4 Reasons to Use Social Media Ads to Grow Your Church

March 15, 2022

Thanks to social media, connecting to one another has been a lot easier. For churches, social media has paved the way to communicate closely with their members and even advertise the church's activities and plans to the audience. In fact, such advertisement opportunities have allowed many churches to grow, just as how social media platforms have allowed many other organizations to grow.

That said, is your church still not using social media ads? If so, you're missing out! Here are the reasons your church should start using social media ads:

1. Expand Your Reach To More People

It is commonly known that the non-Christian population is growing. As a result, it will be harder for churches to reach more people if they don't use social media ads. Despite the fact that many people are already receptive to Christianity, many people are still not receptive to it as a religion. They may be receptive to small talks about religion, but you can't expect them to visit your church just because you told them to.

To reach more people, you have to get them to see your church's presence in the virtual world. And the best way to do so is through social media ads.

2. Improve Your Likes, Followers, and Shares

It's pretty hard to get your audience to engage with your content if you don't have a sizable audience. And if you have a small audience, it will be harder for you to attract more audience. This is why it is very important for your church to increase its likes, shares, and followers through social media. And social media ads, of course, are the best way to do so.

Just make sure to create strategic ads that will appeal to your audience and make them feel engaged with your church.

3. Create Recurring Content

Creating content that will catch your audience's attention is tough. You need to come up with creative yet engaging content to get your audience to like, share, and comment.

Instead of thinking of content every now and then, you can create and use social media ads to create content for yourself. You can come up with ads about your church's activities, services, and events. And by using social media ads, you create small content that can be useful for your audience. Over time, you will be able to build a large library of content that you can use for your social media account, for your website, or for your newsletter.

Don't just use social media ads as a one-time deal, make it a habit!

4. Build Your Brand

After using social media ads, you will be able to generate a significant amount of targeted content. And these targeted content will be about your church's activities, services, and events. You can use these images or videos for your website, for your email marketing, or for your newsletters.

The truth is, the more people see your brand or your church's name, the more they will believe that your church is real. And this will lead to more people getting involved with your church.

Conclusion

There are so many other reasons to have social media ads for your church, and these are just some of them. Regardless, you cannot go wrong using social media for your church, and utilizing social media ads is a sure-fire way to not only maintain your audience's engagement but to improve the experience they get to enjoy from you further and grow your church.

Faithworks Marketing offers digital marketing services for churches and nonprofits. If you are looking for social media management services in the US to capitalize on social media for your church, work with us today!

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For many pastors today, ministry is both a calling and a financial challenge. As the cost of living rises and church salaries remain modest, more pastors are turning to side hustles and creative income streams to provide for their families. This trend is shaping what many believe will define the next generation of church leaders: bivocational ministry. In a recent episode of The Pro Church Marketing Podcast, host Luke Clayton sat down with Jono Long , founder of Faithworks Marketing, to discuss their parallel journeys from ministry to entrepreneurship. Together, they shared practical strategies for church marketing, candid lessons from business, and encouragement for pastors who feel caught between calling and provision. Ministry Meets Entrepreneurship Both Luke and Jono began in full-time ministry, but financial realities forced them to adapt. Jono, a youth pastor in Georgia, found himself with five kids, a wife at home, and a salary that wasn’t enough to make ends meet. Out of necessity, he turned to social media management for local businesses. What started as a $300-a-month side hustle eventually grew into Faithworks Marketing , an agency serving churches across the country. Luke’s path was similar but marked by burnout. As a communications director at a large church and school, he was responsible for everything creative—websites, graphics, video, and media. With no budget to outsource and a workload that never stopped, he eventually hit a breaking point. Stepping away cold turkey, he launched his own creative business, Increase Creative , which now helps churches with websites, branding, and podcast production. Their stories reflect a growing trend: ministry leaders are often entrepreneurs at heart, using their creativity and problem-solving skills to build businesses that support both their families and the church. Why Bivocational Ministry is the New Normal While many pastors once saw bivocational work as a backup plan, it is quickly becoming the new reality. Church salaries often fall short of providing financial stability, especially for families. Meanwhile, the American cost of living continues to rise. This creates tension for pastors who want to devote themselves fully to ministry but also need to provide for their loved ones. Luke and Jono both noted the guilt factor many pastors feel when pursuing side income, as if it means they are less committed to the church. In reality, bivocational work can be freeing. As Jono shared, when pastors are less dependent on their church paycheck, they can lead with boldness, making decisions based on conviction rather than fear of losing their job. Unlocking the Power of Google Ad Grants One of the most practical tools for churches that Jono highlighted is the Google Ad Grant , which gives qualifying nonprofits up to $10,000 per month in free advertising . Many churches don’t take advantage of it, or they try but see little success. The most common reason: their websites lack content. “Church websites often have only a few words, a mission statement, and service times,” Jono explained. “That will never work for the grant.” Practical tips for churches to maximize the grant include: Create content-rich pages : Google rewards sites with valuable answers to common questions. Leverage sermons : Transcribe and summarize sermons into blog posts to boost SEO. Target felt needs : Ads about prayer, anxiety, or salvation resonate deeply with people searching online. By building a content-driven website and strategically using the grant, churches can expand their reach far beyond Sunday morning. SEO, AI, and the Future of Church Marketing The digital landscape is changing fast. With Google’s AI Overviews now answering many search queries directly, fewer people are clicking through to websites. For churches, this makes content strategy more important than ever . “Good content still wins,” Jono said. “Whether AI-generated or human-written, Google rewards sites that provide thoughtful, helpful answers.” For churches, this means focusing on practical, biblical content that speaks to real needs in their community. Lessons from the Trenches of Business Both Luke and Jono were quick to admit their mistakes. For Luke, the biggest was hiring too fast, taking on employees before his business could sustain them. For Jono, it was diving into websites and SEO without fully understanding them, learning through trial and error. Their honesty underscores an important truth: entrepreneurship is messy. But both emphasized that failure is part of the journey, and perseverance often matters more than a perfect business plan. Creative Side Hustles for Pastors Pastors and ministry leaders often have more marketable skills than they realize. Jono shared how he started a DJ and photo booth company, hiring youth pastors and worship leaders to serve at weddings and proms. Their stage presence, comfort with sound systems, and ability to engage people made them natural fits. Luke, meanwhile, has leaned into podcast production, helping churches launch and manage their shows. Both are examples of how ministry skills—communication, leadership, problem-solving—translate into entrepreneurial ventures. From web design to coaching, from content creation to event services, pastors have opportunities to create side income streams that complement their ministry instead of distracting from it. The conversation between Luke and Jono highlights a new reality: bivocational ministry is here to stay. Pastors no longer have to choose between serving the church and providing for their families. By embracing entrepreneurship, leveraging tools like Google Ad Grants, and using their transferable skills, pastors can thrive both spiritually and financially. The message is clear: you can do ministry, build a business, and serve God faithfully—all at the same time. 🔗 Learn more about Faithworks Marketing: https://faithworksmarketing.com 🔗 Connect with Luke Clayton and explore coaching for bivocational pastors: https://jlukeclayton.com/