5 Ways to Use Social Media for Evangelism
Evangelism is one of the most important witnessing tools that the Church has at its disposal. Without a church's evangelistic efforts, many of us may not know Christ today. As technology consistently emerges as a tool worth utilizing in our churches, ministries, and organizations, we must explore ways to effectively and efficiently use technology to advance our evangelistic missions. While face to face encounters with people who are seeking to make a decision about Christ cannot be replaced, there are ways to use social media to advance our evangelistic efforts. Here are five ways you can begin using your Social Media platforms for evangelism.
Make Your Message Portable
Portability is so important in our culture. People want it now, fast, and on-the-go. While we are charged with maintaining the integrity of our message (the Gospel), we are also charged with finding new and innovative ways to convey that message. One of the ways that you can do this is by making your message more portable. Make your message portable by placing it on various social media platforms where people can access it on their phones, tablets, computers, and even in their cars. Portability is all about making the content accessible, smaller, and easily digestible; therefore, brevity is also important.
2 minutes or less sermon clips and 30 seconds or less promo videos often receive thousands of views not always because of the content (although good and engaging content matters), but because brevity is an algorithm's dream. Whether we like it or not, the algorithm on digital platforms often plays a role in who sees our content and who does not. If it is eye catching and engaging enough to "stop the scroll", people will STOP, and the more people stop to engage with your message(s), the more love the algorithm will show you because it will deem your content as relevant. While there is a place on social media for content that is longer in length, when we are thinking about how to use our message(s) to evangelize and engage, remember portable content, that is easily digestible and accessible, will likely go further than content that is not.
Respond to Comments
Once you have people engaging with your content, it is important to show them how grateful you are to have them as a part of your online community. Show genuine concern for the people who are taking time to watch your livestreams, comment on your content, and share your events or posts with their friends. Thank them for worshipping with you if they are watching one of your worship services via livestream, reply to their comment(s) if they are engaging with your content during the week, and "Slide into their DM's" and invite them to take next steps to becoming a member or finding out more about your ministry. For those who are encountering your content for the first time and have not necessarily made a decision for Christ, your engagement with them in the comment section and beyond, can possibly lead to their YES to Jesus.
Tell Your Story
What's happening around your ministry or organization? What's happening in the life of your members? Share those testimonies! There is a page on Facebook called The Humans of New York and their sole purpose is to share the stories of people who occupy the city of New York. They share the testimonies of people who have had to endure hardships in life, but have triumphed over them or are seeking aid and community support to do so. They provide an excellent model for how churches can find creative ways to tell their own stories and the stories of their members. Take a picture of someone in your local church, share a brief and encouraging story about their faith journey with your online audience and notice how your online engagement will increase. Sharing your story and the stories of your members can often serve as the catalyst for your online evangelistic efforts.
Meet A Need
The church, while there to provide spiritual guidance to the community, is often called upon to meet other needs within the community; whether those needs are mental or physical. The church can use its social media platforms to help people transform their entire life, not just their spiritual lives. Offer financial literacy online classes, host self-development workshops, create online support groups and make it available to members of your local and online communities. Then promote it using Facebook or Google Ads. You may be surprised by the interest your ministry can garner by simply meeting a need. It was often what Jesus did; he met a need and then he presented the Gospel to them.
Just Post
Finally, post! - Post something. Anything. Just post. Start with a scripture, then maybe post the lyrics to your favorite hymn. Be consistent in posting. Build a digital body of work, maintain the integrity of your message, and watch the Gospel do what it does...bear fruit.
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