We all want to build a stronger community in our churches. But church community building is easier said than done. Add on top of that the fact that our world is constantly changing, and things start to get pretty difficult.

In our digital world, building a strong church community looks different than it used to. People spend a lot of time online, so churches need to find new ways to connect with them. Church isn’t just about meeting on Sundays anymore—it’s about staying connected throughout the week, even if we can’t be together in person.

The goal is to create a place where everyone feels welcome and supported, whether online or in person. While technology helps us stay connected, the most important part of any church community is building relationships, sharing faith, and growing together. By using both old and new ways to connect, churches can stay strong and help more people feel like they belong.

In this podcast, we’ll explore everything you need to know about building your community in this digital world. Then, we’ll dive into our top 7 secrets to helping you do that.

Let’s dive in.

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

Table of contents

• Creating Community in a Digital World
  • Why Building Community is Important
  • The Evolution of Community Building
  • Challenges of Building Community in the Digital Age
• Top 7 Digital Secrets to Building Church Community
  • 1. Use Social Media Wisely
  • 2. Equip Leadership for Digital Ministry
  • 3. Build Small Groups Online
  • 4. Use Email Newsletters
  • 5. Set Up Digital Prayer Requests and Groups
  • 6. Post Clips and Recordings
  • 7. Provide Online Giving and Donations
• Building Community
• More Resources on Digital Ministry

Let’s start by exploring church community building in our digital age. We’ll cover all the reasons why you should care about building your community in the first place, the evolution of community building over time, and why today’s digital age makes it harder than ever to do it.

Building community is essential to the mission of the church. From the time of Jesus Christ, Christians have gathered to grow in their faith, support one another, and share the gospel. The early church thrived because it was built on relationships and a shared sense of purpose.

When people feel connected, they experience greater spiritual growth. Being part of a church body means having people to pray with, learn from, and lean on during hard times. A strong community also helps the local church to grow, as it attracts others who are seeking meaningful relationships and a place to belong. Church leadership plays a key role in fostering this sense of belonging, making sure every member feels valued and included.

For a church to thrive, whether it’s an established congregation or a new church plant, community must always be a top priority.

In the early church, believers we’re meeting in homes and breaking bread together. They didn’t have large church buildings or formal programs; instead, they gathered in small groups and focused on relationships. As Christianity spread, churches grew larger, and the way people built community changed.

Over time, local churches began to organize events, Bible studies, and outreach programs to help people connect and grow in their faith. Church leadership developed systems to help members feel involved and cared for, whether through small groups, Sunday school classes, or volunteer opportunities.

Today, the ways we build community continue to evolve. Technology has made it possible for churches to connect with people in new ways. Social media, video calls, and live-streamed services allow the church body to stay in touch, even when they can’t meet in person.

However, the heart of community building remains the same: it’s about relationships, support, and shared faith. As the world changes, churches must adapt while keeping these core values at the center of their efforts.

While technology offers new opportunities for church growth, it also presents some challenges for building community. The local church is meant to be a place where people gather physically, worship together, and form personal connections. But in the digital age, it can be harder to maintain those close relationships. Virtual gatherings lack the personal touch of face-to-face interaction, making it difficult for some to feel truly connected to the church body.

According to Pew Research Center, 55% of teens regularly spend time with their friends online rather than in-person.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. All it means is that the world is changing, and the nature of connections are changing. If connecting with the next generations means that some of that connection is online, then so be it.

But church leadership must work harder to engage people online, ensuring that digital platforms don’t replace real-life community. It can also be a challenge to balance the needs of both in-person and online members, especially for new church plants or smaller congregations. Finding creative ways to build relationships and encourage spiritual growth in a virtual environment takes time and effort.

Despite these challenges, the mis...