eMarketer estimates 23 million US moms are on Facebook this year—a figure that counts women with children under 18 in the household who use the site at least once each month. That represents well over two-thirds of all online moms in the country. Overall, eMarketer estimates that just 57.1% of internet users (including children) use Facebook monthly.

What is the significance for the church? The significance is that you now have the ability to reach out to at least 2/3′s of the moms in your local community!

Your church should be using Social Media, and specifically Facebook, to find a way to witness, minister to, and add value to the lives of mothers. Mom’s want you to help them with the home, shopping, their children, organization, balancing life, and a host of other things the church can speak to. Why not start a ministry just to mothers and use Facebook to do all of the advertising and promotion of that ministry? You would probably be an instant hit in your community!

What are some ways you can think of that a church could use Facebook to reach out to mothers?

Leave your comments below.

Here are a few quick ideas that I hope will inspire others:

1. Video interview the Family your church or Sunday School class is helping

If your church or class is going to help a family(ies) at Christmas why not interview them and post it on YouTube / Facebook /Twitter? If it is a dad who has lost his job and the family cannot afford Christmas how powerful would it be to let him tell his story to the camera? How much more support might you get? If they are leery of the camera, interview them for a Facebook note or for your church blog. If your church is helping kids at a local school with Christmas interview the principal and let her tell the stories. Stories make a huge impact when told first hand.

2. Interview the cast of the Children’s Play

Put 3 or 4 of the cast from the Children’s play in a room with a camera and interview them 20/20 style. Let them tell about learning their lines, practice, etc. It will no doubt be a great watch that the church, family, and community would even enjoy. When you are finished, post it on all your Social Media outlets.

3. Interview the Minister of Music and choir members about the Christmas musical.

Do the same as in #2 and let them talk about what the songs mean to them – how their lives have been touched or impacted by the words and the story of Christmas.

4. Post Snippets of the musical or play

If you can find video online of the play or the songs you will sing in the musical post those everywhere to give people a sneak preview. Don’t post 45 minutes worth, but post 3-6 minutes here and there. Create excitement about the event by giving them a little taste of what’s to come.

5. Keep your Holiday schedule flowing

All churches adjust their schedules around the Christmas season. Keep yours posted and reposted on a regular and consistent basis. You can’t tell them too many times what the changes are.

Those are just a few ideas to get you thinking.

Leave your ideas and comments below…

I think the biggest stumbling block is simply buying into the myth that engaging in social media is somehow optional for the church today. It’s a requirement. I have friends who I can call repeatedly without response, but when I message them on Facebook I receive a response in less than three minutes. The way people engage in conversations, commit to attend a gathering, and share their lives is changing — and the church must be at the forefront.

The church cannot afford to drop the ball on Social Media. Too many lives, souls, depend on it.

Think about all you can do in the arena of Social Media:

• engage believers and members
• engage unbelievers in the community
• get your message out via video
• get your message out via print
• discover ministry needs
• Share the gospel
• encourage the saints
• organize small groups for effective communication
• communicate with over 80% of your church body instantly
• ask questions
• get opinions

…and that list is so much longer! Any church would have paid such a high price to be able to do that 10, 20, or 30 years ago – and today it costs nearly nothing!! You would have hired a staff member to do what you can do through social media today!

Pastor – church, you can’t afford to drop the ball on this!

Lives depend on it.

Souls depend on it.

To find out how Acts18Media can help you accomplish all these goals and more for less than 1/120th the price of a staff member check these out:

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But, where does that leave churches? If a church has a Twitter account how should it be used to communicate with those inside and outside the church? Is it a tool the church can use? YES!!

Here are 4 easy ways to get your church started with Twitter (and there are many more):

1. Hashtag your Sermon

That’s right – break your sermon down into small chunks and tweet it out throughout Sunday with your church’s Twitter handle. It will not only get important parts of your sermon out to those who didn’t hear it, but it will serve as a reminder to those who did! Be sure and leave enough spaces so that people can re-tweet it as well. Take about 6 key statements from your #AMsermon and share them all day on Sunday.

2. Make Announcements

Use Twitter to make timely church announcements just like you would on Facebook. Be sure and include links where applicable and urge your members to re-tweet to their lists.

3. Engage the Community

Use Twitter to engage your community. The great thing about Twitter is that it allows your church to connect with people you might not otherwise have a connection with. Follow and engage as many people as possible. Keep a look out on your timeline for ministry opportunities and ways you can connect.

4. Brag

Yep, brag. Brag on church members and the work they do for the church. Brag on the church missions project, community service, etc. Find ways to appreciate people on Twitter and you will be shocked at how much more engaging your church’s Twitter list becomes.

Twitter can be used effectively from a church account. Sign your church up today and get started.

I would love to hear your comments below. Use Facebook or leave a standard comment.

“Like” this post so you can help churches reach more people!

According to the Wall Street Journal the answer is ……. Facebook!

Millionaires chose Facebook over Twitter and LinkedIn – and I was surprised. For a while Facebook has had the reputation of being the Social Media of choice for:

• middle schoolers
• nosy Moms
• Grandmothers

…but not so fast my friend!!

What does that mean to the church. It means we cannot dismiss Facebook as a tool for kids and grandmothers. Often those with means live in communities that are difficult to access – private, gated, expansive, guards, etc. So how do you get in their homes? Facebook may be the key. Your church should have a strong presence on Facebook and should be using it to promote your ministry and share the gospel!

After all, Millionaires need Jesus too! Don’t believe me …CLICK HERE.

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How?

Simple. Facebook is a community where people share things about themselves. We live in  a day where people will often post needs on Facebook before they call anyone else. They will announce the emergency, accident, doctor news, hospital stay, marriage problem on their Facebook status before they call the church  - if they ever call the church!

Here are 3 ways to do ministry on Facebook:

1. Scan Members

If you put all of your members in a list (and you should) spend 15 minutes a day looking at their status updates. You might discover something you didn’t know. It doesn’t take long – even if you have hundreds. Don’t get caught up reading every status and looking at every picture – just scan and make notes.

2. Scan Unchurched

Keep the unchurched people you are friends with in a list and give them a quick look. You might find an outreach opportunity. It may be a visit you could make – a phone call – or simply a wall post.

3. Search keywords

As a back up feature go to the search bar and search keywords like: pray, prayer, hospital, accident, marriage, etc. You might find something you missed and have the opportunity to do ministry.

Facebook is an awesome tool we have been given to help us do the work of ministry. Don’t miss the opportunity.

This year  – that has all changed. BP has released it’s official Twitter hashtag (#sbc20ll or #sbc11 ) and the Social Media coverage is taking care of itself. With all of the Tweeting going on what can the SBC learn (and pastors too!)?

1. Let the conversation take place

It seems that in the past that SBC leaders were afraid of the conversation.  Nothing was officially stated but when you spoke with leaders you had the feeling they were hoping to stifle the conversations taking place. It felt as if the philosophy was to supress the conversation and it would go away. So, entities issued anti-blogging guidelines and employees were told to stay off Social Media. Maybe if the conversations were ignored they would go away.

They did not go away.

They are not going away.

You should not want them to go away.

The SBC and pastors should want the conversation to take place about the convention and about your church. When the conversations take place you find out what people are really thinking. You discover their frustrations. Joys. Desires. Fears. Concerns. Likes. Dislikes. You find out who has a following and who doesn’t. You get to listen to all walks and stations in life. You hear from the young, the old, the retired, the upstart, the newbie and the oldie.

Let the conversation happen. It’s beneficial.

2. Listen to the conversation

You have to listen. Pastors and leaders cannot ignore the conversations. You have to pay attention. Take notes. Think of Social Media conversations as the Textus Receptus of our day! It’s not one tweet that is going to make you change – its the culmination of all those tweets that are going to make you pay attention.

I’m not talking about a knee-jerk reaction to random comments. Just listen. Things are being said. Feelings are being shared. In the midst of all that you may discover something that needs fixed. You may discover a great idea. You may discover an innovator that needs to be listened to and heeded.

Pay attention.

3. Respond to the conversation

How great would it be if after the convention a study was put together of all that was being said on Twitter (Social Media) and a study was done on what Southern Baptists feel need to be changed / done to make our Convention great again?

What if SBC leaders of all entities responded to tweets and comments in the days ahead? What if they answered questions? What if they responded to criticism? What if they celebrated alongside? What if they made phone calls? Wrote letters? Invited people to lunch? Listened? Corrected? Affirmed?

If that happened the feelings among Southern Baptists would immediately change. No one thinks they have all the answers – they just want the comments they have to be heard.

Let the conversation happen.

Listen to the conversation.

Respond to the conversation.

Pastor: You should follow the same plan. Search Social Media to find out what is being said about your church. Encourage the conversation. Listen as your members speak. Respond to what they are saying.

It’s a simple plan that could reap great benefits.

Consider this:

• Baby Boomers are the largest generation
• Baby Boomers sit at the top of most corporations
• 70%k of Law Firm partners are Baby Boomers
• Baby Boomers have more wealth than any other generation

So what does that have to do with the Church and Social Media?

Now consider this:

Half (47%) of internet users ages 50-64 and one in four (26%) users age 65 and older now use social networking sites.

Half of online adults ages 50-64 and one in four wired seniors now count themselves among the Facebooking and LinkedIn masses. That’s up from just 25% of online adults ages 50-64 and 13% of those ages 65 and older who reported social networking use one year ago in a survey conducted in April 2009.

Social Media is not just for the young!

If you want your church to reach out to the Boomers – use Social Media! Use Facebook! Use Twitter!

In your church, how many Boomers are on Social Media?

Leave comments below….

Here’s why – According to Arbitron, Inc & Edison research 51% of Americans age 12 and over are on Facebook!! 51% have profiles on Facebook!

In 2008 that number was only 8%!

So if you are going to reach your community for Christ you need to be aware that you can reach half of them via Facebook. Who would not want to invest in that type of marketing and outreach effort?

If you:

• Hold a church service …. 51% of the community will not come.
• Knock on doors … You won’t get 51% to answer.
• Make phone calls …. no way 51% will pick up (especially if you call the home phone which some people no longer have)

Invest some energy and resources in reaching that 51% (and growing) who will sit in their living room and let you speak into their lives … through Facebook!

Do you know some ways a church can use Facebook?

Leave your comments below….