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Does your church use social media?

Discussion in 'Computers & Technology Forum' started by Don, Apr 17, 2012.

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  1. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
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    What does your church do to utilize the internet as a tool for its church members?

    Does it have a website, and/or Facebook page?

    Does it use some service to send out text message "alerts" for closings, weather notifications, special notices about other church members?

    Does your church post an internet page for church members to identify furniture, appliances, etc. that they're willing to sell cheaply/donate to other church members? Or provide services to other church members?
     
    #1 Don, Apr 17, 2012
  2. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
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    The church I am a member of has a web site and we all use e-mail extensively. I cannot remember when I last received anything from our church by snail-mail. Quite a bit of money is saved. I believe we have only one member who does not have access to the Internet.
     
    #2 Crabtownboy, Apr 17, 2012
  3. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

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    We have a website and a Facebook page. However, they are not used all that much. 75% of our church is over 65 and many of them are not tech savvy and don't want to be.
     
    #3 mont974x4, Apr 17, 2012
  4. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    We have a website and facebook members group page. We should start a twitter and facebook church page.
     
    #4 webdog, Apr 17, 2012
  5. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
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    Forgot to include this in the opening post: How about the senior citizens in the church? Does anyone use streaming video to allow "home-bound" church members to "participate" in church services/functions in "real time"?

    Has anyone set up a group or organization within the church whereby the younger members assist the older members with such things? (thus increasing interation between all age groups in the church)
     
    #5 Don, Apr 17, 2012
  6. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
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    Folks - I also posted an additional thread about networks in your church.
     
    #6 Don, Apr 17, 2012
  7. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Yes to both.

    We have started using MailChimp for that sort of thing. It makes the e-mails look nice.

    No.
     
    #7 annsni, Apr 17, 2012
  8. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    No streaming video but we do post the podcasts within a few days.

    No. Many older members aren't interested in the technology stuff.
     
    #8 annsni, Apr 17, 2012
  9. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
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    That seems to me to be a total waste of money. It is so easy to let everyone know anything that everyone needs to know.

    We do not use the Internet for selling of items. We do use the Internet in setting up meals for those who need them, for coordinating other tasks that need to be done, and for making appointments for meetings, etc.

    Every sermon is available to listen to on our web site.
     
    #9 Crabtownboy, Apr 17, 2012
  10. mont974x4

    mont974x4 New Member

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    No streaming video or realtime audio. We use sermon.net to host our sermon audio which we link to on our website.

    We have used Facebook to remind people about upcoming events and to place pictures from events for people to enjoy or even share on their own wall. I have uploaded sermon video (I personally own a camera and had to make DVD's for my preaching classes) and audio to my personal Facebook page when people have requested it.


    As to weather alerts or emergency closing it only takes a few texts and a couple of calls and the word gets out quickly. Having mainly older congregants means they wouldn't be coming out anyways.
     
    #10 mont974x4, Apr 17, 2012
  11. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    I'm not in charge of it but I just looked up MailChimp and it's free for up to 2000 e-mail recipients. That should work for most churches. :)
     
    #11 annsni, Apr 17, 2012
  12. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
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    If you have a Google Voice account, you can specify multiple users for the same text message (for free). If you have your Google contacts set up in groups, you can specify a group (that contains your church members), type in the message, and hit "Send," and everyone gets the notification.

    Just things to think about.

    As for selling - what I'm trying to imply is a "church bulletin board," albeit on the church website. Not necessarily for selling, but mainly identifying two categories: those who need something, and those who have something that might fulfill a need. I don't see a problem with selling a couch for $25, for example; or offering it for free. (this most likely wouldn't be a consideration for smaller churches; but for churches with memberships of, say, 500 and over, it might be a way to let people know who has a need, and who has stuff that can fulfill a need).
     
    #12 Don, Apr 17, 2012
  13. HeDied4U

    HeDied4U Well-Known Member
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    My church has a website and a facebook page.

    It also recently developed its own app.

    We are cutting edge :smilewinkgrin:

    :)
     
    #13 HeDied4U, Apr 17, 2012
  14. mcdirector

    mcdirector Active Member

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    We have both. There are several fb pages for different ministries but not a group page. I like that idea.

    We haven't been asked about info for texts. But we do get email alerts.

    No on the last one.
     
    #14 mcdirector, Apr 18, 2012
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