Pastor Bob Moya first encountered the gospel on a street corner in Oak Cliff, Dallas-a moment that led his entire family to faith and began a life of ministry that continues today.
“We had no church background,” Pastor Bob says. “For two and a half years, we just read our Bibles at home because we didn’t know where to go.”
An Outreach-Focused Start
Pastor Bob says that their encounter with Christ shaped how he would lead, by getting outside the church walls.
In the 90s, he followed Pastor Tommy Barnett’s methods: bus routes, block parties, park events.
“We were running three bus routes all over town,” Pastor Bob recalls. “We picked up families wherever we could.”
People opened their doors back then. They came out to the parks. That approach made sense at the time. I’ve seen many churches take a similar approach: big outreach events but limited follow-through. Retention is almost always a struggle.
Changing Times, New Challenges
Pastor Bob tells me things started to change.
“We’d knock on doors near parks, invite everyone to a big event, but it started to get harder.”
Then COVID made outreach even tougher.
“People didn’t want you knocking anymore. They weren’t willing to come out,” he explains.
To stay connected, they launched Feed the City. It served 200 families every week, promoted through Facebook.
Some pastors I work with faced the same shift. They adapted outreach to how people live and communicate now.
Shifting to Digital Outreach
When I ask about digital outreach, Pastor Bob mentions Church Candy. He wasn’t sure about it at first.
“Coming from my background, it felt strange. I didn’t want to just market the church,” he says.
Instead of flyers, he started sending short welcome videos to people who planned a visit.
“Hey, this is Pastor Bob. Looking forward to meeting you.”
In coaching sessions, I tell pastors that a quick personal video does more than a polished ad. It creates a first impression that feels human.
Personal Touch, Real Results
Pastor Bob tells me the results were immediate.
“If I sent 10 videos, I’d see two or three families actually come,” he says.
He compares it to a fall festival with 2,000 people: only five came back.
“We had two families last month who were baptized together. Now they’re in small groups,” he adds.
We can draw a crowd, sure. But only personal follow-up brings people back.
70 New People in One Year
City Chapel added 70 people in one year.
“I’ve been in the gym for nine years trying to meet people. One guy came to church. Now I send about seven videos a week. Most Sundays, two or three new families show up.”
What stands out is Pastor Bob’s consistency. Week after week, he follows up. That’s what makes the difference.
Reaching the Right People
Pastor Bob tells me who’s walking through the doors: young families, biracial couples, people from Catholic backgrounds.
“They start looking again when they have children,” he explains. “But they always go online first. If your church isn’t there, they won’t find you.”
Most families I’ve met want to explore quietly before they commit. They’ll scroll through your social media or watch a message before showing up.
A New Form of Servanthood
Pastor Bob doesn’t see this as marketing.
“I’m not walking the streets with gospel tracts anymore,” he says. “Now I share videos, offer prayers for the city from I-20, and post weekly encouragements on Instagram.”
In one clip, he stands beside the highway: “If you see our church from the freeway, know we’re praying for peace in this city.”
He even follows up when visitors don’t come.
“If they planned a visit but didn’t show, I ask what we can pray for. It builds trust.”
This kind of digital consistency can create deep trust, especially when people aren’t ready to walk in yet.
Advice for Skeptical Pastors
When I ask what helped him make the shift, Pastor Bob gives four reasons:
- “We came up thinking ministry had to be boots on the ground.”
- “Marketing felt too business-like. But I learned this is just another tool for ministry.”
- “My Gen Z kids said, ‘Dad, this is how people find churches now.’ They were right.”
- “I’m building friendships before people even walk through the door.”
I’ve watched other pastors go through this. Once they see it as a ministry, not a promotion, they commit.
Ready for Visitors
City Chapel made changes to welcome people well.
“We changed the foyer, created signage, trained a welcome team,” Pastor Bob says. “Our team knows who’s coming and how to greet them.”
They also follow up with people who don’t show.
“If someone planned a visit, there was a reason. We follow up, gently and prayerfully.”
Sometimes, visitors come weeks later.
“You sent us a video a month ago. This is just the first chance we had to come.”
I always remind churches to stay visible and stay kind. People notice who remembers them.
Digital Ministry That Reaches People
I ask Pastor Bob what keeps him doing this. He doesn’t pause.
“There are still families like mine,” he says. “Hungry for God. They just haven’t heard the gospel yet. This is how we find them.”
Want to reach more families like City Chapel? Let’s map out your digital outreach plan step-by-step.
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