We’re honored to have Nils Smith serve as our guest for the first of our monthly Inclusion Fusion Disability Ministry Web Symposia, on Thursday, March 6. Nils will be engaging in a discussion on the topic “Is Online Christian Community Really Community?”

Nils is the Web Pastor at Community Bible Church in San Antonio, TX and author of The Social Media Guide for Ministry., available through Group Publishing and in both hard copy and e-book for the Kindle at Amazon.

CBC is one of the largest and fastest growing churches in the United States.  As Web Pastor, Nils oversees CBC’s web presence including CommunityBible.com, CBC’s mobile app, Online Church, and all future online ministry initiatives.  He launched the ministry of Online Church reaching over 35,000 people each week from more than 400 different cities around the world.  Online Church offers online worship services in both English and Spanish as well as Online LifeGroups and has a growing Facebook Community of over 420,000 people.

In addition to Nils’ ministry at CBC, he serves as a consultant to Life Without Limbs, helping to expand the online presence of the ministry of Nick Vujicic. Nils has also been serving as a consultant to Key Ministry since last Fall, advising our Board and staff on applications of social media and online technology to ministry with families impacted by disability.

In Nils’ interview, he plans to address a variety of topics, including, but not limited to…

• How he came to pastor an online church campus.

• If online church can be “real church?”

• Concerns that online ministry has the potential for reinforcing the social isolation experienced by many families of kids and teens with disabilities. 

• Does online ministry compete with more traditional church experiences?

• His experience with online groups. 

• Whether people experience spiritual growth online?

• How people connecting through online church use their gifts and talents in serving others? 

• Can authentic Christian relationships develop online?

• How online church campuses could minister to families impacted by disability.

• How churches may use their existing online resources to minister to families of kids with disabilities.

We’ll be announcing opportunities for all of you to join us online to interact with Nils and share your questions and comments as part of the Web Symposium.

We look forward to you joining us on March 6 for a very thought-provoking discussion with Nils as we relaunch Inclusion Fusion!

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In his book, Social Media Guide For Ministry, Nils Smith presents an excellent overview of applications for social media in ministry. Nils’ book is an excellent resource for church or parachurch teams and Board members considering social media as a tool for expanding the impact of their ministry. It’s an easy read in an hour or less and provides just the right amount of information most leaders need to move forward. Available through Group Publishing and at Amazon.