How do we take digital ministry beyond streaming services and create real community? In this episode, we sit down once more with Jay Kranda, online community pastor at Saddleback Church, to dive into the insights from his latest book Online Church is Not the Answer. Jay also shares in this episode his experience in building a balanced ministry, emphasizing the importance of fostering in-person engagement while leveraging digital tools. From AI-driven discipleship to future digital movements, Jay's ideas will inspire you to rethink online church.

Tune in now and discover how to transform your church’s digital strategy!

• Online Church Is Not The Answer - is a newly published book written by Jay Kranda challenges the common approach of streaming church services as the main form of digital ministry. The book encourages churches to think more strategically about integrating digital tools in ways that complement in-person ministry.

• Gemini - a generative artificial intelligence chatbot developed by Google.

Connect with us on our socials!

Jay Kranda Website

Jay Kranda YouTube

Jay Kranda Twitter

Jay Kranda Instagram

Nick Runyon LinkedIn

Nick Runyon Twitter

Nick Runyon Instagram

MII Website - Media Impact International (mii.global)

MII Youtube- Media Impact International - YouTube
MII LinkedIn- Media Impact International: Overview | LinkedIn

In this episode, we sit down with Kim Tarlton, General Manager for Church Communications Group, to discuss the most effective ways churches can leverage digital platforms. Kim shares her expertise on understanding your target audience across platforms like church websites, social media, and apps. She introduces the concept of the "three rings of marketing," which involves communicating to your church community, reaching those seeking a church, and engaging with individuals who have a felt need.

Kim provides practical advice on tailoring your church’s messaging and resources to each of these groups, with a special emphasis on creating a welcoming website homepage for first-time visitors. We dive into the critical role of digital presence, exploring how blogs can boost SEO, and how platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube can showcase church life and engage potential visitors. We also discuss the shift from in-person to online church attendance, the importance of clear calls to action, and the future of the church in a digital world that longs for more intimate and community-focused gatherings.

Tune in for valuable insights on how to enhance your church’s digital strategy and make a meaningful impact online.

Show Notes:

• Three rings of church marketing -it involves communicating to your church community, reaching those seeking a church, and engaging with individuals who have a felt need.

• Adwords - Previously Adwords, now known as Google Ads, is an online advertising platform developed by Google. It allows businesses to display ads on Google's search engine results pages and other sites in the Google Display Network.

• DoubleClick Inc. - was an American advertising company that specialized in providing internet ad serving services from 1995 until it was acquired by Google in March 2008.

The Chosen - is the first multi-season TV series that tells the story of Jesus' life, offering a unique perspective by showing Him through the eyes of those who knew Him.

Connect with us on our socials!

Church Communications Group Website

Church Communications Facebook

Church Communications YouTube

Church Communications Instagram

Kim Tarlton Facebook

Kim Tarlton LinkedIn

Nick Runyon LinkedIn

Nick Runyon Twitter

Nick Runyon Instagram

MII Website
MII Instagram
MII Facebook
MII Youtube
MII LinkedIn

In this episode Natchi Lazarus explores emerging trends and future potential of AI in ministry. He discusses the critical role of AI tools like custom GPTs and AI agents, appealing to ministry leaders to stay informed about both the benefits and risks. Natchi draws parallels between generative AI and the Biblical concept of creation, emphasizing the need for strategic thinking to navigate the AI landscape. He also highlights the potential of AI in social media management, particularly for enhancing Youtube channel impact and efficiency.

Tune in for valuable insights on integrating AI into ministry effectively!

Show Notes:

• Perplexity AI- is a platform that uses artificial intelligence and natural language processing (NLP) to answer user queries in a question-and-answer format. It helps users find information quickly and efficiently, similar to a search engine or virtual assistant.

• Adwords - now known as Google Ads, is an online advertising platform developed by Google. It allows businesses to display ads on Google's search engine results pages and other sites in the Google Display Network.

• Red Sky Mourning- is a novel by Jack Carr is the seventh installment in the James Reece series. The novel features former Navy SEAL James Reece as he faces a rogue Chinese submarine armed with nuclear missiles, a tech mogul advancing quantum computing and AI, and a politician under foreign influence. A crucial quantum computer named "Alice" may either save or doom the country

• Claude- is an Artificial Intelligence, trained by Anthropic using Constitutional AI. Like ChatGPT, Claude is an AI chatbot with a special large language model (LLM) running behind it.

• Generative AI- a type of artificial intelligence technology that broadly describes machine learning systems capable of generating text, images, code or other types of content, often in response to a prompt entered by a user.
  
  

Connect with us on our socials!

Natchi Lazarus Website

Natchi Lazarus Youtube

Natchi Lazarus X

Natchi Lazarus Instagram

Natchi Lazarus Facebook

Natchi Lazarus Linkedin

Nick Runyon LinkedIn

Nick Runyon Twitter

Nick Runyon Instagram

MII Website
MII Instagram
MII Facebook
MII Youtube
MII LinkedIn

In this episode, we pinned down the critical role of social interaction on social media platforms and how to build meaningful connections with your audience. Join our host as he explores three key strategies for effective engagement:

• Responding to Comments: Learn how to craft a solid engagement strategy that encourages dialogue and interaction.

• Understanding the Algorithm: Discover why comments, likes, and shares are crucial for your content’s visibility and success.

• Being Responsive: Find out the importance of engaging in both public and private conversations, enhancing your relationships with followers.

We also cover the use of chatbots to help maintain timely responses and keep your audience engaged. As we wrap up, we’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback! Your engagement is vital, so don't hesitate to connect. Tune in and elevate your social media strategy to new heights!

• Vanity Metrics- A vanity metric in social media is a metric that measures the popularity or engagement of a social media account or post.

• Chat bot- A chatbot is a software that mimics human conversation with users. While not all chatbots use artificial intelligence (AI), more advanced ones now use techniques like natural language processing (NLP) to understand questions and automatically respond.

• Being Responsive: Find out the importance of engaging in both public and private conversations, enhancing your relationships with followers.

Nick Runyon LinkedIn

Nick Runyon Twitter

Nick Runyon Instagram

MII Website
MII Instagram
MII Facebook
MII Youtube
MII LinkedIn

Join me as I quickly share practical advice for digital ministry teams on dealing with the uncertainties and challenges faced with your marketing technology stack. In this episode, I’ll emphasize three tips namely: to eliminate distractions, to avoid false precision, and lastly, to keep moving forward.

This episode highlights the importance of focusing on what is known, making single changes at a time, and learning from failures. I look forward to you participating in the conversation and sharing your experiences!

• Marketing Technology Stack- This refers to the collection of technological solutions utilized for marketing purposes. These tools can range from digital asset management systems and marketing automation platforms to chatbots and social media monitoring tools.

• User Journey- The sequence of interactions a person experiences with a product or service, starting from their initial engagement and continuing until they achieve the desired outcome.

• Hotjar- A comprehensive platform offering five key tools, including heatmaps, funnels, and surveys. It uses AI to generate surveys, automatically summarize survey results, and conduct sentiment analysis.

• GDPR- a regulation that aims to protect the data privacy and rights of European citizens. If your organization interacts with individuals based in the European Union, you likely have responsibilities under this regulation.

• ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers-) a non-profit organization that coordinates and manages the Internet's domain name system (DNS) and the allocation of IP addresses. It focuses on facilitating access to registration data related to generic top-level domains (gTLDs) while complying with privacy laws.

Connect with us on our socials!

MII Website
MII Instagram
MII Facebook
MII Youtube
MII LinkedIn

In this inspiring episode of The Digital Ministry Podcast, guest Raouf Rafla shares with host, Nick Runyon, his journey of moving from Egypt to the US and back again, detailing how he navigated job opportunities and relationships along the way. He generously recounts his love story, including his decision to move to the US to be with his girlfriend, now his wife, after receiving a job offer at Cru.

Raouf also offers insights into his work at Cru, explaining how he uses his marketing experience to support ministries. He emphasizes the importance of setting objectives and measuring results in advertising campaigns, and praises the positive culture and flexibility at Cru that allow him to thrive.

Tune in for an awe-inspiring story of God’s providence and how He orchestrates every aspect of our lives, like Raouf Rafla’s.

Show Notes:

• Cru - an interdenominational Christian parachurch organization, founded in 1951, that aims to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world

• Decathlon - a French sporting goods retailer known for offering a wide range of high-quality, affordable sports equipment, apparel, and accessories.

• IKEA - a Swedish multinational company specializing in affordable, ready-to-assemble furniture, home accessories, and kitchen appliances.

Connect with us on our socials!

Cru Website
Cru Facebook

Cru X
Cru Instagram
Cru YouTube

Raouf Rafla Bayt
Raouf Rafla Facebook
Raouf Rafla Instagram

MII Website
MII Instagram
MII Facebook
MII Youtube
MII LinkedIn

Join Nils Smith and host Nick Runyon on The Digital Ministry Podcast as they dive into the potential future of digital ministries amidst a possible government-mediated social media content moderation. Discover how these changes might impact free speech and trickle down to the individual level and even to businesses and ministries.

In this episode, learn as they engage in a nuanced conversation about US politics, campaigns, and their influence on technology and social media.

If you’re leading a digital ministry, don’t miss their insightful discussions on the importance of awareness, leadership adaptation, thoughtful content creation, and more!

Tune in for a thoughtful exploration of navigating the complexities of today’s digital and political landscape.

• Nils Smith - Head of Innovation at Dunham+Company, Founder of Amplify Social Media, and Co-Founder of TVApp.Church and Crossover Collectibles.

• Amplify Social Media - a digital marketing agency that offers a wide range of services to help businesses succeed online.

• Scotus Article on Social Media Content Moderation: Justices side with Biden over government’s influence on social media content moderation - SCOTUSblog

• Gary Vee interview- on him believing Tiktok will soon be banned in US

• Dan Heath- a 4-time New York Times best-selling author

• The Joe Roegan Podcast- what Nils Smith believes to be the most powerful platform in American politics today

Connect with us on our socials!

Amplify Social Media

Nils Smith Website

Nils Smith Facebook

Nils Smith Twitter

Nils Smith Instagram

Nils Smith LinkedIn

Nick Runyon LinkedIn

Nick Runyon Twitter

Nick Runyon Instagram

Join us for an engaging episode with Kate Akers, MII's Strategic Services Director. Kate shares her extensive marketing experience with a large church as well as with Sony Pictures, including her work on the film “Blue Miracle” and the role of key art in Netflix's recommendation engine.

Explore the similarities between church marketing and working with parachurch organizations, emphasizing the importance of equipping church members to engage their communities and express their faith. Kate discusses the challenges of digital outreach, creating welcoming environments, and the critical role of personal connections and authentic engagement in ministry.

Discover how digital tools can effectively connect with communities and why testing, iterating, and taking risks in marketing strategies are essential while staying true to the church's mission and values. Don't miss this insightful and inspiring conversation!

• Key Art - Artwork that is repeated across media

• Recommendation engine- a data filtering tool that provides personalized suggestions to users based on their past behavior and preferences

• Blue Miracle - "Blue Miracle" is an inspiring true story about a guardian and his kids at a Mexican orphanage who join forces with a struggling boat captain to win a big fishing competition and save their home. Together, they face many challenges, forming unexpected friendships and demonstrating hope and resilience. Blue Miracle (2021) - IMDb
  

MII Website - Media Impact International (mii.global)

MII Youtube- Media Impact International - YouTube

MII LinkedIn- Media Impact International: Overview | LinkedIn

Kate Akers IMDb: Kate Akers - IMDb

Nick Runyon LinkedIn

Nick Runyon Twitter

Nick Runyon Instagram