the following is from a friend's blog out in Oklahoma. He is the IT Pastor for a large multi-site church. (www.lifechurch.tv)
5 ways your church can make an impact online in a down economy.
By now, many churches have experienced the struggling economy either firsthand or close to home. You might be looking at layoffs, pay cuts, hiring freezes, reduced budgets, and decreased giving- and it can seem like a recipe for scarcity in your ministry. But what if this economic downturn spurred your church to become more innovative than ever? What if it was actually an incredible opportunity to come up with creative and strategic ways to reach your community?
It could be, but only if you embrace the constraints. Financial limitations become a blessing when we allow them to birth new ideas and new approaches that we’ve never considered before. By necessity, we’re forced to step outside of how we’ve always done things, right into the heart of innovation. You’re the best judge when it comes to identifying your community’s needs, but here are a few ideas your church can use to kick-start creativity without constraints.
1. Take your next mission trip online. Communities like Second Life, Facebook and MySpace offer you the opportunity to go (and make disciples) without a travel budget. You can connect with a diverse group of people who don’t know Christ right where you are. Check out VirtualMissionary.org for a handbook to guide you through evangelism in virtual communities.
2. Use free web tools to give your messages a broader reach. Leverage services like Mogulus, Vimeo, or YouTube to share your weekend teaching and broadcast live events to the world. Streaming video content online used to require a significant investment from a church, but today many services all you to stream video at no charge.
3. Get what you want for free. Search Craigslist for materials to build your next set. Use Twitter as a mini-consultant to get quick feedback and advice from peers. Find free resources from other churches at sites like OpenResources.org, crazychurch.com and OPEN.LifeChurch.tv/resources.
4. Go online with your promotions and communication. If you’re spending a lot of money on print, what are some alternative ways you can get the word out? Consider e-mailing your bulletin content. Or try video announcements and post them on YouTube or Mogulus. I visited a church that sent a welcome video to first time guests. By the time I got home, I had already received the video via e-mail. It cost them nothing and made a big impression. Why not use social networks and blogs to drive your next outreach campaign? Identify the most socially connected people in your ministry and build a volunteer team to get behind church campaigns. Empower them with graphics, blog badges, promotional copy, etc.
5. Reach out to the unemployed. In this economy, offering financial training and career help can meet needs and introduce people to your church. What if you organized an online career ministry? Individuals could post resumes; peers and professionals could offer tips for improving them; and potential employers could identify candidates for open positions. You could host online networking events, perhaps leading up to a physical gathering at your church.
