MyCom Church Marketing Podcast: Find Your Audience, Tell Your Church’s Story and Share God’s Message of Grace and Hope

Unlock practical strategies for digital ministry in this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing and Communications podcast! Host Ryan Dunn sits down with Olivia DiAgostino, executive for United Women in Faith Digital, to explore how United Women in Faith is building a thriving online community for women of faith. Whether you're a ministry leader, church communicator, or simply passionate about community building, this episode is packed with real-world insights on human-centered design, creating meaningful online connections, and sustainable community engagement. Chapters & Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction & Episode Overview 01:28 – Meet Olivia DiAgostino (Role and Digital Community Scope) 03:25 – Building Digital Community & Why UW Faith Went Digital 05:20 – From Content to Community: What Changed? 06:45 – Making Community Engagement Work & Tips for Consistent Participation 08:40 – Organic Leadership & Member-Driven Moderation 11:39 – Creating Groups: Organic, Intentional Growth Strategies 12:58 – When Digital Community Crosses Into the Real World 16:07 – Rituals of Welcome: Bringing Hospitality to Online Spaces 19:42 – Navigating Tech Resistance and Platform Fatigue 22:08 – Maintaining a Trusted, Respectful Digital Environment 24:09 – Moderation Guidelines: Sisterhood of Grace 26:03 – Why Mighty Networks? Choosing the Right Digital Platform 27:02 – Practical Advice for Ministry Leaders Starting Digital Communities 28:55 – Open Invitation: Who Can Join UW Faith Digital? 30:27 – Closing Thoughts & Resources Find episode notes and more: www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast #ChurchCommunications #DigitalMinistry #CommunityBuilding #MyComPodcast #UnitedWomenInFaith

Struggling with stagnant social media engagement in your ministry? You're not alone! In this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing & Communications Podcast, host Ryan Dunn unpacks practical strategies to breathe new life into your church's social media presence. Whether you're a church leader, communicator, or volunteer, you'll discover actionable insights to boost engagement, connect with your community more meaningfully, and expand your digital reach. Learn why likes and reach might not be the best metrics, how to create content that platforms and people love, and why stories and DMs can become secret weapons for authentic connection. Plus, find out simple ways to make your church more visible and supportive in your digital neighborhood. Key Insights: Rethink your metrics: Focus on shares and link clicks for real impact Make the most of Instagram Stories to engage your community (with or without sound!) Use direct messages strategically to deepen relationships Become an active digital neighbor to boost your church's visibility Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction: Facing stagnant social media 01:23 – The truth about engagement & platform algorithms 03:21 – Rethinking success: Likes, reach, and real value 06:06 – Why "prayers get shares" and event promotion tips 10:00 – Maximizing Stories: Format, features, and engagement hacks 15:04 – Harnessing DMs for meaningful connection 17:49 – Be an active digital neighbor: Community engagement 18:42 – Recap: Takeaways for revitalizing your practice of ministry Subscribe to stay inspired and get more tools for transforming your church's communications strategy! Find more resources for your ministry at resourceumc.org.

Rev. Brandon Robbins shares his journey from becoming a parish pastor to flourishing as a YouTube content creator, offering invaluable insights for anyone looking to expand their ministry's reach online. Discover how Brandon leveraged YouTube to enhance his pastoral work, learn about the challenges and strategies involved in growing an online presence, and get inspired by his story of persistence, passion, and purpose in ministry.

In this episode of MyCom Church Communications and Marketing, we're getting an inspiring story out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Matt Austin and Matt Patrick are co-pastors at University United Methodist Church.  Matt and Matt share their journey of reimagining church sustainability through alternate income models, space utilization, and unique ventures like their very own coffee trailer in this episode. Plus, they discuss the importance of embracing change, fostering a culture of learning, and the lessons they've learned along the way. Whether you're in church leadership or just passionate about community innovation, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration.

In this episode of MyCom Church Communications and Marketing, we're getting an inspiring story out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Matt Austin and Matt Patrick are co-pastors at University United Methodist Church.  Matt and Matt share their journey of reimagining church sustainability through alternate income models, space utilization, and unique ventures like their very own coffee trailer … Continue reading "[105] Revitalizing church models and communicating change with Matt Austin and Matt Patrick"

This episode of the MyCom Church Communications and Marketing Podcast explores the evolving relationship between the church and young adults with guests Kristopher Sledge and Rachel Gilmore. As pastors and co-authors of the book “Followers Under 40,” they explore how Millennials, Zoomers, and Gen Alpha relate differently to institutions and discuss practices that help in … Continue reading "[104] Reaching your church’s next generation: The “Followers Under 40” authors"

This episode of the MyCom Church Communications and Marketing Podcast explores the evolving relationship between the church and young adults with guests Kristopher Sledge and Rachel Gilmore. As pastors and co-authors of the book "Followers Under 40," they explore how Millennials, Zoomers, and Gen Alpha relate differently to institutions and discuss practices that help in connecting with them. Kristopher Sledge, lead pastor of the multi-ethnic Journey Church in Harrisburg, PA, and Rachel Gilmore, director of New and Vital Faith for the Desert Southwest Conference, share their insights on understanding youth culture, engaging with social issues, and embracing digital tools. They emphasize the importance of authenticity, listening, and dialogue in reaching the next generation. The episode also covers practical steps for churches to become more inclusive and relevant, such as creating safe spaces for exploration of faith and identity, and how churches can reimagine their presence in digital spaces to better connect with young and digital-native audiences. This episode is sponsored by: Celebrate Wonder Digital Curriculum brings Bible stories to life with interactive lessons that help kids build stronger relationships with God and each other! Visit cokesburykids.com/celebratewonder to download a sample today! Find more resources and episodes at www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast

Learn practical strategies for enhancing your church’s digital communications with expert Katie Allred, founder of Church Communications Group. From managing social media engagement to optimizing YouTube content, discover how to create meaningful two-way conversations with your congregation online. Katie shares insights on effectively using Facebook groups, responding to comments, and leveraging AI for ministry efficiency. … Continue reading "[103] Mastering Two-Way Church Communication Online with Katie Allred"

It’s a data-driven conversation with Ryan Burge, a social scientist and minister, who explores the intricate factors influencing church growth and decline. Burge sheds light on how external demographics, strategic church planting, and the balance between divine calling and data-driven decisions shape religious communities. The episode also covers clergy satisfaction, positive chaplaincy experiences, the evolving … Continue reading "[102] Data, demographics and church growth with Ryan Burge"

In this episode of MyCom, we’re talking with Mark Elsdon. Mark helps us dissect the evolving nature of church property stewardship and the pivotal role congregations can play in their communities. The episode sheds light on numerous innovative approaches for churches dealing with property and financial transitions, emphasizing mission-driven strategies that align with both historical … Continue reading "[101] Rethinking church assets with Mark Elsdon"

In this milestone 100th episode of the MyCOM Church Marketing Podcast, host Ryan Dunn welcomes former producer and host Dan Wunderlich, an elder in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church and pastor at Lakeside UMC. Join us for a deep dive into digital ministry, church communications, and innovative outreach strategies. Discover how technology … Continue reading "[100] Digital Ministry & Church Marketing Insights with Dan Wunderlich"

Discover how digital ministry has transformed from a niche to an essential part of church outreach. Dive into our latest MyCom episode for insights on purposeful digital ministry that bridges real and virtual communities. Tap into practical strategies and insightful discussions featuring Charles Vogl, Dr. Kelly Price, Mike Kim, Nelson Musonda, and Dana Malstaff. In … Continue reading "[99] Engaging with purpose: Best practices in digital ministry"

In this episode of MyCom, host Ryan Dunn engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Reverend J.J. Warren about the intricacies of building genuine emotional connections within digital church communities. Drawing from his theological background and experiences with the Young Prophets Collective, J.J. discusses the evolution of virtual worship spaces, the significance of platforms like Discord … Continue reading "[98] Building real church in digital space with J.J. Warren"

In this episode, host Rev. Ryan Dunn chats with guests Nathan Webb and Shane Russo about their innovative strategies for utilizing YouTube to grow their digital church communities. They dive deep into the tools, challenges, and unique approaches they leverage for successful content creation and audience engagement. Rev. Shane Russo is the founder and lead … Continue reading "[97] YouTube tools and strategies for churches"

AI remains a hot topic online, in the news, and in the church. UMCommunications recently hosted a webinar on AI, and hundreds of people like you signed up. We have seen an explosion of AI tools – from standalone or customized apps (like PulpitAI, which we discussed earlier this year) to AI integrations in apps […]

Communications expert, Sabrina Joy Stevens will be hosting a MyCom Webinar on May 15th at 12pm (CST) to help our leaders with Clarity over Confusion post General Conference. Register here: https://umcom.zoom.us/webinar/register/7317103461585/WN_lIZSl3OmRcO8ykOHW356UA   Subscribe to MyCom Podcasts on YouTube here: https://www.resourceumc.org/en/agencies/communications/church-and-conference-resources/newsletters-and-podcasts/mycom-newsletter-subscribe   On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we are joined by someone […]

We spoke with UMCOM Video Producer, Kathryn Price, several years ago as we were all navigating the pandemic. On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we’re checking back in with her both for a refresher on creating sermon videos and to see what new tools and features we could all be using! This […]

Last year, we dipped our toes in the water of AI with an excellent primer from Kenny Jahng on what generative AI is, some ministry uses, and how to get started. Since then, I have personally used AI tools to help me refine and clarify my thoughts and writing, as a brainstorming partner in sermon […]

On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we welcome Rev. Melissa Pisco to talk about how a ministry that is intentionally inclusive of people with disabilities can offer a way to connect with those who are not yet a part of your church. For more info about Dan Wunderlich go to: https://www.defininggrace.com/ =============== […]

“The king is dead! Long live the king!” On today’s episode of the MyCom Church Marketing podcast, Dan takes us on a journey to revisit the relevance of the written word. Reports of the written word’s death have been greatly exaggerated. For more info about Dan Wunderlich go to: https://www.defininggrace.com/ This episode of the MyCom […]

In the middle of the summer, seemingly out of nowhere, there was suddenly a new social media network: Threads – the Twitter competitor from Instagram. Whether it is a brand new network that appears in the middle of the night, or there’s a platform on the rise, or simply one your church hasn’t been a […]

Have you ever looked at your church logo and thought, “It might be time for a change.”? On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we welcome back graphic designer and YouTuber Will Paterson to help walk us through the basics of logo design. For more info about Will Paterson go to:: https://www.willpaterson.design/ https://www.youtube.com/@willpatersondesign […]

On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, Dan hops over the pond (digitally) and talks to professional graphic designer Will Paterson, resident of the United Kingdom, about 5 graphic design hacks that will help you get started with your own creations, and will help no matter which side of the street you drive […]

On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing podcast, Dan explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way churches engage with their congregations. This episode features Kenny Jahng, who discusses the different ways AI is already being used in our lives and how churches can experiment with these tools to enhance outreach efforts and […]

In part 2 of our conversation with Brady Shearer, Dan dives into what the 1 page church social media plan is, and how churches have entered an era that finally gives them an advantage in the social media world. For more info about Brady Shearer and Pro Church Tools go to: https://www.nucleus.church/ https://prochurchtools.com/ https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/ https://www.youtube.com/user/ProChurchTools […]

On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we are talking to Brady Shearer, CEO of Pro Church Tools, who says the new era of social media that is dawning is one in which churches finally have a massive advantage. For more info about Brady Shearer and Pro Church Tools go to: https://www.nucleus.church/ https://prochurchtools.com/ […]

The first step in successful marketing is always knowing your audience, congregation, and/or community. On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we are looking at 3 simple techniques you can employ when you’re talking to people in your church and community that will help you get to know them in a way that […]

Welcome to the era of the discovery algorithm, and on this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we are talking about one of the ways you can work toward being discovered in 2023. For more info about Dan, our host: https://www.defininggrace.com/ This episode of the podcast is sponsored by EO Travel. Christian journeys with […]

On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing podcast, Dan is going to share with 3 lessons he learned in 2022 and 3 predictions he has for 2023. For more info about Dan, our host: https://www.defininggrace.com/ For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God's work in […]

On this episode of the MyCom podcast, Dan talks to the Get Your Spirit in Shape podcast host Crystal Caviness about the power of the interview. For more info about Crystal and to listen to her podcast, Get Your Spirit in Shape, go to: https://www.umc.org/en/content/get-your-spirit-in-shape or https://www.umc.org/en/ For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been […]

On this episode of the MyCom podcast, Dan runs down the checklist of what we need to do to get ready for Christmas. That’s right, Christmas is just around the corner! Here are the five to-do’s Dan breaks down for this upcoming Christmas season. 1. Discern and/or translate the theme 2. Define the roadmap and […]

On this episode of the MyCom podcast, we get to reconnect with a returning guest Jeanette Yates! Jeanette is a part of the team at Text In Church and will be talking about texting for the church. Download your FREE Text Messaging Playbook from Text in Church at: Text Messaging Playbook This episode is sponsored by … Continue reading "MyCom podcast Ep. 077: How to use Texting in Church Communications"

On today’s episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we are bringing you the next installment of our occasional feature called “How We Work.” On these special episodes, we feature interviews with real life United Methodists digging into the practical details of how they do the work of church marketing and communications. We are talking … Continue reading "MyCom podcast Ep. 075: How We Work with Piper Ramsey-Sumner"

On today’s episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we are talking about a title we all share whether we realize it or not, and that is Tour Guide for the great engagement journey! For more info about Dan: https://www.defininggrace.com/ For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories … Continue reading "MyCom podcast Ep. 076: The Engagement Journey"

If someone came up to you in church to say “Hi”, you wouldn’t turn around and just ignore them. Don’t do that online either! This month on the MyCom Church Marketing podcast, Dan talks to Renee McNeill about how to think differently about your church’s social media platforms. For more information on Renee McNeill and … Continue reading "MyCom podcast Ep. 074: Reimagining Your Social Profiles"

The future is now! On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we are talking about church in the metaverse! Virtual Reality becomes actual reality more every day. Dan talks to Rev. Dr. Michael Beck about how his church utilizes the virtual world. For more information on Rev. Dr. Michael Beck go to: For … Continue reading "MyCom podcast Ep. 073: Church in the Metaverse"

Summer is quickly approaching, and your ministry team is no doubt ramping up for one of the great summer church traditions: Vacation Bible School! So on this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we are talking all things VBS! For more information on Cokesbury VBS, find info at: https://www.cokesburyvbs.com/ https://www.facebook.com/CokesburyVBS This episode is sponsored … Continue reading "MyCom podcast Ep. 072: Vacation Bible School"

In part 2 of our short series on issues relating to self-care, Dan tackles why a nap might not be the answer to your sleepiness. See why emotional labor might be the culprit and some things you can try to help alleviate the grogginess. Here is the link to the interview published in Scientific American … Continue reading "MyCom podcast Ep. 071: The hidden reason why you are so tired"

We have all faced the dreaded blank page – whether it is a literal blank page in our word processor, a blank canvas in our graphic design program, or an empty social media calendar. There are seasons of life when this is an exciting invitation, and seasons of life when it is a nightmare. As … Continue reading "MyCom podcast Ep. 070: Why you are out of ideas"

On this third and final episode of the “podcasting trilogy”, Dan runs through several recommendations of podcasts that are incredible examples of storytelling, teaching the Bible and much more. If you want to know what other podcasters are doing within this medium, here’s a great place to start to figure out what to listen to. … Continue reading "MyCom podcast Ep. 069: 5 Podcasts you should check out in 2022"

On this episode of the MyCom podcast, Dan talks to fellow podcaster Ryan Dunn, host of the Pastoring in the Digital Age and the Compass podcasts, about the basics on how to get started in podcasting. For more information on Ryan, you can take a listen at his podcasts at: https://www.umc.org/en/rethink-church/compass-podcast https://www.resourceumc.org/en/agencies/communications/church-and-conference-resources/podcasts/digital-parish-podcast or contact him … Continue reading "MyCom podcast Ep. 068: Podcasting 101"

On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, Dan talks to Rev Todd Rossnagel, the Director of Communication Strategies for the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. Todd, a podcaster himself, talks about how churches can and should start to consider starting a podcast themselves. For more information on Todd, you can take … Continue reading "MyCom podcast Ep. 067: Podcasting as Church Marketing"

On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we are going to explore this facet of connection and see if you might be making the same mistake in your church communications. This episode is brought to you by: Breeze Church Management – With over 400 5-star reviews, Breeze has been rated the easiest to … Continue reading "MyCom podcast Ep. 066: How to Connect Emotionally without Manipulating"

On International Podcast Day, we bring you this special episode featuring a listener response, and how they have used the MyCom Church Marketing podcast tools and tips to help their congregation. Dan shares how the MyCom podcast has been instrumental in helping churches large and small to reach their communities in new and unique ways. … Continue reading "Bonus Episode: Listener Feedback – International Podcast Day"

On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast, we continue with the next installment of our occasional series called How We Work. Dan talks to Nathan Adams, LeadPastor of Park Hill UMC in Denver CO. about how he and his church have used marketing and what has worked for them. For more info on … Continue reading "Ep. 65: How We Work with Nathan Adams"

In Part 2 of Dan’s conversation with Hillary & Jason Demeo of WE ARE CURIO, they discuss the artifact, tangible items used for marketing. For more information on WE ARE CURIO visit: WE ARE CURIO For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church in telling inspirational stories of God's work in the … Continue reading "Ep. 64: The Power of the Artifact (Part 2)"

On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing podcast Dan continues his dive into non-digital marketing by talking to Jason and Hillary Demeo of WE ARE CURIO about the importance of in-person events. For more information on WE ARE CURIO visit: WE ARE CURIO For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the church … Continue reading "Ep. 63: The Power of In-Person Events"

Many of the episodes of the MyCom podcast focus on digital and social media marketing. But what about other methods? On this episode of the MyCom church marketing podcast Dan talks to Larry Fairley of Marketing Research Solutions about overlooked marketing methods. For more information on Marketing Research Solutions visit: reachmrs.com Twitter Facebook Instagram LinkedIn … Continue reading "Ep. 62: Overlooked Marketing Methods"

Is your church marketing is stuck in a loop? Bible verse. Prayer. Sermon quote. Hip graphic. Worship song. And repeat. On today’s episode of the MyCom podcast Dan explores why not all of your church marketing needs to look like church marketing. Dan’s Website: https://www.defininggrace.com/ For 80 years, United Methodist Communications has been leading the … Continue reading "Ep. 61: Church Marketing doesn’t have to look like Church Marketing"

On the 2nd part of this 2 part episode on Church Communications Dr. Len Wilson returns as our guest. He serves as the Director of Innovation and Strategy at St. Andrew UMC in Plano, Texas, as well as the executive director of Invite Resources. Dr. Wilson gives us his 6 traits on being a great … Continue reading "Ep. 60: 6 Traits of Great Church Communicators"

When you think of the relationship between your work in church communications and the work of discipleship, what do you envision? This relationship is what we are talking about on today’s episode of the MyCom Church Marketing Podcast. Our guest on this episode is Dr. Len Wilson, he serves as the Director of Innovation and … Continue reading "Ep. 59: Discipleship Resources as Church Marketing"