Error 404: Making Sense of Tech
- How Does Technology Help Me To Be Human? (1)
- Reach The Lost On Social Media (2)
This kind of article will often open with some ridiculous statistics to argue the case that social media is a big part of life and needs to be considered but I don’t think that’s really needed anymore.
We can’t escape social media. It’s on the bottom of advertisements, it’s on TV shows, it’s in your notifications every time you pick up your phone. It’s probably the way you keep in touch with family and friends, certainly more distant family or friends.
Yet it also poses a danger. Social media platforms are designed to be addictive and to keep users coming back, ultimately to be able to show more content from the advertisers that make them their money. Algorithms can create echo chambers of thought, or worse can present users with unhealthy and dangerous content.
So, what are we to do as Christians? Should we delete all our apps and choose abstinence? Should we continue to use them with boundaries in place? Both are fair responses but neither addresses the fact that social media is the world that millions, if not billions of lost people live in. They are looking to social media for purpose. They are looking for meaning. They are looking for answers.
Social media presents an opportunity for the church to reach the lost in a way that has never been possible before – a way for believers to be lights shining in the darkness.
So, as we, and our churches, look to reach the lost, here are two ideas to consider.
From marketing to ministry
Social media is full of businesses trying to sell their products and shouting about their brand. Yet the most successful social media accounts are the ones who don’t sell, sell, sell but who give value to their followers.
It can be tempting to follow this pattern with church accounts. Churches naturally use Facebook, Instagram, or whatever other platform to ‘sell’ themselves.
‘Come to church this Sunday’
‘Join our mid-week group’
‘Meet for our prayer evening’
If we want to reach the lost, this isn’t going to interest them. Instead, shift your social media messages from proclaiming your church to proclaiming the gospel of Jesus: both to those who don’t know him and to those who are in your congregation.
Could your church’s social media account give the answer to the questions people are asking?
Point people to Jesus, not to your church, and when someone wants to find out more about Jesus, be ready to welcome them into your church.
Be a storyteller
Our attention is being fought for by all manner of things. The things that win out are usually things that affect the emotions and draw out a feeling.
The church is full of great stories of transformed lives and great stories are perfect for grabbing attention on social media.
Reach out to your church to find people willing to share their story online. It might be an article on your website, a photograph with a caption, or even a video testimony. Real-life stories can be very powerful in drawing people to the gospel.
A helpful and simple formula for communicating a testimony is:
Life without Jesus
The moment of meeting Jesus
Life with Jesus
Prepare a script together that is not too long, record an audio voiceover of the script, and then film some footage of the person telling the story and going about their business. Most modern smartphones are capable of this, and the video can be put together using free video editing tools too.
Once the video is finished and published, encourage your church members to share the video too. Aim to make your transforming story of faith in Jesus viral!
