The thesis of this series has been that Website Integration and Workflow Automation can do for Engagement (Outreach, Assimilation, and Connection) what Online Giving has done for Stewardship. That is, provide a technology solution for accomplishing a major ministry objective in a way that is not dependent on large group gatherings. The current pandemic has forced us to use more virtual tools than ever. Let's not waste what we've learned.
In the previous posts, I shared what we've been learning about using virtual systems to help with marketing, sales, and on-boarding in our business. Then applied these lessons to helping with outreach, assimilation, and connection in ministry. We used the example of Re|engage, a recovery ministry to help troubled marriages. This chart summarizes the entire series.
Virtual Outreach uses social media marketing to identify with the pain people feel in their lives - like a marriage in trouble. These are brief ads that link people to special (landing) pages on the church website built for outsiders to identify with the pain and offer hope using slogans, images, video and a small dose of content. Outreach becomes reality when a person responds to a (CT Registration) invitation on this page and registers their name, email, and mobile phone to learn more.
Virtual Assimilation uses a thoughtfully designed (CT) workflow of emails, texts, and personal touches to address and cultivate the person’s curiosity about the possibility of change. They also include a (CT) invitation to join others just like them in a journey back to health. Assimilation becomes reality when they register for and then attend a live or Zoom open meeting.
Virtual Connection uses (CT) meetings and notes to help leaders track live or Zoom involvement and on-going conversations with their new friends. These help them recognize their willingness and identify the right time to invite them to commit to more. Connection becomes reality when an attender recognizes that showing up is just a starting point and they are invited (CT) into life-changing relationships with Christ and His people.
When online giving first came out, it required a donor to enter their physical address when they gave. This was clunky for the virtual user who preferred using their permanent, virtual address (email) over their often-changing, geographical one. This altered view of home changed everything.
This same type of change is happening with church engagement. Home is the virtual environment of landing pages and workflows in addition to the geographical environment of a large group worship service. The Covid-19 Pandemic has accelerated adoption of this new environment for ministry. We're here to help you with the tools necessary to make virtual ministry a reality for your church.
