Denzel Washington in Remember the Titans as Coach Herman Boone tells his backup quarterback Ronnie Bass this as he enters the game for injured player Jerry Rev:
When I was fifteen-years-old, I lost my mother and my father in the same month, Ronnie, same month. twelve brothers and sisters I was the youngest one of them, now I wasn’t ready either, but they needed me. Your team needs you tonight.
Remember the Titans
That scene typifies what most pastors and leaders have faced in this season of crisis. This last week alone brought peaceful protests, riots by anarchists, curfews, and a reckoning conversation about race in America. Not to mention, we find ourselves in a shutdown due to a pandemic.
Our response to a crisis has changed overnight. The people we serve and lead will look to us to respond in real-time. Digitally responding has ushered a new form of presence. Amid scrolling through newsfeeds, people are not just inviting leaders to respond but will look to leaders to minister in this season.
You might find yourself new to social media. One of the most meaningful acts of ministry and leadership in this season, and the future becomes going live on Facebook or Instagram.
As we walk through seasons of crisis like this, I want to offer you a plan on going live on social media in a crisis:
Check your setup.
If you have not done live videos yet, I would encourage you to start learning. Find a quiet place. Make sure the light faces you as you talk into the camera. There are various resources on this, but the main thing is you do not want to fix your setup while you try to speak.
Acknowledge what happened.
Take one to two sentences to describe the news. You do not need to go into detail, but remember, some viewers may not know what happened. It also helps to type a short description of the video to help people understand why you are going live.
Share how you find out.
Going live on social media is about creating a connection. Sharing how you found out about a crisis invites the viewers to see how you will process. It builds a bridge at the moment.
Describe how you feel along with what others might feel.
Your vulnerability will invite the people you lead to process. Without naming our feelings, we can begin to react. When you share your feelings about a crisis, it will help the people you lead to discover their own. You will create a necessary pause for the people you lead and serve.
Connect to the Bible.
I’m speaking directly to pastors here, but this could connect with other leaders too. Connecting with the Bible more often than naught brings us to lament and grief. It’s not about bringing a cliché verse to dismiss reality. As leaders, our role is to connect faith to real life, which is good and bad. You have the opportunity to help people see Jesus in these moments.
Close with a prayer.
We all need prayer. It redirects our attention to Jesus. It brings another necessary pause. I firmly believe that in moments of crisis that prayers bring us together. Your prayers become the prayers of the people you serve.
Whether you work for a church, non-profit, or another organization, your response to a crisis will become even more increasingly important. Take a moment this week to check-in with the people you serve. See what feedback they would provide you for communicating in a crisis.
You may not feel ready like Ronnie Bass, but in seasons like this one, people are looking to you to be present in new ways during a crisis.
Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash