How can a blog be useful to a preaching pastor?
Pastor Noel Heikkinnen of Riverview Church in the Lansing (MI) area is using his blog to start a sermon series this weekend on prayer. He posted a series of questions for his flock on their prayer lives and their attitude about prayer.
Check out the response. It speaks for itself. Blogs can be a real useful tool for pastors. This is a good example. However, I’m sure it took Pastor Noel some time to build up his blog readership. I think I’ll watch his sermon . . . online, of course.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
i just stumbled across your blog because i was looking for Noel’s. weird. how did you come across his site? i was just curious what your thoughts were?
thanks!
Jason-
Thanks for the comment. I first learned of Noel and Riverview from our son–Justin-www.drinkingoatmealstout–who has several friends who are active there. He and I both try to be attentive to how churches and pastors are using blogs, social media and tech.
My wife and I attended Riverview one Saturday night where Noel used his iPhone to provide an illustration for his sermon. I was impressed.
I’ve been reading his blog for some time. It appears that he really knows his audience and how to get them to interact with his content on the web. And that certainly appears to be the case in his teaching.
Older, more established churches can learn from what the Holy Spirit is doing through Noel, Riverview and the people who go there.
What do you think of Riverview and Noel’s efforts?
Wes
i love Riverview. i met Noel when he spoke for a summer camp i was part in leading. he has been a big inspiration in my life. i learned a number of little things when it came to media and presentation style. i ran powerpoint…oh powerpoint we hardly knew you…for Noel and i still remember the first thing he hammed home to me. he told me whenever he had scripture on the screen he wanted that scripture to stay on the screen for as long as possible because he wanted to it to punch people in the face. he wanted people who were bored to stare at the screen and let the scripture convict and challenge them. that was amazing to me because so many people just go to the next cool graphic.
i’m now in Ohio and i still miss the 45 minute drive to East Lansing to catch the Saturday night service. my wife and i used Riverview as our getaway church since i was a full time youth pastor.
long story short (to late) i love Riverview and what it’s doing. i love the fact that Noel is just once piece of that church. very cool.
jason