As many churches have continued to stream their services, most have seen a decrease in viewership and engagement. Why is that? Could it be that your congregation knows what to expect already? There isn’t a sense of urgency anymore to tune in because Church Online is no longer new. It has become the norm. So how can you get your church members to tune in? Make the services shorter? Offer multiple service times?
We believe the key is to build an online community over temporary engagement. The goal shouldn’t be to just get members to engage during the online services, but to make them feel like they are really a part of something bigger than watching a service through a screen for an hour. The same energy your team would put into an in-person service by showing members they are welcomed, loved… is the same perspective with which you should view everything you do online. Let them know they are seen and not forgotten about.
One way you can build online community is to host an After Party when your service is done. Have you ever watched a TV series and were bummed when it was over? You’re fully invested and feel like a part of you might be missing when… wait, the creators have bonus content for you! It’s a segment where they recap the show with its characters and have an opportunity for you to participate to let your voice be heard.
This is the same concept we think could help bridge the gap from temporary engagement to community. Here are some ideas on what to include in your After Party:
- Panel with a Host
- When your service is over, have a panel with a host ready to break down the message. If your message is pre-recorded, have questions prepared to ask the panel. If it’s live, no worries! Allow your panelists to share what impacted them from the message.
- Digital Potluck
- Who isn’t hungry right after service? Have a meal with your church community online. Encourage your congregation to prep food for the After Party. Tell your members to comment what they’re having for lunch or better yet, share a picture and recipe!
- Trivia
- Play a game at the start of the segment. This will allow others time to log on or grab their lunch.
- Q&A
- Ask your church members to submit questions about the message. These questions can be answered by your panelist or bring your pastor in during this time.
- Praise Report Moment
- During this part of the segment, you can highlight any praise reports from your congregation. This is a great way to show how God is moving in the lives of your church.
- Community Spotlight
- Highlight how your church is giving back to the community during this season or volunteer opportunities.
- Giveaway
- To add a fun element to your recap show, do a giveaway! Ask something pertaining to the service such as: “What was the worship setlist in order?” Or “What is one scripture Pastor ____ used during the message?”
- Prayer
- Let your congregation know what needs they can pray for this week and direct them where to go if they have a request.
Platforms to Use for After Parties
There are plenty of platforms you can use to host your After Party. To make the transition smooth from your livestreamed service to the After Party, we recommend using the platform that you’re already streaming on. Play a countdown video, announcement slides, or a video inviting people to stick around for the After Party. If you choose to use Zoom, have your Online Host comment the link for people to click on when your service is over.
- Facebook Live
- YouTube
- Zoom