117 episodes

The Church Digital Sidekick Podcast is part of the Church Digital Podcast Network. This podcast focuses on Social and Digital Ministry Strategy. Each week Tom Pounder, the Host, interviews ministers who are applying digital and social media strategies to their ministries.

TCD Sidekick TCD Sidekick

    • Religion & Spirituality
    • 4.2 • 13 Ratings

The Church Digital Sidekick Podcast is part of the Church Digital Podcast Network. This podcast focuses on Social and Digital Ministry Strategy. Each week Tom Pounder, the Host, interviews ministers who are applying digital and social media strategies to their ministries.

    Church Communications Trends for 2024

    Church Communications Trends for 2024

    Communications changes regularly, especially in this digital world we live in. That is why it is important to be in the know of what is happening and what is trending. That is why Mark MacDonald is on the podcast. 

    Mark is a Church Branding Strategist for BeKnownForSomething.com, a national Church Communication and branding agency, coaching Pastors and 1000s of Churches to become relevant in their community. He is also a best selling Author and has written over 800 magazine articles. 

    While Tom and Mark talk about a few of the trends in Church Communications, you can read the rest of his trends here. 

    Subscribe: ⁠Apple Podcast⁠ | ⁠Android⁠ | ⁠Spotify⁠ | ⁠RSS⁠  

    ACTION STEPS:


    What do you think? What questions do you have?  Share your thoughts with us below or on social media




    Mark is a great resource. He’s on Twitter and has a great website with resources and great insights. 


    Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group. To learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers as we share resources, tools and digital trends to see how we can reach more people for Christ with these tools.


    If you are in Digital Ministry, be part of the Digital Ministry Twitter Community. We share daily encouragement and support to help you do ministry in this online world more effectively. Click here to be part of it.


    Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop Weekly Email. Each Friday get a fresh email with content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics) and be encouraged in how you can minister more effectively in today's world. 


    If you have an idea for a topic or a person for Tom to interview for a future podcast episode, email here.

    • 40 min
    One Way to Serve Your Online Community

    One Way to Serve Your Online Community

    There are a lot of ways you can serve your online community. In today's episode, Sly King comes on and shares about how his Church is planning on serving their online community (and in-person community, as well). And, how that is leading to some great discipleship opportunities. 

    Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Android | Spotify | RSS 

    ACTION STEPS:


    Share your thoughts! What do you think? What other ways you can serve your online community? Share below or on social media by connecting with Tom.
    Sly is an amazing resource for Online Ministry! To connect with him, check him out on Twitter or email him.
    Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers.
    Looking for Digital Ministry Coaching? The Church Digital is offering a variety of digital, phygital or metaverse ministry coaching and cohorts. Just click here.
    If you are in Digital Ministry, be part of the Digital Ministry Twitter Community. We share daily encouragement and support to help you do ministry in this online world more effectively. Click here to be part of it.
    Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop Weekly Email. Each Friday get a fresh email with content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics) and be encouraged in how you can minister more effectively in today's world.
    If you have an idea for a topic or a person for Tom to interview for a future podcast episode, email tom@thechurch.digital

    • 39 min
    How to Run a Meeting Where Ideas Flow

    How to Run a Meeting Where Ideas Flow

    As much as people don't like them, meetings have to happen. While people don't often like them, there are creative ways you can run a meeting that is positive and yields lots of great ideas. But how can you do that? Ben Stapley joins the podcast today to talk about it. 

    Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Android | Spotify | RSS

     ACTION STEPS: 


    Share your thoughts! What are some other ways you can run meetings that yield lots of ideas? Share below or on Twitter by reaching out to Tom.
    If you want to connect with Ben, check him out on Facebook or on Twitter. You can also check out his website as well. He is very active on social media so definitely him up if you have a question.
    Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers.
    Looking for Digital Ministry Coaching? The Church Digital is offering a variety of digital, phygital or metaverse ministry coaching and cohorts. Just click here.
    If you are in Digital Ministry, be part of the Digital Ministry Twitter Community. We share daily encouragement and support to help you do ministry in this online world more effectively. Click here to be part of it.
    Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop Weekly Email. Each Friday get a fresh email with content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics) and be encouraged in how you can minister more effectively in today's world.
    If you have an idea for a topic or a person for Tom to interview for a future podcast episode, email tom@thechurch.digital

    • 32 min
    How to Get Out of a Funk

    How to Get Out of a Funk

    Whether it is a work related one or personal one, we have all been in funks before. And while we have all been in them, it doens't mean we have to stay in them. Today, Cory Sullivan joins me on the podcast to talk about some very practical steps you can take to get out of that funk.

    Subscribe: ⁠Apple Podcast⁠ | ⁠Android⁠ | ⁠Spotify⁠ | ⁠RSS 

    ACTION STEPS:


    Share your thoughts! What do you do when you are in funk? How do you get out of it? Share below or on Twitter by reaching out to Tom.
    Cory is a great resource and you can find him blogging here.  You can also follow him on Instagram here. He's a great resource so hit him up and pick his brain.
    Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group. To learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers as we share resources, tools and digital trends to see how we can reach more people for Christ with these tools.
    Looking for Digital Ministry Coaching? The Church Digital is offering a variety of digital, phygital or metaverse ministry coaching and cohorts. Just click here. 
    If you are in Digital Ministry, be part of the Digital Ministry Twitter Community. We share daily encouragement and support to help you do ministry in this online world more effectively. Click here to be part of it.
    Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop Weekly Email. Each Friday get a fresh email with content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics) and be encouraged in how you can minister more effectively in today's world.
    If you have an idea for a topic or a person for Tom to interview for a future podcast episode, email tom@thechurch.digital

    • 23 min
    How to Reach More People for Christ through Podcasts

    How to Reach More People for Christ through Podcasts

    Podcasts are a very popular form of media that people like to consume. And, there are a wide variety of podcasts out there. But, when it comes to Churches, the main podcast out there are sermon audio. That is there podcast. Well, today, Justin Herman, the Online Pastor from Mariner's Church in California comes on the podcast to talk about what they are doing, but also to offer other ideas for Churches to podcast about. 

    Subscribe: ⁠Apple Podcast⁠ | ⁠Android⁠ | ⁠Spotify⁠ | ⁠RSS⁠ 

    ACTION STEPS:


    Share your thoughts! What are some other podcast ideas are out there for Churches to do? Share below or on Twitter/X by reaching out to Tom.
    If you want to connect with Justin, there are a few places you can connect with him.

    Digital Coffee
    Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter
    Get help with Your Church's Podcast with Podcast Cool



    Join the Digital Bootcamp Facebook Group to learn how to be more effective using digital tools for your ministry join the group. This is for ALL Ministers, not just Church Communicators or Social Media Managers.
    If you are in Digital Ministry, be part of the Digital Ministry Twitter Community. We share daily encouragement and support to help you do ministry in this online world more effectively. Click here to be part of it.
    Sign up for the Sidekick Scoop Weekly Email. Each Friday get a fresh email with content from all over the ministry world (especially online and student ministry topics) and be encouraged in how you can minister more effectively in today's world.
    If you have an idea for a topic or a person for Tom to interview for a future podcast episode, email tom@thechurch.digital.

    • 49 min
    6 to Seek Out in 2024

    6 to Seek Out in 2024

    Meeting new people and learning from others is something that I really enjoy doing. That is why, ever since 2016, I have been highlighting some of those people each year that I think you should follow and learn from. They are people/groups I've learned a lot from and highly recommend. You can find the previous years here: 2016, 2017 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023

    In order to make my list, the criteria is two-fold. For starters, these people have to be involved in Church Communications, Social Media, Student or Family Ministry or Online Ministry. Secondly, they also need to be sharing great content on a consistent basis. And that's it. It's pretty simple but those are the important aspects of my criteria. 

    So, in NO particular order, here are the top 6 to seek out in 2024: 


    Peter Von Kahle. Peter is a videographer working for numerous ministries and Churches for video and marketing support.. He’s on Twitter/X, has an awesome blog with tons of great insights and encouragement. Here my conversation with him about Premiere Pro Tips here.
    Kenny Jahng. When it comes to technology, Kenny is everywhere. He has a passion to help others in ministry learn about it and how it applies to your ministry context. He's been in the Online Ministry world for a number of years, serving as an Online Pastor at Liquid Church for a number of years. He is the Director of AI NEXT for Exponential and runs AI for Church Leaders and Church Tech Today. You can also find him on Twitter/X.
    Vernette John-Joiles. Vernette is the founder of Digging into Digital where her goal is to "upskill Christian leaders into the digital age." She offers great webinars, training sessions and consulting for Churches and ministry leaders to help them become more proficient in the digital world. In addition to her website, you can find her on Facebook. Here my conversation with her here.
    Aaron Magnuson. Currently, Aaron is working at Pray.com and has been for the past year and a half. However, he started doing online ministry for 10 years serving as an Online Pastor for 10 years at Churches in Oregon, California and Texas. He is also the co-host of the Social Media Church Podcast with Nils Smith and DK Hammonds. He's been doing that for the past 5 years. You can find him on Twitter/X. You can hear my conversation with him here.
    Barbara Carneiro. Barbara is a Church Communications specialist who is the Founder & Chief Mentor at Accidental Church Communicator and started the Church Communicator Conference. She is an amazing communicator and strategist that has a humble heart and a desire to help Churches communicate better both to their local and online communities. You can hear my conversation with her here.
    Dustin Stout. Dustin has a ministry background but is an entrepreneur, working in digital and online world for a number of years..Currently, he is working on Magai which he started. It's goal is transform the way you generate and refine content by using "Magai’s revolutionary AI tools and intuitive chat interface." It's a great program. Follow him on Twitter/X. You can hear my conversation with him here.

    • 12 min

Customer Reviews

4.2 out of 5
13 Ratings

13 Ratings

CoreyRayJones☕️ ,

A Personal Investment

Take the time to invest in yourself through subscribing to the YM Sidekick Podcast!

hskrzfan34 ,

I'm a fan...

...of my man, Tom Pounder. Great practical insight into ministry topics. His practical thoughts especially on the digital side of ministry, is really great. If you're into student or online ministry, you should definitely subscribe to YM Sidekick Podcast.

Seth The Muse ,

THE source of wisdom for Youth pastors

If you are in youth ministry, this is a podcast you cannot afford to miss. With practical advice from almost 2 decades of experience, Tom knows how to guide you to becoming more successful in reaching teenagers and parents as well as running a student ministry of any size with less stress. - Seth Muse, host of The Seminary of Hard Knocks Podcast

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