Why Don’t More Churches Blog? Answer 2!
Here’s another answer to the question “Why don’t churches blog?”
Church leaders don’t understand the reach and impact of the internet or the new definition of community.
Congregations, by tradition, are geographically bound. For several decades, congregations which had support from people who lived some distance from the church building were criticized. Membership was considered “scattered.” The regional or centralized church didn’t care about this as long as offerings were flowing, but if there were any signs of fiscal trouble, a “scattered” congregation was in trouble with its judicatory.
Geography is no longer as important as it once was. There are definite benefits to physical community, but it is not the sole criterion.
Community is a group of people with common interests. People, today, are discovering people with common interests all over the world. Just because this was not possible from 35 A.D. to 1985 A.D. doesn’t mean it has no value in 2012 A.D.
Recognizing that the Church and its sense of community has changed WILL redefine Church and its structure of support and service.
2×2 is on the frontline exploring this new definition of Church. We are learning every day. Our effort, barely 18 months old, has taken our ministry to places we never imagined.
Our regional office considers us “scattered and diminished” and worthless.
Scattered? Not when they made this claim, but today, maybe. But now it doesn’t matter!
Diminished, not at all. 2×2 (Redeemer) is reaching more people every week than it ever reached on a weekly basis at any time in its history. We can prove it!
Some contacts are fickle accidents. Others are developing into true friendships. That’s really not so different than the neighborhood church that reaches many visitors with only a small percentage actually joining.
We made all of these connections by blogging daily on diverse subjects, analyzing the wealth of online data, and producing content that answered the needs revealed in search engine data.
We did it on a shoestring budget — less than $100 per year. We followed our own members’ interests and talents.
We’ve only just begun. We’re here to help and serve.
Contact us if you need help developing an online ministry.