Author: Ryan Dunn

Building online communities — 7/30

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We’re focusing on a crucial aspect of our digital faith communities: Building Online Community. Creating a sense of community and belonging is at the heart of any church experience. As we venture into the digital landscape, this sense of community can feel elusive. Yet, with intention and creativity, we can foster meaningful connections that bridge the gap between screens.

National Podcast Post Month is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community. This is part 7 of 30!

Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish

Creating engaging content for your digital community — 6/30

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We’re talking about creating engaging content–specifically for social media, with a special focus on short-form videos. Let’s see what kinds of content might connect with your online church or digital faith community.

National Podcast Post Month is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community. This is part 6 of 30!

Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish

Choosing the right digital ministry platforms — 5/30

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We’re navigating the digital terrain to find the place where your faith community can thrive. Does your digital community need a presence on TikTok? Or on Discord? Or on Twitter/X? We will outline each major digital space and it’s value for your specific audience in online ministry.

National Podcast Post Month is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community. This is part 5 of 30!

Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish

Identifying your right audience in digital ministry — 4/30

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Without a clear understanding of who we are trying to reach, our messages can become diluted, and our impact minimized. Let’s identify some ways we can get a feel for who our audience is and how we can best build community with them.

National Podcast Post Month is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community. This is part 2 of 30!

Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish

Balancing between invitation, information and interaction for your digital ministry — 3/30

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How balanced is your church or ministry’s digital content? We’re seeking to find the sweet spot between presenting invitations, information, and chances for interaction in our digital church communities.

National Podcast Post Month is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community. This is part 3 of 30!

Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish

Does your church have a digital ministry strategy? — 2/30

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It’s day 2 of NaPodPoMo (National Podcast Posts Month), and we’re building our church’s digital ministry strategy. Today, let’s take a look at what kind of content we’re sharing online. Is it reflective of our church’s mission for digital ministry?

National Podcast Post Month is a challenge through the month of November to share 30 episodes in 30 days. Our goal in participation is to see how this kind of volume and frequency can help to build an audience and a sense of community. This is part 2 of 30!

Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish

Why NaPodPoMo? — 1/30

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Happy National Podcast Posts Month! We’re undertaking 30 episodes in 30 days as part of NaPodPoMo. Each episode helps to build your church’s digital ministry strategy. We’re also learning how the frequency of a daily podcast can help build a digital footprint for ministry.

This is part 1 of 30!

Connect with Pastoring in the Digital Parish at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish

 

[121] Israel, conflict, end times and interventions of peace

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The Compass Podcast looks into a topic that has been making headlines and stirring heated debates: the Israel and Gaza conflict. Specifically, we will address a perplexing phenomenon: the religiously driven blind support of Israeli militarism by some Christians. What theological perspectives drive such a fascination with this conflict and where did those ideas come from? Let’s take a quick look at the historical roots of the conflict, unraveling the layers of religious beliefs, and examining the concept of eschatology and its influence on these perspectives.

In this episode:
[00:00] Could this be sign of the End Times?
[01:12] Christians support and how violence hampers peace.
[03:49] Holocaust fuels Zionism, UN plans partition.
[10:41] Hamas attacks Israel, Israel responds forcefully.
[13:06] Eschatology, Israel war, end times, dispensationalism, premillennialism
[16:13] Israel, church, prophecy, temple, second coming.
[18:52] Faithful taken away, tribulations, Armageddon, millennial kingdom.
[23:53] Witness of mercy, peace shows God’s movement.
[25:28] More about Compass

For more spiritual practices and inspiration for your spiritual journey: www.umc.org/compass

[120] Discovering evidence of the Divine in everyday moments with Mark Feldmeir

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Join us as we explore the intersection of faith, culture, and personal experiences with Rev. Mark Feldmeir. Mark’s faith journey led him to question the nature of God’s power, especially in the face of suffering and evil. He emphasized that God’s power is not coercive or unilateral, but rather persuasive. Mark also reflected on the significance of personal experiences with God, often recognized only in hindsight. He highlighted the importance of paying attention to the small, ordinary, and imperfect moments of life, as these often serve as avenues through which we can hear the voice of God.

In light of the episode’s themes, we encourage you to reflect on the evidence of God’s presence in your life. Are there specific habits or spiritual practices that you employ regularly to cultivate this awareness?

Mark Feldmeir is the author of five books, including his latest work, Life after God: Finding Fath When You Can’t Believe Anymore. He has served on the Adjunct Faculty at Claremont School of Theology, where he has taught homiletics, and has spoken at various conferences throughout the country on topics ranging from preaching, politics, and pop culture. He currently serves as Lead Pastor at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

In this episode:
(00:00) Let’s reflect theologically on the movement of God
(00:43) Mark’s academic journey challenges beliefs about God.
(03:48) Perception of God shifted by today’s circumstances.
(09:11) Never doubted presence of God, but struggled with theological concepts.
(11:04) Reflecting on God’s power when bad things happen.
(14:29) God sightings lead to purpose in life.
(19:21) Discerning gifts for ministry, meeting deep needs.
(21:20) Book aims for deconstruction and reconstruction, resonates.
(24:38) Discovery, uncertainty, faith seeking understanding, pilgrimage.
(27:39) Diverse practices connect me with the divine.
(32:26) Join us for meaningful episodes of Compass.

Compass is a production of United Methodist Communications. Find notes and other episodes at www.umc.org/compass

How it started and how it’s going with CrossFire Faith+Gaming (UM Podcast-a-thon 2023)

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During the 2023 United Methodist Podcast-a-thon we had the privilege of hosting Reverend David Petty, the founder of CrossFire Faith+Gaming.

David shared with us the incredible journey of how CrossFire came to be and its mission to create a welcoming space for individuals who feel marginalized in traditional church settings. What started as a question in Reverend Petty’s mind became a thriving ministry that combines the love for gaming and the desire for a faith-based community. 

Let’s find out how it started and how it’s going in digital ministry for CrossFire Faith+Gaming.

This episode was presented by the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation. They’re doing incredible work, inviting United Methodist Churches to sponsor scholarships for students to attend United Methodist-related colleges, universities, and seminaries. With their matching program, they’re helping students and families while also supporting United Methodist schools. Be sure to check them out!

And big thanks to ResourceUMC.org for their support and resourcing. They’re producing content to meet all your ministry needs.

In this episode:
(00:00) Welcome to UM Podcast-a-thon!
(02:27) Ministry, self-care, video gaming, community.
(05:30) Creating inclusive space for non-traditional churchgoers.
(07:51) Exploring faith through gaming stories
(11:36) “Ministry growth through digital means and sponsorship.”
(14:45) First connections with Crossfire for community.
(18:33) Video game summer camp for youth in Denver and Bozeman.
(20:34) We’re on TikTok, but not influencers.
(23:13) Common platform for building communities and watching games.
(26:46) Ministry costs, online funding challenge, sustainability.
(31:58) Evangelism is about helping people connect.
(34:45) United Methodist Podcast-a-thon thanks contributors & organizers.