Growing Faith in 60 Seconds
Leveraging YouTube Shorts for Church Outreach
At St Luke’s Anglican Church Cross Roads, we’ve been working hard to make our YouTube channel a place where people can easily find and connect with God’s word. We already live stream our Sunday services and post our sermons, but in 2024 we decided to try something new—YouTube Shorts! And guess what? It worked! Here's our journey, some tips, and how other churches can benefit from using short-form videos like we did.
What Are YouTube Shorts?
YouTube Shorts are short, vertical videos that are usually between 15-60 seconds long. They’re similar to TikTok videos and Instagram Reels and are super popular with younger audiences. These short videos are easy to find, watch, and share. We decided to introduce YouTube Shorts to our channel, and the results were amazing!
Our YouTube Shorts Journey
We started posting Shorts in 2024, alongside our usual worship service live streams and sermon uploads. Here’s what we noticed after adding Shorts to our channel:
115% increase in overall views compared to last year
113% increase in subscribers in the same period
9 of our top 10 videos were Shorts
53% of our traffic came from Shorts
Even though we didn’t post Shorts as consistently as we wanted (our digital team is small), we saw huge potential in YouTube Shorts.
Why Use Short-Form Video?
Why should churches use short-form videos like YouTube Shorts? Here’s why they work so well:
Short and easy to watch: Perfect for people with busy schedules or short attention spans
Great for younger audiences: Teens and young adults love short-form video platforms
Easy to share: People of all ages can easily share these videos on other social media platforms, spreading the message further
Reinforces your church’s message: It’s a quick way to share key moments from sermons, Bible verses, or uplifting thoughts
Why YouTube Over Other Platforms? (IMO)
There are many places to post short-form videos—TikTok, Instagram Reels, Facebook—but here’s why we think YouTube Shorts are best for churches:
No special app or account needed: Anyone can access YouTube, and most people already have a Gmail account
Connect Shorts to longer content: You can link a Short to a longer video, like a full sermon or live stream
Great analytics: YouTube gives you detailed stats on who’s watching and how they found your video
Easy to create and share: YouTube Shorts can be made right in the app and easily shared across other platforms like Facebook or WhatsApp
What Kind of Content Works?
So, what kind of content should your church create for YouTube Shorts? Here are some ideas:
Repurpose content you already have: Clips from sermons, scripture readings, or special presentations
Create original Shorts: FAQ videos, behind-the-scenes footage, Bible verses, or seasonal content like Easter and Christmas greetings
Tailor content for different groups: Make Shorts that target youth, families, Bible study groups, or outreach programs.
Collaborate with the congregation: Let church members read scripture or share testimonies. This helps build community and engagement.
At St Luke’s, we mostly use clips from our weekly sermons to create our Shorts. It’s an easy and quick way to be consistent while driving viewers to watch the full sermon.
How to Make YouTube Shorts
Creating YouTube Shorts is super simple. Here are some free tools you can use to make them:
YouTube's built-in editor: You can create Shorts directly in the YouTube app
Free video editing tools: DaVinci Resolve or Clipchamp are good options if you want more control
Mobile apps: CapCut, InShot, and Filmora are easy-to-use apps that work well on your phone, although they may leave watermarks
AI tools: If you want to save time, paid AI tools like Opus.pro or Vidyo.ai can make editing faster
Native smartphone apps: You can even screen record on your iPhone or Android device and do basic edits using the built-in editor
Seeking inspiration? Consider this. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
Best Practices for Creating YouTube Shorts
To make sure your YouTube Shorts get attention and perform well, here are some best practices to follow:
Grab interest in the first few seconds.
Keep the video 60 seconds or less.
Add captions—this is important for accessibility and keeping viewers engaged.
Use on-screen graphics to highlight key points.
Write an insightful title and use relevant hashtags sparingly.
Diversify your content: mix up sermons, Bible verses, FAQs, and more.
Review analytics regularly and focus on what works best for your audience.
Post on a consistent schedule to build a following.
Use trending music or sounds if appropriate.
Include a call to action: Invite viewers to watch the full sermon or follow your church on social media.
Cross-promote: Share links to your Shorts on other platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram.
It’s Time to Start!
There’s no better time than now to start creating YouTube Shorts. Whether you repurpose content you already have or create new videos from scratch, adding Shorts to your digital media strategy can really help your church connect with more people.
Bonus Tip: Use the YouTube Community Tab
Once you’ve started posting Shorts regularly, don’t forget about YouTube’s Community Tab! It’s a great place to engage with your audience through polls, quizzes, photos, and links. This will help boost interaction and keep viewers coming back.
Final Thoughts
YouTube Shorts have been a game-changer for St Luke’s Church, and we’re excited about the potential they hold for spreading God’s message. They’re easy to create, fun to watch, and can reach a wide audience. Whether you’re a small church or a larger congregation, short-form videos can help you grow your community and share the gospel in new and creative ways. So, what are you waiting for? Start creating!
