The amount of data we have on people doubles every single year. But what does the rise of big data mean for local churches and even businesses.
Matt Engel talks about what big data is, how it’s everywhere, and how to use it to better pastor your church and reach your community.
Welcome to Episode 155 of the podcast.
Guest Links
Matt on LinkedIn
Email mengel@tangogroup.com
Links Mentioned
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3 Insights from This Episode
1. Big data is everywhere, like it or not, with no reason to slow down
Barring doing away with using modern technology all together, there’s little you can do to escape being tracked by big data. Corporations are spending major bucks to learn our preferences and patterns so they can market to us in ways we don’t recognize when ads are right in front of us.
So, what do we do with this? We can weigh the pros and cons of this phenomenon and debate over privacy issues, but no matter your opinion, it’s not going anywhere. In fact, it’s growing more rapidly than most minds can fathom – predicting our behaviors and catering to our “needs” when we don’t even realize it.
Matt Engel and others in his field are doing something about it by making great use of this information age. He’s offering ways churches can help their believers grow spiritually while reaching those who don’t yet know Jesus in their communities. Now that is a cool use of big data.
2. Check out Matt’s data picks and find great information right at your fingertips:
Find the largest, most advanced insight engine dedicated to the faith and family formation metadata platform and the key growth engagement platform at gloo.
Run fast, iterative tests around meta data within ministry with the Leadership Network.
The Association of Religious Data Archives offers overall baseline data.
Google’s focused site on demographics.
Hosted by the Nazarene and Presbyterian denominations, this site has reams of data for almost every community in the US.
Explore American charitable giving throughout the country using this interactive tool.
The home of the US Government’s open data.
3. Give back by using the insights your church and community have given you
The power of big data can only go so far on its own. You have to engage ways to make a positive impact with the information you’ve received. It comes down to first knowing your people and then getting to know them on a deeper level. When you’re asking questions or seeking feedback from your community, make sure you aren’t simply consuming the information. Do something good with it. Share your results and let them know the actions you plan to take to improve your ministry.
When you’re asking questions or seeking feedback from your community, make sure you aren’t simply consuming the information. Do something good with it. Share your results and let them know the actions you plan to take to improve your ministry.
Quotes from This Episode
CNLP 155: Matt Engel on the Rise of Big Data and How To Use it To Pastor Your Church and Reach Your Community Click To Tweet Information + Application x Relationship = Transformation. -Matt Engel Click To Tweet CNLP 155: Matt Engel on the Rise of Big Data and How To Use it To Pastor Your Church and Reach Your Community Click To TweetThe podcast releases every Tuesday morning.
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Next Episode: Whit and Willie George
Willie George founded Church on the Move 30 years ago. Recently, he transitioned the senior leadership of the church to his son, Whit. How do you follow a legend? How do you keep a large, widely respected church growing?
And how do you handle family tension? Carey interviewed Whit and Willie about all this and more live at the Seeds Conference.
Subscribe for free now and you won’t miss Episode 156.
