Branching out through digital discipleship: Episode 110

Discover how to build a vibrant digital church community that thrives beyond traditional walls in this inspiring episode of the MyCom Church Communications and Marketing Podcast! Host Ryan Dunn sits down with Erin Beasley and Sean Stanfield to unpack the story behind The Vine United Methodist Church, a digital United Methodist faith community born out of disaffiliation. Whether you’re starting an online ministry, seeking fresh discipleship strategies, or looking to deepen authentic connections in a digital world, this episode is packed with practical wisdom, innovation, and hope for the future of church communications.

Connect with The Vine: https://www.thevineumc.church/

⏰ CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction: Reimagining Church After Disaffiliation 01:45 – The Origin of The Vine: Meeting a Real Need 04:14 – Going Global: Leveraging Social Media for Outreach 06:08 – Creative Content: Short Sermons, Podcasts, & Tough Topics 08:59 – Building Community: Engaging Feedback & Discipleship Pathways 11:53 – Online Communion: Creating Sacred Moments Virtually 16:40 – From Viewers to Disciples: Inviting Deeper Connection 18:38 – Vulnerability Online: Why Digital Spaces Foster Openness 21:06 – Branch Groups & ‘Branch Managers’: Small Group Strategies 23:10 – Digital Church Planting Models: From Branches to Congregations 26:18 – Hot Topics: Church Hurt, Justice, and Connecting the Margins 29:30 – Lessons Learned & Advice for Aspiring Digital Ministers 33:37 – What’s Next for The Vine? Dreams and Missional Expansion 38:06 – Social Media Tactics: Growth on TikTok & Instagram 41:09 – Key Takeaways & Episode Close

This episode brought to us by:

RootedGood.org

Cokesbury.com/Call-Response

🔗 Find more resources & episode notes: https://resourceumc.org/mycompodcast