In this episode, Jonathan Malm gives some practical steps and insight on utilizing digital platforms and social media for discipleship and encouragement. He also shares some of the foundation for a book he co-authored with next week's podcast guest, Jason Young, called The Come Back Effect, focusing on hospitality both for church on campus and online.
Jonathan Malm
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Notes
Social Media focus for churches:
- Social Media comes first
- Moving towards discipleship and encouragement (supports ministry)
- Season Kits for sermon series
- Focus on making it easy for the overwhelmed graphics person/team
What are you seeing that churches should focus on in this season?
- Digital Discipleship
- If we don't have them in our services, we don't really have steps for them to follow Jesus
- Ministry looks different on social media, so our 35-minute sermons may not work on those platforms
- ***Discipleship happens over time; through social media, how do you help people take one small step toward Jesus?
- Create content that meets people where they are
- Examples of Digital Discipleship WINS:
- Instagram Carousels
- Questions with
- Deep content that is quickly digestible (topics below)
- Shame
- Loneliness/Isolation
- Fear/Anxiety
- A desire for influence/impact
- Anger/Forgiveness
- Selfishness
- Sadness
- Personal: Money, Diet/Exercise, Work
- Spiritual Disciplines (holiness, prayer, fasting, worship)
- Rather than starting something, church leaders maybe just jump on and watch/consume to better understand Gen Z
The Comeback Effect:
- Expansion of the book Unwelcome
- Entirely hospitality minded
- Tendency to think about the “functional” things and the checklist
- Parking attendants, bright shirts for kids workers, etc.
- Instead, look for opportunities to connect with people and recognize the negative emotions people may be facing
- Understanding hospitality ONLINE
- When people come to church, it's like them coming into our house
- When we stream live, they are now welcoming THE CHURCH into their house
- We surrender control
- Don't prompt them to get coffee
- Affirm their potential situations and help people know they belong
- Showing diversity and values
Action Items
- Check out Sunday Social,
