5 Ways Social Media is Changing How People Join Congregations

With approximately seven-in-ten Americans now using at least one social media site (Pew Internet), faith leaders can’t afford to ignore the impacts of digital culture.

Here are five ways social media is changing the process of connecting with and joining congregations.

 1. Visitors do extensive research online

People research congregations and their faith traditions extensively online.



 2. Before visiting, people participate remotely








4.  High-stakes visits verify the match




5. Visitors need immediate affirmation and connection


In my trainings, I tell congregational leaders to assume they need to offer this affirmation during the first visit.   Because if you don’t, it may very well be the only visit.


There are many ways we can use social media and online communications to offer this affirmation and start the connecting process before the visit.  We can start the process online.

These changes create a wide range of challenges and opportunities for congregations.

One of the first things we can do to respond to this cultural shift is to bring more of our core educational content online instead of waiting to educate people after they visit onsite.

Read more in my post Don’t let ANXIETY and UNCERTAINTY keep people from visiting your congregation.

Interested in using social media more effectively to grow your congregation? Enroll in new my online course Church Social Media and Membership Growth.  This is based on my day-long Unitarian Universalist training of the same name. 

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