Let's embark on a virtual "road trip" with the creative team from First United Methodist Church Richardson in Texas. Joined by Creative Director Rohini Drake, Engagement Coordinator Mallory Pickering, and Technical Director Tyler Payne, the group shares insights from their summer worship series, "Road Trip," where they traveled to places of spiritual connection—like Hot Springs, Arkansas and the Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville—capturing prayer moments, stories, and immersive worship content along the way. Together, they discuss the power of taking church outside its physical walls, forging new connections, and using digital storytelling to engage both local and online faith communities. Buckle up as we dive into inspirational stories, practical content creation tips, and the heart behind connecting congregations in fresh, meaningful ways.

Here’s what you’ll discover in this episode:

• How a multi-stop road trip became an immersive worship series called “Road Trip.”

• The art of capturing unplanned, authentic faith moments—rain, gratitude toads, and all!

• Creative techniques for sharing stories across online and in-person platforms.

• Insights on breaking the walls of the church building and experiencing God’s presence wherever you are.

• Tips on community engagement and keeping your congregation connected, even from afar.

See how the community around FUMC Richardson is engaging project: www.fumcr.com/roadtrip

See episode notes and explore other episodes of MyCom: www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast

This episode is sponsored by:

www.RootedGood.org

The Progressive Planter: https://www.cokesbury.com/The-Progressive-Planter

Unlock practical strategies for digital ministry in this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing and Communications podcast! Host Ryan Dunn sits down with Olivia DiAgostino, executive for United Women in Faith Digital, to explore how United Women in Faith is building a thriving online community for women of faith.

Whether you're a ministry leader, church communicator, or simply passionate about community building, this episode is packed with real-world insights on human-centered design, creating meaningful online connections, and sustainable community engagement.

Chapters & Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction & Episode Overview 01:28 – Meet Olivia DiAgostino (Role and Digital Community Scope) 03:25 – Building Digital Community & Why UW Faith Went Digital 05:20 – From Content to Community: What Changed? 06:45 – Making Community Engagement Work & Tips for Consistent Participation 08:40 – Organic Leadership & Member-Driven Moderation 11:39 – Creating Groups: Organic, Intentional Growth Strategies 12:58 – When Digital Community Crosses Into the Real World 16:07 – Rituals of Welcome: Bringing Hospitality to Online Spaces 19:42 – Navigating Tech Resistance and Platform Fatigue 22:08 – Maintaining a Trusted, Respectful Digital Environment 24:09 – Moderation Guidelines: Sisterhood of Grace 26:03 – Why Mighty Networks? Choosing the Right Digital Platform 27:02 – Practical Advice for Ministry Leaders Starting Digital Communities 28:55 – Open Invitation: Who Can Join UW Faith Digital? 30:27 – Closing Thoughts & Resources

Find episode notes and more: www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast #ChurchCommunications #DigitalMinistry #CommunityBuilding #MyComPodcast #UnitedWomenInFaith

Struggling with stagnant social media engagement in your ministry? You’re not alone! In this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing & Communications Podcast, host Ryan Dunn unpacks practical strategies to breathe new life into your church’s social media presence. Whether you’re a church leader, communicator, or volunteer, you'll discover actionable insights to boost engagement, connect with your community more meaningfully, and expand your digital reach.

Learn why likes and reach might not be the best metrics, how to create content that platforms and people love, and why stories and DMs can become secret weapons for authentic connection. Plus, find out simple ways to make your church more visible and supportive in your digital neighborhood.

Key Insights:

• Rethink your metrics: Focus on shares and link clicks for real impact

• Make the most of Instagram Stories to engage your community (with or without sound!)

• Use direct messages strategically to deepen relationships

• Become an active digital neighbor to boost your church’s visibility

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction: Facing stagnant social media 01:23 – The truth about engagement & platform algorithms 03:21 – Rethinking success: Likes, reach, and real value 06:06 – Why "prayers get shares" and event promotion tips 10:00 – Maximizing Stories: Format, features, and engagement hacks 15:04 – Harnessing DMs for meaningful connection 17:49 – Be an active digital neighbor: Community engagement 18:42 – Recap: Takeaways for revitalizing your practice of ministry

Subscribe to stay inspired and get more tools for transforming your church’s communications strategy!

Find more resources for your ministry at resourceumc.org.

Rev. Brandon Robbins shares his journey from becoming a parish pastor to flourishing as a YouTube content creator, offering invaluable insights for anyone looking to expand their ministry's reach online.

Discover how Brandon leveraged YouTube to enhance his pastoral work, learn about the challenges and strategies involved in growing an online presence, and get inspired by his story of persistence, passion, and purpose in ministry.

In this episode of MyCom Church Communications and Marketing, we’re getting an inspiring story out of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Matt Austin and Matt Patrick are co-pastors at University United Methodist Church. Matt and Matt share their journey of reimagining church sustainability through alternate income models, space utilization, and unique ventures like their very own coffee trailer in this episode. Plus, they discuss the importance of embracing change, fostering a culture of learning, and the lessons they've learned along the way. Whether you're in church leadership or just passionate about community innovation, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration.

This episode of the MyCom Church Communications and Marketing Podcast explores the evolving relationship between the church and young adults with guests Kristopher Sledge and Rachel Gilmore. As pastors and co-authors of the book "Followers Under 40," they explore how Millennials, Zoomers, and Gen Alpha relate differently to institutions and discuss practices that help in connecting with them.

Kristopher Sledge, lead pastor of the multi-ethnic Journey Church in Harrisburg, PA, and Rachel Gilmore, director of New and Vital Faith for the Desert Southwest Conference, share their insights on understanding youth culture, engaging with social issues, and embracing digital tools. They emphasize the importance of authenticity, listening, and dialogue in reaching the next generation.

The episode also covers practical steps for churches to become more inclusive and relevant, such as creating safe spaces for exploration of faith and identity, and how churches can reimagine their presence in digital spaces to better connect with young and digital-native audiences.

This episode is sponsored by:

Celebrate Wonder Digital Curriculum brings Bible stories to life with interactive lessons that help kids build stronger relationships with God and each other!

Visit cokesburykids.com/celebratewonder to download a sample today!

Find more resources and episodes at www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast

Learn practical strategies for enhancing your church’s digital communications with expert Katie Allred, founder of Church Communications Group. From managing social media engagement to optimizing YouTube content, discover how to create meaningful two-way conversations with your congregation online. Katie shares insights on effectively using Facebook groups, responding to comments, and leveraging AI for ministry efficiency.

Key Topics:

• Engaging authentically with social media comments
• Creating searchable YouTube content for ministry
• Using Facebook groups vs pages effectively
• Positioning church content for better reach
• Managing digital community conversations

(00:00) “Digital Tools for Church Communication” (04:17) From Harry Potter Forums to Ministry (09:42) Engage in Social Media Comments (13:13) Lent 2025 Devotional Guide (15:24) Encouraging Engaging Church Comments (18:40) Churches Utilizing YouTube Better (21:13) Internet Authority: Perception Versus Reality (26:39) Facebook Group: Deeper Conversations & Networking (28:08) “Private Conversations Over Public Debate”

Find more episodes and episode notes at www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast

It’s a data-driven conversation with Ryan Burge, a social scientist and minister, who explores the intricate factors influencing church growth and decline. Burge sheds light on how external demographics, strategic church planting, and the balance between divine calling and data-driven decisions shape religious communities. The episode also covers clergy satisfaction, positive chaplaincy experiences, the evolving religious landscape, and how Substack fosters meaningful audience engagement. Don’t miss this insightful discussion on the complexities of religion in modern society.

In this episode: (00:00) Guide pastors to think like social scientists. (06:39) Churches largely apolitical; misconceptions about religion exist. (08:18) Context influences church growth more than efforts. (17:16) Bridging religious and non-religious through impartiality. (18:45) The numbers readers care about. (23:45) Email remains essential, resilient against platform changes. (28:23) Recommended podcast episodes for digital strategies.

Find more notes and connect with MyCom: www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast

#ChurchGrowth #ReligiousTrends #RyanBurge #MyComPodcast #Demographics #StrategicPlanning #ClergySatisfaction #Substack #DataDrivenDecisions #ReligionAndSociety #ReligiousData #Chaplains #CommunityBuilding #AmericanReligion #Podcast

Keywords: church growth, religious trends, Ryan Burge, MyCom Podcast, demographics, church planting, clergy satisfaction, chaplaincy, data-driven decisions, religion and society, Substack, social scientist, religious data.