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Tom Pounder

Tom Pounder writes practical, immediately-applicable posts on student ministry in digital spaces, online community on platforms like Discord and Rec Room, and the monthly “Online Ministry Insights” series. He has contributed 248 posts to The Church Digital since 2021 — the second-most-prolific voice on the site after Jeff.

Writes about:

  • student ministry online
  • Discord for churches
  • Rec Room ministry
  • online ministry analytics
  • youth digital discipleship
Posts
248
Words written
109,923
First post
Tue Oct 26 2021 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
Most recent
Tue Aug 27 2024 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)

All posts by Tom Pounder

  • 5 Online Ministry Insights from August 2024

    Summer is over and school has started for almost every school-aged child. As families have been busy getting ready for the new school year there has been…

  • Investing in Apprentices

    In ministry, investing in apprentices is so important. See how and why as Christopher Wesley shares. Subscribe to TCD Sidekick , Android , Spotify | RSS…

  • How to Share Your Church's Mission Through Digital Communications

    Digital communication is vitally important in today's world. It gives your church unprecedented opportunities to share their mission far beyond it's local…

  • Tools Needed to be a Digital Minister

    No matter what ministry you are involved in, there are tools that can help you make your ministry more effective. The same applies to digital ministers.…

  • Caring for Others Online

    Caring for others is a great ministry opportunity for all ministry leaders. These are ministry opportunities in-person and online. Online care is…

  • 5 Online Ministry Insights from July 2024

    The summer is almost over and school is getting ready to get started. That means last minute travel plans, back to school preparation and fall sports…

  • Should Your Church Be Using Threads - July 2024 Update

    In July 2023 Meta launched Threads. Threads is the latest Twitter/X "rival" that is primarily text-based and provides a way for people to engage unlike…

  • Using AI for Effective Church Social Media Outreach

    Social media has become an essential tool for churches to connect with their congregation and community. It has become a very effective tool. And now…

  • The Power of Authenticity

    One thing that came out of the Covid pandemic was that people became more transparent, honest and authentic. That really resonated with people. Today…

  • Digital Discipleship Opportunities Over the Summer

    The summer months can be challenging for ministers. There are a lot of staff, volunteers and regular church attenders who are out of town at different…

  • How to Avoid Burnout as a Digital Minister

    Burnout is not something new to ministers. Even before the Covid pandemic happened, ministers burned out at high rates. However, since Covid that burnout…

  • How to Use TikTok for Digital Discipleship

    Since the beginning of the Covid pandemic, reaching and discipling the younger generation requires new and innovative approaches. At the same time, since…

  • Youth Ministry in a Digital World

    Youth ministry has changed a lot over the years, especially since Covid. So what does youth ministry look like today? Steve Cullum joins the podcast to…

  • 5 Ways to Celebrate Freedom in Christ Online

    We have freedom in Christ and we are called to celebrate that daily.

  • 5 Online Ministry Insights from June 2024

    The summer heat is an inferno right now. While the temperatures are hot, there is a lot happening in the digital and online ministry space. To help you…

  • How to Develop Community on Discord

    Community is a vital component to churches. It has been since the creation of the first Church in Acts 2. It is through community that people connect and…

  • How to Reach the Nones in Your Community

    How are you reaching the "nones" in your community? The "nones" are those who do not attend Church, nor do they have any interest in attending. Today…

  • Tools and Apps that Help Ministers Stay Productive

    As a ministry leader, it can often feel like there are never enough hours in the day to get everything done. Between sermon and message preparation, admin…

  • 4 Keys to Sharing a Sermon Online

    Sermons and messages from ministry leaders don't just have to be shared in person these days. In fact, they are often recorded at church live in video and…

  • What's Happening with Ministry in the Metaverse?

    Ministry is happening in the Metaverse and VR. But what exactly? Stuart McPherson comes on the podcast to talk about what is happening and how churches…

  • 5 Online Ministry Insights from May 2024

    Longer daylight, allergies and warmer weather. May really starts to amp up the summer vibes. As summer approaches, there has been a lot happening in the…

  • 4 Digital Tools That Help Enable Pastoral Care and Counseling

    Pastors and ministry leaders have many roles and responsibilities. While many roles seem to take higher priority, providing quality pastoral care and…

  • Key Digital and Online Analytics to Track for Churches

    How do you know if you are being effective in your digital and online ministry? As churches seek to engage with and reach more people online for Christ…

  • What Digital Discipleship Can Look Like at Your Church

    Digital Discipleship has grown leaps and bounds in recent years. And the future is bright for what lies ahead as ministers learn how to continue to use…

  • Why Cybersecurity Matters for Churches

    Churches are increasingly using technology to connect with people, share resources, and facilitate ministry opportunities today. Anything from maintaining…

  • Why Riverside.fm is the Perfect Tool for Your Podcast

    I have been podcasting since 2015. Up until that time, I had just been blogging, But, sensing that podcasts were going to be a great medium for people to…

  • Using Digital Tools for Ministry Leadership Training and Development

    As ministers and followers of Christ, one of our primary responsibilities is to guide and lead others to Christ. However, effective leadership goes beyond…

  • How to Expand Your Online Ministry Reach

    While online ministry has differences to in-person ministry, there is one very specific similarity. That is you want to reach as many people for Christ as…

  • Discord Basics for Your Church

    jeff • May 9, 2024 embed What is Discord and how can your Church utilize it for ministry purposes? Today, Andy Mage joins the podcast to talk about all of…

  • 4 Digital Ways to Make Mother's Day Special at Your Church

    Moms are very special and can make such a huge impact in the lives of their family and children. That is why Mother's Day is so special day. It is a day…

  • 3 Reasons Why Your Church Should Be On YouTube

    In today's world, the internet has become an unparalleled platform for sharing about the hope and love of Christ to others. No matter what kind of…

  • 5 Online Ministry Insights from April 2024

    Spring is a great time...for allergies! While many people struggle with allergies this month, there has been a lot happening in the digital and online…

  • How Digital Can Enhance Church Campaigns

    jeff • April 25, 2024 embed At your Church you can do a lot of things to draw people closer to Christ. Today, Jake McNamara comes back on the podcast to…

  • Why Leverage Discord to Build Online Connections

    Online ministry has become a powerful way to reach people with the hope and message of Christ. As technology continues to advance and develop…

  • How to Train and Equip Your Online Ministry Volunteers

    In the Church there are lots of different ways you can serve. And, with Online Ministry options, there are even more of a variety of options. However…

  • 3 Reasons Why Online Groups are Great for Your Church

    Whether they have been called Life Groups, Small Groups, Community Groups, Discipleship Groups or something else, these groups have been a key component…

  • 3 Ways to Overcome the Summer Attendance Slump

    jeff • April 11, 2024 embed It happens every year. Right after Easter, attendance, when the weather turns warmer and as school ends Church attendance…

  • Speak the TRUTH on Social Media

    Going "viral" was such a huge thing for social media managers and content creators. Actually, it may still be a goal that they strive for. After all, who…

  • 20 Spring Time Social Media Posts Your Church Can Share

    The Spring brings a fresh start and new opportunities for your Church and ministry. This is not just for in-person opportunities but for online and social…

  • Ministry and Caring for the Chronically Ill

    jeff • March 28, 2024 embed While ministry leaders and Churches do a fantastic job caring for those who are sick and in need of help, what happens when…

  • 5 Online Ministry Insights from March 2024

    As the year flips the page and turns to March, warmer weather and the Easter season take priority. And we, at the Church Digital, were warming up, as…

  • Prepare for Online Discipleship After Easter

    Christmas and Easter are two of the biggest Church services that happen each year. They draw Christians and non-Christians, young people and old people…

  • Church Communication Trends for 2024

    jeff • March 14, 2024 embed Communications changes regularly, especially in this digital world we live in. That is why it is important to be in the know…

  • The Power and Potential of an Online Good Friday Service

    Easter services, events and activities are all the focus each spring for Churches. The reality is though, that while Easter gets a lot of attention, there…

  • One Way to Serve Your Online Community

    jeff • February 29, 2024 embed There are a lot of ways you can serve your online community. In today's episode, Sly King comes on and shares about how his…

  • 5 Online Ministry Insights from February 2024

    Love is in the air. While the month of February is a bit colder and chilly, it is also hot as it's the month of love and romance. And we, at the Church…

  • How to Get Started with YouTube

    As the world becomes increasingly digital, churches have an amazing opportunity to reach people with the hope and love of Christ online. While there are a…

  • Tech to Check On And/Or Update Before Easter Sunday

    Easter Sunday is one of the biggest and most important Church services of the year. That is why you have to make sure you have all your equipment ready…

  • Maximizing Your Digital Missionary Impact on Facebook

    People have a love hate relationship with Facebook. It is the most popular social media platform in the world with over. 3.03 billion monthly active…

  • How to Run a Meeting Where Ideas Flow

    As much as people don't like them, meetings have to happen. While people don't often like them, there are creative ways you can run a meeting that is positive and yields lots of great ideas. But how can you do that? Ben Stapley joins the podcast today to talk about it.    Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Android | Spotify | RSS ACTION STEPS: Share your thoughts! What are some other ways you can run meetings that yield lots of ideas? Share below or on Twitter by reaching out to Tom. If you want to connect with Ben, check him out on Facebook or on Twitter. You can also check out his website as well. He is very active on social media so definitely him up if you have a question. Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers. Looking for Digital Ministry Coaching? The Church Digital is offering a variety of digital, phygital or metaverse ministry coaching and cohorts. Just click here. If you are in Digital Ministry, be part of the Digital Ministry Twitter Community. We share daily encouragement and support to help you do ministry in this online world more effectively. Click here to be part of it. Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop Weekly Email. Each Friday get a fresh email with content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics) and be encouraged in how you can minister more effectively in today's world. If you have an idea for a topic or a person for Tom to interview for a future podcast episode, email tom@thechurch.digital

  • Using Online Groups to Reach Your Community this Easter

    It's Easter season! It is one of the most powerful seasons of the year for Churches. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ stands out as history’s…

  • Sharing God's Love Digitally Around Valentine's Day

    With Valentine's Day sparking conversations about romantic love along with the prevalent cultural baggage that entails, it holds great opportunities for…

  • The Power of Asking Questions

    From a very young age you are encouraged to ask questions. Whether you are processing something that has happened or a thought, you are always encouraged…

  • How to Get Out of a Funk

    jeff • February 1, 2024 embed Whether it is a work related one or personal one, we have all been in funks before. And while we have all been in them, it…

  • 5 Online Ministry Insights from January 2024

    A new year brings tons of new opportunities. It also provides some great new resources and tools to help you minister to others online and digitally. With…

  • Why Churches Should Invest in Short-Form Videos

    Short-form video is all the rage, not just now, but for a number of years. Whether it is TikTok, Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts, all those platforms…

  • How to Reach More People for Christ through Podcasts

    Podcasts are a very popular form of media that people like to consume. And, there are a wide variety of podcasts out there. But, when it comes to Churches, the main podcast out there are sermon audio. That is there podcast. Well, today, Justin Herman, the Online Pastor from Mariner's Church in California comes on the podcast to talk about what they are doing, but also to offer other ideas for Churches to podcast about.  Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Android | Spotify | RSS ACTION STEPS: Share your thoughts! What are some other podcast ideas are out there for Churches to do? Share below or on Twitter/X by reaching out to Tom. If you want to connect with Justin, there are a few places you can connect with him. Digital Coffee Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter Get help with Your Church's Podcast with Podcast Cool Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers. If you are in Digital Ministry, be part of the Digital Ministry Twitter Community. We share daily encouragement and support to help you do ministry in this online world more effectively. Click here to be part of it. Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop Weekly Email. Each Friday get a fresh email with content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics) and be encouraged in how you can minister more effectively in today's world. If you have an idea for a topic or a person for Tom to interview for a future podcast episode, email tom@thechurch.digital.

  • 3 Ministry Takeaways from CES 2024

    Every January the worlds biggest brands come together to reveal breakthroughs in technology in what is known as CES (Consumer Electric Show). This is the…

  • How Your Digital Ministry Can Help Your Community This Winter

    As temperatures drop and skies gray, many people naturally experience a drop in attitude as well. Shorter days and frigid weather often translate into…

  • 6 to Seek Out in 2024

    jeff • January 4, 2024 embed Meeting new people and learning from others is something that I really enjoy doing. That is why, ever since 2016, I have been…

  • Two Different Types Of Facebook Ads for Your Ministry to Try

    Facebook Ads are a really important tool for people, businesses and Churches to get the word out about an event or opportunity coming up. In fact…

  • Start the New Year Strong in Your Digital Ministry

    As the calendar turns to January, people usually take time to reset, rest and reimagine what a new year can bring. The same holds true for churches.…

  • 5 Online Ministry Insights from December 2023

    Christmas is a wonderful time of year. The lights, parties, movies, music and celebration of Jesus' birth makes it a great time of year. However, it is…

  • How Amplify Can Help Your Church

    There are a lot of Church Management Systems (CMS) out there. While a lot of them are good, they often are not complete. Enter Amplify from Ministry Brands. See how this one complete solution and empower healthy churches to connect, engage, and grow their ministry. To talk about this is Nathan James who is from Ministry Brands. We talk about how Amplify can help your Church. Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Android | Spotify | RSS ACTION STEPS: Share your thoughts! What are the areas of leadership that you grow most from? Where do you need to invest more time into? Share below or on Twitter/X by reaching out to Tom. If you want to connect with Nathan, you check out the Ministry Brands site and get more information.  Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers. If you are in Digital Ministry, be part of the Digital Ministry Twitter Community. We share daily encouragement and support to help you do ministry in this online world more effectively. Click here to be part of it. Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop Weekly Email. Each Friday get a fresh email with content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics) and be encouraged in how you can minister more effectively in today's world. If you have an idea for a topic or a person for Tom to interview for a future podcast episode, email tom@thechurch.digital.

  • Last Minute Preparations for Christmas Eve

    Christmas Eve services are some of the most well attended Church services every year. That is why Church staffers and volunteers spend countless hours…

  • How to Make Your Online Christmas Eve Service Special

    Christmas Eve services provide a great opportunity for churches to focus on the true meaning of the season, the celebrating of the birth of Jesus. These…

  • How Ministers Can Rest this Christmas

    It happens every December. It's a most festive time of year and Churches are busy. Ministers and their teams are eagerly anticipating celebrating…

  • 5 Digital Ways to Get the Word Out this Christmas

    The colorful lights are up, festive music fills the air, Christmas movies are playing and shopping centers are decorated with lights and trees! Christmas…

  • Premiere Pro Tips for Best Results

    There are a lot of good video editing software out there. While there are many great FREE video editing software out there, iMovie being one of them, Premiere Pro from Adobe is one of the gold standards. To help process how you maximize Premier Pro with some tips, Peter Von Kahle comes on the podcast and shares his insights based on a blog post he wrote, "Master the Art of Editing: 10 Premiere Pro Tips to Elevate Your Video Content."   Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Android | Spotify | RSS ACTION STEPS: Share your thoughts! What are the areas of leadership that you grow most from? Where do you need to invest more time into? Share below or on Twitter by reaching out to Tom. If you want to connect with Peter, you can a few different ways.  He’s on Twitter/X, has an awesome blog with tons of great insights and encouragement.  Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers. If you are in Digital Ministry, be part of the Digital Ministry Twitter Community. We share daily encouragement and support to help you do ministry in this online world more effectively. Click here to be part of it. Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop Weekly Email. Each Friday get a fresh email with content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics) and be encouraged in how you can minister more effectively in today's world. If you have an idea for a topic or a person for Tom to interview for a future podcast episode, email tom@thechurch.digital.

  • 5 Ways to Honor Your Volunteers Over the Holidays

    The holidays are a festive time of year.. From the months of November to January, there is lots to be thankful for and celebrate as we prepare for the…

  • How to Encourage End-of-the-Year Giving at Your Church

    The holiday season is upon us, which means the end of the year is fast approaching. For many churches, this is one of the most crucial times for…

  • 5 Online Ministry Insights from November 2023

    November is often a month associated with being thankful. We give thank for the different blessings in our lives as we spend time with friends and family.…

  • Why You Should Get A High End Smartphone

    Smartphones have developed and advanced so much since their introduction in the 1990s. Yes, you read that right, smartphones have been out for decades…

  • 4 Updates Your Church Website Should Make Ahead of Christmas

    Christmas is coming up quickly! This joyous time of year provides a great opportunity for your Church to connect with your local and online community. One…

  • We are Thankful

    "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." - James 1:17 In James 1:17…

  • How to Incorporate Digital into Your Ministry

    Digital is here to stay. So, how do you incorporate it into your ministry? And, what elements of digital do you incorporate and what do you hold off on? To talk about this is Christopher Wesley. He will share some perspective that will help any ministry leader as they look at incorporating digital into their ministry.    Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Android | Spotify | RSS ACTION STEPS:   Share your thoughts! What are the areas of leadership that you grow most from? Where do you need to invest more time into? Share below or on Twitter by reaching out to Tom. If you want to connect with Chris, you can a few different ways.  He’s on Twitter/X, has an awesome blog with tons of great insights each week. To read the article we discussed, click here. In addition you can learn more about and sign up for the Marathon Youth Ministry University as well. Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers. If you are in Digital Ministry, be part of the Digital Ministry Twitter Community. We share daily encouragement and support to help you do ministry in this online world more effectively. Click here to be part of it. Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop Weekly Email. Each Friday get a fresh email with content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics) and be encouraged in how you can minister more effectively in today's world. If you have an idea for a topic or a person for Tom to interview for a future podcast episode, email tom@thechurch.digital.

  • 15 Thanksgiving Social Media Posts Your Church Can Share

    The Thanksgiving season is upon us! This holiday is a perfect time for Churches to connect with their community and share encouragement and stories of…

  • How to Get Started in Metaverse Ministry

    jeff • November 9, 2023 embed While VR and the Metaverse has been around for a while now, doing ministry in those areas is not always clear. What can you…

  • Maximizing Your Digital Missionary Impact on Instagram

    Instagram has over 2.3 billion monthly users in the world today. It is one of the top 3 social media platforms in the world. With so many monthly active…

  • How Digital Missionaries Can Spread a Spirit of Thankfulness This November

    November is a time when people often pause to reflect on all they are thankful for. As Christians and digital missionaries, cultivating an attitude of…

  • 5 Online Ministry Insights from October 2023

    The leaves are changing color, the temperatures are dropping and s'mores are being toasted over the fire pit. With all that is happening, it can be tough…

  • How Your Church Can Become Digitally Relevant

    jeff • October 26, 2023 embed According to the latest PushPay's " State of Church Tech " report, 89% of churches currently offer both online and in-person…

  • Maximizing Your Digital Missionary Impact on X (Formerly Known as Twitter)

    X, formerly known as Twitter, is a mess. Long time users are getting more and more confused and frustrated by the changes, and the lack of direction and…

  • How to Create and Foster a Positive Online Community for Your Church

    The atmosphere and environment that happens during the playoffs of any sport is amazing. The fans of the home team is loud and they cheer passionately.…

  • Bible Verses Digital Missionaries Can Share Around Halloween

    While pumpkin spice lattes are often front and center during the fall season, the month of October is often associated with something a little bit more…

  • How Magai Can Help Your Ministry

    jeff • October 12, 2023 embed While AI has become known more and more around the world, how to use it currently is still be debated. This is particularly…

  • How Your Church Can Digitally Connect With People Throughout the Week

    Churches have changed a lot over the years. No longer are we meeting exclusively in stone cathedrals and singing hymnals. Rather, churches are in meeting…

  • The Importance of Having an Online Giving Platform for Your Church

    Before Covid hit, there were still plenty of Churches that did not have an online giving platform or option for their Church attendees. However, that has…

  • How to "Fear Not" This October at Your Church

    With Halloween being on the 31st, the month of October is often associated with fear. The month is full scary stories, movies and tv shows that keep…

  • A Time Saving Tool for Your Ministry

    jeff • September 28, 2023 embed Ministers can work 24/7 and still never been finished with the work. That is why when a tool comes along that helps you…

  • 5 Online Ministry Insights from September 2023

    September brought the end of summer and the start of fall. As families are transitioning from the heat of summer to the cool mornings of nights of autumn…

  • How to Get Started Making Videos with a Limited Budget

    Creating videos is a great way to start engaging with people in your online ministry. If you are looking to start incorporating more video content into…

  • How to Use Instagram Stories to Maximize Your Reach

    Instagram Stories have quickly become one of the most popular social media features out there. In fact, Instagram CEO, Adam Mosseri, has said that Stories…

  • The Age of Curation

    jeff • September 14, 2023 embed Starting in the late 1900s, we were living in the Information Age, This era brought about a time period in which people…

  • 13 Fall Social Media Posts Your Church Can Share

    With the fall season comes new opportunities for your Church to engage with your community. This is not just for your Church community but for your local…

  • A Comparison of 6 Leading AI Tools (2023)

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing at a rapid pace. This past year has shaped up to be a groundbreaking year for AI-powered tools and technologies.…

  • 5 Ways Churches Can Use the Metaverse Beyond Outreach

    There has been a lot of talk about the Metaverse over the past few years. The Church has even explored many ways to use the metaverse for ministry…

  • 6 Tips on Creating a Church Email that People Will Open and Read

    Email is one of the most important communication channels churches have to connect with their congregation and community. After all, it is one of the most…

  • A Ministry Opportunity for Caregivers

    jeff • August 31, 2023 embed What are you doing to minister and support caregivers in your community? Who is serving them and supporting them? The reality…

  • 5 Online Ministry Insights from August 2023

    Just as quickly as it started, summer is now over. If children in your area are not already in school, they will be soon. Thus August wraps up a great…

  • 4 Reasons Why Fantasy Football is a Perfect Fall Phygital Ministry Opportunity

    As summer transitions into fall, a unique opportunity for ministry leaders and believers arrives every year. That is the start of fantasy football season.…

  • How Youth Ministers Can Help Teenagers with Social Media

    Gen Z and Alpha are growing up in a world where they only ever knew a world with social media. They are the first generations to do so. And while research…

  • 5 Ways to Get More People Coming To Your Church's Facebook Page

    Years ago, after the 2016 election, Facebook made major changes to what kind of content they were gonna let people see. While they boasted the most people…

  • Should Ministers Use AI?

    jeff • August 17, 2023 embed AI has taken over the world. While not literally, definitely figuratively. From schools to professionals, everyone is looking…

  • 5 Ways to Increase Watch Time on Your Church's YouTube Videos

    There are a lot of video platforms your Church can and should use. While TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube are some of the most popular platforms to…

  • Common Reasons Why Churches Aren't Online and How to Overcome Them

    Before the pandemic, there were a lot of Churches that were not online. It was more abnormal for a Church to be online than it was for them not to be on.…

  • How Your Church Can Support Families This School Year

    Throughout the year there are different opportunities to minister and support families. One of those times, the one that covers most of the year, is the…

  • Creating Digital Systems and Processes for Your Ministry

    jeff • August 3, 2023 embed You can use digital tools to help you so much in your ministry. Today, DK Hammond joins me to talk about how he uses them and…

  • How You Can Use Videos to Train and Disciple Your Church

    Jesus called all people to go and make disciples of all nations. But how? How do you go and make disciples? Churches often help train people to go and…

  • 5 Online Ministry Insights from July 2023

    July is right in the middle of summer. And while there may be a bit of a dip in ministry activities, there is still a lot of ministry learning that can…

  • Online Numbers that Matter Beyond Sunday Morning Numbers

    Tracking numbers is not a new thing for Churches. While it is unknown when number counting started in Churches, it is a good indicator of whether or not…

  • The Differences between AR and VR for Ministry

    Apple created a lot of buzz when they announced their Apple Vision Pro in June. However, even before the announcement, there has been a lot of talk about…

  • The Powerful Impact of Online Ministry

    jeff • July 20, 2023 embed Whether you know it or not, you are making a difference with your online ministry. Today, Brooks Talbott comes on the podcast…

  • Think Ministry Opportuntiy Not Church Attendance

    For the longest time, Church attendance and the offering plate were the ultimate predictors of how your Church is doing. Church is going great if there…

  • 6 Reasons to Keep Investing in Online Ministry

    Over the course of the past few years, since the height of the pandemic has subsided, there has been an interesting trend that has developed. More and…

  • What is Threads?

    Have you heard of Threads yet? Released on July 5th, it has quickly become the talk of the social media town. But, what is it exactly and how can you use…

  • 5 Online Children's Ministry Options for Your Church

    At the beginning on the Covid pandemic, many ministries started doing online ministry for the very first time. Children's Ministries as one of those. Up…

  • Why Outsourcing Is A Great Option for Your Church

    jeff • July 6, 2023 embed Ministry is tough work. There are lots to do and not always enough people to carry the load. So, what do you do when you find…

  • 10 Tips on How to Run an Asynchronous Community

    Discord, Slack and Facebook Groups are all asynchronous communities. These are communities are not bound by time. Rather, they are organized by topic…

  • How to Repurpose Your Old Lessons and Sermons

    What do you do after you share a message or sermon? Do you just hit "delete" on your computer, throw away the hard copy and it's gone forever? Or do you…

  • 6 Online Ministry Insights from June 2023

    It's time for vacations, games of Marko Polo at the local pool and kids attending camps or Vacation Bible School. Summer is officially here and it is easy…

  • Will AI Replace Ministers?

    AI is a huge topic of conversation these days. It’s dominating conversation in all areas of life including work, home and school. Is it right to use it?…

  • What Online Discipleship Looks Like

    Everyday people are connecting in communities. There are in-person communities and online ones. And while the Church continues to debate the effectiveness…

  • What's Currently Trending in Online Ministry (June 2023)

    jeff • June 22, 2023 embed Online Ministry is always changing. What was effective in reaching people online yesterday, may not be effective today. So…

  • Developing a Volunteer Recruitment and Training Plan

    No matter what your ministry is, every ministry needs volunteers. But how do you not only recruit them, but empower them so that they can be long term volunteers? To talk about this, Nick Blevins joins Tom to share how you can do this based on his new book, "The Volunteer Playbook".   Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Android | Spotify | RSS ACTION STEPS: Share your thoughts! How are you using photography for your Church's online presence? Share below or on Twitter by reaching out to Tom. If you want to connect with Nick, check him out on Facebook or on Twitter. You can also check out his website as well. He is very active on social media so definitely him up if you have a question. Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers. If you are in Digital Ministry, be part of the Digital Ministry Twitter Community. We share daily encouragement and support to help you do ministry in this online world more effectively. Click here to be part of it. Looking for a Coach or Guide to help you with social media and other digital ministry tools? Take this quick survey and connect  today.  Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop Weekly Email. Each Friday get a fresh email with content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics) and be encouraged in how you can minister more effectively in today's world. If you have an idea for a topic or a person for Tom to interview for a future podcast episode, email tapounder@gmail.com.

  • TikTok Tips for Your Church

    TikTok has become a huge topic of conversation over the past few years. Is TikTok evil? Is it part of a Chinese conspiracy? Should we ban it? While people…

  • 5 Online Ministry Insights from May 2023

    Pools are opening, birds are chirping, schools are getting out and it's getting warmer. We are in May and while summer quickly approaching, our learning…

  • How to Maximize Your Sunday Service Throughout the Week

    Every week, Churches spend countless hours on 1-2 hours of a Sunday morning. While it's very important to do that, that seems like a lot of hours spent on such a short period of time. What would be ideal is if you could take that Sunday content and supplemental content so that you can encourage people in and outside of your Church and outside beyond Sunday morning. To talk about this, Ben Stapley joins Tom to share why and how you can do that for our Church.   Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Android | Spotify | RSS ACTION STEPS: Share your thoughts! How are you using photography for your Church's online presence? Share below or on Twitter by reaching out to Tom. If you want to connect with Ben, check him out on Facebook or on Twitter. You can also check out his website as well. He is very active on social media so definitely him up if you have a question. Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers. If you are in Digital Ministry, be part of the Digital Ministry Twitter Community. We share daily encouragement and support to help you do ministry in this online world more effectively. Click here to be part of it. Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop Weekly Email. Each Friday get a fresh email with content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics) and be encouraged in how you can minister more effectively in today's world. If you have an idea for a topic or a person for Tom to interview for a future podcast episode, email tapounder@gmail.com.

  • 5 Phygital Summer Youth Ministry Activities You Can Do

    Every season of the year presents new opportunities for youth ministry leaders. The summer is no different. With students being out of school, at camps…

  • 16 YouTube Videos Your Church Can Do

    "What do I even post on YouTube?" That is a common question Churches and ministries ask when they contemplate whether or not they should invest more time…

  • Creating Digital Processes for Better Communication Amongst Your Team

    jeff • May 11, 2023 embed Creating systems and processes is so important for ministry. But, how can you create these digitally so that your whole team can…

  • 4 Ways Digital Missionaries can Still Use Facebook

    If we are honest, most people would probably say that they don't like using Facebook these days. What started off as a way for friends and family members…

  • Volunteer Roles For Your Online Ministry Team

    It takes more than one person to run an online ministry. In fact, the Online Ministry Team consists of many different people doing a variety of different…

  • 4 Tools Online Ministers Can Use to Build Relationships

    jeff • April 27, 2023 embed Can real relationships happen online? They can and Online Discipleship Pastor Justin Herman from Mariner's Church shares 4…

  • 5 Online Ministry Insights from April 2023

    Easter is over and we start to get into the heart of Spring. So what is the latest online ministry insights and lessons learned from the month of April?…

  • 4 YouTube Stats that Matter for Churches

    Is your Church or ministry on YouTube yet? If not, now is the perfect place for your Church to start investing time and energy into it.. In fact, because…

  • 11 Social Media Posts Your Church Can Make for Mother’s Day

    Moms are the backbone of the family. They keep the family together as they nurture and care for them. With Mother's Day is right around the corner, it…

  • An Example of How Phygital Ministry Still Works Today

    The word "phygitial" was a fairly popular term in ministry circles when the pandemic started. However, it is not used as much as it once was when the…

  • How to Get and Utitlze Google Ad Grants

    jeff • April 13, 2023 embed Did you know that Google is giving non-profits $10,000 a month in FREE money to spend promoting themselves? Yes, it's true.…

  • What's Next Now that Easter is Over?

    Ever since Christmas, much of the last few months have been focused on Easter. Hopefully, your Easter season was amazing and that there was much fruit to…

  • Easter Questions Digital Missionaries Can Ask

    Whether someone is a believer or not, the week leading up to Easter always has people talking. They could be talking about an Easter memory, tradition…

  • How to Effectively Communicate with Families

    jeff • March 30, 2023 embed Children's and Youth Ministry has changed a lot over the years. However, one thing that hasn't changed is the importance of…

  • 5 Online Ministry Insights from March 2023

    The weather is getting warmer, it is getting lighter later in the day and allergies are back! Yes, Spring is here! With Spring here, there are new…

  • 4 Post Easter Events Your Church Can Do

    There are three Church services that are traditionally the most attended Church services of the year. They are Christmas, Easter and Mother's Day.…

  • Practicing the Ministry of Digital Presence with Teens

    jeff • March 16, 2023 embed While social media has been a part of youth ministry since it came about, when Covid hit, social media and online ministry…

  • 7 Essential Apps for Youth Ministers

    Youth Ministry is all about relationships. The more effective you are about building and developing relationships with students, families, fellow staffers…

  • Your Easter Prep Online Check List

    So, what could your Church be doing online right now to help people discover your Church and have a great experience at your Church on Easter Sunday. ##…

  • What is Metaverse Ministry?

    Now, over a year and a half later, there still seems to be some confusion over what the Metaverse is. In fact, Tim Cooke, CEO of Apple, recently said…

  • Where to Start on Social Media as a Church Planter

    Planting a Church takes a lot of work. There are people to meet, a team to recruit and train, and other really important decisions to make as you prepare…

  • How Your Church Can Have Engaging Text Conversations

    jeff • March 2, 2023 embed One of the main criticisms Churches face when texting is that it is often a promotional text or simply a text that doesn't…

  • 5 Online Ministry Insights from February 2023

    As technology changes and evolves at a very rapid pace, online ministry changes as well. That is why The Church Digital Podcast Network strives help keep…

  • Diversify Your Video Content

    Video content is really important for your Church to be producing. The pandemic really strengthened platforms like TikTok as people were home for long…

  • Instagram Engagement Tips for Your Church

    jeff • February 16, 2023 Instagram has been in the social media news a lot lately. However, more for what is upsetting people on social media rather than…

  • Why Pastors Need to Be On Social Media

    John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." God…

  • 3 Ministry Takeaways from CES 2023

    CES is one of the most influential technology events in the world. Every January the worlds biggest brands come together to reveal breakthroughs in…

  • How to Fix Common Church Email Mistakes

    jeff • February 2, 2023 embed Email is a powerful tool for your Church to communicate. However, there are some common mistakes Churches make when emailing…

  • 5 Online Ministry Insights from January 2023

    Technology is always changing and evolving. And, it is changing at a very rapid pace. Online ministry is based in technology. And, because of this, online…

  • How to Share about Jesus and Your Faith Online

    We have made so much progress with technology over the past 20 years. What seemed Jetson-ish back then is happening today. For instance, we now have daily…

  • How to Keep Improving Your Online Ministry

    jeff • January 19, 2023 embed Even before the pandemic, people were doing online ministry. And while many Churches have made a lot of investments in this…

  • How Online Ministry Can Save Your Church This Winter

    Almost every year there is a major snowstorm during the winter. When that happens, businesses, stories and Churches shut down, especially if there is a…

  • Blog Posts Your Church Can Make During Winter

    Winter officially starts December 21st and ends March 19th. It happens every year. And while Christmas is always on the front end of the winter months…

  • 6 to Seek Out in 2023

    jeff • January 5, 2023 embed I love meeting new people, especially people that inspire and encourage me. And every year I try to connect, meet and learn…

  • New Tech for a New Year of Ministry

    Technology is always changing. It doesn't matter if it is major change, like a hardware set, or a minor change, like a software update, it is updating…

  • Christmas Blog Posts Your Church Can Write

    jeff • December 14, 2022 <

  • How to Honor and Appreciate Your Volunteers this Christmas

    jeff • December 8, 2022 embed The Christmas season is a special time of year. There are lots of celebrations and opportunities to rejoice. And that…

  • Have Yourself a Phygital Christmas at Your Church

    t's finally here! It's Christmas season time! With that comes a lot of opportunities for your Church to minister to your community. This is not just for…

  • What an Online Christmas Season Looks Like

    jeff • November 23, 2022 embed The Christmas season is upon us. So, what are you planning on doing this Christmas at your Church? In particular, what are…

  • 5 Phygital Thanksgiving Events Your Church Can Still Do

    Thanksgiving is right around the corner! It's a great time of year to be with family, friends and eat lots of delicious food. Because Thanksgiving is such…

  • 4 Areas That Will Help You Grow As A Leader

    Leaders should always be learning. In today's podcast Christopher Wesley returns to talk about how leaders can continue to be learn and grow. In fact, he shares 4 different areas of learning.    Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Android | Spotify | RSS ACTION STEPS:   Share your thoughts! What are the areas of leadership that you grow most from? Where do you need to invest more time into? Share below or on Twitter by reaching out to Tom. If you want to connect with Chris, you can a few different ways.  He’s on Twitter, has an awesome blog with tons of great insights each week. In addition you can learn more about and sign up for the Marathon Youth Ministry University as well. Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers. If you are in Digital Ministry, be part of the Digital Ministry Twitter Community. We share daily encouragement and support to help you do ministry in this online world more effectively. Click here to be part of it. Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop Weekly Email. Each Friday get a fresh email with content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics) and be encouraged in how you can minister more effectively in today's world. If you have an idea for a topic or a person for Tom to interview for a future podcast episode, email tapounder@gmail.com.

  • Ministry Implications from the Oct 2022 Global State of Digital Report

    As mentioned above, there were a variety of insights that can be very useful for ministers. Here are 5 insights that have direct ministry implications…

  • Why and How Should Your Church Rebrand

    jeff • October 27, 2022 embed Stan Rodda is back on the podcast! He is the Lead Pastor at Lee's Summit Community Church near Kansas City. And Stan just…

  • Why Anchor.fm is a Great Podcasting Host for Your Church

    Why are some Churches still not using audio blogging or podcasting? The answer to this question varies depending on the type of Church you are and the…

  • Why Photography is Still Important to Your Online Presence

    Video is vital for your online and social media presence for your Church. But, before there was video, photography was just that. And while video is the "it" thing to post today, having a strong photography presence is really important for your Church. Why is that? Ben Stapley explains in this interview. Ben currently serves as the Executive Pastor at The Life Christian Church and has had a lot of experience in both photography and video.   Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Android | Spotify | RSS ACTION STEPS: Share your thoughts! How are you using photography for your Church's online presence? Share below or on Twitter by reaching out to Tom. If you want to connect with Ben, check him out on Facebook or on Twitter. You can also check out his website as well. He is very active on social media so definitely him up if you have a question. Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers. If you are in Digital Ministry, be part of the Digital Ministry Twitter Community. We share daily encouragement and support to help you do ministry in this online world more effectively. Click here to be part of it. Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop Weekly Email. Each Friday get a fresh email with content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics) and be encouraged in how you can minister more effectively in today's world. If you have an idea for a topic or a person for Tom to interview for a future podcast episode, email tapounder@gmail.com.

  • The Latest Developments in the Metaverse

    On October 28, 2021 the company formerly known as Facebook changed it's name to Meta. This move was a bold statement and ultimately a change in direction…

  • How Hybrid Student Ministry Works in a Post-Covid World

    jeff • September 29, 2022 embed Taylor Terpstra has been doing Online Youth Ministry for the past 2 years. In fact, he is the Online Youth Lead at Sandals…

  • How Meta's Discord-Clone Impacts Your Church

    Meta just recently announced that Messenger and Facebook Groups were going to highlight "community chats". This would allow large Messenger and Facebook…

  • How to Get Started Writing a Book

    jeff • September 15, 2022 embed Have you ever had an idea for a book? What did you do with that idea? Robert Carnes has just completed his third book, "…

  • 5 Ways to Optimize Your iPhone

    New iPhones are being released today and they look awesome! In fact, every Fall since their initial release in 2007, new iPhones have been released. Apple…

  • How to Create Shareable Content for Your Church

    jeff • September 1, 2022 embed While no one knows what it takes for a piece of content to go viral, there are some things you can do at your Church to…

  • 5 Digital Ways to Connect with Students this School Year

    Social media has always been a good way for student ministers to connect with students. But, when Covid hit, student ministers got even more creative and…

  • The Powerful Potential and Impact of Online Ministry

    While Online Ministry has existed long before Covid hit the world, it has highly been a controversial ministry. Many ministry leaders and Church attendees…

  • How to Help People Know and Care About Your Church

    jeff • August 4, 2022 embed Even though your Church may have been a long time in your community, it does not mean that your Church is known in the…

  • Keep Thinking of the Best Way to Minister

    A "Traditionalists" is defined as "a n advocate of maintaining tradition, especially so as to resist change." As a life long baseball fan, I often see…

  • Communication Challenges Every Church Faces and How to Address Them

    jeff • July 21, 2022 embed Church communications is so important in today's world. But, with every opportunity comes challenges. Today, Seth Muse comes on…

  • How to Vary Your Church's Call to Actions

    When people hear the phrase "call to action" they often think in marketing terms. However, making a call to action is something Churches have been doing…

  • Getting Started with Google Analytics

    jeff • July 7, 2022 embed There are a lot of different analytics that you can track for your Church communications. While all of them are important in…

  • 5 Story Posts Your Church Can Do

    Stories on social media have been around for a number of years. Snapchat started them in October 2013. They were so popular that Instagram introduced them…

  • New Research about Gen Z and Faith

    jeff • June 23, 2022 embed Covid has been hard on all of us and have effected us all in different ways. Now, Springtide Research Institute has NEW…

  • How to Use Social Media to Build Brand Awareness for Your Church

    Brand awareness is often a term marketers use. Brand awareness is "the extent to which consumers are familiar with the distinctive qualities or image of a…

  • How to Start a Digital Church on Twitch

    jeff • June 9, 2022 embed When you say the word Twitch, people often think about gaming. In fact, Twitch is often associated with gaming. However, it is…

  • How to Help Our Communities in the Midst of Tragedies

    As much as we would all like to avoid it, the reality is that tragedies happen quite regularly in our communities. They don't have to be huge tragedies…

  • How Student Ministry has Changed Over the Past 2 Years

    jeff • May 26, 2022 embed Student Ministry is always changing. But, over the past few years, it has changed so much more than normal. And that change was…

  • How to Communicate More Effectively to Middle Schoolers

    jeff • May 19, 2022 embed Ministering to Middle Schoolers has always seemed hard. They aren't children anymore and yet they aren't teenagers. They are…

  • 3 Social Media Trends to be Looking at

    Social media is always changing. What is hot one day, is ice cold the next. My Space, Vine and Clubhouse all used to dominate in some area at some time.…

  • How One Digital Missionary is Using Twitter to Minister

    jeff • May 12, 2022 embed Twitter doesn't have the best of reputations amongst people on social media. It is knowns as a place where more arguments happen…

  • How Digital Missionaries Can Use TikTok

    jeff • May 5, 2022 embed Ever since Covid hit TikTok has become the most popular social media network in the world. And this isn't just amongst Gen Z and…

  • 5 Online Communities Digital Ministers Should Be Part Of

    Community groups are great for any and all types of people. They can be a great place to be encouraged, inspired and challenged. Online Groups have become…

  • TikTok Tips for Churches

    jeff • April 28, 2022 embed TikTok has been the hottest social media platform since Covid hit. In fact, it just recently passed 3.5 billion all-time…

  • What the Recent Streaming Struggles Have Taught Churches

    Streaming platforms saw a significant rise during COVID. In fact, there were a few new ones that developed and grew then. Two of the more popular…

  • Digital Tools and Apps that Help Us

    jeff • April 21, 2022 embed "There's an app for that" used to be a common phrase when apps came out and were new for smartphones. And, the reality is…

  • 3 Reasons Why the Metaverse is Worth Exploring for Your Church

    In the Fall of 2021 there was a lot of talk about the Metaverse in ministry circles. Why? Because Meta (formerly known as Facebook) made a big…

  • How to Effectively Follow-Up from Easter Sunday

    jeff • April 14, 2022 embed Easter is one of the most important days in the life of a Christian and the Church. And, it is celebrated all over the world.…

  • Stop and Make Sure You Enjoy Easter

    The two biggest Sundays of the year for Churches and Ministers are Christmas and Easter. They are the two biggest because they are the two most important…

  • How One Church Planter Successfully Launched his Church During Covid

    jeff • April 7, 2022 embed Church planting is hard work. It takes years of planning and praying. However, when a global pandemic hits, it definitely…

  • What We Can Learn From Our Very First Online Only Easter Service

    On April 12, 2020 many Churches across the world experienced Easter Online. In fact, online was the only Easter experience their Church was able to offer…

  • 5 Easter Preparation Tips for Your Church

    jeff • March 31, 2022 embed Considering that Easter is one of the biggest Sundays of the year for Churches, Staffers and Volunteers spend countless hours…

  • 4 Online Next Steps You Should Have for Easter

    Easter is approaching and with it comes a lot of excitement. Not only has Spring arrived with the weather turning warmer and the grass getting greater…

  • One Way to Minister to Gamers

    jeff • March 24, 2022 embed Just like in any Church, there are lots of different types of people who are online and participate in online ministry. There…

  • What the 1st Generation iPod has to do with Church Online

    On October 23, 2001, Apple released arguably their most important product ever. It was the iPod. Up until the release of the iPod, Apple was known…

  • How to Create an Engaging Online Easter Experience

    jeff • March 17, 2022 embed Easter is fast approaching. While a lot of Churches are focused on in person Easter services, there are lots of different…

  • Digital Ministry Encouragement Heard at Exponential 2022

    The Exponential Conference was helped in Orlando, FL. This year's theme was EMPOWERED, moving in line with the Holy Spirit's leading. That really…

  • How to Break the Covid Bad Work Habits

    jeff • March 10, 2022 embed Going through covid changed a lot of the ways we have done life and work. And while our lives improved in some areas, we also…

  • 4 Ways to Connect People in Church Online

    Carey Nieuwhof once said in a conference I attended, “The church that connects people is going to eclipse the church that just gathers people.” Connection…

  • How to Help Parents in a Tech World

    jeff • March 3, 2022 embed Parenting was always tough work. But then you add technology into the mix and it become a bit more challenging. The reality is…

  • 5 Actions Digital Missionaries can take during the War in Ukraine

    Every time a tragedy or incident around the world happens, Church Social Media Mangers will almost always post a "Pray for...." image. By all means, we…

  • What Online Only Student Ministry Looks Like

    jeff • February 24, 2022 embed Churches have been doing student ministry for decades. Over that time, what student ministry "looks like" has changed and…

  • Why Consistently Doing Story Posts is Important

    Back in 2018 .Mark Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO of Meta said “the Stories format is on a path to surpass feeds as the primary way people share things with…

  • Why Google Search Matters for Your Church

    jeff • February 17, 2022 embed Why is Google Search so important for your Church? What does it do and how does it help you reach more people for Christ?…

  • Encouraging Digital Ministry Quotes from the Engage Conference 2022

    Last week the ENGAGE Conference 2022 happened. It was another great year of amazing presentations that inspired thousands of ministry leaders. During this…

  • How to Create an Online Ministry Team

    jeff • February 10, 2022 embed No ministry can be done by a single person. You need a team of people around you to help you be as effective as possible in…

  • How Prayer Warriors are Perfect Digital Missionaries

    There are many different kinds of digital missionaries. There are those who use social media to create content that inspires and encourages others. Those…

  • The Value of Doing Community Research for your Church

    jeff • February 3, 2022 embed In every business, organization or Church strategy is important. But, in order for the strategy to be effective, research is…

  • 6 Facebook Ad Tips to Improve Effectiveness

    Facebook Ads are a great way to get your message out to the community. But what must you do to be effective? How can you possibility use them to reach…

  • How Strategy Directly Impacts Online Effectiveness

    jeff • January 27, 2022 embed Strategy is so important in anything we do. Over the last 2 years a lot of online ministry has been throwing stuff at the…

  • Themed Text Groups that can Start the Online Discipleship Process

    Online groups come in a variety of forms. Facebook Groups and YouVersion Bible Study Groups are ones that have been very effective in the past for my…

  • Email Tips to Help Your Church Communications be More Effective

    jeff • January 20, 2022 embed Emails are a part of everyday life. You send and receive tons of them. But how can your Church send an email that will be…

  • CES Products to be Watching this Year

    The Consumer Electronic Show is an annual show that happens every January. It is the premier tech show each year and is essentially a "proving ground for…

  • New Tech Trends to Monitor in Your Online Ministry

    jeff • January 13, 2022 embed A new year is upon us and with the new year it is great to evaluate where we are in ministry as well as what lies ahead.…

  • What TikTok's Online Dominance Means for your Church

    TikTok has overtaken Google! You've read that right. TikTok has overtaken Google in 2021 as the most popular website according to Cloudfare . In addition…

  • 6 to Seek Out in 2022

    jeff • January 6, 2022 embed Since 2016 I have been highlighting 6 people you, as ministers, should follow on Social media. They are people/groups I've…

  • Why 2022 is the Year Churches Should Be Exploring the Metaverse

    Did you know what the number 1 downloaded App was from the Apple App store on Christmas day? It was the Oculus VR app . That is Meta's app for their very…

  • Last Minute Christmas Encouragement for Ministers

    jeff • December 23, 2021 embed Christmas is just 2 days away and for some of you Christmas services may have already started at your Church. With all that…

  • What Ministry Leaders Can Learn from Urban Meyer's Firing

    On January 14, 2021, the Jacksonville Jaguars hired Urban Meyer to be their Head Coach. Last Wednesday night, December 15, 2021, the Jacksonville Jaguars…

  • How to Create a Digital Guest Pathway

    jeff • December 16, 2021 embed Creating guest pathways in ministry is so important to keeping guests at your Church engaged and coming back. It's…

  • 15 Christmas Social Media Questions Your Church Can Ask

    Christmas is fast approaching! People are hustling and bustling around getting gifts, partaking in parties and creating memories with their families. As…

  • How to be Social Media Savvy as a Student Minister

    Youth Ministers are responsible for a lot. Over the past few years being social media savvy has become one of the most important things Youth Ministers need to be concerned about. After all, students are on social media all the time. Knowing what to say, how to say it and how to act is so vitally important.  That is why Dan Istvanik is on the podcast today. Dan is a Student Ministry Veteran of over 23 years and has written a blog post on why it is so important for Youth Ministers to be social media savvy. In this episode we cover some of the blog post, hitting on some really important aspects of social media.  To follow along, check out the blog post here.  Also get a FREEBIE Student Ministry One Night Resource from Dan - "Uncommon Cents"   Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Android | Spotify | RSS   ACTION STEPS: Share your thoughts! What are your thoughts on being social media savvy as a student minister?Share below or on Twitter by reaching out to Tom. Connect with Dan. If you want to connect with Dan, check him out on Facebook. You can also check out his website as well. He has a ton of writings and resources on that page so check it out. Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers. Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop to get content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics). If you have an idea for a topic for a future podcast episode, email here.

  • 4 Digital Christmas Activities Your Church Can Do

    Christmas gives Churches so many opportunities to minister and support people. The great news is that with digital tools and platforms you can do them…

  • Rediscover Reading as a Way to Learn

    jeff • December 2, 2021 embed People learn in a variety of different ways. They enjoy podcasts, lectures, videos and reading. Yes, reading. While lots of…

  • How to Prepare for the Christmas Crunch

    Christmas! It happens every year and it's wonderful. For ministers it is our opportunity to create experiences and remind people of God's love through the…

  • Being Thankful in 2021

    Did you know that having an attitude of gratitude improves your mental and physical health? It does and stats prove it. Statistics show that when you…

  • How to Make a Transition from a Traditional Ministry Position to Online Ministry

    jeff • November 18, 2021 embed Before Covid hit there were very few Online Ministers. Sure, you had some Communication Directors and Social Media…

  • 4 Stats about how Social Media is Social Ministry

    Churches have been using social media for a number of years now. Some Churches really embrace social media as an opportunity to reach the unchurched and…

  • How Your Church Can Use Podcasting

    jeff • November 11, 2021 embed Podcasting is not new. In 2004 Adam Curry and Dave Winer are credited with inventing the medium and by 2013 Apple announced…

  • How Student Ministers Can Reach Gen Z in a Phygital World

    Student ministry has been around a long time. I'm not sure if there was a first official student ministry meeting was but there are some records of…

  • The Breakdown of an Effective Social Media Post

    Can you post this for my ministry? Can you share about this event? Can you put this up on social media?    Church Social Media Mangers are bombarded with a variety of social media requests from different ministries all the time. That's not to mention all the stuff they need to share on their own to-do list.   So how do you determine what to share, when to share it and what it looks like? Adam McLaughlin joins me on the podcast today to talk about the breakdown of an effective social media post for your Church.       Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Android | Spotify | RSS   ACTION STEPS: Share your thoughts! Where are you at with your online ministry? What are your next steps? Share below or on Twitter by reaching out to Tom. If you want to connect with Adam you can read his blog here and get some FREE ebooks here. You can also find him on Twitter. He is very active on social media so definitely him him up if you have a question. Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers. Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop to get content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics). If you have an idea for a topic for a future podcast episode, email here.

  • What does the Metaverse Mean for Your Church

    Into the Metaverse! On Thursday, October 29th, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the Corporate name "Facebook" will be rebranded to the name…

  • What to do Now with Your Online Ministry

    We are now almost 2 years into COVID. And with that many Churches and ministries are now almost 2 years into Online Ministry. As more Churches are asking what is next for Online Ministry at their Churches, I have invited Ben Stapley on the podcast to talk about this with me.   Ben Stapley is the Weekend Experience Director at Christ Fellowship in Miami, Florida. Ben shares with us Church Online Flowchart. We discuss this flowchart in detail as it really helps Churches and ministries decide what their next step is in Online Ministry. Do they continue with it or not? And, if they do continue with it, what are the options for Churches out there.    As you process what your next steps are in Online Ministry, use this flowchart with your online team and Senior Leadership as a way to help decide what works best for you.    Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Android | Spotify | RSS   ACTION STEPS: Share your thoughts! Where are you at with your online ministry? What are your next steps? Share below or on Twitter by reaching out to Tom. If you want to connect with Ben, check him out on Facebook or on Twitter. You can also check out his website as well. He is very active on social media so definitely him up if you have a question. Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers. Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop to get content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics). If you have an idea for a topic for a future podcast episode, email here.

  • What the Gruden Emails Highlight for Ministers

    In case you missed it, Jon Gruden resigned a few weeks ago from the Las Vegas Raiders due to a series of emails that were leaked to the public containing…