The conversations of social media for churches should never start with how to get more followers or improve engagement. For ministries, the concept of these networks should begin and end with the Gospel and everything that comes with it. Join us as we explore this topic with Meredith Gould as we explore topics of worship, evangelism, community, and discipleship in this week’s interview.
What Does It Mean To Share Gospel On Social Media?
- Social Media and Theology
Within her book Social Media and the Gospel, Meredith does not start the discussion on church’s strategies, what tools to use, or when a good time to post should be. Instead, she talks about the idea of how theology, sociology, and social media integrate together. The reality is that we see social media as something less than a way to share the Gospel. It is a marketing service to get people in the doors, yet we are missing the mark of being relational with people, telling the story of Jesus Christ, and letting the world know about the rich love that God is offering to us. For Meredith, social media starts with looking at it through “the God lens.” - Social Media Can Be A Ministry
The goal of social media should be about relationships as we understand what it means to know people, be in community, and be a Christian brother and sister in Christ as we live life. In many ways, this can be your digital ministry to those that your church or ministry connects with other people and organizations. It then becomes a mode of accountability, support, and encouragement that you can be to others every day. Respond to posts that are sounding like they are struggling, pray through a tweet for those that need it or ask, and share in the joys of positive posts with those you have befriended online. - You Need To Be Invested in #ChSocM
Twitter’s hashtag explosion has resulted in a great church tool through twitter chats with the #ChSocM tweet chats. It’s a community through Twitter that is prayer based, theologically oriented, focused on deepening peoples relationships with God, answering the tough questions, and being a light to others on social media. It is an ecumenical process that is open to all to join and a great digital example for ministries on social media that should be consistently emulated.
Meredith Gould
- Meredith Gould Online
You can find Meredith on her home website, her favorite social network Twitter or the other big ones, Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn - Don’t Be That Church Meredith does have several videos online that used the xtranormal platform to animate some great church technology and communication thoughts like “Don’t Be That Church with Social Media” and “Getting A New Website” that you can find here.
What questions do you have on social media and the Gospel? What do you think churches are getting correct and how can we improve?
Tehpriest says
Great stuff. I am really only beginning to use social media for the church although I personally have used it for years. The Anglican denomination that I am a priest in has barely moved on from the quill so it is an uphill struggle to get anyone to see it’s importance. I do not use it for evangelisation but simply for presence. ‘Being’ in the world today must also include ‘Being’ in the social media world and as the church where I minister has been largely marginalised and is thought of little relevance to a majority of people the only way it can fully integrate and make it’s presence known is through the social networks that the majority of the people here are engaged in.
seventy8Productions says
When you say you feel marginalized, are you saying by the community or by the denomination? In some ways, social media may help, but I would also say that depending upon your answer to my question, there may need to be some kind of tact to what you do on social media.