08/06/2020

SOS Out of the Box ‘Digital Interaction’ study FAQs and resources to increase your congregation’s reach

SOS Out of the Box ‘Digital Interaction’ study FAQs
and resources to increase your congregation’s reach

Our recent article --about digital interaction and the congregations in our synod that currently have the highest digital interaction-- sparked a lot of questions and a little friendly competition.

First, the research done by the Out of the Box team on digital interaction was conducted as a baseline to determine how digitally active members and potential members are on our SOS congregations’ Facebook pages and YouTube channels. The goal of the SOS Out of the Box Team is to extend the church digitally to reach people where they are. By the end of 2023, we want to see our synod churches digitally connecting with 150,000 people per month. The baseline established with our first analysis is our starting point as we begin providing tools, training, coaching, support, etc. to our congregations so we can reach the 150,000 people per month goal. We have to start somewhere.

Second, this is not a competition between congregations. Every congregation is uniquely positioned and equipped to provide discipleship, Biblical teaching, worship, fellowship, service, etc. to the community. The competition is between your digital content and the secular world’s digital content. We already know what we have to share is far more valuable than funny cat videos or TikTok challenges. So how do we push through the noise and connect with those searching for more?

Below are more FAQs about the Digital Interaction study we conducted that we hope will clear up some confusion and provide you with some initial resources to increase your congregation’s digital presence.

FAQs

What does the church look like in a digitally connected world?

Outside the Box recognizes that experiencing church, in a church building, represents a portion of how people want to experience church.  Our lives are increasingly digital in nature, and people expect that church will be available wherever they are and whenever they have the time to connect.  The COVID crisis has reinforced that our goal can no longer be to bring people across the threshold.  We have to extend the threshold to where the people feel comfortable connecting.  As we embrace this digital reality, the church will evolve to be more than a building with services on Sunday.  

What counts for a "digital interaction?"

A digital interaction is represented by a View of a Facebook or YouTube video, a Like/Comment/Share of a Facebook post, and a calculation that accounts for followers and activity on an account.  This calculation recognizes that not everyone “reacts” to a post, even though they have seen it.

Our metrics are constantly evolving.  We will add in additional platforms of interaction (ie, Twitter & Instagram), and tweak the calculations as we learn more. 

How are we accounting for collaboratives like Lutheran Saints in Ministry (LSIM) when calculating digital interactions?

We take measurements against individual accounts.  Where a collaborative has a dedicated set of digital accounts, we will include those accounts in our measurements.  Otherwise, measurements will be isolated to the accounts of the members of the collaborative. 

Are there any concerns about the use of Facebook, given some of the controversies associated with the platform?

The Synod Office and Outside the Box Team aren't advocating for one platform over another.  We acknowledge that Facebook has been embroiled in a number of controversies, but no digital platform is free from controversy.  As one of the most pervasive platforms in the US, Facebook represents one of the quickest ways to reach a broad audience.  Most of our churches have established a Facebook page, and most of those churches are actively engaging with their communities via this platform.  We are measuring these interactions based on where they occur.  As platform preferences evolve, Outside the Box will adjust its interaction metrics accordingly.

Where can my organization learn about best practices and take advantage of some digital coaching?

1. Check out the Resilient Church Academy at resilientchurchacademy.com . Classes start in August and occur weekly through the beginning of September. You can sign up for one week at a time or for the entire session depending on your availability and interest. See the courses being offered here: resilientchurchacademy.com/#tracks-aug-10

2. Sign up for the SOS Vibrant Church Conference Zoom session on September 26 from 10 am-noon, titled ‘Digital Ministry: How to use live-streaming, social media, your website and email to build community and live into God’s mission’. Registration materials will be out shortly! Check the synod website, Facebook page and your email inbox for details.

3. Look for more resources and learning opportunities coming soon!