How Digital Church Can Drive Real Engagement: Insights from Frank Blake, Warren Bird and Nathan Artt

Can online church engagement truly drive in-person discipleship and giving?
In this in-depth discussion, Warren Bird presents key findings from an extensive survey on digital ministry, revealing how churches are leveraging online platforms to build relationships, increase engagement, and even grow financial support. This session goes beyond theory, offering data-driven insights into the evolving landscape of digital discipleship.
But what can churches learn from the business world? Former Home Depot CEO Frank Blake joins Nathan Artt of Ministry Solutions Group to share powerful lessons from retail’s digital transformation-insights that could revolutionize how churches approach online ministry.
What You’ll Learn in This Video:
✅ How churches can effectively engage online audiences and convert them into active disciples and givers
✅ Overcoming the three biggest fears about digital ministry (Does it hurt in-person attendance? Does it reduce personal connections? How do we measure success?)
✅ Why online engagement is growing faster than in-person attendance-and what that means for church leaders
✅ The critical role of digital in building meaningful community and relationships
✅ What Home Depot’s digital strategy can teach churches about online and in-person integration
✅ Why a growing number of churches are struggling to staff and resource their digital initiatives
✅ How successful businesses use digital engagement to drive real-world action-and how churches can adopt similar strategies
✅ The surprising financial implications of online church: Can digital ministry sustain itself?
✅ Practical next steps for church leaders looking to strengthen their digital strategy
With Nathan Artt’s expert moderation, this conversation bridges the gap between ministry and business, offering practical strategies for pastors, church leaders, and ministry teams who want to navigate the digital era effectively.
0:00 Introduction - Warren Bird welcomes viewers
0:41 Survey Overview - Key church fears about digital ministry
3:18 Does Online Ministry Hurt In-Person Attendance?
5:04 How Churches Struggle with Digital Community Building
7:17 The Future of Church Growth: Local vs. Global Digital Impact
8:21 Can Digital Ministry Financially Sustain Itself?
10:44 Frank Blake's Journey & Leadership at Home Depot
14:07 What Churches Can Learn from Retail Digital Strategy
17:21 Shifting from Physical Locations to Digital First
22:55 How Digital Enhances In-Person Engagement
26:25 From Store Model to Engagement Model: Key Lessons for Churches
32:39 Understanding the Digital Buyer’s Journey in Church
38:31 Balancing Digital & Physical Church Engagement
43:01 The Role of AI & the Future of Digital Ministry
47:45 Final Insights & Next Steps for Churches