The Social Media Gospel: Sharing the Good News in New Ways
"I've continually looked to Meredith Gould as a role model for how to get Church social media 'right.' Packed with style, substance and spirit,The Social Media Gospelis the perfect primer for anyone looking to optimize their social media presence for evangelization, communication and community building. Meredith's advice is clear enough for the novice while challenging for those who have used these tools in the past."--Lisa M. Hendey, Founder of CatholicMom.com and author ofA Book of Saints for Catholic Moms"For years, Meredith Gould guided and mentored me as I navigated social media. She has consistently modeled spiritual discipline, pastoral care and community building on Twitter. Now Meredith has taken her innovative practice along with our historic wisdom and distilled it. For those beginning to explore new technologies, those regularly engaging with social media, or for anyone who wants to communicate the good news to a new generationThe Social Media Gospelis crucial."--Carol Howard Merritt, author ofTribal Churchand Reframing Hope"Meredith Gould has poured her training as a sociologist, experience as a magazine writer, omnivorous appetite for social media and passion for the Gospel into a book that should appeal to just about anyone who thinks about digital ministry. Scholars will appreciate her grasp of research, practitioners will value her insights about choosing social media, and newcomers will be reassured by a comprehensive discussion of issues that arise when one becomes active in the online world. The Social Media Gospel is a valuable contribution from one of the best known thinkers in the field."--Jim Naughton, editor of Episcopal Cafe and co-author ofSpeaking Faithfully: Communications as Evangelism in a Noisy World"Meredith Gould makes it clear: Social media is an incredibly powerful tool for proclaiming the message of the gospel. We ignore it at our peril. For those who want a primer, this book lays out a plan for setting up a social media strategy in ministry."--The Reverend Michael W. Rinehart, bishop, Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America"In the world of social media where so many proclaim themselves as "how to" gurus, Meredith Gould breaks through the clutter and jargon. She uses simple language to help churches and pastors understandwhysocial media is important and how to effectively use it as a tool for ministry. This book is for the beginner or those looking to go further with social media."--Rev. Alan Rudnick, pastor, author, blogger, and social media practitioner"The Word is active and alive via social media, connecting minds and hearts through shared faith. While some church leaders fear exploring the digital mission field, people like Meredith Gould write groundbreaking books like this one, fearlessly and wisely leading the way to a truly new evangelization."--Fran Rossi Szpylczyn, Catholic writer and lay minister blogging at There Will Be Bread."Meredith Gould answers the questions many church leaders and ministers have about the use of social media for ministry in her new book,The Social Media Gospel.A ministry insider and experienced user of social media, Meredith overcomes objections and eases fears with knowledgeable insights, good humor and excellent end-of chapter reflection questions.The Social Media Gospelis a delightfully warm and welcoming invitation to share the Good News in new ways."--Sister Susan Wolf, SND (@srsusan), Founder and President of Catholic Web Solutions