Social Media and Church

Can the ever growing social media mesh with and be used in the church?

That is the question that so many are raising around the church community these days. Can it be integrated? I believe so, and think it should.

There are a lot of ways in which it could be integrated into and used by churches.

Here are a couple of places that jump out to me:

1. Staying Connected:  With Twitter, Facebook, and the use of blogs it will allow the church community to stay more connected in mare ways than just the church newsletter or phone calls. They can instead keep people up to date in almost real time the issues facing their local community and church community. Recently, I was able to see this happen first hand when Pete Wilson, pastor of Cross Point Church in Nashville, TN was able to keep in touch with his church and community through his Twitter account (@pwilson) and blog during the recent flooding in Nashville, TN. I am not a member of his church and do not live in the area, but I knew what was going on. I felt informed, and I know his members and his community greatly appreciate the efforts he makes to stay connected to them and the ability to keep them informed.
2. Missions: Social media can be a missionary that is able to constantly work in the field. There are constantly people searching the internet for answers and comfort. With all of the filth on the internet there needs to be churches going on the attack to make their presence known. In doing this an individual could stumble upon their Twitter or Facebook account / blog and find love and community. You never know, but this could be the only witnessing they have ever received.

I know that some people think that social media and the internet is evil and should not be included in churches. It can be evil if abused in the wrong ways, but all things can if you let them control you. If churches informed of the great tools that social media can provide as noted above I think it can be better received.