SOCIAL MEDIA FOR YOUTH MINISTRY - What Most People Miss

Summary

In this video, Brady Shearer from Pro Church Tools discusses the unique role of social media in youth ministry. He emphasizes the importance of using social platforms to both reach out publicly and connect personally with students. Shearer suggests leveraging Instagram Direct groups for private communication and empowering students to create content for the ministry. He also highlights the opportunity for youth leaders to guide students in navigating social media wisely, positioning them as agents of positive influence in the digital world.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The speaker has a degree in Youth Ministry and Theology and was initially aiming to become a youth pastor.
• 🛠️ Pro Church Tools was started to teach digital skills to peers in youth ministry, anticipating their future needs in vocational ministry.
• 📱 Social media plays a significant role in the lives of teenagers and young adults, with platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok being the most popular.
• 📊 TikTok's rapid rise indicates the fast pace of change in social media platforms, especially among younger users.
• 🔑 Social media for students and young adults has two main responsibilities: to reach publicly and connect personally.
• 👴 Generational differences in social media usage are important to consider, with older individuals using it more for public reach and younger individuals for personal connections.
• 🗣️ Youth leaders should focus on personal connection, which often happens behind the scenes, such as through direct messages.
• 👥 Setting up an Instagram Direct group can provide a private channel for youth to connect personally with the leader and each other.
• 🎥 Empowering students to create content for the youth ministry, such as TikTok videos, can be a more effective strategy than creating content for them.
• 🏆 Hosting content creation events and empowering a student social media team can lead to engaging activities and shared responsibility for content creation.
• 🛡️ Teaching students to navigate the dangers of social media wisely is crucial, as it can be used for both good and evil.
• 🌟 Social media offers a tremendous opportunity for youth leaders to be agents of redemption and share the Good News where people are.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is discussing the use of social media in youth ministry and the unique challenges and techniques for connecting with and pastoring students through social platforms.

What is the presenter's educational background?

The presenter has a degree in Youth Ministry and Theology.

Why was Pro Church Tools started?

Pro Church Tools was started to teach the digital skills the presenter was learning, knowing that peers in the youth ministry program would need them for vocational ministry.

What are some of the social platforms mentioned in the video that are popular with teenagers?

The video mentions YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok as the platforms where teenagers spend most of their time.

Why is YouTube not included in the first infographic about social media usage among teenagers?

YouTube might not be included because it is not considered a traditional social platform like Instagram or TikTok, even though it is widely used by teens.

What is the significance of the change in social media platforms from 2019 to 2020 as shown in the video?

The change signifies the rapid evolution of social media platforms, especially among young people, with TikTok's absence in 2019 indicating its rapid rise in popularity.

What are the two main responsibilities of using social media in the context of youth ministry according to the video?

The two main responsibilities are to reach publicly and connect personally with the youth through social media.

How does the presenter suggest youth leaders should use social media differently from older adults?

Youth leaders should focus more on connecting personally, as younger people use social media more for personal connections rather than public outreach.

What practical advice does the presenter give for youth leaders to connect with students on Instagram?

The presenter suggests setting up an Instagram Direct group for students to create a private channel for personal connection and engagement.

What is the presenter's recommendation for creating content on social media with students?

The presenter recommends empowering students to create the content for the youth ministry, such as hosting a TikTok night or forming a student social media team.

What role can youth leaders play in teaching students about the wise use of social media?

Youth leaders can equip students to be agents in redeeming social media, showing them how to use it wisely and avoid its potential dangers.

How does the presenter encourage viewers to support the video's content?

The presenter encourages viewers to hit the thumbs up button and share the video with other youth leaders who might benefit from the insights.