Josh Ross and Matt Carter – Communicating with your Church in an Online World

Josh Ross, preaching minister at the Sycamore View Church of Christ, shares insight on how to communicate with our congregations during these challenging times. Here are some take-aways:

• The congregation’s vision/mission are to root of how we communicate and how we carry out the mission in this difficult time. You don’t need to reinvent this!
• There’s no book or manual to help with this. We are all doing this for the first time, so show yourself some grace.
• Sycamore View is providing daily opportunities to connect. It doesn’t need to be the same person each time.
• Adapt what you already have in place – shepherding, meetings, etc.
• Don’t be afraid to take risks.
• Church members need to hear from the local church, from their ministers and elders.
• Many church members have more time to read email or watch videos now.
• Don’t try to compete with big churches in terms of quality. Do what you can so your members can see the face of your leaders leading with character, integrity, non-anxious presence, and transcendent peace. Be an ambassador of hope.
• Pay special attention to those who are not on the internet, and communicate with them how you can (phone, for example).

Josh Ross is preaching minister for Sycamore View Church of Christ. He is married to Kayci, and they have two boys, Truitt and Noah. He is the author of Scarred Faith (2013), Bringing Heaven to Earth (May 2015), and Re\entry: How Pain, Roots, and Rhythm Guide Us from Darkness to Light (2017). He loves playing and watching sports, vacationing with his wife, and eating authentic Mexican food. He is a recovering Texan, and his passions include preaching, discipleship, and involvement in ministries of justice and reconciliation.

Dr. Matt Carter serves as Director of Admissions at HST. He spent many years in campus ministry before coming to the school. Matt’s current research focuses on the area of spiritual gifts and how churches can help Christians find their fit in the congregation. See the One Body Workshop website for more information.

Harding School of Theology, a graduate school of theology (seminary) in Memphis, TN, has been equipping ministers since 1958. Accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, and offering degree programs at the master’s and doctoral levels, HST equips Christian leaders to higher standards of ministry scholarship and challenges them to a deeper faith in God. Combining academic rigor and interpersonal connections, HST emphasizes student engagement in ministry as they study. HST is associated with Churches of Christ, is part of the Stone-Campbell Movement, and is part of Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.