Media Outreach

As discussed in Part 1 of Conversations with the Community, this portion of the series is to offer ideas as to the content of your tweets and status updates.  Prior to this stage, a little planning will go a long way.  Make sure to plot out a timeframe and goals, as well as recruit fellow social networkers to help you promote this campaign. Remember that this is designed to reach the unchurched in the community, so keep your language simple and non-churchy.

87% of Americans believe in heaven.  That is somewhere around 306 million people that are expecting an eternity of bliss.  In contrast, 12.9% believe in hell.  Now consider that 48% of Americans have a Twitter, Facebook and/or MySpace account (roughly 168 million).  There is no question that these networks could be the front door to your church if utilized correctly.

Reading through the simple book How Good is Good Enough? by Andy Stanley, I realized that this is a conversation that needs to be addressed.  There are many other conversations to be had with our community – including those vital day-to-day discussions that mold a relationship.  This post is simply to offer one example of how to start a dialogue with those outside of the church walls.

Inspired and/or taken from Andy Stanley’s book, here is a list of questions to use when you attempt to engage those around you in a spiritual discussion.

• Good people go to heaven right?
• Who decides who gets into heaven?
• How good is good enough?
• If God decides who goes to heaven and he is good, then why would he let in the thief that hung next to Jesus on the cross?
• What about other religions? Is their God good or right?
• If we all come with a sense of right and wrong, how come our moral compass tends to change/waiver over time?
• Do good people deserve to go to heaven with a perfect God living there?
• Do you think that forgiveness is required to get into heaven?

The great opportunity with an intentional conversation like this is now you can point people to the book for more answers.  Offer to buy it for them – or at least lend them a copy – and follow up to see what their thoughts are.

Regardless of whether you use these questions or not for your social media outreach campaign, remember to keep the dialogue going.  Don’t let them be the last person to respond.  Even if their response is inaccurate, or maybe even angry, rise above and maintain the relationship by getting past the rocky parts of this touchy topic.

Let us know if you decide to run an intentional campaign like this. We’d love to hear what topic you use.  Good luck!

Photo By: Richard0