When we started Hope Baptist Church in Valdivia, Chile, we literally began with zero people. No launch team, no building full of families waiting for us, just a desire to reach our city with the Gospel.
From the very beginning, we prayed for every person God would send, and every week He did. In fact, since our first service, we’ve had at least 3–5 first-time visitors nearly every Sunday, and now just two years later our church has grown to around 80 regular attenders and we’ve reached over 400 people personally with the Gospel message.
Most of our visitors first heard about us through social media. That’s not because we replaced evangelism with technology. Far from it. We still believe in door-to-door outreach, public evangelism, and personal soul-winning just as any Bible-believing church should.
But we’ve learned something important: in today’s world, social media is the new “front door” of the church. People often visit your page long before they visit your pews. And what they see there often determines whether they’ll take that step of faith to visit in person.
Our members now invite others both in person and online. We equip them with Gospel tracts, invitation cards, and shareable social posts making it easy to reach their friends and family in multiple ways.
After working in church marketing for more than eight years, here are the core principles I’ve learned about social media for small and growing churches like ours:
Core Principles for Church Social Media
1) People want to see people — and they want to know who the pastor is.
Your church’s story is told through faces, not graphics.
Show real members, volunteers, and families. Post baptisms, worship moments, smiles, and service highlights.
Feature your pastor regularly in prayer, in preaching clips, or even short encouragement videos.
Visitors often decide to attend because they feel like they already “know” the pastor and members.
People don’t follow logos; they follow people.
2) Consistency builds trust.
Social media is like discipleship,
it works through faithfulness.
Post 3–5 times per week and keep your tone and visuals unified. Use the same logo, color palette, and friendly personality across all posts.
Faithfulness online reflects faithfulness in ministry. When people see a steady rhythm of life and joy in your church, they begin to trust what you represent.
3) Storytelling beats information.
Instead of simply saying “Join us Sunday,” show why it matters.
Tell stories:
“Last Sunday was incredible—lives were touched, and we can’t wait to see what God does this week!”
Share testimonies, behind-the-scenes moments, and quick stories of answered prayer.
Information tells; stories inspire.
4) Clarity wins.
Keep captions short, warm, and direct.
Always include service times, address, and a clear next step:
“Send us a message,” “Plan your visit,” or “See you this Sunday at 11 AM!”
Avoid cluttered graphics—simplicity communicates professionalism and confidence.
Remember, every post should make it easy for someone new to take the next step.
4) The Gospel stays central.
This is non-negotiable.
Don’t let your feed become just a calendar of events—let it breathe truth and hope.
Share Scripture, short Gospel reminders, and grace-filled moments that point to Christ.
Social media isn’t just marketing—it’s digital missions work. Every post is a seed.
Bonus Tips for Maximum Impact
Vertical videos (9:16) perform best across Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube Shorts.
Always include subtitles. Many people scroll with their sound off.
Respond to comments and messages quickly. Treat every interaction as ministry.
Use faces, names, and testimonies—it reminds people your church is alive and personal.
Final Thought
Social media doesn’t replace evangelism—it multiplies it.
When done right, it opens the door for new families to hear the Gospel, and it helps your members become everyday witnesses, both online and offline.
Our story at Hope Baptist Church proves it’s possible: with a clear Gospel message, faithful posting, and genuine love for people, God can grow a church from zero to thriving in just a few years.