Jul 16, 2026
168| How This Parish Reached 10,000 Instagram Followers
On this episode of the Rebuilt Parish Podcast, Melissa welcomes back Abby Daniels and introduces Andrea Zubiri-Flynn from St. Joseph Catholic Church in Libertyville, Illinois, to talk about a milestone many parishes dream about: reaching 10,000 followers on Instagram.
Abby and Andrea share how their parish moved from simply posting announcements to creating intentional, engaging, and mission-focused content that helps them reach the next generation, connect with parishioners, and grow wider online. They talk about the value of real photos, parishioner stories, clergy involvement, trending content, and building a media ministry that includes multiple generations.
This conversation is full of practical encouragement for parish leaders who know social media matters but feel overwhelmed by where to begin. Abby and Andrea remind us that digital outreach does not have to be complicated. Sometimes it starts with taking one photo, sharing one moment, answering one DM, and trusting that God can work even through the algorithm.
Follow St. Joseph Catholic Church in Libertyville, Illinois on Instagram @sjlibertyville to see examples of the posts, reels, and parish communications Abby and Andrea discussed in this episode.
Join us for the next Rebuilt Conference and experience practical formation, encouragement, and renewal alongside parish leaders from across the country. Rebuiltconference.com
Timestamps:
00:03 – Welcome back, Abby, and welcome, Andrea
00:29 – Why this episode is focused on parish social media growth
00:59 – Abby reintroduces herself and her role at St. Joe’s
01:27 – Andrea introduces herself and her communications role
01:51 – What reaching 10,000 Instagram followers meant to the team
03:37 – The Taylor Swift reel and using cultural moments creatively
05:35 – Shifting from announcements to intentional engagement
07:47 – Moving from “asking” to “giving” on social media
09:14 – What kinds of posts perform best
10:00 – Interactive posts and building community conversation
11:20 – Why real photos matter more than polished flyers
12:29 – Making parishioners feel seen online
13:53 – Using trending audio and social media trends carefully
16:57 – First steps for parishes that feel overwhelmed by social media
18:50 – Creating content that is engaging and still points to Jesus
22:35 – Social media as a welcoming front door to parish life
23:29 – Systems, habits, and planning rhythms for consistency
24:31 – Using a content calendar and an “eight-to-one” nourishment ratio
25:04 – Building a media ministry and layers of leaders
26:32 – Involving teens and multiple generations in content creation
28:31 – How Instagram growth is leading to deeper engagement
29:35 – DMs as a new kind of parish office
31:35 – Encouragement for pastors and parish leaders who feel unsure
37:01 – Abby’s experience at the Rebuilt Conference
39:29 – Professional growth, personal encounter, and parish renewal
40:59 – Final encouragement and where to follow St. Joe’s
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