Just before I left for Innovation3, I was contacted by my friend, Drew Goodmanson of Monk Development (and elder/pastor at Kaleo Church in San Diego). Drew is someone I really respect, both as a Christian leader and as a savvy business person. He was one of the first people I discovered who was using the Internet (and SEO) to reach people for Christ. You can read his story elsewhere online but I’m inviting you to help him & those who are studying social media and the Church by taking this simple 5 minute survey. Here’s an overview….
Are churches using the internet to gather, disciple and build community?
In the last couple years a number of new private church community networks have been launched in addition to numerous social networking sites. We are still very early on in understanding what churches are doing effectively online.
We invite you to participate in this first survey of several that examine the State of the Church Online. This survey in particular begins by examining what churches are doing with social and community networks. How pervasive are the use of these web applications?
Future surveys will expand to examine what Christians are doing with social networks, how churches are using their websites and other online strategies. Our prayer is that these studies help bring clarity and guidance for churches to pursue excellence online to the glory of God.
This survey is being led by Kevin Ring. Kevin brings years of experience from Bainbridge Consulting leading qualitative research projects – designing and executing customer/competitive research and analysis across multiple industries, focused on Fortune 500 companies including Google, Yahoo!, Citibank, Hewitt Associates, Gallup, Bank of America and others.
The survey is free and takes very little time to complete. Feel free to leave your name here (below in the comments) if you participate.
Link to it here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=bQWu6K2vXJyKE1aGHWr8_2fg_3d_3d
Thanks for taking the time to build this survey, I filled our my comments. I’d be very interested in seeing the results and look forward to understanding and learning what the future holds for the the digital church.
Tim Golden
Durham Evangelical Church – Tech Team Leader
http://twitter.com/goldeneye
Cynthia:
Can we share with link with others so a large number of folks can take this survey, or are you trying to limit or focus it in some way?
Thanks for share this!
George Bullard
Hi George – yes, please pass the survey around. The more people who fill it out (and it just takes 5 minutes) the better data they are able to compile. Thanks!
I wish I knew what a “church community site” was. I thought it was THE church website. So the survey is not very do-able for people who either don’t know what that type of site is.
Joe – as online technologies blossom and new services and apps are added, there’s an evolution in how people are using different things. For example, at some churches, the web site is just a static page with some basic information and possibly simple links to staff, ministries, etc.
But other churches are using their webpage as a “place” not a page, so that the community that makes up the church comes there to interact online.
Additionally, some churches are using products like Unifyer or ROOV or MyChurch.org or Kindle (a prayer app) to link people together in other ways…. this is all very new of course, especially to older folks who are migrating onto facebook in droves…. (so, the kids will likely leave for other ground) and the “church community site” in some cases is even a single blog where massive communities materialize for conversation and relationship.
Others could speak to your comment more effectively than I and I hope they add in…..
P.S. – The survey was created by a group that will launch it’s own offering of “church community site” options.
Will you guys be talking about the results of the survey as they are completed or as the entire project is finished? I’m interested to know what your findings are?
I have found the greatest struggle in our church with the use of technology is lack of education and desire. We have a large group of elders who couldn’t care less about a computer, much less what the internet has to offer. Has anyone else encountered these struggles and found a solution?
Thanks!