Navigating the Unknown: Using Social Media for Ministry 

The Connection Building Ministry Team of the Northeastern PA Synod is pleased to sponsor a day with Meredith Gould, author of "The Social Media Gospel: Sharing the Good News in New Ways," for the purpose of helping church leaders/teams explore social media platforms and their use for ministry.

Five hundred years ago the Gutenberg press changed the way the gospel was communicated and shared. The Internet and various social media platforms (such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram) are this generation's Gutenberg press. Today these tools provide exciting new ways of sharing the gospel with others. Meredith will help participants become more comfortable and less anxious about these tools through three presentations.

Session 1 will look at "Strategy and Tactics" and how they need to be crafted before choosing social media tools. She will also help participants look at the importance of integrating social media across platforms and with other digital communications (website and e-newsletters). There will be a "real time look" at how to create strategy.

The focus of the second session is "Social Media Tools." Meredith will talk about the best social media tools for congregations, why and how to use some and not others. She will provide nitty gritty details for getting started with social media, monitoring them, and setting up a social media team - even if it's only two people. We will check out some social media accounts.

"Making Sure Your Church Website Works" is the focus of the final session. Discover how social media have almost completely changed what should and should not be on church (and judicatory) websites.

Participants are invited to bring their personal computer or tablet (optional).

Meredith says, "Be prepared to learn and laugh a lot!"

This event is partially underwritten by the Northeastern PA Synod's Prosser Pahse Mission Fund. The cost to participants is only $30.