Greetings, church communication leaders!

Wishing you a joyful July 4th filled with reflection, celebration, and unity. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to spreading faith and making a positive impact.

Fostering Collaboration: Harnessing the Potential of Communication Leaders and Community Outreach

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." — Micah 6:8 (NIV)

communication directors can initiate (working with other ministries to manage the events). Then you can report on them to your local news sources. Here are some suggestions:

1. Volunteer at local events: Offer your services as volunteers at community events like festivals, fundraisers, or charity runs. This provides an opportunity to engage with people, showcase your church's commitment to serving the community, and build relationships.

2. Organize a neighborhood cleanup: Rally your church members and other community members to clean up a local park, street, or public area. This not only improves the environment but also fosters a sense of community pride and unity.

3. Host a free community workshop: Identify a skill or topic that might benefit your community and organize a workshop or seminar. It could be anything from basic home maintenance to financial management or parenting tips. By offering this valuable knowledge, you demonstrate your church's concern for the holistic well-being of the community.

4. Collaborate with other organizations: Reach out to local nonprofits, schools, or community centers to explore partnership opportunities. By working together, you can pool resources and create more impactful events or programs that benefit a wider audience.

5. Offer free services: Identify services that your church can provide for free, such as car washes, lawn care, or small home repairs for those in need. This allows you to engage directly with individuals and families, building relationships and offering practical support.

6. Host a community movie night: Organize a movie night in a local park or your church grounds. Show family-friendly films (that coincide with the church’s beliefs) and provide popcorn and refreshments. This creates a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for families to come together and connect.

7. Create a community garden: If you have access to outdoor space, consider starting a community garden. It promotes healthy living, provides fresh produce for those in need, and encourages interaction among participants.

Remember, the key is to engage with the community authentically, show genuine care, and create opportunities for connection. With a little creativity and teamwork, you can carry out impactful outreach initiatives even on a small budget.

Posting Schedule Ideas for Your Church Social Media

1. Monday:

• Motivational Monday: Share an uplifting quote or scripture to inspire and encourage your followers as they begin their week.

• Ministry Highlight: Feature a specific ministry or volunteer team within your church, showcasing their work and impact.

2. Tuesday:

• Testimonial Tuesday: Share a personal story or testimony from a member of your congregation, highlighting how their faith journey has transformed their life.

• Thought-Provoking Article: Share an article related to spirituality, faith, or relevant social issues.

3. Wednesday:

• Worship Wednesday: Post a video clip or a link to a worship song or performance to uplift and prepare your followers for the upcoming Sabbath service.

• Midweek Devotional: Share a short devotional message or reflection to provide spiritual guidance and deepen the connection with your online community.

4. Thursday:

• Throwback Thursday: Share a photo or memory from a past church event or special service, fostering a sense of nostalgia and unity within your congregation.

• Event Announcement: Promote any upcoming church events, workshops, or community initiatives scheduled around Sabbath services.

5. Friday:

• Friday Facts: Share interesting facts or trivia related to the Bible, church history, or faith-related topics.

• Prayer Request: Encourage your followers to submit prayer requests, assuring them of the church's support and inviting them to join the Sabbath service for collective prayer.

6. Sabbath:

• Scripture Reflection: Share a meaningful Bible verse or passage along with a brief reflection or application to set the tone for the day's worship and contemplation.

• Live Streaming: If your church offers live streaming of Sabbath services, remind your followers to tune in and provide them with the necessary details and links.

7. Sunday:

• Weekend Recap: Share highlights from the previous day's Sabbath service, such as sermon excerpts, photos, or testimonies from attendees.

• Community Spotlight: Highlight a community service project or initiative led by your church or its members, showcasing the positive impact made on Sabbaths.

You can tailor the schedule further to suit the specific activities and preferences of your church community. Regularly review the engagement and feedback received to refine and adjust your posting strategy accordingly. These don't have to be done on the day, but some of these can be created ahead of time and scheduled out with social media manager accounts...ie. Brandwatch, Buffer, Hootsuite, Loomly, Meta, Sprout Social, etc.

Reaching Souls Online:

Unleashing the Power of Facebook Ads for Churches

From our favorite Church Communication YouTuber: Brady Shearer

Get ready to be inspired by this captivating video showcasing a series of impressive Facebook Ads campaigns executed by real churches. Join us as we delve into the secrets behind their remarkable success and the obstacles they overcame to achieve their goals. From visually stunning content to persuasive messaging, we'll explore the strategies that propelled these campaigns forward, attracting new followers and fostering engagement within their communities. Gain valuable knowledge and find inspiration as we uncover the innovative approaches implemented by these churches to navigate the challenges of digital advertising. Don't miss out on this enlightening analysis of effective church marketing on Facebook!

He's published the Full Article here.

Building a Respectful Community: Effective Moderation Strategies for Church Live-Stream Chat

"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." — Colossians 4:6 (ESV)

1. Establish clear guidelines: Before the live-stream begins, make sure you have established guidelines for chat behavior. Clearly communicate the expectations for respectful and appropriate communication. This will help set the tone for the chat and let participants know what behavior is expected.
    

2. Be proactive: Actively monitor the chat throughout the live-stream. Look out for any inappropriate or offensive comments and take immediate action to address them. By being proactive, you can maintain a positive atmosphere and prevent any disruptions.
    

3. Use a team approach: If possible, involve a team of moderators to help you manage the chat effectively. Assign different moderators to monitor specific time periods or segments of the live-stream. This will help distribute the workload and ensure thorough coverage of the chat.
    

4. Be responsive: Respond to participants' questions, comments, and concerns in a timely manner. Engage with them, provide clarifications, and offer support whenever necessary. This level of responsiveness demonstrates that their contributions are valued and encourages positive engagement.
    

5. Encourage participation: Encourage participants to ask questions related to the live-stream content, share their thoughts, and engage in respectful discussions. Prompt them with open-ended questions or discussion topics. This fosters a sense of community and involvement among the viewers.
    

6. Address conflicts calmly: Inevitably, conflicts may arise in the chat. It's important to handle such situations calmly and impartially. If there are disagreements or heated discussions, remind participants to remain respectful and avoid personal attacks. If necessary, you can intervene and steer the conversation back to a constructive direction.
    

7. Utilize chat moderation tools: Depending on the platform you're using for the live-stream, there may be built-in moderation tools available. Familiarize yourself with these tools and use them to your advantage. Features such as muting, blocking, or deleting comments can help you maintain a positive and safe environment.
    

8. Document incidents: Keep a record of any problematic comments, disruptive behavior, or instances that require moderation intervention. This documentation can be useful for future reference, tracking patterns, or addressing any concerns with specific individuals if necessary.
    

9. Seek feedback: After the live-stream, gather feedback from participants about their experience in the chat. This can be done through surveys or by encouraging viewers to share their thoughts. Use this feedback to improve your moderation techniques and address any issues that may have arisen during the live-stream.
    

The key to effective chat moderation is creating a welcoming and respectful environment where participants can engage in meaningful discussions related to the live-stream content.

The SAC Convention 2023 Registration is LIVE!

Join us in Springfield, Massachusetts!

Prioritizing Discipleship:

Building Stronger Church Communities

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." — Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)

To address this, as a Conference office family, we are embarking on a collective journey of studying the Adventist Discipleship Handbook. We highly encourage the leadership teams of all our churches, including elders, deacons, Sabbath School leaders, praise team members, and communication leaders, to actively join us in this transformative study. By centering our attention on discipleship, we can proactively involve both our newest and long-standing members, fostering communities that are stronger, more tightly-knit, and deeply rooted in their faith.

Through this focused discipleship approach, we aim to create an environment that nurtures spiritual growth, where individuals are supported and empowered in their journey of faith. By emphasizing the importance of discipleship within our churches, we seek to address the issue of disconnection and create a sense of belonging that encourages our members to remain steadfast and committed to the Adventist message. It is our collective responsibility to foster an atmosphere where everyone feels valued, supported, and connected, enabling our churches to flourish and thrive as vibrant communities of faith.

Upcoming Events

Resources for Members 

• Don't forget about Project: Refresh for your youth and young adults. We are committed to keeping this content coming to you. 
   

• Kathy's Kids Storytime is more popular than ever! We are excited to announce that we have passed the quarter of a million download mark, with listeners from around the world! Available on all major podcasting outlets. 
   

• Joy in the Weeds: This is our podcast hosted by Beth Grissom and Kim Cove. It's brought to you by Women's Ministry, but men are welcome to listen as well. This, too, is available on all major podcasting outlets.
   

• Don't forget to download the Conference App (available on Apple, Google and Amazon Fire devices) to stay connected with the Conference during this time. Make sure notifications for the app are turned on so that we can push information out when there are urgent updates. 

PLEASE tell us what you, our local church communicators, want in next month's e-newsletter. These publications are meant to help you with your responsibilities in the local church, and we would be happy to cover any topic you have questions about. Let us know what you want to learn!