For a while, it felt like every church had to be on Facebook. A church’s digital presence, especially the church’s Facebook page, is often seen as a reflection of the church’s community and plays a key role in outreach and engagement.
Post your events. Go live on Sundays. Upload your sermon clips. Share pictures from the potluck. Update your church logo and cover photo. Get your congregation members to like the church’s Facebook page as part of your church social media strategy. Done.
Except… it’s not working anymore.
What was once the go-to platform for church growth is now struggling to deliver. If your church’s Facebook page feels like a ghost town, you’re not alone. For many churches, Facebook simply isn’t helping them reach new people—or even their own members. Reaching more people through Facebook for churches has become increasingly difficult, limiting the church’s ability to connect with a wider audience.
It’s not just frustrating. It’s a sign of a bigger shift.
Many churches are now rethinking their approach to Facebook for churches and church social media overall.
Let’s break down why Facebook might be holding your church back—and why it could be time to focus your social media presence elsewhere.
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Table of contents
Why Your Church Should Leave Facebook Behind
First, let’s take a look at all the reasons you should consider leaving Facebook behind. It’s just not the church growth tool it once was, and here are all the reasons why.
Facebook Isn’t Showing Your Posts to Anyone Anymore
Let’s start with the biggest issue: Almost nobody is seeing your content.
The average reach of a Facebook post from a Page is now around 0.5%.
That means if you have 1,000 followers on your church page, only five of them will even see your latest announcement—unless you pay. Advertising, such as Facebook Ads, is now necessary to increase visibility and engagement for churches, helping you reach a larger audience beyond your organic followers.
This is no accident. Facebook (now Meta) has shifted its algorithm to prioritize content from Groups and personal Facebook accounts over business and organization Pages, including those run by religious organizations. Unless you’re running ads or going viral with video content, your posts are likely getting buried.
Yes, even that perfectly edited sermon quote with a bright church logo and trendy background.
If your strategy still revolves around publishing tools on your Facebook page, it’s time to rethink that plan.
The Platform Has Aged Out
Let’s talk demographics.
The reality is, Facebook is getting older. The majority of active users are now over the age of 40. That’s great if your congregation members fall into that range, but it’s a major roadblock if you’re trying to reach younger generations.
Gen Z and Millennials? They’re spending time on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. They’re not checking their personal Facebook feed daily (or at all).
If your church’s social media strategy depends on attracting new visitors or engaging the next generation, Facebook just isn’t where the people are anymore.
You’re Competing with the Algorithm—and Losing
Even if you are reaching some of your church members, you’re fighting an uphill battle.
The Facebook site is designed to keep users scrolling, not necessarily to help them connect with your church. That means your content is constantly competing with everything else in someone’s feed: vacation photos, viral videos, ads for shoes, and political memes.
Even when you get engagement—likes, comments, shares—it fades fast. Facebook posts disappear quickly. By the time someone checks their feed, your update is already gone. Including links in your Facebook posts can help direct followers to online resources like church services or event information, but even those links may get lost due to low visibility.
Groups Are the Only Thing Still Working
If you do stick with Facebook, the best path forward isn’t your church page—it’s Groups.
That’s where the algorithm still gives you a fighting chance. Facebook Groups are designed for engagement and community. Posts tend to get better visibility, and members receive notifications when something new is shared.
In fact, one church recently created a topic-based Group called “Faith Questions.” The group grew to over 3,000 members, with a staggering 70% engagement rate. Even better? Members of the Group were three times more likely to attend in-person events than followers of the main church Facebook page. Groups like these help churches deepen relationships and increase engagement within their local or online communities by fostering stronger connections among members.
The lesson? If you’re still investing in Facebook, stop posting and start building Groups around interests, questions, or ministries—not just your church brand.
Live Video Still Works—But Not Forever
Here’s one bright spot: Facebook Live still gets solid engagement.
Live prayer sessions, behind-the-scenes tours, and Q&As tend to perform up to 6x better than pre-recorded videos. People love that real-time connection—even if they don’t interact in the chat. Digital services like live streaming on Facebook provide churches with valuable tools to connect with their congregation in real time.
But again, there’s a catch.
To get that engagement, you often have to ask people to turn on notifications, share the live stream, or comment in real-time. Without those signals, your Facebook Live may still get lost in the feed.
And unless your church members are following with their personal Facebook account and interacting regularly, the algorithm might not even let them know you’re live.
Privacy and Trust Are Real Concerns
Let’s not forget the privacy side of things.
Meta doesn’t exactly have a great track record when it comes to data. Facebook and Meta use cookies and similar technologies to enhance user experience, personalize content, and ensure security across their platforms. Users can use them and review their cookie preferences, with various ways you can control cookies and similar technologies through browser or Facebook settings. Information received from cookies is used to provide and improve Meta products. Cookies are organized by category and categories, such as advertising, analytics, or necessary functions, allowing users to manage these preferences. Cookies and similar technologies are also used across websites to collect user activity data and enhance ad targeting.
Every time someone visits your church Facebook page or interacts with one of your posts, they’re being tracked by cookies and similar technology—including cookies from other companies.
Your church may not be collecting data, but the platform is.
Want to avoid this? Your members would need to start controlling cookies with browser settings or opt out of optional cookies through Facebook settings. But let’s be honest—that’s not going to happen on a large scale.
Even something as simple as changing your profile picture or adding your mobile number can be used to serve targeted ads, not just from Meta products, but across the web.
If you’re trying to build trust with your congregation in a digital space, Facebook might be sending the wrong message.
Facebook Is Now a Pay-to-Play Platform
At the end of the day, Facebook isn’t free anymore—not really.
To get your posts seen, to drive attendance, or to promote events, you’ll need to run ads. That means setting budgets, writing copy, designing graphics, and targeting audiences.
Even then, success isn’t guaranteed.
Sure, you can boost a post about your upcoming event or sermon series. But unless you know how to navigate Facebook Ads Manager, most churches are just throwing money into the void.
If your church’s social media budget is limited (or non-existent), this model simply isn’t sustainable.
So… Should Churches Leave Facebook?
Not every church needs to delete its Facebook profile tomorrow.
But every church should seriously ask: Is this still worth our time?
Here’s the new reality:
- If you want real engagement, you’ll need to focus on Facebook Groups, not Pages.
- If you want reach, you’ll probably need to pay.
- If you want to reach young adults, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
- If you want to protect your members’ privacy, Facebook won’t make it easy.
And most importantly:
If you want to grow your church, Facebook might not be the tool it once was.
What to Do Instead
Still not sure where to go from here? Here are some ideas to move forward:
- Prioritize email and texting: These tools give you direct access to your church members without relying on algorithms.
- Invest in your website: A strong website is still the most important part of your digital presence—and it’s fully in your control. Be sure to include a direct link to your online donation platform or streaming services to make it easier for church members to participate.
- Get on platforms that younger people actually use: YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok are better for reaching the next generation.
- Use Facebook as a side tool, not your main tool: Keep the page for credibility, but shift your energy elsewhere.
- Double down on community-building, not broadcasting: Start private Groups around prayer, Bible studies, or parenting.
Don’t Let the Platform Become the Mission
Your church isn’t called to build a social media empire. You’re called to reach people, make disciples, and serve your community.
If Facebook isn’t helping you do that anymore, it’s okay to step back.
Social media platforms come and go. Trends change. Algorithms shift.
But the mission of the church? That stays the same.
So ask yourself:
If Facebook didn’t exist tomorrow, would your church still know how to connect? It’s important to find new ways to stay connected with your congregation, such as sharing live streams, video reflections, or social media updates, to maintain engagement and community beyond Facebook.
Maybe it’s time to start answering that question today.
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