February 2023 – UMC.org Podcasts

MyCom podcast Ep. 082: 3 Techniques for Getting to Know your Audience

Subscribe: RSS

The first step in successful marketing is always knowing your audience, congregation, and/or community. On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we are looking at 3 simple techniques you can employ when you’re talking to people in your church and community that will help you get to know them in a way that can inform and shape your church marketing and communications.

For more info about Dan, our host: https://www.defininggrace.com/

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by EO Travel. Christian journeys with Educational Opportunities Tours enriches the faith and lives of believers, empowers teachers and preachers, and is an unforgettable way to build your faith community.

For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God’s work in the world through The United Methodist Church, reaching new people, supporting local churches in vibrant communications ministry, equipping leaders and delivering messages of hope and healing.

This essential work requires financial support. If you believe in our mission, consider a tax-deductible donation to the work of United Methodist Communications through its Foundation.

https://www.resourceumc.org/giveUMCom

Get MONTHLY church marketing tips + FREE Downloadable resources – https://www.resourceumc.org/en/agencies/communications/church-and-conference-resources/newsletters-and-podcasts/mycom-newsletter-subscribe

===============

Good reviews help other church leaders find us. Help support the cause!

MyCom Church Marketing Articles: https://www.resourceumc.org/mycom

We’d love your input! Send ideas to podcast@umcom.org

TikTok for Churches

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

An episode on TikTok strategy, going viral, and managing church vision with Katherine Mullen of First United Methodist Church of Birmingham. We’re providing tools for digital ministry and building relationships online.

Katherine Mullen is First Church’s Minister of Community Engagement (and one of their worship leaders). Katherine is the point person for First Church’s TikTok presence–which has had several posts go viral.

In this session of Pastoring in the Digital Parish:

(00:00) Initial observations on TikTok for ministry
(02:53) What does community engagement look like?
(06:56) Church engagement through social media
(08:54) The church starting on TikTok
(12:31) Audience expectations
(14:25) Building a TikTok strategy
(21:55) Posting for one person
(23:05) Posting frequency on TikTok
(26:02) Moderation and response
(30:44) What makes a viral video?
(37:16) Community advocates

103: Let’s get into Lent

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

What is the season of Lent, where did it come from and why is it important? Do you know the most popular things to give up during Lent? You might be surprised by how some people practice this special season.

Compass co-hosts Ryan and Michelle share their Lenten experiences and some ideas about how we all can encounter deeper connection and spiritual meaning during this special time of year.

In this episode:
(00:00) What is Lent?
(03:08) A theatrical history of Lent
(10:05) Lent traditions from around the world
(17:49) Top things people give up for Lent, according to Twitter
(20:40) Personal practices for Lent
(28:58) Lenten blessing

Meet Bishop Delores Williamston

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Bishop Delores (Dee) Williamston, the first Black woman elected as bishop in The UMC’s South Central Jurisdiction, is a grandmother who discovered her call to ministry at a skating rink while supervising a group of 50 kids from her local church.

More info and a full transcript of the conversation are available on our episode page.

Share your thoughts with us: gysis@umcom.org

Connect with The United Methodist Church at UMC.org.

Inherited Racism: 1968-1972

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Dr. Ashley Boggan D., general secretary of the General Commission on Archives and History, welcomes Bishop Ernest Lyght and Bishop Forrest Stith, to “Un-Tied Methodism” to discuss the years 1968-1972, a quadrennium filled with hopes, plans and disappointments for Black Methodists, and learn why United Methodism’s greatest challenges of cultural diversity and connectionalism are also the denomination’s greatest strengths.

Why does our church need an online pastor? with Jay Kranda

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Maybe your congregation isn’t all that digital. How does online ministry help them grow? Jay Kranda shares his story of becoming an online pastor and growing the digital ministry of Saddleback Church.

Jay Kranda is the Online Community Pastor at Saddleback Church, overseeing an online community of online groups and homes groups around the globe. Graduate of Biola University and Talbot School of Theology. Jay loves the NBA and cold coffee.

(00:00) Introduction
(04:00) Getting started as a digital minister
(09:10) Learning to be an online pastor
(13:25) Online ministry evolution
(20:32) Multi-state ministry
(25:36) Relationships in digital space
(31:22) Why do we need an online pastor?
(38:15) What kind of training do digital ministers need?

Recommended books for digital ministry success

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Has there been a book or two that has informed your practice of digital ministry? In this session of Pastoring in the Digital Parish, we share nine recommended books for digital and online ministry.

Let’s get reading with these books to add to your digital ministry toolkit.

(00:00) Introduction

(01:52) The Tangible Kingdom by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay

(03:35) God Can’t by Thomas Oord

(04:45) Master Content Strategy by Pamela Wilsom

(06:06) The Art of Community by Charles Vogl

(07:32) Contagious by Jonah Berger

(08:16) How to Handle a Crowd by Anika Gupta

(09:35) Another Way by Stephen Lewis, Matthew Wesley Williams and Dori Grinenko Baker

(11:03) Viral by Leonard Sweet

(12:52) The Startup Community Way by Brad Feld and Ian Hathaway

See the notes and other recommended reads, PLUS more episodes: www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish

102: Blessing our messy everyday lives with Jessica Richie

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Jessica Richie shares the story and practices behind “The Lives We Actually Have”, written with Kate Bowler.

“The Lives We Actually Have” (Releasing February 14, 2023) is a collection of blessings for the struggles of our shared humanity, from the New York Times bestselling authors of “Good Enough”. A blessing for a painful day? A blessing for when things don’t make sense? These feel like strange times to consider blessing. But, as Jessica points out, perhaps those are the instances when we’re drawing closest to God.

This episode contains special blessings from both Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie.

(00:00) Introduction

(00:56) Blessing our doubt from Kate Bowler

(03:11) Introducing Jessica Richie

(04:20) Developing a deeper language for talking “God”

(08:14) Why a book for blessings?

(09:54) Favorite blessings

(12:10) Blessings are a form of placement

(15:35) Compulsive blessing

(18:33) A blessing for stretching your heart

The curious path to better listening with Luke Edwards

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

United Methodist pastor Luke Edwards discusses how to develop listening as a spiritual discipline, a practice that when rooted in curiosity and love can transform our communities, our churches and our faith.

More info and a full transcript are available on our episode page.

Share your thoughts with us: gysis@umcom.org