What is social media and why is it important for churches?

Social media describes the variety of interactive experiences made possible through the Internet and various digital technologies where users can express themselves, publish their own content, comment, discuss, share resources and build relationships with others. Since user preferences have made dramatic shifts toward social media experiences in recent years, it’s important for the church to go where the people are and employ technologies they prefer.

Today, that means utilizing social media experiences like Facebook, Twitter, blogs and others. Many churches are experimenting with both closed social media platforms exclusively for their church and open social media platforms that enable them to reach and network with broader circles of friends and peers. Social media enables church leaders and members to build community, stay connected throughout the week, care for one another, access one another across boundaries of time and geography, share inspirational thoughts, work together conveniently online and more.

Isn’t Facebook enough for churches?

Many churches successfully use Facebook for their ministries but have experienced that it doesn’t meet all of their needs. The strength of Facebook is that it can serve as both an open or closed platform that leverages the power of circles of relationship. The problem is that many circles have grown so large and diverse that users report they find themselves editing what they share, especially when it comes to faith experiences that may not be understood the same way by everyone in their circle. Many discover, there is a time for Facebook and a time for something more faith-friendly, just as there is a time to participate in the larger community and a time to gather with God’s people. Another challenge for church-use of Facebook is that there is no easy way to organize and administrate all church-related groups inside Facebook. Inappropriate advertising, data security concerns and the decreasing frequency of group posts being seen in newsfeeds are also troubling churches.

How is FaithVillage different?

FaithVillage is uniquely designed to grow your church closer, deeper and wider. As a faith-friendly space your members will experience freedom to express their faith, give and receive the support of Christian friends, and enjoy the absence of inappropriate advertising or offensive comments. With security features for both open and closed groups, churches can use FaithVillage to build internal community, collaborate for team ministry in private groups or reach out to expand their influence. Just as important, FaithVillage surrounds this robust social media platform with a village-full of inspirational content that can help your members grow spiritually, train for volunteer service, and put their gifts in service to others. You can even archive your church’s sermons, podcasts and blogs inside FaithVillage so they are available to all. As a resource site alone, FaithVillage will strengthen your church’s ministry, but combining content and community makes FaithVillage truly unique and attractive, so that church members will keep coming back.

What can my church do in FaithVillage?

• Adopt FaithVillage for church-wide use as a Facebook-like social media platform to build community through personal profiles and group pages for your small groups, ministry teams, and outreach efforts. Permission levels enable church staff to administrate church-related groups and message their members.

• Utilize secure, private groups with file sharing and calendaring to provide virtual workspace for your ministry teams and leadership to work conveniently online together any time of the day or night.

• Coordinate your church’s groups, recommend resources and communicate with members through a customized organization page that is branded with your church logo, graphics and name in the URL address.

• Upload your own videos, podcasts, and blogs to reach more people in your communities of influence and build your tribe.

• Network with an emerging movement of church leaders and volunteers to share ministry ideas, strategies and resources.

• Draw on the many volunteer and leadership training resources from leading church resource organizations and publishers through content channels like Momentum (church leaders), Watermark Workshop (volunteers) and Engage (causes and missional living).

How much does it cost to move my church into FV?

Churches can move their entire congregation into FV and strengthen their community at absolutely no charge. FaithVillage is a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening churches and believers.

Do you have to be a specific denomination or faith tradition to use FV?

FaithVillage is open to all traditions of Christ-followers. Our Charter Members already include a broad range of non-denominational and denominational traditions. For more information on what we believe, click here.

Do FV editors and writers create all the content in FV?

FaithVillage is unique in that it combines original content, third-party content from publishing partners, and user-generated content vetted by FV editors.

Can churches make their groups private?

The owner, or creator, of each group controls the privacy permissions for the visibility of a variety of items and actions. They can set the standards by making the group open to the public or closed. If a church chooses they can have a staff member also be an admin for each group to ensure staff ownership, dependent on the culture of your church. Other options such as posting rules are also determined by the administrators.

How is my church staff supported in FV?

Ministry teams, committees and working groups can form social media collaborative groups that enable the convenient capture of conversation, storage of key shared documents via file sharing and event scheduling. The wealth of resources throughout FV will also help in training your staff and equipping them to serve. The church organization loft enables staff to feature resources for their members that they have found inside FaithVillage as well as content they have uploaded themselves.

Will FV replace our current church management system?

FaithVillage is not a church management software or service. FaithVillage is designed to provide a community-building, content publishing and communication service for churches who: (1) do not want to switch their church management solution to one that includes social media, (2) are concerned about the high cost of church management solutions with social media tools, or (3) want social media tools that are both open and closed, easy to use, and surrounded by free, trustworthy Christian resources.

How do pastors and other church staff benefit from the FV network?

Aside from the connections that church staff will make with their members, they can also reach countless others — whether it’s people looking for a new church home, ministry peers in a similar setting, church resource organizations or causes to engage their church. Opportunities to share ideas and church leadership best practices are abundant in the FV network. Pastors and church staff can share information and resources through recommendations, shared links, groups and comment interactions.

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Churches and Church Staff: I’m moving into FaithVillage because…

"Next generation leaders are all about leveraging the latest in technology to stay in touch and create community. Faith Village will help us all ignite more conversations among church leaders across the web." Brad Lomenick, Executive Director, Catalyst

"I am excited about the community that is developing and I desire to have a voice in the conversation." Nils Smith, Social Media Pastor, Community Bible Church, San Antonio

"I desire to share the Gospel without fear to the generation that is hungry for God." Joey Harwell, Student Pastor, Ablaze Student Ministry

"The motivation behind FaithVillage is dynamic and inspirational. I dream of seeing diverse churches learn together in spite of differences in order to bring honor and glory to God. FaithVillage is the type of community that can help make that happen!" Dan Bellamy, Youth Minister, FBC Atlanta

"I'm planning on using it for our youth ministry as a place for students and parents to interact and also remain informed as to ministry happenings I see it a connecting and resource place." Bill Dakin, Elim Bible Chapel Youth Ministry

"I think there needs to be greater cohesiveness in churches, both internally and externally, and we need to be willing and able to have conversations with each other. I love the idea of learning from multiple aspects of church members, from lay leaders, to Sr. Pastors, to Youth Pastors and Children's ministry Volunteers." Ben Read, Intentional Student Ministry

"Life needs community in order to be fully lived into." Tyler Braun, man of depravity

"I'm convinced that it will become a great resource for equipping and encouraging folks to reflect the Kingdom of God in their neighborhoods and world." Kurt Willems, The Pangea Blog

"I'm moving to FaithVillage because I know that the church is at its best when it works together for the cause of Christ." Taylor Sandlin, The Short Preacher

"They have an awesome concept and are gathering great people around a great cause." Robert Tucker, The Skipping Stone

"I am excited about the opportunity to share and receive resources with other Kingdom-oriented people. The holistic approach of this site has so much potential!" Jonathan Sigmon, Tainted Canvas

"I love making new connections in the people of God, and through God's people to the world God loves." Kevin Collison, 6Between

"We were made for community!" Jason Gangwish, Stranded Here

"Quality content helps leaders challenge and change ministry paradigms. FaithVillage provides an environment for leaders to acquire the ideas to elevate ministry effectiveness." Stephen Blandino

"This is a great way to connect, share, and interact with others in the faith community. I can't wait to see how FaithVillage develops." Erik Cooper, Beyond the Risk

"I am excited by the possibilities to develop a caring community and meaningful dialogue." Barry Hill, The Ordained Barista

• We are passionate about community, collaboration and the church.
  We’re all about the kingdom-building business, not building our own kingdom. Ministry first, technology second.

• We’re non-profit, so churches and individuals get everything for free.
  You shouldn’t have to purchase an expensive church management solution or hire a staff of geeks to leverage the best technology available for ministry.

• We put community and content in one convenient place.
  Have your taco and eat it too with one reliable source that uses good content to keep bringing your members back and good community to share the best ideas. Are you really going to recommend twenty different websites to your people?

• We’re so easy to use you’ll feel as smart as Steve Jobs.
  Our front end is clean and beautiful and our back end tools make managing your content as easy as updating your Facebook page or blog.

• Our content vision is generously evangelical.
  We desire enough unity to build community, and enough diversity to learn from the best voices of our time. You can trust FaithVillage to let people talk while staying true to our community’s core convictions.

• Keep the door open or closed.
  You shouldn’t have to choose between private groups for your church family and public groups for participating in larger Christian life and networking with new friends. FaithVillage enables you to connect freely inside or outside your church through simple security settings and permissions.

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