5 Ways to Use Pinterest as a Ministry Tool

Posted on September 5, 2014

At first I didn’t really understand the Pinterest craze. What is all the fuss about having someplace to “pin” all my ideas? Even though some people say this is a tool predominately used by women, even my husband got into Pinterest before I did (he has over 1000 followers btw). It seemed like “one more thing” to manage and keep up with. I wasn’t interested in adding another piece of “social media pie” to my already full plate. But a few words of information and encouragement from my friend Barb Dittrich at Snappin Ministries opened up this whole new world for me.

 

In Barb’s words, Pinterest, much like Twitter, isn’t an “end destination”. It is a place for you to organize information (pictures, blogs, merchandise, websites, etc.) that you find on the internet. Better yet, it is a way for you to “Follow” the boards of people who are already doing a lot of this research. Pinterest has actually been – believe it or not – a time saver for me.

Here are a few ways that I have found Pinterest really helpful for ministry…

1. A Place to DreamPURE_infographic-05

It is a great way to organize dreams for your ministry. Dreaming of adding a sensory room but not ready to build it yet? Create a board for it and start searching. When you find diy instructions for something you know Mr. Whatsit (that guy in your church that can make anything) can build – pin it!

Pure Brochure_network2014-052. On-going Training

The internet is full of great blogs that can be passed along to volunteers but they don’t all need to be passed at once. So how are you going to keep track of that great blog about Easter and the one for Back-to-School? You guessed it – create a board and pin them as soon as you run across them. Then schedule a time weekly to share one of those blogs with your volunteer team.

3. Encouraging Your Team (and yourself)

Pure Brochure_network2014-04

There are tons of inspirational pictures, memes and scriptures that have been created to inspire. You may run across these on Facebook or Twitter and think, “I really need to hear that today.” Chances are someone else may need to hear it too. Pin those to a “Pin-spiration Board” and click “Share on Facebook” once a week. It may be just the boost a volunteer needs to see before your weekend event.

4. Craft-palooza

Pure Brochure_network2014-06No need to purchase a book on seasonal crafts when you’ve got Pinterest! You can search the site itself and find almost anything you could possibly mache, bead, paint or hot glue. Or search the internet and create your own pin. A board for Seasonal Crafts is a great resource for you AND for your volunteers to cruise. Giving them access to all of this research saves them time which allows them to be more creative in the classroom.

5. Tools, Tricks & Tips of the TradePURE_infographic-06

Sometimes you just need an idea for how to organize a closet or bookshelf. You may run across a pin that isn’t inherently about “ministry” but is the perfect way to organize the closet in room 201. Or maybe you stumble on a specific set of instructions for making picture schedules for each student? Pin that stuff! Even if you never have the time to get to that closet or make that schedule, maybe a volunteer following your ministry’s board will take the initiative to lend a hand.

pinterestlogo2

At PURE were using our boards to compel, inspire and equip churches and     people doing disability ministry in the following ways:

  • Books Worth Reading…thoughts we think are really worth your time
  • PURE Inspiration…inspirational thoughts and quotes for you to share
  • PURE Parenting…blogs and articles to encourage parents
  • Blogs & Podcasts…podcasts, vlogcasts & blogs where we find free training
  • Technology…useful apps and tech tools for PURE ministry
  • Respite Boards…tons of themed party boards with games, crafts, decorations, etc. to make a respite theme come alive
  • Supports for ____________….boards specifically designated to speak into certain diagnosis’ (Autism, Down Syndrome, Mental Health, etc.)
  • And many more…

This has been a great way to share information between PURE Ministry and our Network churches. Many thanks to Jennifer Burton, PURE Ministry Network Member from First Baptist Church of Alpharetta, for sharing pins and also mentioning that she would benefit from a Technology Board on our page.

So check out our boards and follow any that you think would be helpful for your ministry. And don’t forget to send your favorite pins our way! We’ll add them to our boards and continue inspiring, compelling and equipping one another.

Happy pinning!

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