We had the good fortune of connecting with Christen Kinard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christen, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have been in marketing and communications for well over a decade. And both of my parents are also ministers, so I know the American Church well.

When it became clear that few communications experts were coming alongside churches as they figured out how to do digital ministry, I decided to quit my job and launch Digital Congregations.

In essence, Digital Congregations sits at the intersection of my desire to do meaningful work, my belief in the importance of faith communities, and my talents and experience.

What should our readers know about your business?
Regarding what sets me apart:

I am not the communications consultant for the mega church. That’s not the church I know; it’s not the church to which I feel called. I teach small- to medium-sized churches across the country how to connect online with people within their congregations and beyond in meaningful ways.

I also am pretty adamant that churches should not merely engage online to “market” their ministries, but to actually do ministry. When someone encounters a church online, it matters far less what kinds of events it is promoting or what specific ministry partners it has, for example. It matters more to the online visitor that they feel connected, uplifted, and encouraged—even in the moment of discovering a church’s website or Facebook page.

Regarding my experience:

This isn’t the first business I’ve started, and it’s not currently the only business I have.

If you have a good idea that meets a real need in the world and you’re willing to commit to the work (to the workload!), the benefits of a non-traditional career are well worth it.

Often the pace can be grueling and the weight of the responsibility feels heavy. Self-employment demands a natural ability to juggle and constantly reprioritize. In exchange, the freedom, flexibility, and creative challenge of the experience are, for me, crucial to my own well-being.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My friend and fellow communications professional, Natalie Aho, is the one who put the idea in my head. She called me one day and suggested that there was a need among faith communities—especially churches—for a better understanding of what it means to build community online. Digital Congregations would not exist today without her creative idea, support, and mentorship.

Website: digitalcongregations.com

Instagram: @digitalcongregations

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christen-kinard-5664881b2/

Facebook: /digitalcongregations

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.