This is part 10 of a 10-part blog series on HOW TO GET YOUR MINISTRY ONLINE. You can follow the DIGITAL SKATEPARK tag or go back to the intro post for links out to the rest of the series.
< See the previous post in the series
A TWO-WAY STREET
The Internet is no longer about simply receiving information. People go on line for connection and interaction. So it would be unwise to simply make lots of announcements via social media without actually being social. Aim to appropriately interact with the users in your youth community and likewise ask for interaction, feedback, votes, suggestions, submissions, likes and shares from them.
MAKE SOME NOISE!
One of the great things about social media is the opportunity to create noise. Lots of the noise created online is annoying or ungodly. But as the people of God, we have the opportunity to make noise about our gatherings. You can do that as a youth leader but likewise your youth can become champions for your ministry and Christ as they interact online. Teach them how to point their friends to the good things happening in your ministry and the good news of Jesus. They can do this as they share photos/quotes/excitement and as they check in to your youth group online.
The church is the most significant organisation on earth. It’s the only gathering that will go on into eternity. We have a reason to be excited and we have amazing tools to be able to share our excitement. So make some noise – both online and offline – for the One who has gathered us by his blood.
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This series forms the basis of a chapter I wrote in a forthcoming Youth Ministry book to be published by Anglican Youthworks. The rest of the book is written by Scott Petty (Youth Minister from Christ Church St Ives) and is published here with permission.