Your Digital Infrastructure & Why It Matters

Nowadays, if your church is not online, it doesn't exist! I know that's a bold statement because of course it exists and is probably beloved within its local community, but what about your online community?! What about those who want to interact with your ministry, but will never walk through the doors of your church?

We cannot expect everyone to walk through our doors searching for Jesus, we have to take Jesus to them. And I believe that technology affords us so many opportunities to do just that. But, you must begin to build and invest in your digital infrastructure. Here are 3 ways to begin enhance or building your digital infrastructure.

Social Media

Back in the day, I remember how the local church would canvas the neighborhood going from door to door inviting people to join them for worship or to attend their latest Bible Study or kids camp. Today, Social Media is the platform that can be used for canvasing the neighborhood. But, instead of only reaching your neighborhood, Social Media gives you access to Billions of people. So leverage the opportunity. Create digital door knockers! Gather a few people from within your congregation or within proximity of your ministry or organization and employ them to be ambassadors for your ministry. Give them access to your social media accounts. Let them find creative ways to tell people about what you're doing.

This is not to suggest that you should only use social media to promote events happening at your church because...no...PLEASE. DON'T. USE. IT. FOR. THAT. REASON. ONLY! (more on that in a future post). However, build your social media accounts in a way that enables you to engage people in your neighborhood and around the world.

Livestream

These days, especially for my generation (Millennials) and the generation coming behind me (Generation Z), if it didn't happen online, it didn't happen! I am fully aware that not all ministries have the capacity to stream a feed that looks like Elevation Church or The Potter's House. That being said, everyone has an HD camera in their pocket. Start there! Open Facebook on your phone, hit the "Go Live" button, and capture what is happening at your church. This is what my church did until we could build up our infrastructure. Our very first Facebook Live stream of our worship service was shot on my cell phone. Everyone starts somewhere, but the key is to start. BUILD!

Weekly Digital Communication

The way we communicate has so vastly changed throughout the years. We must invest in systems that will allow us to communicate and connect with our members beyond the Sunday sermon. Here are a few systems that will enhance your digital infrastructure.

Text Message - Signing up for a text messaging service can take your ministry to the next level. It puts you in instant communication with your congregation and is a great way to spread information fast. Here is a great text messaging system: Flocknote

Website - Your Website is the hub for all things regarding your ministry. Invest in it. People will often visit your website to get a feel for your ministry before they visit your physical building. Take advantage of that. Make them feel welcome before they decide to come to your physical building. Here is great option for building a free website to start: Squarespace.

Church App - I haven't always been an advocate for church apps; primarily because they aren't always developed well. However, if you can invest in the development of an accessible, innovative and inviting app, please do! Apps are another way of placing your church's latest information in the pockets of your members and organization partners.

Why does a digital infrastructure matter? It's simply for me. Because digital technology is not going away. It is only going to advance. AND the church should advance with it! Leverage these different technologies to build your digital infrastructure in a way that communicates and advances your organization's passion, mission and message.

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