By Robert Dilday While about half of Protestant churches have Facebook pages, many essentially use it as a bulletin board, missing out on the potential to nurture relationships with congregants and its community. “It’s OK for a church to use…
Beyond Facebook: Scanning the social media landscape
By Robert Dilday Facebook has become the social network of choice for the vast majority of people—it’s hard to argue with 850 million users around the globe—and it’s not likely to disappear any time soon. But some specialists see a…
Video blog offers deeper connection between pastor and church
By Robert Dilday When a church consultant recommended to Second Baptist Church in Liberty, Mo., that its senior minister needed an additional venue—other than the pulpit—to connect to its members, the church’s media minister pushed Pastor Jason Edwards to consider…
Churches conflicted when it comes to social media engagement
By Robert Dilday It’s not about hunting. It’s about farming. That’s how bestselling author Ivan Misner, founder of one of the world’s largest business networking organizations, describes social networks, which he says attempt to do one thing—cultivate relationships. For church…
Politics & Media: Learn to recognize bias, determine reliability
By Bob Allen Voters want and need reliable and truthful information about candidates at all levels of government and from all political perspectives. But in an information age that overwhelms the electorate with sheer volume at breakneck speed, what factors…
Baptist Standard Publishing launches test phase of FaithVillage site
Associated Baptist Press The website is a new ministry of Baptist Standard Publishing, parent company of the Baptist Standard. The 123-year-old organization will continue to publish the newspaper and its digital news products. FaithVillage.com will provide Christian community and an…
Finding Christ in popular culture
By Robert Dilday When the Academy Award ceremony airs Feb. 26, an unusual film that has bemused some, exhilarated others and drawn wide-ranging comments tops the list of nominees. Brad Pitt and Laramie Eppler star in Terrence Malick’s film, Tree…
Looking for Christian themes in movies? Here are critics’ choices
By Robert Dilday Hollywood’s century-old repertoire of films offers a rich lode of Christian themes, say some observers who see value in mining for them. While the Oscar-nominated Tree of Life may be opaque, it’s “one of the most powerful…