Online and Offline Resources
Conferences, workshops & guidelines
- Staff guidelines for social-media best-practices, created by The Orchard (EFCA), Barrinton, Ill. (For a copy, email Claire Bechard, director of communications and congregational life.)
- Biola Digital Conference—plan for this annual event each June
- Half-day workshops by Sean Matthew O’Brien, EFCA church planter (Church in the Round, launching in Cleveland, Ohio, in fall 2014) and owner of Vidage Creative Media. Sean leads social-media workshops throughout the Texas/Oklahoma District, including:
- “YouTwitFace”—Leveraging YouTube, Twitter and Facebook to catalyze church growth
- “@POMO Social: Communicating to postmoderns using social media”
Books, websites & cool links
- Video clips: “Technology and Social Media in Ministry”—talks by Ian Dent, senior pastor of Camden Crossroads Community Church (EFCA) in St. Mary’s, Ga., where he’s addressing leaders in the Southeast District. Part 1 (2012) is available on YouTube. To access Ian’s detailed notes from his Part 2 (2013) presentation, contact him via email.
- Digital Kids Initiative—providing parents and youth workers with information and resources to navigate a digital world, including the “Family Digital Covenant of Conduct.”
- “Just Who Uses Social Media? A demographic breakdown,” a powerful infographic produced by the Pew Research Center.
- Check out the weekly Twitter-based chat about using social media to build church and faith.
- Read about Barna Group’s research into social-media use among pastors and their churches.
- A fast-paced look at the revolution of social media.
- Is your church tech-savvy and awesome? Take this survey.
- “How To: Social media series” by blogger Dustin Stout, a self-avowed social-media enthusiast, technology addict and church youth director.
- The Big Bible Project offers a rundown of how to get started with different social media platforms.
- Have you ever participated in Internet Evangelism Day, or held a digital-outreach training day in your church?
- Churches are using the Internet as a “delivery system” for small groups, Christian education and leadership development. Technologies available for this include RightNow Media, Ministry Grid and Moodlerooms.
- “18 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid From 6 Non-Profit Social Media Experts,” by blogger Steve Fogg (April 18, 2013).
- From the Garden to the City: The redeeming and corrupting power of technology, by John Dyer
- Platform: Get noticed in a noisy world, by Michael Hyatt
- Unique: Telling your story in the age of brands and social media, by Phil Cooke
- The Definitive-ish Guide for Using Social Media in the Church, by Bruce Reyes-Chow
- Branding Faith: Why some churches and nonprofits impact culture and others don’t, by Phil Cooke
- Alone: Finding connection in a lonely world, by Andy Braner (social media among teens)
- Going Social: A practical guide on social media for church leaders, by Terrace Crawford
- Outspoken: Conversations on church communication, by Tim Schraeder
- Tweeting Church: Good news in only 140 characters, by Paul Alan Clifford
Understanding the strategy
- The iChurch Method: How to advance your ministry online, by Jason Caston
- Ministry in the Digital Age: Strategies and best practices for a post-website world, by Dave Bourgeois
- The Social Media Gospel: Sharing the good news in new ways, by Meredith Gould (coming July 2013)
People Worth Following
- The Gospel Tweet
@jeffvanderstelt
@andyarodgers (EFCA) - The Leadership Tweet
@daveferguson
@larryosborne (EFCA) - The Encouragement Tweet
@rickwarren
@bradsarian (EFCA) - The Prophetic Tweet
@alanhirsch
@prestonsprinkle (EFCA) - The Church Plant Tweet
@chriswienand
@jakebrower (EFCA)
Tweeting re social media
- Matt Brown
@EvangelistMatt - Jamie Millard
@jjmillard - John Saddington
@Saddington - Justin Wise
@JustinWise - Tom McFarlin
@Tommcfarlin - Chris Oien
@Coien - Mashable
@mashable - Jared Erickson
@alliswell
Websites for keeping a pulse on news, innovations & trends
Websites for church best-practices & faith-technology explorations
Online and Offline Resources
Conferences, workshops & guidelines
- Staff guidelines for social-media best-practices, created by The Orchard (EFCA), Barrinton, Ill. (For a copy, email Claire Bechard, director of communications and congregational life.)
- Biola Digital Conference—plan for this annual event each June
- Half-day workshops by Sean Matthew O’Brien, EFCA church planter (Church in the Round, launching in Cleveland, Ohio, in fall 2014) and owner of Vidage Creative Media. Sean leads social-media workshops throughout the Texas/Oklahoma District, including:
- “YouTwitFace”—Leveraging YouTube, Twitter and Facebook to catalyze church growth
- “@POMO Social: Communicating to postmoderns using social media”
Books, websites & cool links
- Video clips: “Technology and Social Media in Ministry”—talks by Ian Dent, senior pastor of Camden Crossroads Community Church (EFCA) in St. Mary’s, Ga., where he’s addressing leaders in the Southeast District. Part 1 (2012) is available on YouTube. To access Ian’s detailed notes from his Part 2 (2013) presentation, contact him via email.
- Digital Kids Initiative—providing parents and youth workers with information and resources to navigate a digital world, including the “Family Digital Covenant of Conduct.”
- “Just Who Uses Social Media? A demographic breakdown,” a powerful infographic produced by the Pew Research Center.
- Check out the weekly Twitter-based chat about using social media to build church and faith.
- Read about Barna Group’s research into social-media use among pastors and their churches.
- A fast-paced look at the revolution of social media.
- Is your church tech-savvy and awesome? Take this survey.
- “How To: Social media series” by blogger Dustin Stout, a self-avowed social-media enthusiast, technology addict and church youth director.
- The Big Bible Project offers a rundown of how to get started with different social media platforms.
- Have you ever participated in Internet Evangelism Day, or held a digital-outreach training day in your church?
- Churches are using the Internet as a “delivery system” for small groups, Christian education and leadership development. Technologies available for this include RightNow Media, Ministry Grid and Moodlerooms.
- “18 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid From 6 Non-Profit Social Media Experts,” by blogger Steve Fogg (April 18, 2013).
- From the Garden to the City: The redeeming and corrupting power of technology, by John Dyer
- Platform: Get noticed in a noisy world, by Michael Hyatt
- Unique: Telling your story in the age of brands and social media, by Phil Cooke
- The Definitive-ish Guide for Using Social Media in the Church, by Bruce Reyes-Chow
- Branding Faith: Why some churches and nonprofits impact culture and others don’t, by Phil Cooke
- Alone: Finding connection in a lonely world, by Andy Braner (social media among teens)
- Going Social: A practical guide on social media for church leaders, by Terrace Crawford
- Outspoken: Conversations on church communication, by Tim Schraeder
- Tweeting Church: Good news in only 140 characters, by Paul Alan Clifford
Understanding the strategy
- The iChurch Method: How to advance your ministry online, by Jason Caston
- Ministry in the Digital Age: Strategies and best practices for a post-website world, by Dave Bourgeois
- The Social Media Gospel: Sharing the good news in new ways, by Meredith Gould (coming July 2013)
People Worth Following
- The Gospel Tweet
@jeffvanderstelt
@andyarodgers (EFCA) - The Leadership Tweet
@daveferguson
@larryosborne (EFCA) - The Encouragement Tweet
@rickwarren
@bradsarian (EFCA) - The Prophetic Tweet
@alanhirsch
@prestonsprinkle (EFCA) - The Church Plant Tweet
@chriswienand
@jakebrower (EFCA)
Tweeting re social media
- Matt Brown
@EvangelistMatt - Jamie Millard
@jjmillard - John Saddington
@Saddington - Justin Wise
@JustinWise - Tom McFarlin
@Tommcfarlin - Chris Oien
@Coien - Mashable
@mashable - Jared Erickson
@alliswell