We spend a lot of time focusing on community engagement (outreach) and guest follow up (assimilation). But it’s also crucial that your current members feel connected to the leadership and each other. Here are four ways to make sure you are doing just that.
1. Email
Contrary to popular belief, email is not dead! Sending relevant (and timely) emails to your members can be an effective way to share important information. Email could also be a great way to tell stories about what God is doing in and through the people of your church and remind your members of your church’s mission and how they can get involved. Some emails should be sent to your entire member email list; however, you may also want to create segmented lists for more targeted communications. You don’t need to tell everyone about the Men’s Steak Dinner, for example, but it would be essential to make sure your men’s ministry members were informed, given opportunities to serve, and encouraged to invite others. Targeting your emails ensures that everyone gets the email they need and makes sure you are not overwhelming your members with information they don’t need or want.
2. Social Media
Social media can be a great way to share with everyone, including your members, how your church is fulfilling its mission. In addition to posting events and connecting with the wider online community through posts, live streams, and other engaging content, creating a private group for your church members to share internal communications is also simple and effective. Facebook groups are different from Pages because they allow for more conversation between members and can be used to share prayer concerns, church business news, and encourage and support each other more intimately and interactively.
3. Texting
In the last several years, texting has become the fastest and most effective way to reach people with time-sensitive information. And, as we’ve seen during COVID-19 closings, texting can help you stay connected with your members and send quick messages to check in and let them know they are still part of a bigger church community and bigger purpose.
4. Website
In today’s digital world, your website is the front door of your church, and, as such, your homepage ought to focus on potential guests. But your church website can also be a central hub where your members go to find upcoming events, participate in online giving, join a small group or serve team, connect with staff members as needed, or find whatever information they need. Check out our article on church website basics for more details about how to engage both audiences well.
With these four basic strategies, you will create multiple connection points with your members to help them stay engaged as a congregation even when they aren’t on campus. Providing consistent, relevant, and timely content in all of these areas helps your members feel like they are in the loop and that their presence in your church community is valued and expected.
We know there are many more ways churches stay connected with their members, and we would love to hear your ideas! Please share it with us in the comments.
