In this episode, host Justin interviews Jay Kranda, the Online Community Pastor for Saddleback Church. Jay delves into the evolving role of online church and shares his insights on making disciples through digital platforms. Since 2010, Jay has been at the forefront of building a robust online ministry, and he discusses how to go beyond basic streaming to create meaningful engagement with online small groups and tools like Zoom. He also introduces his new book, Online Church is Not the Answer, which offers a framework for effective hybrid disciple-making. Tune in for practical advice on leveraging digital tools for greater community impact and spiritual growth. Episode Highlights: 00:00 – Introduction to the Digital Missions Podcast 00:46 – Meet Jay: Online Community Pastor at Saddleback Church 02:27 – Early Days of Online Ministry 04:40 – Challenges and Innovations in Streaming 08:06 – The Evolution of Online Groups 19:59 – Strategic Wins and Building Trust 29:54 – Starting a Zoom Group for Church Activities 30:45 – Engaging Viewers and Forming Online Groups 31:52 – Zoom as a Tool for Large Gatherings 33:07 – The Power of Online Bible Studies 36:11 – Addressing Lurkers and Encouraging Engagement 39:58 – Quality Control in Digital Ministry 43:25 – Navigating Theological and Methodological Challenges 50:06 – Final Thoughts and Encouragement for Church Leaders
Check out Jay's book, "Online Church Is Not The Answer: Beyond Just Streaming Church to Hybrid Disciple Making"
https://amzn.to/4g8E3u3
Jay's Blog: https://jaykranda.com/