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If you are a busy ministry leader, you probably do not have time to learn about TikTok.

Or… at least, you don’t think learning TikTok is worth your limited time.

TikTok is complicated and who knows how long it will be around anyway?

We get that. However, while TikTok may be messy, loud, and jarring at times, we would argue that there is value in church leaders being on this latest social media craze. This guide is an offering of best practices and reminders to those leaders who are taking that plunge (even reluctantly!).

Young People are on TikTok

Yes, the rumors are true:
Your young people are on TikTok.

And by young, we mean 65% of users are under 25 years old and 85% of users are under 35 years old. So younger teens, yes, but also that young adult demographic that churches frequently complain of missing.

If you’ve ever had any conversations with your church about reaching young people better, this is a prime opportunity to do so.

No, your presence on TikTok may not send them running through your doors. But you will reach them where they are at – online.

And if they are not going to come through your doors anyway, wouldn’t you rather them hear the message of God’s love somewhere than nowhere?

TikTok Trends Run the Show

Unlike other social media platforms, TikTok focuses heavily on video trends. A trend is a concept for a video that someone starts and others copy until it goes viral.

Many trends on TikTok are connected with songs. Because TikTok is a less serious, more playful platforms, songs play a huge role in many of the videos that are made.

Whether you are logged onto TikTok as a church or as a ministry leader – don’t ignore these trends!

Consider how you can be creative and play into the current trending styles and songs as a ministry leader. To do so, you will actually need to scroll through some TikTok content. As you start creating, viewers will quickly realize that you are doing your best to take part in TikTok culture.

Due to TikTok’s algorithm, you are also much more likely to go viral than you might be on other platforms. This probably isn’t your goal as a church account, but this would certainly give you a bigger reach to spread your message.

There are many Christian pastors and leaders building up their platforms on TikTok. They are reaching hundreds of thousands of users (85% who are under 35 years old!) who interact with their content every day, asking questions, debating answers, and growing along the way.

If that’s not ministry, we aren’t sure what is.

It’s Okay to be Creative on TikTok

Yes, you may be representing Christ’s church or a holy office, but that does not mean you cannot have a little fun along the way.

Jesus was fully divine, but also fully human – remember that?

Embrace your humanity and share a laugh. In fact, you can even spark laughter in other users by embracing your goofy side.

Pastors, priests, and ministers all over TikTok are diving into the trends and making silly videos to both show their humanity and share God’s love. Even today, many people experience a sense of distance when interacting with clergy figures – their presence on TikTok helps to bridge that gap.

It’s Okay to be Church on TikTok

While you can be purposeful about being goofy on TikTok, it does not mean you need to abandon your mission as a church or church leader.

Think about all of the actions your church most values. Sharing the Good News, teaching, reading Scripture, serving, and sharing love. How can you do these things on TikTok? We bet you can find a way.

Perhaps it looks like re-purposing your sermon content to 15 second or 60 second bits. You might add a bit of engaging music or text to fit the platform, but the content itself is already written.

Don’t stop at your sermons – consider breaking down your lessons and Bible studies too. Read Scripture, share a song, answer questions. Some TikTok church leaders spend a large number of videos just on responding to hateful questions and comments, trying to shed some light on what it truly means to them to be a Child of God.

TikTok Time!

You can do so many of your regular pastoral acts through a screen. And people, particularly your young people, are right there waiting for it.

It may feel foreign to you, but to others your presence on TikTok will be a breath of fresh air.
It will feel like someone is finally speaking their language.
It may even change their lives.

Here’s to the healing, hope, and life of Jesus.
May it permeate TikTok and beyond.

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