6 Ways Your Church Can Use Live Streaming to Reach More People

Talking about church live streaming is an intimidating subject for many people. For church leaders unfamiliar with the technology, streaming can feel extremely complicated, which discourages many of them from even learning more.

But video streaming is more than a trend or technological advancement. Streaming can become a  ministry of your church.

We are slowly becoming a video world. If you don’t believe, consider these statistics:

• More than 500 million hours of videos are watched on YouTube every day
• 72 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every 60 seconds
• 45% of people watch more than an hour of Facebook or YouTube videos every week

If you think that’s a lot of video content, all of us will be consuming more video in the future.

Now, switching gears back to streaming as a ministry of your church, what we have observed over the last five is that most church leaders only have 1-2 ideas in mind on how they can use live video streaming. But this isn’t the case at all. There are at least six ways you can use live streaming to reach and train people you never thought you could.

1 - Reach people who are unable to attend

The first reason many church leaders choose to stream their worship services is to reach shut-ins, people who are sick, or people who are in the hospital. In these situations, streaming your worship service allows these people to stay connected with your church.

In fact, a couple of years ago, my mom was diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer, which is essentially a death sentence. She spent many months in the hospital. Miraculously, by God's power, she's been healed!

My mom’s recovery is my favorite story to tell. I cannot tell you how much of a tremendous difference it made for her to be able to tune into a live stream of a service while she was struggling with her health.

2 - Reach travelers

Here’s the reality every church leader faces: Many of your church members will travel throughout the year. Whether they are on vacation or a business trip, at some point, members of your church will be absent on and the road.

If you stream your worship services, then you can provide a way for the members of your church who are traveling to stay connected wherever life takes them.

3 - Reach more people

Your church’s website is the new front door.

Think about it this way: When people are searching for a church in their town, before they set foot into a building, they will type in the name of your city and “church” into Google. Now, when they find your church website online and can see a live stream of your worship services, they will be able to see if your church is a good fit for them.

So, when people are moving to your town or if they are just seeking a new church in your area, the fact that you are using video makes it easier for you to connect with and reach more people.

4 - Train people and raise financial support

Your church can do more than just stream your worship services. Your church can also use streaming to train people and raise financial support.

I’ve seen thousands of dollars raised for mission work and people who do not have access to robust theological training equipped to work in churches in other countries.

Today, you don’t even have to leave your building to train people and influence others around the world.

#5 - Allow your members to stay connected

Does your church have missionaries around the world, soldiers who are deployed overseas, or businessmen or women who have been transferred? If so, then streaming your services will provide them with an opportunity to stay connected with the life of your church while they’re away.

#6 - Help people to give

Giving is an essential part of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. So, being able to offer content people can engage with next to an easy to use giving platform, like Tithe.ly, can bless people by helping them to participate in God’s work through your church by giving.

Does your church use video streaming? Why or why not? Share your thoughts in the comments below.