Product Details
Moving online during COVID-19 means informal conversations need to be more intentional. Listen for practical helps.
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Guests: Matthew and Kristin Schultz. Matthew is a pastor and ministry consultant. He has successfully shepherded multiple churches through times of transition and has helped not-for-profit agencies and churches of all sizes reimagine their ministries. Matthew currently pastors a congregation in New York state. Kristin works in health-care communications, volunteers on various committees at church, and leads Bible studies.
Introduction: Amid COVID-19 safety precautions, explore a variety of options for communicating within your ministry.
Summary:
- “Lost” conversations—from casual check-ins to major events—have caused some “bumps” in communication.
- Communicate via low-tech means:
- Create a phone call list of your ministry members.
- Members make calls: quick check-in, prayer requests, needs, financial support, spiritual support, etc.
- Find solutions to those needs within your ministry.
- Members must be intentional.
- Communicate via high-tech means:
- Weekly church email newsletter—streamline so it can be sent across multiple platforms all at once: internet, paper copies, Instagram, Facebook, etc. This allows for more access with the same amount of work!
- Zoom video conferencing, easier to engage (compared with in-person meetings)
- Take these steps:
- Find the right platform(s) for you to streamline your communication.
- When in doubt, overcommunicate! You are important to us and to Jesus.
- Consider “low-tech but high-touch” options: phone calls, pastor visits, send cards
- Keep exploring to find the solutions that work best for you and your members. Seek feedback to see if your efforts are successful.
- Be authentic; do what works for you and your ministry.
Thought Starters:
- What is one low-tech solution you might implement?
- What is one high-tech solution you might implement?
Resources:
- Seek out automated services for group texting, text chains
- Mailchimp
- Zoom video conferencing
- Investigate communications aggregators
