As a now retired pastor, I know Sunday morning worship is a powerful anchor for your community, but ministry doesn’t stop when the sermon ends. The real work of building a close-knit, supportive community happens throughout the week—in small groups, prayer meetings, and moments of connection. Your live streaming and video platform is more than just a broadcast tool; it’s a digital hub that can strengthen these vital connections every day of the week.
Recent Barna research says churchgoers who attend small groups with deep relational connection are 40 percentage points more likely to strongly agree “my church does a good job at building deep and meaningful community” (68% vs. 28%) and “my church does a good job of helping me understand my calling” (60% vs. 20%) Clearing people need more than just a Sunday service.
Beyond the Livestream: Engaging Your People Monday to Saturday
The same technology you use for Sunday service can be repurposed to create a dynamic, always-on community. Here are some ways to use your platform to keep your congregation connected all week long.
- Virtual Bible Studies and Small Groups: For many people, schedules make it difficult to attend an in-person small group. Your platform’s built-in chat and video conferencing capabilities can be used to host virtual Bible studies. This allows members to participate from home, on their lunch break, or while traveling, ensuring that geographical barriers never stand in the way of spiritual growth. If you don’t have a streaming platform that offers chat, you can use other third party platforms like Google Meet for free or Zoom.
- Mid-Week Prayer Meetings: A short, live prayer meeting on a Wednesday or Thursday can be a powerful way to bring your community together. These sessions can be more intimate than a Sunday service, offering a space for members to share personal requests and pray for one another. This regular touchpoint fosters a sense of being known and cared for.
- Pastoral Office Hours and Q&A Sessions: Open up the lines of communication with your pastor or ministry leaders by hosting an informal Q&A session. This can be a “digital coffee hour” where people can ask questions about the Sunday sermon, discuss a specific topic, or simply have a chance to see and talk with their church leadership in a less formal setting.
- Interactive Devotionals and Content: Use the platform to host a short, daily devotional or a live reading of a Bible passage. These brief, high-impact sessions can serve as a moment of reflection and grounding for your members at the start or end of their day. You can also use live video to showcase other ministries, like a youth group update or a highlight from a mission project, creating a sense of shared purpose and progress.
- Simulated Live: If you streaming provider has this feature, you can schedule past services and events to stream as if they were live. Unlike a true live stream, where the content is captured and broadcast in real-time, simulive content is created and perfected in advance. However, like a live stream, it is only available to viewers at the designated time.
- Interviews with Staff and Key Volunteers: Interviews with your church staff and key volunteers for members to see offers a wide range of benefits that can strengthen your community, increase engagement, and provide a more personal connection.
- Ministry and Volunteer Meetings: Coordinating volunteers and ministry teams can be a challenge. Your platform can provide a dedicated space for these meetings, allowing team members to connect face-to-face, discuss plans, and align on goals without needing to meet in person. This streamlines communication and makes it easier for people to serve.
Building Community Through Consistent Connection
By using your video/chat platform or as mentioned above, a different platform people can easily access, you can facilitate these weekly connections, you are actively building a more engaged and resilient church community. You’re showing your congregation that their church is not just a building they visit on Sunday, but a vibrant, supportive family that is with them wherever they are, all week long. The result is a stronger, more committed community ready to support one another in faith.
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