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From Social Media to Social Ministry: A Guide to Digital Discipleship
This book outlines digital discipleship principles for building an online community and provides practical instruction for how to do it no matter how big or small a local church may be. There are more than 2.3 billion professing Christians in the world and more and more new churches launching globally, yet statistics show that in-person church attendance is declining or plateauing in every nation. Although social technology has been around for more than two decades, church leaders have long bristled at the idea of church online, ranking it as the last concern on their minds in Barna's 2020 state of the church report published February 3, 2020. And then, three weeks later, COVID-19 closed the doors of every church on earth and suddenly forced them entirely online. Nona Jones, a globally acclaimed thought leader on leveraging technology for ministry, had been leading a movement and sounding the alarm for several years to make digital discipleship a central part of every church’s ministry approach. In From Social Media to Social Ministry , she outlines her digital discipleship principles and provides practical instruction for how to do it no matter how big or small a local church may be. There are plenty of books to help churches build a social media strategy, but this is the first book of its kind that goes beyond digital marketing to digital ministry. Readers will leave this book
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2018
217 people are currently reading
390 people want to read
About the author
Nona Jones
11 books101 followersNona Jones is considered a global thought-leader at the intersection of faith and technology and has also served as a voice of hope and healing to victims of trauma due to her own history as a survivor of physical and sexual abuse. Her highly anticipated books are equipping church leaders and individuals to harness their potential toward realizing their purpose.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
June 28, 2020
The author fills the pages of her book with many good ideas about social ministry rather than a social strategy. I appreciated her break down of the pros and cons of the various online platforms that could be ministry opportunities. I also appreciated the fact that she did not encourage the use of social media to put “butts in the seats”. However, I found her book was intended for a form of online ministry that was program based.
The book mainly focuses on ministry being performed by larger churches with paid staff. I found the book was not empowering regular members of the body. The book proposes a structure of doing church online based on traditional church programs. Therefore, though there are some good ideas in the book the largest percentage of the book is not particularly relevant for ordinary believers feeling called to minister online in a form that is not based on traditional church programs.
The book mainly focuses on ministry being performed by larger churches with paid staff. I found the book was not empowering regular members of the body. The book proposes a structure of doing church online based on traditional church programs. Therefore, though there are some good ideas in the book the largest percentage of the book is not particularly relevant for ordinary believers feeling called to minister online in a form that is not based on traditional church programs.
June 28, 2021
3.5
Lots of good ideas how social media can become not only a platform for posting content, but also creating a community.
Discipleship outside of weekend services is so critical. While we can teach people in unidirectional way, it’s most effective when we do it in conversation, when we create a feedback loop and allow for questions. Discipleship is the process of teaching people by coming alongside them, assessing their mode of learning, and meeting them where they are with the information they need in the way they receive it the best. Teaching is more than sharing content, it’s fostering understanding. (p.29)
Lots of good ideas how social media can become not only a platform for posting content, but also creating a community.
Discipleship outside of weekend services is so critical. While we can teach people in unidirectional way, it’s most effective when we do it in conversation, when we create a feedback loop and allow for questions. Discipleship is the process of teaching people by coming alongside them, assessing their mode of learning, and meeting them where they are with the information they need in the way they receive it the best. Teaching is more than sharing content, it’s fostering understanding. (p.29)
September 29, 2020
This book was very well written and informative. As our church has moved to online worship during the Covid-19 pandemic we are exploring ways to enhance this experience and encourage those who join us to actively engage rather than sit and watch. Our hope is to foster a sense of community that goes beyond our physical presence in the sanctuary. While I remain resistant to the constant pull of social media it has been thrust upon us as our means of remaining connected during this time of isolation and I can see the value in harnessing it for ministry purposes.
February 6, 2021
This is a helpful book if you are looking to design a mega church online through Facebook. There is strong Facebook bias. I would imagine this stems from the author being a Facebook executive. I believe that a multifaceted approach using various digital platforms could make a better impact.
May 5, 2021
A must-read for anyone working in modern ministry!
December 1, 2020
Wow, do I have mixed feelings on this book.
Nona does a great job of explaining the importance of utilizing social media for intentional ministry purposes. With the way 2020 has gone, a lot of churches have been thrust into the realm of social media, trying to figure it out as they went. Thankfully, folks like Nona have been using social media for their church long enough and she shares some great tips that help any pastor thinking through social media use.
However, the book narrows down to focus exclusively on Facebook and launching a group for your church. Which, makes sense, given that Nona works for Facebook. I guess I was hoping for a more rounded write-up that catered to Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook while showcasing different ways a church could use those platforms in an intentional manner to cultivate community. But the way that Nona writes, it sounds like Instagram and Twitter both can't be used to cultivate community and Facebook is the only option.
I'm a pastor at a small rural church. So as I read through the different things to set up a successful online church group, I have this sense of impossibility rise up as we are lucky to have what few volunteers we do have. Just seems the suggestions are catered more towards a bigger church with more resources while ignoring smaller churches.
I do plan on implementing some of these strategies to foster community for our shut-ins and online attendees. It's clear Nona knows what she's talking about. I just wish I had a better idea of how to use all of our social media platforms after reading this, instead of an exhaustive knowledge of how Facebook groups work and how to set one up.
Nona does a great job of explaining the importance of utilizing social media for intentional ministry purposes. With the way 2020 has gone, a lot of churches have been thrust into the realm of social media, trying to figure it out as they went. Thankfully, folks like Nona have been using social media for their church long enough and she shares some great tips that help any pastor thinking through social media use.
However, the book narrows down to focus exclusively on Facebook and launching a group for your church. Which, makes sense, given that Nona works for Facebook. I guess I was hoping for a more rounded write-up that catered to Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook while showcasing different ways a church could use those platforms in an intentional manner to cultivate community. But the way that Nona writes, it sounds like Instagram and Twitter both can't be used to cultivate community and Facebook is the only option.
I'm a pastor at a small rural church. So as I read through the different things to set up a successful online church group, I have this sense of impossibility rise up as we are lucky to have what few volunteers we do have. Just seems the suggestions are catered more towards a bigger church with more resources while ignoring smaller churches.
I do plan on implementing some of these strategies to foster community for our shut-ins and online attendees. It's clear Nona knows what she's talking about. I just wish I had a better idea of how to use all of our social media platforms after reading this, instead of an exhaustive knowledge of how Facebook groups work and how to set one up.
June 27, 2020
A very clear and practical book on how to and why do ministry online. The reality is that as a church of individuals we are already online, so it's not a matter of if we should do ministry there but how are we going to do it well.
November 26, 2020
This book is a great “how-to” manual for churches looking to expand their presence on Facebook specifically. Nona Jones is a clear writer who has a deliberate and experienced method, and she conveys with great conviction and thorough detail her system. It’s clear through the pages of this brief piece that Jones has a lot of experience helping evangelical congregations specifically launch “Facebook Campuses.” This idea is a helpful reframing, but what seems more important are the small pointers and tips she sprinkles through the books about maximizing social media engagement and turning Facebook likes into faithful followers of a community.
This book was published post-Covid-19, so it has the barest-of-beginnings on a take as to how technology and the church have a new relationship. Yet even those pieces help.
Like I shared before, this book will be most easily accessible to those in the evangelical space, but Jones’ pages have “good bones” for mainline progressive communities. The ideas here will challenge many congregations who are “waiting to go back to normal,” and the notion that Facebook is a campus is cause for most small mainline churches to question what they’re really doing there.
All in a good read and resource that moves quick and offers salient and lasting advice.
This book was published post-Covid-19, so it has the barest-of-beginnings on a take as to how technology and the church have a new relationship. Yet even those pieces help.
Like I shared before, this book will be most easily accessible to those in the evangelical space, but Jones’ pages have “good bones” for mainline progressive communities. The ideas here will challenge many congregations who are “waiting to go back to normal,” and the notion that Facebook is a campus is cause for most small mainline churches to question what they’re really doing there.
All in a good read and resource that moves quick and offers salient and lasting advice.
April 17, 2021
I don't run a church, but I am very interested in how social media can be utilized to enhance Christian ministries. This author emphasizes the power of what she calls a Facebook campus. Just as churches that have multiple campuses have members who interact with them at specific locations, she argues that the Facebook campus is a valid location for individuals to come together and be discipled.
While I personally am not convinced that online church is all that the author says it is and cannot be a suitable replacement for in person community, what I took away from this book is that having a Facebook campus allows Christians to be a part of each other's lives throughout the week, where they already are. She dismisses other social media outlets because of their relatively limited reach compared to the behemoth of Facebook. The whole point of this campus is to reach people where they already are. Of course members of the brick and mortar church can also interact in the Facebook community, but a Facebook campus allows members from around the world to connect with the specific church.
Although this is not the lesson that the author would want me to take away from this book because she emphasizes the validity of the online church independent from the in person church, I was shown how social media can be leveraged for the good of the church as a companion, not a substitute.
While I personally am not convinced that online church is all that the author says it is and cannot be a suitable replacement for in person community, what I took away from this book is that having a Facebook campus allows Christians to be a part of each other's lives throughout the week, where they already are. She dismisses other social media outlets because of their relatively limited reach compared to the behemoth of Facebook. The whole point of this campus is to reach people where they already are. Of course members of the brick and mortar church can also interact in the Facebook community, but a Facebook campus allows members from around the world to connect with the specific church.
Although this is not the lesson that the author would want me to take away from this book because she emphasizes the validity of the online church independent from the in person church, I was shown how social media can be leveraged for the good of the church as a companion, not a substitute.
January 9, 2021
Much needed as we navigate Covid as a church. Nona provides clarifying vision and helpful insight into the whole spectrum of social media, narrowing her focus to Facebook and its practical uses for kingdom work. I’ve never read anything like it and I’m thankful I have her guidance. (I’d heard her through two different interviews and found her insight intriguing.)
From page 25: “While a social media plan primarily focuses on sharing content to get likes, comments, and shares, a social ministry strategy focuses on building relationships and facilitating connections between and among people so that discipleship can happen. Relationships are the foundation for discipleship. And we don’t build relationships on the weekends during the ninety-minute services we watch together, even if we are together in a building. More than a place to just connect with friends and family, social media is a digital mission field of opportunity for those who are willing to go.”
From page 25: “While a social media plan primarily focuses on sharing content to get likes, comments, and shares, a social ministry strategy focuses on building relationships and facilitating connections between and among people so that discipleship can happen. Relationships are the foundation for discipleship. And we don’t build relationships on the weekends during the ninety-minute services we watch together, even if we are together in a building. More than a place to just connect with friends and family, social media is a digital mission field of opportunity for those who are willing to go.”
September 7, 2020
I've enjoyed listening to Nona Jones as a guest on a number of different podcasts. Her position, intersecting congregational ministry and as an executive at Facebook is a really unique position and I think she has an interesting perspective.
As a pastor who, in the era of pandemic, is trying to figure out digital ministry, I was excited to read this book. And the first 60% of it was helpful. It helped me to understand "engagement" as a key metric instead of attendance or giving, and gave some helpful ideas/advice towards building engagement.
Later in the book, Jones focused more on the idea of building a "digital campus," which (while I thought it interesting) wasn't the purpose of my reading the book. A digital campus, alongside other multicampus settings, is not a direction we are headed as a congregation. I'm more interested in how my congregation can function as a hybrid church...and while that's a subtle difference, it really is a different world view.
So the book was good, and those looking to develop a digital campus will really get a lot out of it. And I did too...but it wasn't quite, 100% what I was looking for.
As a pastor who, in the era of pandemic, is trying to figure out digital ministry, I was excited to read this book. And the first 60% of it was helpful. It helped me to understand "engagement" as a key metric instead of attendance or giving, and gave some helpful ideas/advice towards building engagement.
Later in the book, Jones focused more on the idea of building a "digital campus," which (while I thought it interesting) wasn't the purpose of my reading the book. A digital campus, alongside other multicampus settings, is not a direction we are headed as a congregation. I'm more interested in how my congregation can function as a hybrid church...and while that's a subtle difference, it really is a different world view.
So the book was good, and those looking to develop a digital campus will really get a lot out of it. And I did too...but it wasn't quite, 100% what I was looking for.
July 8, 2020
A good book filled with practical ideas. I highlighted some passages and took some good notes. Be advised, the author works for Facebook and determined the best platform for an online church campus was Facebook. After reading her arguments why and her suggestions for using Facebook for an online church campus, I agree with her.
November 13, 2024
I listened to this book free on hoopla. I knew nothing about the book or the author going in.
The author is a woman, who professes to be a “Pastor”. In this book, she aims to teach us how to start a “Facebook campus” to run alongside our physical church. (Not what I was looking for in a book.) I belong to a small church, and was looking for some helpful tips on improving our social media presence. Unfortunately I don’t think I learned anything of value reading this book. I would recommend looking elsewhere.
The author is a woman, who professes to be a “Pastor”. In this book, she aims to teach us how to start a “Facebook campus” to run alongside our physical church. (Not what I was looking for in a book.) I belong to a small church, and was looking for some helpful tips on improving our social media presence. Unfortunately I don’t think I learned anything of value reading this book. I would recommend looking elsewhere.
September 10, 2020
( received complimentary e-book in exchange for review )
Having a call placed on my life to share the Gospel via social media, this book found its way to me at just the right time. While I needed to read thru this title a lot faster than I would have liked, I did pick up valuable insight which will be applied immediately. In addition, I weill certainly be doing an indepth re-read very shortly. For me, this book was not a title to be read just once. Very much looking forward to implementing more from this book into my micro ministry very soon.
Having a call placed on my life to share the Gospel via social media, this book found its way to me at just the right time. While I needed to read thru this title a lot faster than I would have liked, I did pick up valuable insight which will be applied immediately. In addition, I weill certainly be doing an indepth re-read very shortly. For me, this book was not a title to be read just once. Very much looking forward to implementing more from this book into my micro ministry very soon.
February 17, 2021
I appreciated the very practical nature of this book - Nona takes you step by step through starting a Facebook church. And this is my first struggle with this book. It is very clear that this is all about Facebook and only using FB. This book is intended to reach ONLY those people who would use FB and I know a lot of people who are purposely going off Facebook for various reasons which means they have no contact with an online church like this. A second struggle I had with this book is that it was targeted to large churches with a staff. As a pastor in a small rural church, we don't have the luxury of a dedicated "on-line" pastor. We're doing all we can to just keep our own leaders involved and serving. It would have been very helpful to have some suggestions of how to use social media for the small parish.
August 31, 2021
There were parts of this book I really loved and that were very helpful.
However the book is written for an American context and I would suggest for larger churches. It's focus is on getting your church online rather than doing online church.
I was particularly disappointed in the fact that the launch of a digital church was encouraged to be 'onsite'. For me it felt a little counter productive.
The premise seems to start with, getting everyone in your congregation on your social media and allowing it to grow from there. If you are exploring pioneering new digital forms of church there are some interesting take aways from this book but it won't necessarily help you build something new disconnected from traditional church.
However the book is written for an American context and I would suggest for larger churches. It's focus is on getting your church online rather than doing online church.
I was particularly disappointed in the fact that the launch of a digital church was encouraged to be 'onsite'. For me it felt a little counter productive.
The premise seems to start with, getting everyone in your congregation on your social media and allowing it to grow from there. If you are exploring pioneering new digital forms of church there are some interesting take aways from this book but it won't necessarily help you build something new disconnected from traditional church.
January 30, 2021
This is a MUST read!!!!
I'm so glad that this book was recommended to me and I'm glad I read it. Nona really makes it clear how social media mainly FB can be used to really do lasting ministry outside of the Sunday morning service. She is very practical in her approach yet inspiring as well. I can't wait to put into practice what she's written! This is a MUST read!!!!
I'm so glad that this book was recommended to me and I'm glad I read it. Nona really makes it clear how social media mainly FB can be used to really do lasting ministry outside of the Sunday morning service. She is very practical in her approach yet inspiring as well. I can't wait to put into practice what she's written! This is a MUST read!!!!
May 28, 2021
Some good thoughts, but the Facebook bias from her job is felt. Disconnect from younger people's use of digital platforms and trends felt like a big blindspot too. I'm sure this will be valuable for many people, but to people under 30, it feels out of date already. Thankful for what Nona is trying to do though in a complex and fast changing space.
May 10, 2022
This book was so frustrating to me, and did not help me in the ways I thought it might.
To clarify, I am a mid-life seminarian with a background in ministry and non-profits. I have had a specific interest in using social media pastorally for quite some time, and was looking for something to help add more depth and technique to that notion, in addition to learning how to engage folks better in variety of ways online in my current church context. I was indeed interested in doing ministry on social media.
Here are the major categories of issues I have with this book:
* It is unapologetically a Facebook ad. The author is a pastor, but she also works for Facebook. So, while I mostly agreed with her assessments earlier in the book about other platforms, her bias was really obvious. There was an offhanded comment about Zoom, but no convincing reason it should not be an active part of an overall social media approach. The point was to drive EVERYTHING to be done in a Facebook group. I work with people who refuse to use Facebook. While I know 80% of the population is there, what about the other 20%. In my experience, I find that they will use Zoom, and also are on email. So, how do we build a holistic strategy to engage and love on people? This book does not go there. Also, by relying solely on Facebook, there is really no true dialogue. A Facebook live is simply a sermon or a monologue where people can type comments. This is hierarchical and unbalanced.
* There is so much repetition and filler. This book should barely be more than 100 pages. There are entire pages, in addition to half pages, that are just pop out quotes. There is plenty of repetition within the ideas and text itself as well.
* This book was not intended for congregations that I am connected to. The book is intended for large (she often uses numbers in the thousands), well resourced, evangelical churches. As someone in a small mainline congregation, much of what she said was useless to me.
* There is little, if any, theological or pastoral depth. I do get needing a practical primer. She does talk about why we are really there in general terms. But the big focus seems to be getting numbers and engagement in the church itself (a trap of many brick and mortar churches), and not really how to have an effective conversation when people are there. How do we behave as Christ followers in the digital space. She mentions removing people of the page for infraction a couple of times. Where is the pastoral angle? Where is the conversation about how what they did doesn't look like the kingdom, and discussing a path forward? How do we handle difficult conversations that come up online? How do we dig deeper online than just posting a verse of the day?
I am sure there are plenty of people in large evangelical congregations that will find this useful for building themselves an online campus. For me, other than a few tips I didn't know about Facebook groups, this was a waste of time.
To clarify, I am a mid-life seminarian with a background in ministry and non-profits. I have had a specific interest in using social media pastorally for quite some time, and was looking for something to help add more depth and technique to that notion, in addition to learning how to engage folks better in variety of ways online in my current church context. I was indeed interested in doing ministry on social media.
Here are the major categories of issues I have with this book:
* It is unapologetically a Facebook ad. The author is a pastor, but she also works for Facebook. So, while I mostly agreed with her assessments earlier in the book about other platforms, her bias was really obvious. There was an offhanded comment about Zoom, but no convincing reason it should not be an active part of an overall social media approach. The point was to drive EVERYTHING to be done in a Facebook group. I work with people who refuse to use Facebook. While I know 80% of the population is there, what about the other 20%. In my experience, I find that they will use Zoom, and also are on email. So, how do we build a holistic strategy to engage and love on people? This book does not go there. Also, by relying solely on Facebook, there is really no true dialogue. A Facebook live is simply a sermon or a monologue where people can type comments. This is hierarchical and unbalanced.
* There is so much repetition and filler. This book should barely be more than 100 pages. There are entire pages, in addition to half pages, that are just pop out quotes. There is plenty of repetition within the ideas and text itself as well.
* This book was not intended for congregations that I am connected to. The book is intended for large (she often uses numbers in the thousands), well resourced, evangelical churches. As someone in a small mainline congregation, much of what she said was useless to me.
* There is little, if any, theological or pastoral depth. I do get needing a practical primer. She does talk about why we are really there in general terms. But the big focus seems to be getting numbers and engagement in the church itself (a trap of many brick and mortar churches), and not really how to have an effective conversation when people are there. How do we behave as Christ followers in the digital space. She mentions removing people of the page for infraction a couple of times. Where is the pastoral angle? Where is the conversation about how what they did doesn't look like the kingdom, and discussing a path forward? How do we handle difficult conversations that come up online? How do we dig deeper online than just posting a verse of the day?
I am sure there are plenty of people in large evangelical congregations that will find this useful for building themselves an online campus. For me, other than a few tips I didn't know about Facebook groups, this was a waste of time.
September 27, 2021
Many today are actively searching for a church experience, but they are doing their search digitally. Long before they set foot in your building, they've "experienced" your digital presence online. Most churches see social media as a means of getting people to attend programs and services, for getting "butts in the seats." But Nona Jones, who facilitates Facebook's relationships with faith-based non-profits, believes there is far more untapped potential for churches to utilize social media, transforming it into social ministry. Social media focuses on driving people to a building for one to two hours of interaction each week. Social ministry focuses on helping people mature in Christ the other 168 hours of the week. And while social media is about marketing and attracting people to your church, social ministry is about life-long discipleship in a digital age.
This book couldn't have come at a better time. Rather than the church having the luxury of choosing to be online, churches were forced online as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those who saw the pandemic as an opportunity rather than just something that we had to quickly push through would be wise to pick this book. Nona gives readers a simple primer of the social media world, lays out a game plan and then walks readers through real life examples of churches who have made the leap from social media to social ministry successfully. Rather than seeing social media as something to be avoided, Nona demonstrates how it presents an amazing opportunity for Kingdom work. A very practical and quick read that's chocked full of wisdom.
This book couldn't have come at a better time. Rather than the church having the luxury of choosing to be online, churches were forced online as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those who saw the pandemic as an opportunity rather than just something that we had to quickly push through would be wise to pick this book. Nona gives readers a simple primer of the social media world, lays out a game plan and then walks readers through real life examples of churches who have made the leap from social media to social ministry successfully. Rather than seeing social media as something to be avoided, Nona demonstrates how it presents an amazing opportunity for Kingdom work. A very practical and quick read that's chocked full of wisdom.
August 17, 2020
From Social Media to Social Ministry
A Guide to Digital Discipleship
by Nona Jones
Zondervan Reflective
Zondervan
Christian
Pub Date 04 Aug 2020
I am reviewing a copy of From Social Media to Social Ministry through Zondervan and Netgalley:
Nona Jones began writing this book in the Summer of 2018, long before the outbreak of Covid 19, but she reminds us that having Church online is no longer an option it’s an imperative.
This book highlights the importance of Social Ministry, using technology to help the Church build God’s Kingdom. We are reminded too of the importance of making connections and having conversations. We are reminded too that it doesn’t matter how many followers you have if those followers aren’t following Christ.
The author points out too that discipleship begins when we understand that Church isn’t about what happens in a building because the Church isn’t a place.
The author goes on to remind us that the effectiveness of a Church needs to be measured more by how far the Church reaches out, then on how full an auditorium is.
We are reminded too that teaching is more than sharing content it’s fostering understanding.
It is pointed out too that we can use Social technology to reach those we would not otherwise be able to reach. We are reminded too that the Church is to be called the light of the world.
I give From Social Media to Social Ministry five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
A Guide to Digital Discipleship
by Nona Jones
Zondervan Reflective
Zondervan
Christian
Pub Date 04 Aug 2020
I am reviewing a copy of From Social Media to Social Ministry through Zondervan and Netgalley:
Nona Jones began writing this book in the Summer of 2018, long before the outbreak of Covid 19, but she reminds us that having Church online is no longer an option it’s an imperative.
This book highlights the importance of Social Ministry, using technology to help the Church build God’s Kingdom. We are reminded too of the importance of making connections and having conversations. We are reminded too that it doesn’t matter how many followers you have if those followers aren’t following Christ.
The author points out too that discipleship begins when we understand that Church isn’t about what happens in a building because the Church isn’t a place.
The author goes on to remind us that the effectiveness of a Church needs to be measured more by how far the Church reaches out, then on how full an auditorium is.
We are reminded too that teaching is more than sharing content it’s fostering understanding.
It is pointed out too that we can use Social technology to reach those we would not otherwise be able to reach. We are reminded too that the Church is to be called the light of the world.
I give From Social Media to Social Ministry five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
October 10, 2020
Social media has changed many aspects of life. Though some have denied and resisted it, churches are being affected by the internet too. Congregations have to make a choice as to whether they will utilize social media as part of their ministries, or get left behind.
There are several opinions and strategies held by churches when it comes to social media. When lock-downs were put in place to curb the coronavirus in 2020, many had to scramble to piece something together. The church I attend had a backup plan in place, but I can see that we could have done more. The good part is that we still can do more.
This book describes how social media is not a replacement or supplement for physical locations, but an extension. There are people that may not want to or be able to come to your building, but that does not remove our ability to share the gospel with them. Social media extends a church’s reach to a wider area. The book lays out simple to follow plans for making social media a place to further your ministry.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
There are several opinions and strategies held by churches when it comes to social media. When lock-downs were put in place to curb the coronavirus in 2020, many had to scramble to piece something together. The church I attend had a backup plan in place, but I can see that we could have done more. The good part is that we still can do more.
This book describes how social media is not a replacement or supplement for physical locations, but an extension. There are people that may not want to or be able to come to your building, but that does not remove our ability to share the gospel with them. Social media extends a church’s reach to a wider area. The book lays out simple to follow plans for making social media a place to further your ministry.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
August 10, 2020
Now that most church services are held online due to the pandemic, this book comes in a very timely manner. The author shows how to build an online church community and discipleship using Facebook.
She starts out by showing why churches should go beyond using social media as a digital billboard and why Facebook is the best choice.
The rest of the book contains very detailed practical information on how to set up and maintain such a ministry, down to launching timelines and job specifications.
Every church, large or small, should at least look into this!
Nona Jones is head of Faith-Based Partnerships at Facebook. An expert in expanding the influence of the Gospel through the Internet, she works with churches and ministries to help them fulfill the Great Commission.
When I got this book for review I thought it would be for individuals on how to use social media as social ministry, but apparently it’s more in the church setting context.
Thank you NetGalley and Zondervan for the digital review copy. This is my honest opinion.
She starts out by showing why churches should go beyond using social media as a digital billboard and why Facebook is the best choice.
The rest of the book contains very detailed practical information on how to set up and maintain such a ministry, down to launching timelines and job specifications.
Every church, large or small, should at least look into this!
Nona Jones is head of Faith-Based Partnerships at Facebook. An expert in expanding the influence of the Gospel through the Internet, she works with churches and ministries to help them fulfill the Great Commission.
When I got this book for review I thought it would be for individuals on how to use social media as social ministry, but apparently it’s more in the church setting context.
Thank you NetGalley and Zondervan for the digital review copy. This is my honest opinion.
September 8, 2020
"Social media is about marketing. Social ministry is about disciples." I loved the foundation behind this book! Ministry, wherever it happens, is about changed lives! The first half of the book discussed discipleship and how important it is for us to follow God. I loved how the book reframed how we view online ministry and opened up the potential of how it could be used to change lives!
The second half of the book was focused on the practical. While it gave some great tips on how to set up an online ministry, it seemed to be written for mega-churches with large budgets already in place. She suggested to hire a Facebook campus pastor to run your social ministry. That is only practical for large churches with money to spare. There were some things that I will definitely use as I develop my online ministry. And I can see how it would be beneficial for a mega-church, but the target audience is small compared to the majority of followers of Jesus who might come across this book.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.
The second half of the book was focused on the practical. While it gave some great tips on how to set up an online ministry, it seemed to be written for mega-churches with large budgets already in place. She suggested to hire a Facebook campus pastor to run your social ministry. That is only practical for large churches with money to spare. There were some things that I will definitely use as I develop my online ministry. And I can see how it would be beneficial for a mega-church, but the target audience is small compared to the majority of followers of Jesus who might come across this book.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.
August 1, 2020
If you are running or launching your church's social media presence this short book may be a must read.
Simply put, Nona Jones lays out a brief philosophy of online church ministry, identifies which platforms work best with her philosophy, and then lays out a blueprint for launching/relaunching a successful online church campus/ministry.
The author deserves a lot of credit for walking the fine line of brevity and usefulness without falling into the trap of pragmatism. All of her "this way is best" statements are carefully grounded in her stated goal of making disciples and disciplining the flock though social media.
Although she does site examples of small churches following her plan, I feel like her blueprint would be best implemented by a larger church with several people on staff and a large volunteer pool.
I am glad to have read this. It opened my mind to ideas and platforms of ministry I had not yet considered.
Simply put, Nona Jones lays out a brief philosophy of online church ministry, identifies which platforms work best with her philosophy, and then lays out a blueprint for launching/relaunching a successful online church campus/ministry.
The author deserves a lot of credit for walking the fine line of brevity and usefulness without falling into the trap of pragmatism. All of her "this way is best" statements are carefully grounded in her stated goal of making disciples and disciplining the flock though social media.
Although she does site examples of small churches following her plan, I feel like her blueprint would be best implemented by a larger church with several people on staff and a large volunteer pool.
I am glad to have read this. It opened my mind to ideas and platforms of ministry I had not yet considered.
December 26, 2021
A book for our times . Nona Jones brings together technology and spirituality to help us understand that God’s purpose can be fulfilled through social media which the author has renamed as social ministry. Social media is about marketing while social ministry is about making disciples.
The book takes us through the understanding of social media , the concept of platforms and what is best for churches and ministries today. The main discussion in the book is about how can we make Christ relevant for today and what is role of the church and influence of technology in this journey.
The author breaks it down into steps, plans and strategies making it simple for a church or ministry to build its social ministry. The purpose is not the number of likes or followers but it is about building God’s kingdom and making disciples for Him. A book all preachers, pastors , priests and ministry workers should read and implement.
The book takes us through the understanding of social media , the concept of platforms and what is best for churches and ministries today. The main discussion in the book is about how can we make Christ relevant for today and what is role of the church and influence of technology in this journey.
The author breaks it down into steps, plans and strategies making it simple for a church or ministry to build its social ministry. The purpose is not the number of likes or followers but it is about building God’s kingdom and making disciples for Him. A book all preachers, pastors , priests and ministry workers should read and implement.
January 12, 2026
This book is a great testimony to how fast social media and technology changes. Published in 2020 with most of it written in 2018, the primary focus of this book is encouraging churches to launch an online church using Facebook groups. The book boasts using social media as a tool to reach more people outside of your church - yet the #1 recommendation is to create a PRIVATE Facebook group, heavily promoting it to your own church with limited public promotion.
I think the first half of the book (pre-Facebook group narrative) is helpful. Apply all of the recommendations to public Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc accounts. In a world of live streaming - Facebook live is a thing of the past due to restrictions, yet this book proclaims it as revolutionary, ignoring the impact of YouTube…another sentiment to the time of publishing.
Great intentions, pure heart, yet no longer completely relevant.
I think the first half of the book (pre-Facebook group narrative) is helpful. Apply all of the recommendations to public Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc accounts. In a world of live streaming - Facebook live is a thing of the past due to restrictions, yet this book proclaims it as revolutionary, ignoring the impact of YouTube…another sentiment to the time of publishing.
Great intentions, pure heart, yet no longer completely relevant.
November 16, 2020
Gamechanger: casts vision for social ministry vs. just a church presence on social media
Educational on the primary purposes and abilities of top social media platforms—with an emphasis on Facebook.
Fresh perspective on using social media for ministry—an online church campus. (I’m still digesting the church campus aspect vs. being a vehicle for relational gospelizing and disciple-making communities).
Detailed explanative summaries on Facebook features and how they can be used for developing relationships, communicating truth and meeting needs.
Blueprints of usage models and consultant testimonials that really helped make the strategy believable and doable.
Note: kindle wasn’t too easy on the eyes for the blueprint and milestone tables for launching, etc. I’m getting a soft copy also, for that reason and for easier referencing.
Educational on the primary purposes and abilities of top social media platforms—with an emphasis on Facebook.
Fresh perspective on using social media for ministry—an online church campus. (I’m still digesting the church campus aspect vs. being a vehicle for relational gospelizing and disciple-making communities).
Detailed explanative summaries on Facebook features and how they can be used for developing relationships, communicating truth and meeting needs.
Blueprints of usage models and consultant testimonials that really helped make the strategy believable and doable.
Note: kindle wasn’t too easy on the eyes for the blueprint and milestone tables for launching, etc. I’m getting a soft copy also, for that reason and for easier referencing.
August 31, 2020
Our church broadcasts its services on Facebook (and other places). Probably yours does too. But what do you do with the people who watch, besides ask them for money? This book will help you turn your Facebook audience into a virtual branch campus of your church. To minister to those people, rather than treat them as viewers.
I am not directly involved with social media for my church but I bought an extra copy of this book for that team in hopes they follow its advice. I received a copy before that from the publisher in their hopes that I would assign it in a class, and the book has that potential as well. Recommended if you are in a position to make a difference in your church's ministry initiatives.
I am not directly involved with social media for my church but I bought an extra copy of this book for that team in hopes they follow its advice. I received a copy before that from the publisher in their hopes that I would assign it in a class, and the book has that potential as well. Recommended if you are in a position to make a difference in your church's ministry initiatives.
September 23, 2020
This book has one purpose, and very little fluff. Nona Jones gives you a guideline to creating a digital discipleship community via Facebook groups, tells you how to do it, and gives you just enough inspiration to go ahead and do it.
My only beef with it would be that there was very little encouragement for the small church leader to do this. It wasn't until the very end that she finally told a story about a 150-person church that succeeded in this method. But when only a very small fraction of churches in North America are actually over 200 (even less in Canada where I'm from), the potential to be disappointed by your Facebook group only having 50 people in it, after hearing about groups that are reaching thousands is definitely a real danger.
My only beef with it would be that there was very little encouragement for the small church leader to do this. It wasn't until the very end that she finally told a story about a 150-person church that succeeded in this method. But when only a very small fraction of churches in North America are actually over 200 (even less in Canada where I'm from), the potential to be disappointed by your Facebook group only having 50 people in it, after hearing about groups that are reaching thousands is definitely a real danger.
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