Navigating the Digital Culture Shift for Church Outreach with Marc Estes and Kenny Jahng

The Church Tech Today Podcast with Kenny Jahng | AI for Church Leaders | Church Online

Show Notes

In this episode, host Kenny Jahng welcomes Marc from Visitor Reach to discuss the seismic shifts in digital culture impacting churches today. Mark shares data-driven insights into why the traditional ministry model is falling short, and how churches can adapt by embracing new forms of digital touchpoints and relational engagement. Listeners will come away with practical strategies for leveraging technology—from texting to tap technology—for both outreach and follow-up, all aimed at creating real connections with people in their communities. If you want your church to thrive in a rapidly changing cultural landscape, this conversation is essential listening.

• Why digital contact points have expanded from 3–5 to 12–15 before someone visits church in person
• How to shift your ministry model from a “come to us” to a “go to them” approach, especially in digital spaces
• Ways to use two-way texting and real-time conversations to reach people when and where they’re most open
• How tap technology can streamline visitor connection, giving, and follow-up on-site
• The critical impact of a church’s kids ministry experience on family attendance and retention
• How pastors and leaders can shift staff culture to prioritize outreach and digital engagement, not just internal programs
• Practical steps to personalize, automate, and track digital engagement efforts for meaningful results

Key Takeaways:

“You have people now seven and a quarter hours a day on digital devices, and that's where they wanna talk. That's where they're living.” — Marc Estes

“We want people to come to my place, my terms, my people, my culture, my language, and that just isn't working anymore. So we have to be thinking, how do we go to where they're at?” — Marc Estes

“If we're too busy doing church to be the church, we have some real hard conversations we need to have, first of all, with the lord and then with our team.” — Marc Estes

“For our websites, we're thinking mobile first, but we're not thinking about our whole ministry model to be mobile first.” — Kenny Jahng

“Technology isn't something that you delegate…when it comes to communication technology and assimilation technology, we have to realize that these are significant tools that we should, make a priority in our lives and also give time in our meetings, our staff meetings, and when we're meeting with people to just talk about it.” — Marc Estes

Links & Resources Mentioned:

https://visitorreach.com

https://visitorapp.com

The Church Tech Today Podcast helps pastors, church staff, and ministry leaders navigate the intersection of faith and technology with confidence. Hosted by Kenny Jahng and brought to you by www.FrontDoor.church.