No value in social media; I’ll let you in on this private email…

I got an email today from a friend of mine in Shreveport, LA. He thought his content could be classified as a rant. I classify it as a motivating challenge. With permission, I’m sharing his email with the world.

“I have learned that the vast majority of our church members are clueless [about social media].  I’m actually okay with that.  However, I also know that we (my church) also don’t know any people outside church.  Can you believe that?!  We have so insulated ourselves that the majority of us literally don’t go anywhere that doesn’t surround us with other church people. You think I’m kidding…I’m not.

THE QUESTION: Nobody is ever going to search for our church Twitter account so they can follow it. Why would they?  And since only a few of our people even know what Twitter is, our church membership certainly isn’t going to follow it.  So why then should I spend any time at all working on it?  

In an effort to tangibly demonstrate to my church the magnitude of the people around us who don’t have any connection to church, I developed a billboard campaign that shows a head shot image of an expressionless middle aged man along with the simple question:

          Where can I find hope? 

Below the question, this appears:  Text GOD to 25827. 

This single billboard, located at the second busiest intersection in the city, went up on Jan. 27, 2010.  As of noon today there have been 1,214 specific cell numbers gathered from this effort that are not registered within our own database already. This tells me that nearly 25 new people a day, who are nameless to us, are taking the time to stop and send a text message to find out the answer to that question. This billboard is less than a mile from our church.

No effort in the history of this 80 year old church has garnered that number of potential candidates for salvation. 

MY ANSWER TO THE QUESTION: There is a lost and suffering society all around us without hope. A high percentage of them actually use Twitter and Facebook. Since I know they don’t have an interest following our church, I’m going to follow them instead.  Using the search tools, I’m going to purposely follow anyone and everyone who posts anything on Twitter within 10 miles of our zip code. I’m going to do this with the prayer that some of them will in turn follow us. And even further that some of the people who follow the people we follow will want to follow us (confusing I know…draw a picture if you need to).

In all honesty, much of what is posted on the twitter accounts I’m now following is very objectionable. I want to lead old school believers to an understanding that not only is it okay for the church to do this, we’re supposed to. What I know to be true is the best way to fill your own cup is to fill someone else’s. Since I know these people are not going to come to me, I’m going to go to them.

I wrote (very quickly I might add) a brief statement to this affect on our web site. Let me know what you think.

What do I think? Well done, Allen. You are not stuck on yourself. You are loving others and listening to what they have to say. Well done.

Comments

[Sarah Holbrook]

Just getting into twitter for our church and loved the ideas. I found Erin's post interesting to. It is about relationships and meeting people and understanding their stories. Twitter and Facebook are some people's only way of being relational. We have to do all types of evangelism.

[Kerri]

Great idea! Thanks for the post.
Social media is the wave of the future; the next generation of followers are integrating modern communication tools and networks into their lives daily--more like hourly!
Churches and pastors need to get on board for an engaged community, without a doubt.
I actually can recommend a tool that will make this very easy for pastors: http://www.sendingword.com. SendingWord consolidates Twitter, Facebook, digital phone calls, email and text messages into one easy site. Pastors can send one message to congregates, who will receive church news, scripture passages, etc. however they choose. A simple, affordable streamlined tool to help churches get on board!

[Cher Lorentz]

What a fascinating idea. I believe anyway we can bring hope, which is Christ, to people looking is worth the effort. Doing it with something creative like this is great as well as building a relationship with the person living in the house next to you.
Blessings

[DerrickP]

This is no more spamming than handing out flyers or going door to door like some churches do. It's actually less invasive than forcing me to get up from my couch, pause my Seinfeld DVD, put on a shirt and go to the door... only to then tell the guy that I already go to a church. He then says, "Which church?" We get into a discussion about my church. Then he finds out that I work there and he asks what I do on a daily basis. Eventually, we end up exchanging emails and I go back to "The Pick" episode from Seinfeld. Yes, Twitter is much less invasive. I prefer he just follow me. I can block him if I want to (which I wouldn't do). I can follow back if I choose (which I might). But I like the idea. "Go" and make disciples. Don't wait for them to come to you.

[nickhoss]

Great post, Kem! Thank you for sharing.

[Jallenhendrix]

The billboard I referred to in my letter to Kem now appears on the bottom of this page: www.broadmoor.tv/media I wanted to also answer Bryan's question about the texting. As soon as someone texts the word God to 25827, they get a return text that shares a Bible verse that answers the question. The verse changes weekly. We do of course keep the numbers in a database and people are also offered a way to opt out. So far only 12 people have opted out of the system. We will use the database for mass text messages only in very special cases. Our goal for this campaign is specific in that it's not about getting contact numbers to "push" information about our church. We have other "opt in" short codes for that. This is about showing people the Word of God is relevant. It can answer questions... even via a text message.

[Marvin]

This was a great idea. I am in the process of implementing it myself. Thanks for sharing the story.

[Prudence]

@Bryan Likley They are probably going through an organization like Blood Water Mission.

@Brianckaufman hope you guys get a huge turn out. Cheering you on from the other side of the city.

[hope hammond]

that is awesome! gives me some things to think about!

[renaissance costume]

Your a great person my friend. Trying all those things just to spread hope and the love of God is just exceptional. I hope you continue to do God's will and I really hope you succeed in every endeavor you have.

[Christopher Hopper]

Vision is sacred. Method is not.

I love anything that reaches people. Period.

And Kem, any chance we could see that billboard jpg? I want to pitch this to my staff. Fabulous idea.

ch:

[Erin Moore]

I'm sorry, @Lynn, going down a list and hitting "follow" is not "outreach," it's spamming.

Kem, your friend started out his email saying his church knows nobody outside of their church and ends it with validating himself by saying he'll follow them on twitter and all will be better. He's wasting his time. Social Media isn't something you can effectively halfway and its definitely not something you can do effectively if you're not social to begin with.

Pull the computer out of the wall, and go out into your community. Shake some hands, learn some names, invest actual time in people and earn the right to be heard. That's how you minister to your community, not by eavesdropping on what they're saying on Twitter.

Also, don't be shocked when the people you follow on Twitter write something "objectional." They're sinners, just like we are, except they aren't convicted of it yet. What did you think they're going to write.

[Bryan Likley]

Great observation about the lack of social interaction with anyone outside of the church property.
What did the people get as a response to the text from the billboard? Was it just a way to get the info to follow them on twitter?
@Brianckaufman : I'm extremely interested in how your church got the idea and how you plan on offering fresh water to that many people. How can I get my church involved in that cause?

[Broadmoortwit]

Amy, we use this tool: http://search.twitter.com/advanced

[Amy]

How does one find Tweeters within a 10-mile radius of church?

[Dani]

I seriously know nothing about Twitter, but what I do know is that God has comissioned us to reach out to the saved and unsaved alike and just because we're "saved" doesn't mean we don't have questions. I think you've ( Allen ) opened a door that many now will feel free to walk thru, thanks to God!

[Kem Meyer]

What a great story!

On the go...sent from my phone. 

[Stewart]

I've been on twitter for about 1 year under "bangkokpastor" because I'm a pastor in Bangkok. It's been a great way to connect with people who otherwise wouldn't have anything to do with a church. I've done something similar to what your friend is doing. I follow anyone posting in English in my area.
As a result, I've developed some good relationships with people who hate God. (these guys aren't neutral!) It started by engaging provocatively with a guy who was trying to bait me into an online fight.
What's interesting is that AFTER developing a trusting relationship and responding with humor, joy and fun (instead of anger, defensiveness or rudeness) - there is now a whole group of anti-Christians who now refer their friends who have spiritual questions to me. In some ways they are playing a crucial role in evangelism. A role many (most?) of my own church members are too afraid to do.
It's a strange and beautiful world.

[Lynn]

Brilliant! This is actually what it's about: outreach, not indrag. You described our church, and I'm pleased that your approach seems to be catching on with our new pastor, too. :)

[Jama]

Wow -- just starting with church twitter and that's a fantastic idea!

[Brianckaufman]

Sorry, the commercial link didn't seem to post correctly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpnKdHgBmJI

[Danny Bixby]

Great, great idea

[Taylorholmes]

Fire it up... and tear it down. I love this. It is so - 'wise as serpents, innocent as doves' in its approach.

The question I have is how do we violently overthrow & regenerate the world's systems for God's? Social media is actually kinda silly, at the end of the day. But if that is where the world is going then how do we beat them at their own game?

Kudos Allen. Well done.
Taylor

[Brianckaufman]

I agree - the church has insulated itself. We are in the midst of a building grand opening and are attempting to invite the community to come be a part. We are not so naive to assume that Christians and non-Christians alike will flock to us because we think we are so fantastic.

So, instead we created this commercial (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpnKdHgBmJI) and used social media and other tools to push beyond our church bubble and connect with an audience we constantly try to reach but know very little about.

By the way, I really like the idea to follow anyone within a 5-10 mile radius. I think I'll implement that - starting now!

[Josh Ploch]

I think that billboard is a great idea. I agree and disagree, but it is one of those things that I think just depends on your area. While some areas or groups do not use social media, others live on it (think National Community Church in D.C.). I also have another angle that I view social media platforms. Often, especially when churches get larger, the pastor does not have time/ it isn't feasible to personally interact with each person who attends. Blogs, twitter, and facebook often allow people to get to know the pastor on a more personal level.

[Dawn Nicole Baldwin]

Van--Jarbyco.com is a good resource.

Kem, thanks for sharing. What an awesome idea. There's so many churches struggling with this question and I absolutely love Allen's approach.

It's not about you. It's about them.

[Danielle]

Alan...so proud of you. This is incredible.

[Van Klimetz]

Anyone know the tool/service to use to get a SMS number like that?