Below you’ll find the show notes for episode 59, How to Use Social Media to Support the Mission of Your Women’s Ministry Program, from the Women’s Ministry Toolbox Podcast.
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How to Use Social Media to Support the Mission of Your Women’s Ministry Program
Does your women’s ministry need to use social media?
The honest and short answer is no.
You may think women spend too much time on their phones already and you don’t want to add to that. However, women are on their phones already. You’re simply meeting them in a place where they already hang out. You’re going TO THEM instead of expecting women to come TO YOU.
Consider this, if you don’t provide encouragement, support, and content for your women to consume, if it’s something they desire, they’ll find it somewhere else. That somewhere else may include teachings that are contrary to what your church teaches, or even what the Bible teaches.
Your women are being digitally discipled by someone, wouldn’t it be better if it’s you?
As I mentioned in the post Tech Tools for Women’s Ministry, not all of your women are on social media, but many, if not most of them, are.
Social media should not be the primary place women find out about what’s going on in your women’s ministry program – but it can provide reminders.
Which social media platforms should you use?
The one the largest number of your women use. It’s as easy as asking them!
We find Instagram helps us connect with more of the younger women in our church, whereas Facebook has a wider reach.
I recommend using a closed Facebook group and not a Facebook page:
- You want to provide a level of privacy for shared prayer requests and other personal information.
- You can use membership questions to control who comes into the group. I’ll talk more about that in my next post.
- Facebook created pages for announcements and groups for community.
- Pages allow anyone anywhere to see what’s been posted and to comment.
After doing some research on how TikTok collects information on its users, that is not a social media channel I’m comfortable recommending.
Get input from your women, the pastor that oversees your women’s ministry, and your team when making this decision.
How can you use social media to encourage and support your women’s ministry mission to help women grow in their relationship with God and each other?
5 Ways Social Media Can Support the Mission of Your Women’s Ministry
1. Information
Social media can be a place to provide information.
- Share what’s next on your women’s ministry calendar
- Provide a link to sign-up for Bible study
- Photographs and videos may catch the attention of your women better than a text or email
Here’s a great example – say your women’s ministry spring retreat is coming up. A video, slideshow, or photos of your retreat location could encourage a woman who’s never been to come for the first time.
2. Connection
Social media can be a place where women connect between physical meetings.
Social media should be social. We can be strategic in what we post so we’re inviting women into a discussion.
We have a closed Facebook group set up for our women’s ministry. I post at least 2 questions in our group each week – usually one spiritual in nature and one that is not. I’m constantly surprised and excited to see the women in our group share interesting information about themselves as they answer. In January, I asked what’s one new thing you want to learn this year and several of our women mentioned making sourdough bread. Without any guidance from our team, they began working to plan a class so they can learn together! That’s just one of many examples.
3. Encouragement
Social media can be a source of encouragement.
I regularly post scripture verses pointing women back to God and His Word. Sometimes we ask for prayer requests. Even sharing dinner ideas can encourage and help the women in your group.
4. Celebration
Social media can be a place to celebrate.
We post a recap after almost every event with photos and sometimes videos. We celebrate what was learned or accomplished.
- Show off the giant stack of diapers that were collected for your local pregnancy center.
- Review the main point of the teaching session.
- Share a quote from the testimony that was shared.
Celebrate what’s happening in your church body and other ministries too! Your ministry’s social media account or accounts should also support the mission of your church.
5. Collaboration
If your church uses social media for ministry, be sure to link arms with them. Show your support by sharing activities and events the church is hosting. Regularly sharing your church’s social media posts paints a picture of a united church body. Your women are needed to serve and participate in other church ministries too!
Social media can be a negative, depressing, and dark space, but we can shine a light in the darkness.
Everything we post should:
- Glorify God
- Encourage unity in Christ
Our social media posts should support 1 Thessalonians 5:11, (Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.) and Philippians 4:8 (Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.)
Social media can be a powerful tool to help further the purpose of your women’s ministry.
Today’s Toolbox Task:
- Talk with your team about how you use (or would use) social media to support your women’s ministry mission.
- If needed, make a list of action items to strengthen your social media efforts.
You may also want to read:
Social Media Kits for Ministry
Tech Tools for Women’s Ministry
How to Use Social Media to Encourage Connection
8 Benefits of Adding a Social Media Coordinator to Your Team
Women’s Ministry Email List Service Options
How to Create a Women’s Ministry Social Media Plan
How to Schedule Social Media Posts
How to Create Social Media Graphics
How to Use Facebook Groups for Women’s Ministry
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