With the rise of a new pandemic, a new virtual way to communicate has boomed. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more took over as the best way to stay connected in a time of social distancing. As these new developments in our society came crashing like a wave, many found themselves wondering how to continue their daily lives while following such harsh restrictions. One of these changes is, how do I conduct church? Do I just do a live video? Do I do a full worship session? Can I still have my volunteers come on Sunday? These are all good questions to ask, especially as things progress towards a mandatory lockdown sweeping across all states. Not to worry! The answers aren’t as complex or as scary as you may think. Instead, a virtual church can be an easy and adaptable transition to meet the needs of your community.
To live, or not to live.
Facebook live is one of the most recommended and used platforms for churches to easily continue service. But is this the best option? The simple answer is no. Yes it's easy and free and you can just keep conducting service, but it disconnects you from your congregation. Not only are you preaching to just your media team, but you surrender yourself to the mercies of Facebook. Live videos can be unpredictable, unreliable, and can turn your praise and worship into an awkward and uncomfortable session.
The internal microphone of a smartphone is intended for one or two people in a small room. Because of this, a service from the stage will sound like it's being recorded in a tin can. This not only makes the quality of your sermon go down, but it makes it harder for your viewers to listen and follow along with the worship team.
Without the use of good sound quality in a live video, and combining it with WiFi glitches and site crashes, you set yourself up for a disconnection from your congregants.
“So...what should my church do?” Don’t worry, you don’t need a bunch of cameras and microphones and lights to create an elaborate production. I mean, you can if you want and that’s awesome! But it never has to be so complicated or expensive. A simple smartphone and guitar or piano can be all you need to create a warm and inviting Sunday morning at Church. Whether it’s your office at the church, or your living room at home. A small, acoustic worship session followed by an encouraging message is all you need to maintain that sense of community at church. Pre Recording your message limits the risk of technical difficulties and makes it more inviting on a Sunday morning.
Keep in mind that it’s not just your local community, but the whole world can plug in now. We ARE the church. In this time of chaos and anxiety, it’s crucial to remember that the church isn’t a building. It’s a community of people that wraps around the world. Reaching those people in addition to your Sunday regulars is so important when you’re online.
Who Should Come to Church to Film?
I see a lot of pastors inviting half their church because they’re volunteers. Not only is this practice quickly becoming banned in many cities and states, but it can also become divisive amongst your church family. Today the term “essential” bounces around on the internet in the form of memes and jokes. It’s funny, but it can also create a feeling of inadequacy and disappointment. When you gather a group of people who aren’t necessary to the service, it can create an environment of “why aren’t I essential?”
Instead, you only need one person behind the camera, one leading worship, and one delivering the teaching. That’s all. You don’t need the extra bells and whistles. Every member of your church contributes something “essential”. It’s simply impossible to invite all of your volunteers without creating a feeling in your members that they aren’t important or don’t contribute to their church. That’s a dangerous thought to place in people’s heads. By limiting it to only two or three people, you limit the risk of creating a popularity contest.
Don’t Forget About Your Youngest Members.
Many churches are focused on Sunday service and bible study. This is good, don’t get me wrong. But unfortunately we’ve forgotten about our youngest and most impressionable members, our children. They don’t know what is happening in the world, they only see the anxiety of the grown ups around them. Children will match the energy of those around them. So if they see people panicking, they will panic. This means we have a huge portion of our Christian population who are just as nervous or stressed as the grown ups, and no sources for them to look to for comfort.
So while you’re planning Sunday service, don’t forget about the kids. Right now children are plugged into the television and the internet for entertainment. This is the Church’s chance to rise up in children’s entertainment and provide what they’re lacking. They need to hear that everything will be okay, that God hasn’t left them, and that they’re feelings of anxiety and fear are valid. They need the same thing the grown ups are getting.
Recording puppet skits, little worship sessions, craft tutorials, and mini messages for the youngest members of your church is so important right now. 50 years from now those kids are going to look back at when the Covid-19 pandemic hit their community. Their minds and memories are so impressionable right now. We need to make sure we show the love of Christ to them while it feels like people are turning on each other. If you need inspiration, I recommend looking to Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. He understood the best way to communicate to children about what was happening in the world, without building fear or instilling panic.
Keep You Church Connected.
The church right now has a beautiful opportunity to pour light, warmth, and positivity into the world through social media. I know that right now it feels like your news feed is full of politics and fear, but that’s exactly why it’s time to step up. Because everything you are seeing on your news feed is what your congregants are seeing too. The posts that make you angry or anxious are also making your brothers and sisters in Christ angry and anxious. Don’t just disconnect, but use this time to grow closer as a community. Building up your Church’s facebook or instagram page, starting a facebook group with your members, and more can help pour light back into the darkness.
Not only can you share encouraging memes and messages, but you also have the opportunity to make fun and lighthearted videos. Don’t be afraid to get on camera and build a video series that can take the focus off of a burning world. Just because the world is somber and serious right now doesn’t mean the church has to be. It’s time to show the joy we have in our hearts as followers of Christ.
The world is in distress, it’s crying out. People aren’t searching for just Toilet Paper. They’re searching for HOPE! Did you know that in addition to essentials being wiped off the shelves at stores, bibles are in high demand as well? We have a society that is craving hope, love, and peace. Just because your building is empty doesn’t mean your church is empty. The doors might be closed but the world’s heart is wide open. The church hasn’t been emptied, it’s been deployed. Don’t look at how empty the grocery store is, how strict the government is being, or how dumb your newsfeed is right now. Look at those who are in need, who are hurting, and the unique opportunity you have to serve them. Your church and their members have a platform, and the world is watching! So what are you going to put out for them to see?
If you are seeking guidance for you or your ministry, contact us today to schedule a free consultation! You don’t have to figure it out on your own. We are built upon the foundation that you can shine your light into the darkness using the power of social media.
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