More than 500%.
In just two months, my congregation's website traffic jumped by more than 500%. This sudden, steep rise in web traffic was accompanied by other changes as well. The number of visitors to specific pages on the site shifted. Suddenly, the Listen to Sermons page became the most heavily frequented. Meanwhile, the Events page languished with no visitors. Something big was happening.
This all took place from February 2020 to April 2020 -- coinciding, of course, with the onset in North America of the coronavirus pandemic. The arrival of the pandemic profoundly changed my church's online presence. We closed the sanctuary doors and shifted to livestream services. We moved our Bible studies from the church to the cloud. Instead of passing an offering plate, we passed a link to online giving.
My congregation's experience is not unique. The COVID-19 era has caused many congregations to perform their ministry almost exclusively online through digital means such as websites, livestreaming and social media. And since it appears that social distancing will continue for many months to come, congregations will be relying heavily on digital media for the foreseeable future. It is now vital for congregations to ensure that their websites, social media and overall internet presence are accessible and easy to use.
Read more from A. Trevor Sutton » |
It's easy to be intimidated by technology. But technological skills aren't the most important part of online ministry, writes a former digital missioner.
Read more from Kyle Matthew Oliver » |
| | MORE FROM THE ARCHIVE: MINISTRY & TECHNOLOGY |
Go back in time and read how we thought technological innovations would change the way that religious communities gathered, worshipped, and stayed connected. This article appeared in the fall 2008 edition of Congregations magazine.
Read more from Andrea Useem » |
How to Lead When You Don't Know Where You're Going: Leading in a Liminal Season by Susan Beaumont
How do you lead an organization stuck between an ending and a new beginning -- when the old way of doing things no longer works but a way forward is not yet clear? Beaumont calls such in-between times liminal seasons -- threshold times when the continuity of tradition disintegrates and uncertainty about the future fuels doubt and chaos. In a liminal season it simply is not helpful to pretend we understand what needs to happen next. But leaders can still lead.
How to Lead When You Don't Know Where You're Going is a practical book of hope for tired and weary leaders who risk defining this era of ministry in terms of failure or loss. It helps leaders stand firm in a disoriented state, learning from their mistakes and leading despite the confusion. Packed with rich stories and real-world examples, Beaumont guides the reader through practices that connect the soul of the leader with the soul of the institution.
Learn more and order the book » |
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