More and more, Christian media outfits try to create their own social media platforms to get noticed. However, a new edgy social media startup, “Sogo” is taking a different route on social media to get their message out.
Sogo describes itself as: Sogo Media Tv – a new kind of Christian television network that uses the exploding platform of YouTube to distribute exclusive videos from an impressive collective of progressive Christian voices, as well as curates the religion and spirituality niche on YouTube. Founded in 2012, Sogo is short for “social Gospel,” a play on words that also refers to “social media + Gospel message.”
If you have ever been on GodTube or FaithVillage, you know those are specially Christian websites for Christians to share Christian content. Many Christian social media platforms want to create their brand of Christian media because of concerns of secular culture’s negative affects on social media. Sogo doesn’t seem interested in creating an alternate platform for its content, but rather desires to use the existing and popular YouTube instead.
Brian McLaren, who was one of TIME magazine’s “25 Most Influential Evangelicals”, agreed to be a contributor. McLaren lauded the new startup,
Sogo has a bold vision: in some cases to provide an alternative to, in some cases to enhance, and in some cases to reverse some of the damage done by traditional religious broadcasting. That’s a bold, needed, and worthwhile vision!
Sogo cites the exponential growth of YouTube — increasing by 50% in the last year alone — and the continued viral popularity of religion and spirituality videos as the winning formula for what will make this new venture a success.
This new social media platform is the creation of Steve Knight, the former manager of the Internet division for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and Phil Shepherd, pastor of The Eucatastrophe in Fort Worth, Texas, and YouTube personality a.k.a. The Whiskey Preacher.
My friend Tripp Hudgins, an American Baptist minister and blogger, is a featured contributor on the show:
Be sure to keep Sogo on your radar. Read the full press release here. Sogo on Facebook and Twitter.