Category: Pastoring in the Digital Parish

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We’re joined by Charles Vogl, author of “The Art of Community”.

We discussed the need for intellectual, emotional, and action components in spiritual communities–no matter how they meet. Charles also emphasizes the importance of intimacy and vulnerability in creating meaningful digital experiences. We also look at the loneliness epidemic in America and how organizations can deliver on the three promises of community events to promote growth, connection, and freedom of choice.

Charles Vogl is an adviser, speaker, and the author of three books, including the international bestseller The Art of Community. Drawing on three thousand years of spiritual traditions, Charles teaches the wisdom and principles to build deep community and resilient relationships that foster innovation and integrity within organizations and around the world. He holds an M.Div. from Yale, where he studied spiritual traditions, ethics, and business as a Jesse Ball duPont Foundation scholar. His work is used to advise and develop leadership and programs worldwide within organizations including Airbnb, LinkedIn, Twitch, Amazon, ServiceNow, Meetup.com, Wayfair and the US Army. Visit with Charles at www.charlesvogl.com

This season of Pastoring in the Digital Parish is made possible by: Safe Sanctuaries “Safer Sanctuaries: Nurturing Trust within Faith Communities” is a new and comprehensive resource that continues the tradition of Safe Sanctuaries ministry by building on its trusted policies and procedures. To learn more go to Safer Sanctuaries.org or call 800-972-0433.

Find episode notes and more resources for digital ministry at www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish

In this episode:
[00:00:00] “Digital ministry strategies discussed with Charles Vogel.”
[00:04:13] Bridging the disconnection in society
[00:09:16] Promise of value creates community
[00:14:11] Remembering religion’s value sets
[00:17:24] Three components for healthy spiritual communities
[00:21:24] The hard work of digital community-building
[00:25:58] Missed opportunity to connect at events
[00:30:48] Three promises: choice, connection, growth
[00:33:40] (Ad) Safer Sanctuaries – comprehensive abuse prevention resource
[00:38:00] Misunderstood breakouts lead to toxic situations
[00:41:07] Podcast wrap-up, resources mentioned

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On this episode of Pastoring in the Digital Parish, we explore the intersection of gaming and ministry. Our guests shared insights on how playing games can build genuine community, especially in a digital-first culture. We heard from Joy Van Staalduinen and Laura Wittman about their experiences using games to engage young people and bridge the gap between in-person and online engagement, respectively. We also talked about playing table-top games like Dungeons and Dragons with other clergy members and shared how gaming can be a therapeutic tool and promote inclusion in church communities. Tune in to hear more about how gaming can be a tool for digital ministry and community-building.

Laura Wittman is an Ordained Elder currently planting The Mills Church in Rocky Mount. Laura has been serving in pastoral ministry for 16 years and her passions include collaborative ministry, Wesleyan history, and of course, Star Wars.

Joy Van Staalduinen provides pastoral care and education to individuals and faith communities through online coaching and the “Love and Loss” podcast. See does this internationally as she is based in The Netherlands.

This episode presented by: Safer Sanctuaries: Nurturing Trust within Faith Communities is a new and comprehensive resource that continues the tradition of Safe Sanctuaries ministry by building on its trusted policies and procedures. To learn more go to Safer Sanctuaries.org or call 800-972-0433.

For more from Pastoring in the Digital Parish, visit: www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish

In this episode:
[00:00:00] Podcast about using games for digital ministry.
[00:03:28] Online youth ministry during pandemic still going.
[00:07:40] Exciting place, church planting during pandemic.
[00:11:59] Prefers D&D for family bonding and conversations.
[00:16:38] Safer Sanctuaries: comprehensive resource for abuse prevention.
[00:18:28] D&D and gaming provide inclusive creativity.
[00:22:49] Church provides relief for pandemic stress.
[00:27:27] Building sincere community through affirming fellowship.
[00:28:51] Games become lessons, fellowship and culture important.
[00:35:18] Church uses gaming to build community engagement.
[00:39:09] Check out episodes on online ministry tools.

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New series: “How it started vs How it’s going.” First up is Jate Earhart and the community around JateLIVE and LOVE CLAN. With Jate, we dive into the world of online ministry and planting churches with a focus on non-believers and gamers. Jate shares insights on the importance of prayer and honesty in building relationships, as well as the power of immersion and action-based learning. We also discuss the growth of their Discord community and how they balance Christian and non-Christian focuses. We explore the use of technology in creating spaces for discussing science and working towards inclusivity, as well as the challenges of balancing physical and digital ministry and discerning God’s plan.

Jate Earhart grew up as a PK, but never wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps as a pastor. After studying digital art and design at Full Sail and working for big companies like Google, Nike, and ESPN, Jate felt a calling to do something more meaningful. He found inspiration in Ephesians 2:10, which speaks of being created for good works that God has prepared in advance. Though he initially doubted the idea of having a specific calling, Jate now believes that as long as he follows God’s plan for his life, he will find meaning and purpose. Currently, he is exploring the idea of using digital media to create a new kind of church experience.

We’re going to hear all about it next on Pastoring in the Digital Parish…

This particular meaningful episode is brought to us by: Safer Sanctuaries. Safer Sanctuaries: Nurturing Trust within Faith Communities is a new and comprehensive resource that continues the tradition of Safe Sanctuaries ministry by building on its trusted policies and procedures.

In this episode:

(00:00) “Pastoring in the Digital Parish: Jate Earhart’s Journey”
(10:22) “A Creative Epiphany”
(17:35) “Build a Thriving Gaming Community Through Word-of-Mouth”
(20:31) “Breaking Taboos: Inviting Non-Science Professionals to Discussions”
(29:31) “Fostering Authenticity: A Pastor’s Focus on Community”
(38:17) “Streamers logging up to 19 hours daily!”
(42:59) “Balancing Discipleship and Evangelism: A Journey”
(49:26) “Digital Ministries for Gamers: A Guide”

For more episodes of Pastoring in the Digital Parish: www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish

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We’re talking with Lexi Hernandez, the founder of Growth Co, a young adult ministry that is changing the way people think about church. We go behind the scenes to learn about the inspiration behind the creation of subscription boxes for young adults, the idea of Growth Co, and the challenges of meeting the needs of the community. Lexi shares her personal experiences with church growing up and the journey that led to the creation of Growth Co. Join us as we explore the dynamics of young adult communities and the challenges that come with it.

Lexi Hernandez is a woman of faith who believes that ministry happens in unexpected ways. She communicates an expectation that there is a purpose and design to all that she does, even if it may not be immediately obvious. As the founder of Growth Co, she has helped to create a rhythm to the organization’s scheduling and programming, ensuring that each gathering offers a unique level of learning and growth. Whether leading a Thursday night gathering or participating in a 201 level Zoom session, Lexi is committed to sharing her faith and helping others discover their own personal connections to spirituality.

This episode made possible by: “Safer Sanctuaries: Nurturing Trust within Faith Communities” is a new and comprehensive resource that continues the tradition of Safe Sanctuaries ministry by building on its trusted policies and procedures. To learn more go to Safer Sanctuaries.org or call 800-972-0433.

(00:00) – Introduction
(05:06) – How Growth Co Was Born
(10:30) – The Challenges of Meeting the Needs of Young Adults
(15:39) – Creating a Safe Space for Spiritual Exploration
(17:57) – Finding the Right Balance Between Fun and Serious Discussion
(26:02) – Engaging Young Adults in Volunteering and Service Opportunities
(34:29) A young person’s vision of church
(36:11) – National Meetings and Expanding the Community
(38:23) – Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Don’t miss an episode of Pastoring in the Digital Parish, hit that subscribe button and stay up to date with the latest content. More episodes at: www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish

Peace!

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We’re talking with Rev. Jessica Blackwood and Rev. Orlando Evans–a couple of the visionaries and planners behind Harbor United Methodist Church, a currently all-digital church plant located in Georgia (and across the expanse of the internet). They share about planning for digital community, engaging in digital outreach, building online community building and community rhythm. There are some great stories and several key ideals to add to your digital ministry toolkit.

Rev. Jessica Blackwood serves in the Center for Congregational Excellence of the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church as Digital Ministry Specialist. She helps churches create sacred spaces within digital spaces.

Rev. Orlando Evans is a former online pastor and current lead pastor at Bright Star United Methodist Church in Douglasville, Georgia. And he’s one of the key visionaries for founding Harbor UMC… which is our key topic in this session of Pastoring in the Digital Parish.

This session is made available by:

Safer Sanctuaries: Nurturing Trust within Faith Communities is a new and comprehensive resource that continues the tradition of Safe Sanctuaries ministry by building on its trusted policies and procedures.
To learn more go to SaferSanctuaries.org or call 800-972-0433

For more episodes and digital ministry resources, visit www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish

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We’ve got some history and some futurism for your digital ministry toolkit. One of the things we’ve witnessed through the stories shared on Pastoring in the Digital Parish is that digital ministry is not about replacement, it’s about accessibility and presence.

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You’ve got a world-changing message. Let’s get that message out to people through a podcast. Millions of people are regularly listening to podcasts, and utilizing the medium helps our churches and ministries meet people where they are.

Rev. Ryan Dunn shares his experiences and discoveries of starting and maintaining multiple podcasts–including Pastoring in the Digital Parish.

In this episode:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:33) Why your church or ministry should have a podcast
(03:54) Determining your podcast’s format
(06:29) What equipment you’ll need
(13:53) Editing your podcast episode
(18:15) Podcast hosting considerations

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Let’s explore digital pathways of discipleship while we hear the story of “The Chapel Online” and “Becoming More”–two vibrant all-digital ministries founded and coordinated by Anne Bosarge.

Anne Bosarge works with the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church as the Director of Leadership Strategies and Local Church Resources where she provides leadership development for clergy and laity. In addition to her role with the United Methodist Church, she is a founder of Digital Discipleship (www.digitaldiscipleship.online), a digital discipleship organization reaching thousands around the globe.

For more episodes of Pastoring in the Digital Parish: www.resourceumc.org/digital-parish

In this session:

(00:00) Introduction
(01:45) What led Anne to start digital ministry
(09:59) What did this ministries start with programatically?
(13:38) Connecting internationally
(18:45) Training for digital ministers
(22:37) Empowering leaders and giving ownership
(25:18) Building engagement through content
(29:06) What is Digital Discipleship?
(34:32) Discipleship is the point

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How does a church move from a digital or online ministry to an in-person meeting group? What does it look like to plant a church in the midst of a pandemic? And what digital tools set up a new church for growth in the 2020s?

Asking any of these questions? Curious about what that looks like in today’s ministry landscape? Well, we’re talking with Mike Whang of Oikon Church in Houston Texas in this session. And Pastor Mike is going to share with us the story of planting, at first, a digital ministry that has added or implemented in-person gatherings. He’ll share with us some of the tools he’s using to communicate with the congregation of Oikon–and this includes some clever uses for Substack.

Mike Whang is currently the lead and founding pastor of Oikon United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas.

(00:00) Introduction

(01:46) Meet Pastor Mike Whang

(07:09) Starting a digital-first church, Oikon Church

(12:47) Moving from digital-only to hybrid church

(16:39) Experiments in the church

(21:22) Substack for church communications

(27:36) The future of Oikon Church

 

 

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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