A questionnaire-based research study into social media evangelism by Christian Vision has just been published. CV’s Andrew Flynn comments, “It basically confirms that Christians are aware of the opportunity to evangelize online but need help in how to – but that they are already a lot more engaged relationally than perhaps we sometimes give credit for.”

View the results including a summary infographic.

This study highlights the need for training sessions – either as regional training days, or as church-based seminars.

In UK, regional training days are being held in various cities. If you are offering such training days in any country, we can add them here.

Ready-made curriculum?

There is also surely a need to create a ready-made social networking curriculum with downloadable materials, that any church or group could adapt and use for their own member training? If you are a church, what would you like such material to cover? If you are involved in social media training, how do you do it? Please add your comments here.

Learn more

Our page on church social networking sums up the potential.

Internet Toolbox for Churches is a remarkable growing resource to help churches understand and use social and digital media with outsiders in mind. Subscribe to the newsletter, listen to the podcasts, and follow Dave on Twitter: @ITDDave.

Helpful imagery for thinking outside the box

In the idiom of this 50-second video-clip, we need to escape the imaginary confines of the jar:

Cardboard testimonies are a highly visual, often moving, way of briefly sharing the story of God’s hand in people’s life stories. They are relatively easy to plan and film.

It’s another way of creating video shorts that can be shared in Facebook, Twitter, on a church web site, etc. Of course, just as in writing out a longer testimony for outsiders, avoid jargon and exaggeration or overclaim: read more.

• Watch more YouTube cardboard testimonies
• Sharing faith on Facebook
• How churches can use social media
• See our other recent posts about social networking

All colors are not the same! Use colors that match your message. This is second nature to graphic designers, but not necessarily for the rest of us. And in some cultures, colors may have a special meaning that we are unaware of.

The Psychology of Color by Tech King

Read more about color theory and design.

When you hear the word ‘church’, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? If you are like me, then you may think of your church building or some mega-church that stands out in your mind. If this was the case, and the church was just a building, there would be no place for social media as part of the church.

Thankfully, the true meaning of ‘church’ is the body of Christ and its goal should always be to reach the lost and care for those less fortunate. When the average American spends 23% of online time on social networks, a vital part of the church outreach should be interacting with the community through social media. What does a church interacting through social media look like?

1. Use social media to promote your church – By promote your church, I don’t mean post about how much better your church is than the one down the road. Promote your church by letting the community get involved through mission works, youth events, or sharing snippets of sermon podcasts.

2. Grow new relationships – If a first time visitor comes to your church, do you reach out to them and try to build a relationship? Treat your church’s social media the same way! Reach out to new fans or followers, invite them to visit, or perhaps just ask if you can pray for them.

3. Share the Gospel – At the end of the day the church should be fulfilling the Great Commission. If you believe God is truly in control of everything, then why not have faith that He can use social media to bring people to Him? While social media can be used as a starting point, I do want to emphasize that I believe it is important to become a member of a local church where you can grow your faith.

4. Find new community needs – Remember that your church can use social media to proactively-not just reactively. Ask your fans or followers for prayer requests and other needs within the community. By reaching out to your fans you will not only find new needs, but will also be able to show the love of Christ through the church.

Conclusion: If your church is part of the 40% of churches that don’t use any social media, I encourage you to start today! Not only can social media help to grow your church body, but it can help grow the body of Christ. Be personal when posting, grow new relationships, and be an integral part of your community on a daily basis, not just on Sunday!

This is a guest post from Michael Cornett, the founder of Church Website Design.Co, a Christian web design company that helps churches share the Gospel through websites and free social media training. Michael can be reached at support@churchwebsitedesign.co or on Twitter @website4church

• More resources on social networking
• Churches and social networking
• Please share your church’s story of using social media on our Comments section below

If you are a blogger, writer, speaker or storyteller, you may sometimes get stuck for ideas and inspiration. Copyblogger’s infographic could help you:

Like this infographic? Get more content marketing tips from Copyblogger.

Other writing resources

Check

• our recommendations for writing books

• grammar mistakes that rob writing of credibility (great infographic) plus two free ebooks about writing

Free books

Our book competition and free ebook giveaway is still on here. If you tried to download Netcasters on Internet Evangelism Day, the link is now fixed – sorry about this.

We are honored to release the 2012 version by Mobile Advance of their 5-minute video explaining the opportunities for mobile ministry in the Majority World.

Please also check our range of FREE ebooks, normally pay-for, that you can download now, on our ebook page.

Download video for use in meetings and seminars: WMV 15.5MB

Check our other news about mobile phones and digital opportunities for cross-cultural missions.

We are giving away three normally pay-for Kindle and PDF ebooks from our ebook page.

Right through to 7 May, you can get: Coffee Shop Conversations and Living with Questions by Dale and Jonalyn Fincher. Download them here.

Netcasters is also still available for a short period.

Win paper books today

You can win a copy of the following books, just by tweeting or Facebooking about them. Postings to Google+, LinkedIn or a blog are also valid competition entries.

Signed by the author:
Tweeting Church: Good News in only 140 characters
Paul Clifford, published this month by CreateSpace
ISBN-13: 978-1475168570

All you need to do is Tweet using the hashtag #wintwchurch or Facebook about this page, and then you must email us to say you have done it. This second stage is essential so we have an easy way to contact you!

Use these ready-made one-click links for Facebook and Twitter.

@stickyJesus – how to live out your faith online
Tami Heim and Toni Birdsong
Digital Scribe Press
ISBN: 978-0-9228962-0-4

You can win a copy of this acclaimed book: review. All you need to do is Tweet using the hashtag #winsticky or Facebook about this page, and then you must email us to say you have done it. This second stage is essential so we have an easy way to contact you!

Use these ready-made one-click links for Facebook and Twitter.

John Cleese, creative writer, actor and comedian, has produced much memorable comedy. The classic TV series Fawlty Towers (1975-9) is widely regarded as one of the best television comedies of all time. It has dated little in nearly 40 years, and is available as a remastered DVD set.

So you might think Cleese could teach us something about creativity – and you’d be right.

Below is his 36-minute talk on how to bring out your creative side. Set aside some time to watch it!

Eric Dye, of the excellent ChurchMag, writes,

“A few nights ago, my wife and I watched this video of John Cleese speaking about creativity.

It. Was. Amazing!

There were so many different things I got from this video. From how business are run, to education, to my own creative process.”

Creatives have not always been given freedom to use their gifts in evangelism and discipleship. Or even humor.

Does this talk resonate with you? Please add your comments.

Check our free books about humor and other related blog posts.

Photo credit: FlandersDC/Flickr | Creative Commons