When
I asked them to pull out their cell phones, suddenly their eyes lit up. You
could see the anticipation and interest of what would come next. "Why does
he want us to get our phones OUT of our pockets?" I then asked a multiple
choice question, and they could anonymously answer by texting their response to
22333 and their answers appeared on the screen in real time. The tool is a
website called polleverywhere.com. When I use the site, engagement in my
messages increase exponentially. They get to upload and participate in the
message.
It's
a new world! Our world is changing really fast. And if you don't keep up, you
could be left behind. Social media is something that is integral in the life of
students, and we have to “go into the highways” and compel them. But how do we
do that? Where do we even start? These are just a few resources and methods for
using social media in ministry.
1.
Polleverywhere.com. A free account gets you unlimited polls with up to
40 responses per poll. Monthly fees for more responses are contract free, and
can be cancelled anytime. Polls can be posted online, displayed live via
PowerPoint or Keynote, and users can be polled via Twitter, SMS, and/or a
private website.
2.
Foursquare.com is a social “check-in” site and mobile platform.
Students with smartphones can download the app for free on just about every
kind of smartphone. They “check-in” at locations, let their followers know
where they are, and post their check-in to Facebook and Twitter. You can create
Specials for check-ins based on number of criteria, including most check-ins,
every X number of check-ins, and first time check-ins. For example, you can
create a Special for first time check-ins that reward them with a free snack at
your snack bar, or a free t-shirt, or something. When they check-in, the
rewarded special shows up on their mobile device. This is a great way to get
basic visitor information without them filling out a card.
3.
Text Me. I actually got this idea from District Council a few years
ago. Whenever I finish a series based on something I know my students will have
questions about (like dating), we do a “Text Me” night. They send questions to
my phone via text message during the service; then I and sometimes members of
my leadership team simply answer them. You’d be surprised the questions
students will ask when it’s not “out loud.”
4.
Google Plus. I realize most students are either going to be on Facebook
or Twitter (maybe both), but Google Plus Hangouts allow live video chat for up
to ten people at once, both on a computer and mobile device (with front facing
camera). This might be a great way to connect for small groups or other
discipleship type settings where “gathering together” might be hindered in some
way.
5.
Twitter and hashtags. A youth ministry in the Bay Area started a series
based on iamsecond.com. During and after their message series, they challenged
their students to “live second” and post on Twitter how they did that with the
#iamsecond hashtag and username of their youth ministry (@youthministry).
6.
YouVersion. I have used YouVersion.com for a long time for personal
study, but when I began to look at the tools it has for events, I started
really digging. You can create a set of sermon notes for listeners to follow during
your message, complete with scriptures, notes, audio and video links, questions
and polls, and more. You can also include a form for prayer requests.
7.
Instagram. Instagram is an app for iOS (so your reach may vary here)
that lets users take photos and then apply retro looking “filters” to their
photos and post them to instagram.com as well as other social media sites. You
could do an instagram photo contest for an outreach event. Or just ask students
to post instagrams with an event specific hashtag like #yourawesomeevent and
then use a site like prinstagr.am to print them in a poster, individual prints,
stickers, etc. Also, for a larger conference type event, instaprint.me is a
photobooth type printer that automatically prints instagrams with your events’
hashtag as they are posted in instagram.com.
8.
QR Code. A QR Code is a scannable code (similar to a barcode) that
students can scan with their smartphones. A QR Code can link them to ANYTHING
you want, whether it’s contact information, a website, videos or downloads on
the internet, etc. You could do one for your entryway that links to your
welcome video, as well as on your PowerPoint to link students to the YouVersion
notes, or anything you want. They can also be used for digital copies of event
registration, saving you physical copies.
These
are just a few resources and ideas for using social media to engage your
students differently. If you have questions about any of these or other social
media ideas, you can contact me at revtony79@gmail.com.
Tony Mazon serves as our area leader for the Valley Ridge Section.
He is the Youth Pastor at First Assembly of God in Chico, CA
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