There is a lot we have learned from this COVID-19 pandemic. We have learned how people react in a time of crisis. We have learned what items people consider “essential.” We have learned how unprepared the world is for a viral attack, but we have also learned how vital and how much of resource social media has become to us. 

A week ago, there would have been studies about how Americans are spending too much time with their face in a screen, mindlessly scrolling through social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. These same reports would tell you all about the negative mental impact that too much screen time can cause a person. Fast-forward to today and the digital world has become one’s only means of staying connected to the outside world and staying up to date with the world’s current events, tragedies and all. With all the negativity surrounding social media, the current status of the world has paved the way to justify and redeem screen time.

Churches have possibly benefited the most from this pandemic. That’s right, I said it. The (C)hurch has benefited from this pandemic.

In the past couple of weeks, churches have  been “forced” to shut their doors for the purpose of limiting mass gatherings of people in an effort to slow down the spread of COVID-19. This has caused nearly all churches to conduct their weekly services via live-stream, as well as forced churches to get creative with how they will stay connected with their congregation in a time of social distancing. 

For many churches, live-streaming is nothing new. Thanks to pioneering and creative minds such as Craig Groeschel, lead pastor of Life.church, and the team around him, as well as social media giants like Facebook, many churches have capitalized on broadcasting their weekend services to the digital world for some time now.  

In recent days, due to the pandemic and mandated social distancing, many churches have seen more than double their normal attendance size (online and in person combined) tune in via live-stream. I know of one church that nearly had five times their normal attendance size watch online last weekend.  If you want to talk about silver linings in the darkest of storms, God’s Word is spreading further and reaching more people faster than maybe ever before. You may even call it a pandemic.

However, using social media and other digital platforms as a way to connect with the congregation versus using it for sermon highlights or a way to promote upcoming events is, for some churches, a new frontier. Yet during this time, many churches have been forced to explore the digital frontier that they have, for too long, shied away from. 

So how can your church capitalize in this digital world? Well, here are three ways I have seen churches do so:

• Instagram- Instagram busted onto to the scene in the early 2010’s. A platform that many used to post pictures of their daily lives (and meal choices), transformed into a real time consumer when they introduced their “Instastory” feature. Instastories became a place where users could post a picture or video that they only wanted highlighted for a short period of time (24 hours to be exact). Quick 15 seconds to 1 minute in length videos became the staple to the Instastories platform. That is until Instagram introduced Instagram live and their “stickers.” 

  Using Instagram live, a church leader can communicate with his congregation in real time and even invite someone to live video chat with them on the feed. With the addition to stickers, people have a place to ask a question that the pastor or other church leader can answer in real time.  Another cool way I have seen churches utilize Instagram live has been for mini-devotional time, a short worship session, and a place to take and respond to prayer requests. 

• Zoom- Once thought of as a business tool to have team meetings when the team is not all in one location, Zoom has recently become the coveted tool in this time. 

  While still useful for remote staff meetings during social distancing, I’ve heard of churches using zoom as a tool to keep their small groups going. 

  Churches are encouraging their small group leaders to set up a zoom meeting with the rest of their group so they can continue to do life together. Reviewing the past weekend’s message and discussing the small group material or going over a book study, Zoom has become the tool that is bringing people together even while they are far apart.

• YouTube- up until the recent arrival of TikTok, YouTube was the number one social media platform for the next generation. YouTube is a place where, if not capable of live-streaming, you can record your weekly sermon and upload it via video file and then share that video to all other social media platforms. YouTube is no longer just a place to watch silly videos of animals doing ridiculous things. No, YouTube has become a real life source for churches and others who have a message to share. 

The devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic unfortunately seems to just be beginning. It is also unfortunate that it took something like this pandemic to show just how behind some churches are in meeting people where they are. But God is proving He is still in control and utilizing the digital world and social media in a new and exciting way to share the truth of God’s Kingdom around the world, even when most of us are stuck at home. I don’t know about you, but I’m seeing a victory!