I’m moderating #chsocm on Twitter tonight @ 9:00 p.m. If you are a church-ie social media type, just join in on Twitter with the search and hashtag #chsocm. It’s pretty easy to join in. Just keep #chsocm in your search on Twitter and follow the conversation.
My topic tonight will be centered around social media listening and responding post-election: Continue Reading…
Churches and organizations will face an opportunity where social media can greatly impact how you respond to a crisis. Whether the crisis is a natural disaster, community problem, or an internal church conflict, how a message is crafted can produce positive results if done correctly.
During the recent #chsocm chat that I moderated, our church social media group discussed the best practices for using social media during a crisis. Here are my 4 topic/questions that we discussed:
Here were some good ideas and responses to the topic of using social media during crisis:
I’m moderating #chsocm on Twitter tonight @ 9:00 p.m. If you are a church-ie social media type, just join in on Twitter with the search and hashtag #chsocm. It’s pretty easy to join in. Just keep #chsocm in your search on Twitter and follow the conversation.
My topic tonight will be centered around handling crisis within the church using social media.
A lot of you are wondering, “What the heck is #chsom?” It’s Church socialmedia. #ChSocM (ch-sock-em) is a weekly Twitter-based chat about using social media to build church and faith. Welcoming, informative, ecumenical. Tuesdays, 9PM, ET. Commentary, interviews, transcripts, and fun stuff on the blog.
My good Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest friend Meredith Gould started the Twitter chat topic/community about 2 years ago. Since then, it has grown into a weekly meet up for lay people, pastors, seminarians, and social media church geeks (that includes me).
Don’t be a non-participate observer! Join in! (I loath the word “Lurker” or “lurking” for social media listening. It’s too creep-stalker-ish. See you tonight on #chsocm!
Last night I moderated #chsocm [It’s Church socialmedia. #ChSocM (ch-sock-em)] on Twitter, which is a weekly chat about using social media. We had a great discussion around the topic of viral social media stories, pictures, videos, etc… I enjoyed the experience. I sought to guide the discussion towards how church leaders in social media can use viral content for engagement. To my amazement, the discussion sometimes lacked ideas on how to use viral social media content.
I asked, “What viral “churchy” or “non churchy” news/video/pictures have caught your social media attention recently?”
The responses were broad: Vine, recent general news stories, and other current events topics. One person said:
T1 In our circles “going viral” is more bouncing around the echo chamber. Not sure there are #chsocm Bieberisms
— Beth Felice (@bfelice) May 29, 2013
In general, the term “viral” means: an object or pattern that is able to induce some agents to replicate it, resulting in many copies being produced and spread around. (wikipedia)
There were a few people who understood what I was asking for:
T2: We typically don’t. Sharing viral vids or even “hot topics” questions haven’t proven very thought-provoking in our spaces… #chsocm
— Marcus A. Cylar (@pastorcylar) May 29, 2013
We’re excited to get 50 RTs on an evening prayer. Does that count as viral? #chsocm
— Episcopal Church (@iamepiscopalian) May 29, 2013
@alanrud T3: @toddrhoades / MondayMorningInsight.com is a good place to follow trending stories. #chsocm
— Paul Steinbrueck (@paulsteinbrueck) May 29, 2013
T3: Mashable. Twitter. BuzzFeed. Radian6. @mashable. Did I say Mashable?#chsocm
— Episcopal Church (@iamepiscopalian) May 29, 2013
Many included using Facebook and Twitter for viral content, but there were others who don’t use Mashable, Stumbleupon, Buzzfeed, Reddit, or NewsWhip. This told me that some church leaders are not utilizing viral content into ministry, preaching, or evangelism. Those videos or stories that are feel good, funny, shocking, or just plain strange can help spark social media interaction. Viral social media bits can be shown in worship, shared on Facebook, or used in a small group.
This realization of mine was educational and not judgmental. I realized that there is an opportunity for church leaders to use viral social media stories for more than just laughs. Viral social media content can be shared, analyzed, used as a discussion starter, or to lighten the mood. Non-tech people can still take part if the content is show on video or printed out.
Church leaders don’t have to make viral social media content but they can copy it (legally of course) or put their own spin on it. Videos like the Harlem Shake or a Jesus photobomb can make it easy for church leaders to share or create their versions. That is part of why something goes viral. When the content is copied, shared millions of times, and spawns imitators.
I think most of us know what makes something viral worthy. Some responses during the chat included:
@alanrud Grabs immediate attention #chsocm
— Thomas W. Healey (@ThomasWHealey) May 29, 2013
T4 Essential element to go viral: taps into some kind of universally recognizable/relatable thoughts or emotions. #chsocm
— MeredithGould (@MeredithGould) May 29, 2013
@alanrud T4: It’s gotta be unique and emotional – funny, surprising, moving.#chsocm
— Paul Steinbrueck (@paulsteinbrueck) May 29, 2013
#chsocm T4 Hmm, I think dramatic content (life loss, harsh pictures), significance (weather or polit events affecting many), or humor
— Caroline Carson (@Conductor222) May 29, 2013
Viral social media content is an easy way for church leaders to grab attention, engage an audience, or just spark an idea. So go ahead! Use that viral social media nugget for yourself and your ministry!
I’m moderating #chsocm on Twitter tonight @ 9:00 p.m. If you are a church-ie social media type, just join in on Twitter with the search and hashtag #chsocm.
A lot of you are wondering, “What the heck is #chsom?” It’s Church social media. #ChSocM (ch-sock-em) is a weekly Twitter-based chat about using social media to build church and faith. Welcoming, informative, ecumenical. Tuesdays, 9PM, ET. Commentary, interviews, transcripts, and fun stuff on the blog.
My good Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest friend Meredith Gould started the Twitter chat topic/community about 2 years ago. Since then, it has grown into a weekly meet up for lay people, pastors, seminarians, and social media church geeks (that includes me).
Don’t be a non-participate observer! Join in! (I loath the word “Lurker” or “lurking” for social media listening. It’s too creep-stalker-ish. See you tonight on #chsocm!
Even though 89% of American households have a Bible, the number of those who read it daily is very low. A new study released by Lifeway Research revealed what may be one of the many a sources of church attendance decline. Only 19% of church goers read their Bible daily. About 18% said that they never read their Bible.
The study found that:
While the majority of churchgoers desire to honor Christ with their lives and even profess to think on biblical truths, a recent study found few actually engage in personal reading and study of the Scriptures.
The hot religious craze now is spiritual individualism, which has had a direct impact of the spiritual development of Christians. Though Christians or non-church going Christians may claim they are very spiritual, they most likely have not grown spiritual at all. You may be able to read a Bible at home, but how can you learn without guidance? The spiritual but not religious moment is focused on how individual trumps the religious community.
So how are we to draw these spiritual folk back to a religious community?
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