eformation- When the Church Leads

#9 in the eformation Series

Some collected notes here for church leaders
and layleaders

from the eformation conference 2014.
eformationvts

The main purpose of online ministry:

 Educate Encourage and Equip.

The primary audience for online ministry is :

1) existing congregants

2) the other relationships their congregants have.

(The church has said for awhile

 that it is the unchurched,

 but the reality proves that it is relationship driven.

It is the friends of the members.)

The main job of church leaders

 is to get OTHERS

to do the social media.

The ministry markers of
 interaction points include:

the public setting- (worship,
teaching settings, even church meetings)

 email,

 phone, social media,

 back channel-

(private notes on social media)

 and IRL-in real life,
(chatting over coffee at Starbucks).

ALL of these venues become settings

 for conversations and engagement

 that connect to a leader's circle of influence.
ALL of these connections
 can have spiritual forming
opportunities.

 Social media success today depends on 

thinking VISUALLY about goals and message.

Art has always been a gateway to the sacred-

it is effective in social media connections.

Consistent branding across all profiles

 is necessary to build recognizable connections.

Engage a few key participants

 that will participate by sharing posts

 on their own social media sites.

It is important to do tagging

 with keywords and #hashtags.

Pace posts.

A Facebook page that has been dormant

 for a month is as good as nonexistent.

Groups are not necessarily community.

Social media communication

 has disbanded space, time,

 and age boundaries for engagement.

If you are posting-

then it is important to comment on other posts-

after all it is SOCIAL media.

The most critical aspect for planning is to make sure that:

STRATEGY, AUDIENCE, GOAL and MESSAGE

is determined BEFORE:

TACTICS of WHEN, WHERE, and HOW.

The liturgical calendar

 is the best organizational tool

 for bringing help to families in your community.

Think about bringing them faith formation tools 

that are SEASONAL,

 not weekly.

  Be realistic about what families

 might be able to participate in/add to family life living.

In every aspect of social media engagement:

Cover all plans in PRAYER, and

 trust the work of the HOLY SPIRIT.

 Remember that you are doing

 more than sharing information-

you are creating SACRED SPACE online.

Notes taken from sessions with:
Meredith Gould, Sharon Ely Pearson,
John Roberto, Tom Tomaszek

eformation- your online PRESENCE

#8 in the eformation Series

Wading into the write, like, publish, share and

 comment world online takes a bit of

getting used to the rhythm of digital media.

It can have a life of its own.

That can be good and bad-

in the networked super highway.

My dip into the blogging world
 happened nearly five years ago.
(now 10 years ago) 

My early connections were some personal blogs 
that were more like spewing,

 ranting and raving discourses and I quickly left that- 

vowing never to return.

Then, when the visual world

 began to catch up to the written word-

I was drawn in, and hooked.

 Looking for the stories of online PRESENCE-

 that brought HOPE, HELP, 

 with words of encouragement.

Surely someone was online
 already offering that voice?

Women writers…

Lutheran….

single and married…

mommas and not…

on the journey?

It has been a daunting task

 to discover where they are…

to listen for their heart…..
On the right side of my blog is-
 MY  BLOG LIST.
The list of some blogs worthy of following, 
that have a spiritual forming purpose.
They are in order of their most recent posts.

Not all female. Not all Lutheran.
But valid, and valuable voices
 for reading
 and listening
to their small pieces of life-learned lessons.

What I have learned in the three years
(now 8 years)
 of online presence-
is that it is VERY IMPORTANT to decide-
 HOW I will be online.
 Not fake, but always with words that build up, 
and never tear down.
The careful voice of mentoring
 given to 3 daughters growing up,
 applies here online too.
Grace always,
  the beginning and end, in all things shared.

There are always multiple points of view.
 What is one piece of information
 that might change how we see another's story?

What is CHRISTLIKE-
the picture of this transformative journey
 that we have been on since our Baptism?

And finally- do my words bless others?
No other posture is worth the time, energy,
 and space
 in my daily conversations
 or the ones that fill the internet.

 Our spiritual formation
 impacted with digital connections 
is eformation.
May our PRESENCE-
be Christlike,
 bless others, 
encourage and build one another up.

 Don’t use foul or abusive language. 

Let everything you say be good and helpful,

 so that your words will be an encouragement 

to those who hear them.

Ephesians 4:29  NLT

(some updates have been added to share this again)

eformation- Create and Curate

#7 in the eformation Series

At the formation conference I attended,
 one of the helpful insights for tending, 

and monitoring the world of digital social media

 is understanding the two basic formats

 for sharing information.

Without content,
 not very much can happen socially online.
There needs to be content that generates 
what digital strategists call engagement, 
or interaction.
There are CONTENT CREATORS-

 who develop content- photos, stories, videos

and then SHARE.

There are CONTENT CURATORS-

who scroll through
 vast amounts of the internet-
filter, promote, edit, analyze, credit,

and then SHARE.

Although the Christian world

 is certainly planted firmly in the digital world,

the masses do look to their churches and leaders
 to help them 

wade through the massive amount of information

 available in today's world.
Who is their trusted resource?
Church leaders and lay leaders
you are influential, 
whether you have picked up that title
 in the social media world or not.
A lack of engagement only sends members
 or school families looking elsewhere.
A social media void in your online presence speaks -
 LOUD and CLEAR.

Meridith Gould in her book The Social Media Gospel,
has wonderful help for both churches and leaders
 to steer them into the digital sharing age.

At the conference, Meredith stated that the
 conversation is no longer- 
" should we be on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest?" 
There are new questions- 
"How do we integrate our social media presence?
"How do we measure our success?"

The reason for having a digital social presence
 is NOT to simply get more people
 sitting in the pews or attending your school.
(though that CAN happen)
It is NOT to simply promote event,
 after event, after event.

"In the world of church,
 we need to create and curate content
 in the joyful hope of sharing the Gospel, 
ministering to others, and developing community,"
 says Gould.

Where in the world are you?
How do you (or your church)
 interact with your neighboring area?
What is THAT story?
How do you navigate living as a Christian
 in a non-Chrisitan world?

Gould explains: "In the world of social media,
 quality social media content
INFORMS, EDUCATES, and INSPIRES
 action that's Christ-centered and anchored
 in Gospel values. 
With a reverential nod to St. Paul the Apostle,
 social media content does not boost, it is not proud,
 it is not rude, it is not self-seeking,
 and does not delight in evil,
 but rejoices in the truth (1 Cor. 13:4-6).

Gould offers some guidelines for quality content- 
both created and curated.

Will it enhance your
 audiences' knowledge,
deepen their understanding,
strengthen their faith,
 stimulate conversation, 
and build community?

If you are contemplating entry, or
are in the process of creating
a strategy plan
 in the social media world-
make a plan,
establish guidelines
 about your presence 
and build a team!

eformation- The Power of YOUR Story

#6 in the eformation Series

Where have you been?
Talking about this the other day with a friend.

We were talking about- "Our Story." 

She said, "Nothing great in my life to talk about... 

I haven't done anything important."

We talked a bit more
 and I asked her to reframe her life.....

"What if you tell your story
 in light of what Jesus has done for you? 

Do you think that can
 give you a different perspective?"

We all get caught up in the subtle
 and actually, maybe blatant, 

 affects of our modern culture--

 that our Life is about ME 
and what I have done....

We get a bit sidetracked

 and think it is the paths 
WE choose that matters. 

The challenge of committed Disciples- 

Followers of Jesus- 

is that we often forget
 just how basic our story is.... 

 and we forget to use our gifts
 and our whole being- in telling the main story:

JESUS LOVES ME.

 HE DIED FOR ME.

AND ROSE AGAIN FOR ME.

That is the story that attracts others to listen -

 to listen with HOPE.

 To begin to see that there is something different about 

Living Life as a Daughter of the King.

Because Jesus has made all the difference.

Because my feeble attempts
 at making meaning of my life have been futile.

And most of all -  
we are encouraged to be prepared.
 Take some time to write out your Story.
So that you are always prepared
 to tell anyone who asks---
What is so special about your life?
And then perhaps YOU
 will be ready to be a witness
 here in this space- 
of all that you have seen and heard.

Our encouragement here:
1 Peter 3:14-15

Through thick and thin,
 keep your hearts at attention,
 in adoration before Christ, your Master. 
Be ready to speak up and tell anyone
 who asks why you’re living the way you are,
 and always with the utmost courtesy.

 BECAUSE EVERYTHING FORMS US-

AND GOD USES EVERYTHING- 

HE DOES NOT WASTE ANYTHING.

OUR ECONOMICAL GOD

IS ABLE TO USE-

eformation- electronic media

to both form and shape us and others.

Tell your story-

to Make HIM KNOWN

and

BRING HIM GLORY.

Parts of this post were previously published at-
Women of the SED  

eformation- The Power of STORY

#5 in the eformation Series

Stories captivate and entertain us. 

Stories also educate and encourage us. 

 At a favorite conference

we were asked

 to think about our STORY. 

 How can we connect into the STORY-

 God is already writing?

 What is our piece of that? 

An excellent book that helped me
 to better understand

 the impact of electronic faith formation
 and our story,

 is Faith Formation 4.0 by Julie Anne Lytle.

 She begins to unravel this complex
 and messy issue that we are dealing
 with of the established church

 and its integral place in faith formation. 

As followers of Jesus, we live out our lives

 here on earth with the power of the Holy Spirit

 breathed into each of us. 

We walk and move about learning to understand

 the mandate to Go and Tell and Make Disciples. 

 Each and every day is learning

 more about just what this means

 individually and collectively. 

This "working it out"

 begins to unite knowing and being

 to illustrate how the way we live our lives

 can become an invitation to others.

Lytle says,
" This is a story-keeping, story-telling,
and story- making process

whereby community members remember

 and retell their experience

 and understanding of God's presence

 and the response it inspires."

How wonderful when stories told include His people
 in all walks of life and stages of life.

Can you begin to see how the Master StoryTeller-

 wants to use YOUR STORY

 to bring HIS HANDIWORK glory?

eformation- Kingdom Impact Pinterest

#4 in the eformation Series

Bringing Gospel Light to the World of Social Media.

Telling the story of the journey of Kingdom Impact Pinning.

Kingdom Impact Pinning began in January 2012.

  I invited Peg Green, the wife of another pastor

 on staff at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

 in Springfield, Virginia,

 to come over and listen to a "wild idea"

 that was keeping me up night after night.

I had been listening to the stories of young moms

 who were excited about this new social media tool

 and how it linked them to usable resources

 for their family life.

But, when I checked out the sites,

 they were questionable in doctrine, 
practice, and leadership.

So I began to search for sources designed

 and created by our own church body and leaders.

And could not find anything.

If I did, the images were not in "pinnable format."

I had to use Amazon as a resource,

 rather than our own Publishing House.

What might happen if we began to create

 our own push on the internet?

 As a team, working together, 

to accomplish a purpose greater

 than our single endeavor? 

So, two women began a covenanted group

 who would be thoughtful and faithful in:

Who we followed,

 What we pinned,

 When we made comments, 

Where we led others,

How we used our words.

 We would work to give credit to resources,

 look for other Christian pinners, 

and choose to pin Faith-filled things as a first priority.

 We would arrange Faith boards

 in the top two lines of our Pinterest Boards-

 in the Prime Real Estate.

We want others to follow us

 because we know who we follow- Jesus.

We want to lead people to Him.

We, individually, with our own likes, 

interest, friends, and personalities gather followers.

We love followers because we KNOW 

that in our flow of visual images they will be:

 encouraged,

 see Bible verses,

 know that the Creator of the Universe is Lord,

 see what faith-filled family living looks like, 

and be connected to other disciples of Jesus.

Isn't that what a harried, 

overwhelmed world wants to see?

Isn't there another way to live in this world?

We may be distanced from each other by miles, 

time, and personal commitments.

 But, we can be connected in a way

 that builds community with a purpose- 

for the sake of others.

It is not about how much time

 we spend on Pinterest that matters. 

It is that there is a focus on God's Kingdom,

 something beyond the here and now world, 

and how you choose to live your one life well.

It is about what we can accomplish together,

 with the help of the Holy Spirit,

 that we could not do alone.

With a history of 2 1/2 years we have learned a few things.
We are:
 exploring what it means to be
 deployed staff as missionaries to the world.

learning that global connections are simple and easy.
(Google translator changes the language of a blog post.)

praying that God uses our efforts to further
 His metanarrative plan for the world.

We have:
 served as encouragers to other Christians.

welcomed others with varied gifts,
 talents, and interests.

 discovered resources
 we never would have thought to"Google".
(the move from a search culture to discovery culture)

helped seekers to make Christ connections.

drawn a picture of what it might
 look like to be a follower of Jesus.

seen an upswing in the number of male followers.

connected to businesses, churches and schools
as followers.

The team currently includes 34 pinners
 from across the United States. 
This blog post from March 2013, 
has the links to all of the team member's sites.
Kingdom Impact Pinners

Today as we team together,
 we have over 25,000 followers, 
so that others may have a glimpse
 of Good News in a dark world.
Want to be part of the team?
Follow.
 Let us know. 
Join the HOPE.
 See the Possibilities.

eformation- When the Visual Landscape is Pinterest

#3 in the eformation Series

My world has always been highly impacted

 with the VISUAL clues of life.

I respond to color, shape, 

and figuring how it 
ALL FITS together.

I remember what I see best.

And we know that humans learn best

when there is the dynamic interplay of 

audio, visual, and kinesthetic exchange.
 I have been waiting

 the last ten years

for a tool that makes sense of all

 that I have attempted to

find, file and then REFIND on the internet.

Was in over my head.

Then my girls showed me Pinterest.

I was in when it was in beta format.

Organizing my likes, interests, discoveries,

and resources VISUALLY.

If you are still new to this visual social media tool-

see this-  Pinterest

What was quickly evident was that
 this visual media tool allowed me to be my 
authentic Christian self,
 in the middle of living my real life.
That is-
 all the slices and pieces that make up ME.
Relationships, family life living,
 homemaking, spiritual formation, 
travel, problem solving and redo,
Biblical resources, my reading lists,
food, leadership, women's ministry,
and every other category of topic
 that makes up 282 boards.
 I did not have to separate
 the "church" side of me,
and the "out of church" side of me.
Want to know who I am?
And who my God is?
Connie Denninger-Pinterest

My faith experiment is believing that God
 is in the business of this transformational
disciple-making on a daily,
 minute by minute journey.
All put together, in this jumble of Connie.

And as my relationship with Jesus
 is found in this daily life living,
it may be interesting enough
 to capture the attention or interest
 of another Pinterest member.
And then there is a Follow.
Wholly in- or a board or two.
And I might find someone who puts a spin
 on life that creates visual impact
 for how we live in our home.
Or combines a photo with God's Word,
 so that the image stays with me all day long.
Or creates infographics of the books of the Bible, 
 helping me to prepare to lead a Bible Study.
Or helps me choose a dinner menu
 quickly when guests are coming.

It is a fascinating dynamic
 to put "your real self"
out there for all the world to see.
 Unedited.
As Witness and Available.
Because Pinterest is also interactive.
With the whole world.
So a conversation began with a young believer
 about the best choice of a book
 to give as a gift
 because she is a sponsor for the first time.
In Manila, the Philippines.
Or a women's ministry leader is searching 
for a Bible study recommendation.
In the Ukraine.
Or a young married woman on the opposite coast
 of the United States finds encouragement
 in a challenging day. 

On this visual social media site,
 I have chosen to be an encourager,
connector, informer, curator, and creator.
I will be writing about those roles.

I have prayed to be
available here and obedient
 to the nudges of the Holy Spirit.
Not worried about numbers, or follows.
And awaiting to see what might have happened
 in the middle of the night, 
while I was sleeping,
 and God was at work.
So far, He has not disappointed.
God uses EVERY tool.

"so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
Isaiah 55:11

(updated July 9, 2019)