What is Online Ministry?

And why does my church need to invest in it now?

We’ve all likely heard of online ministry by now. But what is it? Well, to truly understand online ministry, we first need to define it.

Defining Online Ministry

Online ministry is the intentional use of digital platforms to cultivate spiritual engagement, growth, and meaningful connection, reaching people where they are in their daily lives and local communities.

Key Aspects

There are two key aspects that come to mind when talking about online ministry.

1. Reaching beyond physical walls

   1. Online ministry extends your message beyond the Sunday pews. This is vital in the face of in-person attendance dropping.

   2. It allows you to stay in touch with your local community 24/7, making your ministry accessible to everyone's schedule.

2. Encouraging faith journeys

   1. Online ministry can fuel people’s faith journeys in unexpected places, providing spiritual nourishment wherever they are.

Why does it matter?

This is a very common question you may encounter when discussing online ministry with your congregation. Let me provide you with two statistics that might put things into perspective:

1. 70% of people in the United States use social media.

2. 97% of people in the United States use the internet.

While these are broad statistics, in our work with churches, we’re often just focusing on a fraction of the U.S. population. But what do these numbers tell us?

They tell us that the internet doesn’t discriminate. More likely than not, your specific key demographic can be found online.

This brings me to a quote I always return to when working with churches:

"The biggest communications shift in 500 years."

This quote comes from Brady Shearer, the founder of Pro Church Tools (a fantastic resource for anyone managing an online ministry).

What this quote references is the unparalleled impact the internet has had on how we communicate—something not seen since the printing press. And if you think about it, that’s quite a statement. The printing press was one of the key drivers of the Protestant Reformation!

The internet is a tool that can connect you to anyone in the world—that’s powerful.

Why invest now?

Many churches are looking at social media and scratching their heads. They know it’s a tool they can use, but they’re not quite sure how to leverage it. To those churches, I say: it’s important to follow your instincts and start figuring it out now.

One of the most common misconceptions about social media is that success will come instantly. That’s just not true. Research shows that building a following takes time—it can move frustratingly slowly. But the key is to stay consistent and keep posting. Don’t give up.

It’s crucial to start posting now because social media growth is a long-term process. This tool shouldn’t be seen as a last-ditch effort to save your church but as an investment that will yield success over time.

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What do you think about online ministry? Leave a comment and start a conversation.