HOW TO LEAD YOUR FOLLOW-UP TEAM
Begin with the end in mind. This is something that MII always encourages ministry leaders to consider and do. The idea is that we need to know what we want to accomplish before we begin to engage with people in digital ministry. Unfortunately, this idea can get lost in the shuffle of replying to hundreds of messages when a follow-up team is overwhelmed by the response from digital ministry efforts.
Leaders must remind themselves, and every level of their team, why we do this work. The goal is not to reply to every message in the shortest amount of time as possible - the goal is to see lives changed and transformed by a relationship with our Lord. How can leaders help their teams break out of the mindset that follow up messages are a task to be managed, and keep responding to questions and critiques with the understanding that someone on the other side of the conversation is exploring potentially life changing questions about faith and God? Let’s explore MII’s top three recommendations for leading your follow-up teams in this week’s article.
Improving Message Response Time
Digital ministry transcends traditional social media content posting. It's about creating an environment that encourages faith exploration within a supportive online community. This approach has opened doors for those hesitant about traditional religious settings, providing a safe space to connect with others on similar spiritual journeys.
When people finally take the step to engage with a team, they must be engaged quickly. Many times we see ministry follow-up teams allow comments, direct messages, and reply messages to languish. If someone is genuinely interested in exploring faith, and we allow them to wait for a reply for one, two, or even seven days or more, our teams run the risk of losing an opportunity to minister to these seekers. Leaders must put review measures in place to ensure that seekers are receiving a timely response to their questions.
Nurturing Connections and Deepening Spiritual Dialogues
Transitioning from casual online interactions to meaningful spiritual discussions involves a sincere commitment to knowing and ministering to the audience. Personalized outreach to seekers or explorers of faith can pave the way for deeper conversations.
Group activities such as online webinars, Q&A sessions, or virtual Bible studies can foster a sense of belonging, offering pathways to spiritual growth. These events also provide a way for your follow-up team to be introduced to those exploring faith. After viewing a webinar with someone from your team, people are more likely to engage by asking a private question that they may have been unwilling to ask in the larger, local forum.
Bridging the Gap to Local Spiritual Discipleship
While digital communities offer a foundational sense of belonging, the journey towards deepened faith often necessitates a connection with local spiritual discipleship. Facilitating real-world meetups and providing resources for small group formations can extend the digital community's impact into tangible, life-changing experiences.
Once security concerns have been addressed, our teams should endeavor to meet with spiritual seekers in a face to face setting. This may include partnering with a church network or local ministry engaged in personal evangelism and discipleship. Whatever the avenue, moving people from an online conversation to an off-line community should be a top priority for every digital ministry leader.
Closing Thoughts
In building a digital ministry community that emphasizes belonging before belief, patience and a strategic approach are key. By creating an inviting and interactive online environment, digital ministry teams can significantly influence individuals' spiritual journeys, proactively guiding them through their faith exploration and helping them find their way to a long-term discipleship relationship with your ministry, or a partner ministry.
