Maurilio Amorim is CEO of The A Group, a media, technology and branding firm in Brentwood, TN that consults with some of the country’s largest ministries, leading churches, and Christian publishers. Founded in 2001, The A Group has transitioned from a traditional marketing agency into a marketing technology and branding firm, leveraging social media and mobile technologies. To connect with Amorim, friend him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter, or read his blog.
Amorim recently blogged about a few of the things social media is incapable of in ministry:
A post on your Facebook wall will never be able to look deep into your eyes and see the pain you’re feeling.
A Skype call cannot hold your hand or hug you close.
A Twitter DM is not able to unpack the complexity of a tough day or a difficult loss.
A YouTube video cannot sit quietly next to you and enjoy just being together.
A Twitpic of your best meal ever will never be a memory shared, but an opportunity lost.
A blog post might share your heart with the world when what you really need is to share your soul with someone.
If it weren’t for my online presence, I would not have met some great friends. But as I looked into a friend’s eyes, held his hand, and prayed with him, I was reminded of how meaningful the human experience can be.
So What?
Since most ministers were trained in seminaries before the days of social media, most articles focus on one or more ways to leverage social media for ministry. These learning tools are helpful for those who are new to social media and for whom incorporating it is a growing edge. For those who are more comfortable with it, more articles like Amorim’s are needed to remind us that social media is most effectively utilized as a supplement for rather than a replacement of more traditional face-to-face ministry.
- How long have you used social media in your ministry? How heavily do you rely upon it? Do you ever expect from it things it cannot deliver?
- Do you agree or disagree with my assertion that for most ministers social media should supplement rather than replace face-to-face ministry?