2 reasons you should harness the power of social media

Ben Marshall Nov. 14, 2018

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There is a popular phrase: “Churches that love their method more than their mission will die.” The idea is that a church that is uncompromisingly attached to a particular way of doing things has likely forgotten the reason they started doing that particular thing. This conversation includes regular youth group meeting, Sunday school on Sunday morning, Sunday evening services and many church ministry “traditions.” 

If we are too attached to a method, our mission will fail. 

The method must change because the medium for sending the message is constantly changing. The medium of the day? Social media.

This is the platform we must embrace if we desire to move the mission forward. Why? Here are two reasons you need to harness the power of social media for the good of your mission:

1. Everyone is using it

The sheer number of people on social media platforms is astounding. According to recent statistics, there are 2.27 billion monthly active Facebook users. Fifty percent of 18- to 24-year-olds log on Facebook when they wake up and 42 percent of marketers report that Facebook is critical or important to their business. These are massive statistics. 

If you are not leveraging the power of social media, you are missing a vast reach. Leadership, especially biblically sound leadership, is not just about the number of people we can reach (the breadth), but also the depth of that reach. When we engage online, specifically through social media, we are able to go wide and deep. The words, images, videos and stories we share have a lasting impact because they are not going anywhere. 

Warning: The trap of distraction

Because everyone is utilizing social media, it can be incredibly distracting. Sometimes people get sucked into it and have a hard time looking away, putting the phone down or being present. Even as we harness the power of social media, we must be careful not to let social media distract us from our mission.

2. Online precedes physical

The reality is, with the limited amount of time and an increasing number of activities available, people are more choosy when it comes to attending an event or committing to an activity. They are likely to check something out online before attending. How many times have you done the same thing? If people check out a church online before they come, we need to harness the power of social media and put our best foot forward. The internet is the front door method that moves our mission forward. 

Warning: Online can’t replace physical

The online can’t replace the physical. Social media is inherently social, but it is also isolating. It isolates individuals behind screens while giving the illusion of community. However, the online world can never replace the real world. We need people. We need face-to-face interactions where we can physically lean into a conversation, provide a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on or a high five or hug to celebrate. The online world can never replace the physical, and the physical world is never going away. 

We must harness the power of social media, but with the plan to have control over the tool and not let the tool control us and to move people toward face-to-face community and engagement.

Photo source: istock 

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Ben Marshall is a Pastor at Pathway Church in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. He works with teenagers and young adults. He is passionate about leadership and raising up the next generation of biblical leaders. He is a blogger, guitar player and sports enthusiast. Ben currently resides in Beaver Falls with his wife Connie and their two daughters, Aliya and Sophie Learn More »

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