The Hashtag is a Ministry Tool That Works
Posted February 3, 2014 – How I Used One Hashtag to Connect Youth Across a Continent
Obtaining social information is now as easy as tapping a hashtag or #. If you were watching Super Bowl XLVIII years ago, you didn’t need to search Google for real-time updates. You just had to grab your phone, open Instagram or Twitter, and search #superbowl. Instantly, you were immersed in a global conversation.
The hashtag has become more than a symbol. It’s a link to something bigger, more social, more interactive. Even Facebook had to cave and implement hashtags years ago. That simple # has become a vital tool for communication, connection, and ministry.
Hashtag as a Ministry Tool for Real-Time Connection
Just yesterday (well, at least when I first wrote this post), I had the pleasure of hanging out with the Calgary Young Life crew at their Super Bowl Party hosted at Bow Valley Christian Church. While the game was great, what caught my attention was the social interaction happening on the hashtag #ylsuperbowl. Teens were sharing moments, commenting on plays, and even entering trivia contests using that hashtag.
At one point, I noticed a Young Life group from Boston using the same hashtag and appearing in our feed. That’s when it hit me. In my youth group days, there was no way we’d connect with a group in Boston during a live event in Calgary. But this generation? One hashtag did that.
Harnessing the Hashtag for Events and Outreach
Now, I’m working on a hip-hop outreach event called Hip-Hop On 64th, featuring a couple of local youth MCs: The Blue and Notebook. We’re also hoping to host breakdance and beatbox competitions. It’ll be a solid night, but it’ll only take off if we can generate some real-time buzz. So, we’re rallying behind the hashtag #hiphopon64th.
to spread the word before, during, and after the event.
Just like that Super Bowl party, I’m hoping we’ll connect with people we never expected to reach. Maybe even from another city or country. That’s the power of using a hashtag as a ministry tool.
Using Hashtags in Ministry with Purpose
Ministry is always about connection; connecting people and ultimately to Christ. The Apostle Paul modelled cultural engagement in Athens:
“I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22, ESV).
Today, hashtags are part of our culture. If I can use one to draw someone into a youth event or to spark a gospel conversation, I’m in. We live in a digital age where the Great Commission can go further and faster than ever. Why not use every tool available, even if it’s just a #?
How About You?
How have hashtags worked in your ministry or church events? Which ones helped connect your people or reach new ones? I’d love to hear your story.
Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts
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What’s one ministry event where a hashtag helped build engagement?
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Have you ever connected with someone new through a shared hashtag?
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How could your church better leverage hashtags for outreach?
