What’s happening in your church that deserves to be seen? Laura Heikes highlights a simple yet powerful way to expand your church’s reach—through pictures and videos. Every ministry is already doing meaningful work, but too often, only the direct participants see it. By capturing and sharing these moments, churches can increase engagement, inspire generosity, and change how the community perceives their mission. Here’s how to start sharing your story.
You can multiply your impact by connecting with more people in your congregation and community with one simple change—take and share pictures and videos.
One of the perennial struggles ministries face is communication. How many times must you announce something before it clicks? How can a ministry have been going for years, but nobody seems to know about it? How do you reach the people who drive past your church daily, but know nothing more than your Sunday worship times?
Every church is doing something amazing—but often, only the participants know about it. You can change that! Pictures and videos let the whole community see the story unfold. Taking and sharing pictures and videos can increase participation, inspire generosity, and change community perceptions.
You don’t even need to create a new ministry or program! Take pictures of what you’re already doing and share that. You’ll be amazed at how this simple practice multiplies the impact and connection to ministry. Here’s how to get started:
Ask the question.
What’s happening this week? And who will take a few pictures? Ideas include:
- A children’s Sunday School lesson
- Tuesday night Bible study
- Food pantry packing or distribution
- Prayer shawl knitting
- Office volunteers counting offering or folding bulletins
Each week, talk about which ministries are happening and who will take pictures. No need to recruit or hire a professional. Phones make it possible for almost anyone to be a photographer.
Take note of the folks in your congregation who are already on social media and post nice, appealing pictures (hint- young people are often amazing picture-takers). Ask them to help! “Will you be the photographer at _____?” is a great start. If they need suggestions, have them take a few pictures of the crowd and space, then focus on individuals, expressions, and interactions. You can always crop and edit to make photos pop.
Once you are getting in the habit of taking and sharing pictures of everyday ministry, look to your big events, projects, and worship services. Get in the habit of asking, “Who will take pictures?” There is nothing worse than a full, joy-filled Easter service where no one thought to take a picture until it was too late.
Share, share, share.
People love to see themselves in pictures! Social media is the place to start. Find out which platforms your church and community utilize most. If you’re working to connect with a different demographic or generation, know which platform that group prefers. Set up sites for your church or ministry on those platforms, let your community know so they can follow you. Make sure you have permission from those in the photos, especially for photos of children (media release forms can help streamline this process), then share, tagging members who follow you. Shoot for 1-2 posts a week about events, outreach, studies, and programs.
These aren’t announcements or cries for help. They are celebrations of the ministry that’s being done (these posts will be invitation enough, promise!). Start to notice which pictures and methods (video, reel, interview, photos) receive the most positive interaction (likes, shares, comments, tags). Learn and lean into what connects and engages. When you see posts from volunteers or staff in your church, comment, like, and share to encourage others to keep up the good work!
Don’t toss those pictures, use them again!
Establish a place to share and store your pictures. Free options like Google Drive, Google Photos, and Dropbox allow users to share freely. Apps like Slack, used by many church staffs, allow you to create a channel for “pictures.” Simple storage on the church computer also works. Whatever storage method you choose, ask those who upload photos to put a descriptive caption with the picture (i.e. Our youth packing food for 140 families who come to the food pantry. This year’s ramp-building project gave two families access to their homes, or Tuesday morning Men’s Bible Study group). Captions provide a quick way for leadership to share on social media, in a newsletter, or in a stewardship letter without a lot of extra legwork.
Don’t stop at social media. Share pictures on Sunday in worship (countdown video, offering celebration, postlude video, sermon illustrations). Photos from the previous years can also be added to publicity ahead of this year’s events and programs. Use your best photos on your website, in the newsletter, and mailings. Just a few pictures added to someone’s giving statement or your yearly stewardship letters show the impact giving has. Finally, consider inexpensively printing your best pictures (I like online sites like Mixtiles and Mpix.) to add pops of color and life to your church walls.
You don’t need a new program—just start capturing the ministry that’s already happening. This week, ask yourself: What’s happening in our church that deserves to be seen? Then, grab your phone and start sharing the story. You’ll be amazed at how it multiplies impact and connection.
Related Resources
- Healing Fractured Communities, edited by F. Douglas Powe Jr. and Jessica L. Anschutz
- The Stone Soup Recipe for Vital Small Church Worship by Theresa Stewart
- Picture Your Community Impact by Cesie Delve Scheuermann
- Reimaging Stewardship Season by Laura Heikes and Lewis Reader
If you would like to share this article in your newsletter or other publication, please review our reprint guidelines.
