Go Where People Gather

“So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.” - Acts 17:17 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul found himself in one of the biggest and most influential cities in the first century, Athens, Greece. He was without a his full ministry team, and the resources were running low. He had nothing that we would consider essential to plant a church, but he was not going to let that stop his mission. Paul falls back on his most basic strategy. In doing so, he shows us how to move ministry forward - Go to where people gather.

In the first century, people gathered in the synagogue and not just on the sabbath. Everyone in Athens gathered in the marketplace! Most residents would go every day and not just to purchase ingredients for tonight’s dinner. The marketplace, called the “agora” in Greek, was the heartbeat of every city, town and village. Just about every kind of business and legal transaction happened there. Plus, people gathered simply to be around people. They shared news, gossip, and experienced general community fellowship.

Does that exist in 21st Century life? Is there a single spot in your town where just about everyone gathers? Author Dave Adamson argues that social media is the new marketplace in his book Metachurch, How to Use Digital Ministry to Reach People and Make Disciples. Dave urges, “If church leaders are going to take seriously the call to ‘go’ to make disciples, then we need to accept that going into the postmodern world includes going to places like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, and Twitch because this is where people already are.”


But How Do We Do It?

We had the opportunity to connect with Dave who lives in Australia and is the Director of Orange for Australia and New Zealand. Previously he was the online pastor for North Point in Atlanta, GA. Dave has been in online ministry since 2008, before most of the Church had even considered using digital tools to reach people.

“I've never met a pastor, whether it's a pastor of a church of 50 people or pastor of a church or 50,000 people, who didn't want to reach more people in their local community.” Dave tell us, “The best way for us to do that is to get involved in the local community and what is happening online in the local community.” He says that it’s not about simply posting what we’re doing but becoming a part of those local conversations. This helps us recognize and be recognized by people in our community. It helps us know what people are thinking, but more importantly, what questions they are asking.

Dave says that being involved in the ongoing conversations in the community is one of the best ways to position ourselves. “So when a pandemic comes, or when an individual is going through a situation where they need answers. They're searching for hope they're searching for inspiration, they're searching for purpose. You've now positioned yourself to be ready to have them be aware of your presence in the church in the local community.” That doesn’t matter if you are a mega church or a house church, being there when people have a need is the key.


 In Your Community

Dave continues, “How many people do you think, who live within the 30 minute driving distance of you, are even aware that your church exists? Our highest guess would be maybe 5%. And I would say this is true of every church, in every setting, in every community. The vast majority people probably don't even know the church exists.”

He also points out that it doesn’t take a huge staff or massive resources either. “All you need is a smartphone, which you probably already have, and maybe an hour a week to just scroll through what's happening in your local community and jump into conversations.”

One practical example Dave gives, could mean the world to someone and it starts with a simple, targeted search on any platform. “For example, a hashtag search might be: #IhateMondays. You can search for that in your local community. Somebody posts on that because his car has broken down. Imagine what would happen if the local church said ‘Hey, I'm so sorry that your car broke down. Do you need a ride anywhere?’ That would change that person's perspective of what the church can do! And it would change ours as well. That would put us into a position where we can actually help and serve the local community.”

As a church consultant, Dave has given this challenge to a number of churches. He tells us that one church has really run with it. At the beginning of every staff meeting, the pastor has everyone open their phones and jump on social media. “They would then pick a local business or a local school. Let’s say the local high school just won the state championship in football. The pastor says, ‘All of us right now get on your phones and go to that Instagram post and let’s just cheer them on and celebrate them! Let’s let them know that we as Christians and we as the church on for them!’”

That can make a huge difference in the way the community perceives the church. Dave points out that often on social media, “We just want the community to support us and cheer us on. It's not supposed to be that way. It's supposed to be the other way around. We're there to serve the community. The community is not there to serve us.”


Don’t Stop innovating

 Additionally, Dave tells us that this is just one way and he would encourage us to get creative with the tool that we have been given, “Literally for the first time in human history we have the technology to literally go into all the world in in a day. Why aren't we leveraging that? Why are we so afraid of that innovative spirit?”

“96% of adults keep their cell phone within arm's reach every single day.” He continues, “So why aren't we leveraging that to reach people with the gospel? Why aren't we leveraging that to connect with people and start having faith conversations with them? That's the best, best use of that technology, I think.”

In addition to being an author and church consultant, Dave is a photographer, husband and father. His book “MetaChurch” is published by Orange and available everywhere. You can connect with him on his website daveadamson.tv.

Article by Jeff Chaves, Pastor of CHRCH Online.