EASTER 2020
On Easter our church will not be able to gather in-person as we traditionally do. This is heartbreaking because COVID-19 has many people looking for answers to life’s deepest questions and wondering if there is any hope. This, more than ever, is the time for the church to rise up and proclaim the message of the resurrection. But how can we do this when we are not allowed to meet?
We believe this obstacle is actually an opportunity — an opportunity to share the gospel with far more people than we typically would on Easter and to empower you to be the primary heralds of that good news.
Imagine….
We help prepare you to share your testimony, then, on the week leading up to Easter, we all post our sixty-second videos on social media with the hashtag #JesusChangedMyLife along with the Ringgold Church Handle — @RinggoldChurch. In these videos, we share how Jesus changed our lives and invite others to experience life change by joining you for Ringgold’s Online Easter service. Just think… people all over our different communities, quarantined in their homes and scrolling on their phones, would see a flood of stories about how the resurrected Jesus brings purpose and meaning and hope. One click on the hashtag and they could see hundreds of folks all across our different communities talk about how Jesus changed their lives!
Think about the implications.
Rather than each of us inviting one person to an Easter service, we could each proclaim the gospel to hundreds of non-Christian friends and co-workers. It could be the most evangelistic day! And the best part is that every one of us are the ones proclaiming the gospel. Furthermore, this will be a beautiful display of the unity of the church; it’s not one church’s “thing.” Rather, it puts all the emphasis on Jesus.
What's Your Story?
We’ve all heard the gospel called good news. But another way to translate that term is “the good story.”
Every one of us has a unique story to tell. One no one else can tell. Yet the hero in all those stories is the same — Jesus!
Click below for a story-sharing guide created to help you think about the shape of your personal story and how Jesus changed it.
Post April 6-12
Then post your story any time April 6-12 with the #JesusChangedMyLife hashtag and your church’s handle to connect viewers to a local church (i.e. #JesusChangedMyLife @RinggoldChurch). As soon as they click on the handle, they will go to a page inviting them to an online Easter service where they will hear the gospel clearly preached, learn how to respond with faith, and find how to get connected with a local church.
Sample Stories
Watch Nathan and Charity’s one-minute testimonies below to get a sense of what it could be like to tell your own story.
Selfie Guide
Here are some best practices for shooting yourself on your phone.
Simple, clean backdrops are ideal – Avoid distracting backgrounds or crowed spaces.
In natural light – Avoid backlighting. The main source of light should be facing you, not behind you.
In artificial light – Avoid standing directly below an overhead light or anything else that creates hard shadows. Consider using a stand lamp several feet away for good indirect light.
Shoot eye level – Shooting from above or below will make you seem diminished or imposing. Eye level communicates accessibility.
Clean your camera – Make sure the lens of your selfie camera is clean before shooting.
Shoot portrait – Align your phone vertically.
We’ve created a guide with examples that you can access here: