If Paul had a smartphone, his letters would be push notifications.

• “Media is a gift to the church—when we use it to shepherd, not to show off.”

“Your people are already online. The mission is to meet them there and walk with them home.”
Episode 1 of Connected Faith is a rallying cry for pastors and church teams who know the Gospel deserves a bigger microphone than Sunday at 10 a.m. Join Bill Snider and Dr. Layne McDonald as they show how phones, livestreams, podcasts, and short-form video can become real missionary tools—not vanity projects. This isn’t about hype. It’s about healing, discipleship, and practical next steps your volunteers can implement this week.

Who this episode is for

• Pastors who feel the weight of reaching their city (and diaspora) beyond the building.

• Communications/creative teams who want clarity on what to post, why it matters, and how to measure fruit.

• Volunteers who love Jesus, love people, and want a simple plan that actually works.

What you’ll learn

• Why authentic testimony beats polished perfection—especially for Gen Z/Gen Alpha.

• A framework to treat media as mission, not “marketing”: message → medium → moment → ministry next step.

• How to translate the Great Commission into a weekly content rhythm (without burning out your team).

• Practical on-ramps: micro-testimonies, short scripture meditations, prayer prompts, and “serve with us” invites that actually convert.

• A simple scoreboard for success: saves, shares, comments, prayer requests, and discipleship next steps (not just views).

Episode flow / Chapters:
00:00 — Why Connected Faith exists: media as missionary, not megaphone
03:00 — From film sets to the pulpit: using story to serve the church
08:00 — Theology of platforms: “by all means” in a digital age
12:00 — The smartphone in their hand: proximity, privacy, and pastoral care
16:00 — What to post: testimonies > promos; presence > polish
20:00 — Metrics that matter: measuring discipleship, not vanity
24:00 — Your first 7-day plan (copy it and go)
27:00 — Prayer and commissioning for creators and ministers

7-Day Starter Plan (copy/paste for your team)

• Day 1 (Sun): 30–60s sermon moment + 1 sentence “next step.”

• Day 2 (Mon): Micro-testimony (member story, 45–90s).

• Day 3 (Tue): Scripture + prayer (30–45s) with on-screen prompt.

• Day 4 (Wed): Ministry spotlight (who we serve, how to join).

• Day 5 (Thu): Pastor’s voice note (shepherding thought, raw & real).

• Day 6 (Fri): Volunteer highlight (joy, purpose, invitation).

• Day 7 (Sat): Come & see (service invite + expectation + kids info).

Call to action
If this helped, share it with one pastor or creative you love—and tell them, “Let’s build an online missionary campus together.”

Learn more at www.apmedia.org/connected-faith-podcast