want us to do.
The people I work with are more than colleagues and we just want to serve them well.
MH: Absolutely. Steven there are many who are just starting out in Church Communications. As someone who has been doing this for quite some time what is some veteran advice you can give them?
SF: 1) Spend time investing into your ministry relationships.
1) Get to know the people and their passions outside of the actual working project time. Working with people you know and get on with helps you when you are working on projects together.
2) Get friends who don’t attend any church to go through your church’s communications touchpoints like your website, Sunday services and get them to review them. See your new world through their eyes. Very helpful!
MH: Love those suggestions. The relationship piece is so important and something that cannot ever be overlooked in what we do. Steven I have one more questions. It really has nothing to do with church communications, but I enjoy hearing all the responses. So what is your favorite cartoon character?
SF: Growing up with Pepé Le Pew. Man that guy knew how to sweep a girl of their feet 🙂 Joke!
MH: If only the real thing was as adorable as the cartoon Pepé Le Pew. Steven thank you for joining the interview series and we are so grateful for your words of wisdom and what you do for the church and church leaders.
You can connect with Steven online and be sure to join the #cmschat tweet chat on Thursdays at 9pm.
Website: http://www.stevefogg.com
Facebook: stevefoggblog
Twitter: stevefogg
Instagram: stevefogg
Snap Chat: stevefogg
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