​​U.S. Orchard Planters Zoom Call • March, 17 2020

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​Table of Contents: 

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​1. Live Streaming/Online Gatherings

  • ​​Key takeaways after week one:
  • ​​The importance of Facebook “premiers” and being present online to invite others in when it launches - and figure out how to chat with folks.
  • ​​The importance of professionalism and clarity with our content.
  • ​​The importance of empowering people to take ownership of sharing content 
  • ​​Potential metric to gauge participation: the average view online equals 1.7 real people.
  • ​​Importance of placing giving time and other essentials before sermon, since large percentage of viewers drop off after message 
  • ​​If possible, incorporate a chat feature with the live stream, and have leaders in the chat room as monitors to answer questions and pray for any requests that were made. 
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  • ​​Online church (Life Church’s online church platform): provides you with separate domain  to use; provides direct ways to connect (i.e. giving, connect cards, prayer)
  • ​​IGTV: utilized in a good way for encouragement - and had great response from that.
  • ​​Broadcasting on both Facebook Live and YouTube Live to reach a broader audience. Value in having a third streaming option for home page too. 
  • ​​Consider the possibility of utilizing multiple platforms: Facebook live and additional options to spread out the load/make it accessible to a broader audience
  • ​​Consider Facebook watch parties, if able to gather with others in your region; in other contexts, it might be more appropriate to only gather with your family/household
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  • ​​Things to consider moving forward:
  • ​​Regarding vibe: is it more appropriate to try to match a standard worship service or match the living room feel/setting? 
  • ​​Try to plan for the flexibility of being able to execute plans if not able to leave home 
  • ​​If able to do baptisms in smaller setting, record and share them with church in livestream.
  • ​​Advantages/disadvantages of prerecording or livestream:
  • ​​Prerecording: allows to develop content in advance, if given order to not leave home
  • ​​Livestream: better allows us to respond to changes/developments
  • ​​Combo: prerecord, but broadcast at particular time(s) to encourage group engagement and common experience 
  • ​​For any streaming of worship music, make sure you have a license that covers streaming in addition to the usual live performance. (Live steams are generally fine. Recorded streams usually require specific require licensing.) 
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​2. Communication Strategies/Themes

  • ​​Strategies:
  • ​​Remember the importance of professionalism and clarity with our content.
  • ​​Short encouragements throughout week (via Instagram or Facebook) - brief word from pastor/leader
  • ​​Since people are on their phones so much, could be worth considering investing money in advertisements
  • ​​Not “join our online service,” but “are you feeling alone?…tap here to talk to someone”
  • ​​Consider singles (young and old) as target audience, since they’re most likely to struggle w/ isolation 
  • ​​To break through noise, consider posting TikTok videos on Instagram/Facebook with click through link
  • ​​Themes:
  • ​​Practical:
  • ​​Educating about and promoting watch parties (if able to do within context)
  • ​​Trying to keep people up-to-date with church service/community plans
  • ​​Varying pastoral/spiritual care with snapshots of life at home
  • ​​Consider if there’s still a way to capture major life events (i.e. a wedding) and share with others via Instagram live 
  • ​​Joy to cut through the social clutter
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​3. Financial Planning/Benevolence 

  • ​​Financial Planning:
  • ​​Cut non-essentials now, to preserve margin in case of a prolonged unusual season
  • ​​Making the ask directly and often regarding continued online giving. 
  • ​​Celebrate recurring givers. 
  • ​​“We Spread Love” campaign in Harlem: pushing recurring giving through campaign for funds for people heavily impacted by COVID-19
  • ​​For the short-run, eliminate non-essential expenses; consider what steps you would take if giving drops below certain benchmark levels 
  • ​​Look into your insurance policies to see if they cover loss-of-income
  • ​​Benevolence:
  • ​​Questions to work through:
  • ​​How do we know/identify those in our church/community that need help because of lost work? 
  • ​​Think carefully about spending benevolence funds on items that government and other programs don’t cover. 
  • ​​How do we prioritize care for members in the church that are hard-hit, vs. those in broader community?
  • ​​Ways to support small businesses:
  • ​​Buying food from restaurants to give away to those in need
  • ​​Buying gift cards now before businesses close, and then giving away later
  • ​​Putting together small business directory, and encouraging people to support
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​4. Empowering Leaders/Volunteers to Step Up

  • ​​Potential ways to encourage/empower leaders:
  • ​​Empower your people to take ownership of sharing the content.
  • ​​Encouraging leaders and volunteers to host watch parties (if able to do within context)
  • ​​Ways to encourage group leaders:
  • ​​Encourage them towards helping each person in their group be in their Bible/pray each day, and be known and serving someone each week 
  • ​​Empower/equip leaders to reach out personally to church members, esp. those >65
  • ​​Always follow official guidelines/restrictions in your context
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​5. Rethinking Roles on Your Team Temporarily 

  • ​​To consider: how to restructure organizationally (if needed) in order to utilize people’s talents and skills in ways that will move the church forward during this time
  • ​​Think through current key priorities, and how to restructure to accomplish 
  • ​​Pivot volunteer/service coordinators and building/facilities staff
  • ​​Main “buckets to think through: broadcasting, communications, and community
  • ​​Broadcast team: self-explanatory 
  • ​​Communications team: making it clear that you’re there and available to help. Show where/how/when to connect.
  • ​​Community team: not focusing merely on self-preservation, but building community within and serving. Phone and text chains, check-ins, etc. 
  • ​​Have staff/volunteers reach out personally to members, esp. those over 65
  • ​​Check in to see how they’re doing personally
  • ​​Also an opportunity to get feedback on what’s working/what’s not with communication and service platforms
  • ​​Have someone think through what social services are available, so that they’re able to direct people to these resources 
  • ​​Know what agencies are providing, so that church benevolence resources can be allocated to what agencies aren’t providing 
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​Appendix/ Resources

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​Prompts for Social Media posts in the age of Coronavirus (h/t Tyler)

  1. ​​“I was reading my Bible this morning and I learned…”
  1. ​​Here’s a look into my home: “Here’s what we’re cooking, what we’re watching, what game we’re playing…”
  1. ​​“Are you feeling alone right now? Join me and some others for a Google Hangout click link…”
  1. ​​“Check out this positive news story of someone helping someone else in our city…”
  1. ​​“How can we be praying for you right now?”
  1. ​​“Look what I found while  cleaning out this closet during quarantine…”
  1. ​​“I know everyone’s reading and watching a lot right now. What’s something you’ve learned? I’d love to learn from you. Teach me. Put it in the comments…”
  1. ​​“What are you looking forward to when quarantine ends?”
  1. ​​“Will you join me in praying for people who have lost loved ones?”
  1. ​​“I’m writing some handwritten notes to some old friends today. Who’s made a big difference in your life?”
  1. ​​“My daughter was going to be in her school musical, but it’s cancelled. Here’s a solo she’s been working on…”
  1. ​​“Check out this gift card I got for a cool local restaurant. You should really visit them too.”
  1. ​​“Did you hear about this federal program? Let us know if you need help applying…”
  1. ​​“Did you know that this member of our church is the director of nursing at Christ Hospital? She’s been working so diligently the past few weeks. Grateful for people like her!”
  1. ​​“Here’s what I’m learning about sabbath/having more time in silence/solitude…”
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​Thresholds for cashflow management (h/t Jim) 

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​Handy Links

  • ​​Examples of online service options: 
  • ​​Broadcast options: 
  • ​​Gear options for streaming: 
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