The Digital Shepherd

6:14 Ministries
  • 5.0 (2)
  • How To

The Digital Shepherd is a podcast from 6:14 Ministries designed to help small and midsize churches communicate with greater clarity, creativity, and confidence. Hosted by Josh Givens and graphic designer Jon Carlson, each episode brings practical, approachable conversations about graphic design, Canva, social media, church branding, websites, photography, presentation slides, AI, digital ministry, and the ever-changing world of church communications. This show is especially for the pastor who wears six different hats, the church secretary who somehow became the social media manager, and the volunteer who was handed Canva and told, “Can you make something for Sunday?” You don’t need a communications degree, a large staff, or a megachurch budget to communicate well. You just need a few good principles, the right tools, and the confidence to take the next step. At The Digital Shepherd, we believe design isn’t just decoration, it’s communication. Clarity is an act of service. And faithful ministry deserves faithful communication. Each episode combines practical training, real-world church application, a biblical perspective on communication and stewardship, and simple action steps you can put to work right away. Because you don’t have to become a professional designer overnight. You just need to make the next thing better than the last one. The Digital Shepherd is a podcast from 6:14 Ministries.

Episodes

  1. 7h ago

    Graphic Design 101: Five Foundations for Better Church Graphics | S1 E2

    You know something feels “off” about the graphic you just made… but you can’t quite explain why. That’s where Graphic Design 101 begins. In Episode Two of The Digital Shepherd, Josh Givens and Jon Carlson break down five foundational design principles that can immediately help pastors, church staff, administrative assistants, and volunteers make better visual communication decisions: Hierarchy. Contrast. Alignment. Spacing. Consistency. You don’t need a graphic design degree to understand them; and you definitely don’t need to become a professional designer overnight. Josh and Jon unpack how visual hierarchy tells people where to look first, why contrast goes far beyond simply choosing different colors, how alignment creates order, why empty space isn’t wasted space, and why consistency can build familiarity and trust with the people your church is trying to reach. They also get practical about Canva, brand consistency, font overload, the difference between art and design, and why having access to powerful tools doesn’t automatically mean we know how to use them well. At the heart of the conversation is a simple communication principle: Clarity is kindness. Confusion creates friction. Your church graphics shouldn’t make people work unnecessarily hard to understand what you’re trying to tell them. And you don’t have to fix everything today. Start small. Learn what to notice. Make better decisions. Then make the next thing a little better than the last. If you’ve ever stared at a sermon graphic, announcement slide, or Canva project and thought, “I know something is wrong here, but I don’t know what,” this episode is for you. The Digital Shepherd is a podcast from 6:14 Ministries helping small and midsize churches communicate with greater clarity, creativity, and confidence.

    Graphic Design 101: Five Foundations for Better Church Graphics | S1 E2

  2. Oct 5

    Design Is Not Decoration | S1 E1

    Why should a small church care about graphic design? How can a tiny country church in a middle of nowhere town even keep up with modern visual communication methods?  If you’re preaching the Bible, sharing the Gospel, loving people, and faithfully serving your community, does it really matter what your sermon graphics look like, whether your website is up to date, or what you post on social media? In the very first episode of The Digital Shepherd, Josh Givens and Jon Carlson start at the beginning and tackle the “why” behind church communications and visual media. Josh and Jon discuss why design is much more than decoration, how every church is already communicating through its graphics, website, social media, screens, branding, and digital presence, and why intentional communication matters for churches of every size. They also talk about the church’s “digital front door,” visual hierarchy, consistency and authenticity, communicating to the people you’re actually trying to reach, and why excellence doesn’t require a megachurch budget, expensive equipment, or a professional designer on staff. The goal isn’t to make a church of 80 people look like a church of 8,000. It’s to help your church communicate clearly, authentically, and faithfully with the resources God has already placed in your hands. Whether you’re the pastor wearing six different hats, the church secretary trying to figure out Canva, or the volunteer responsible for Sunday morning slides, The Digital Shepherd was created for you. Because design isn’t just about making something look good. Design communicates. And you don’t have to become a professional designer overnight. You just need to take the next faithful step toward making the next thing clearer and better than the last. Welcome to The Digital Shepherd, a podcast from 6:14 Ministries. You can learn more about 6:14 Ministries at 614ministries.org See Jon's incredible work at joncarlson.net Check out Josh's graphic design samples and writing work at his portfolio site here: jdgivens.myportfolio.com

    Design Is Not Decoration | S1 E1
  • 2 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Digital Shepherd is a podcast from 6:14 Ministries designed to help small and midsize churches communicate with greater clarity, creativity, and confidence. Hosted by Josh Givens and graphic designer Jon Carlson, each episode brings practical, approachable conversations about graphic design, Canva, social media, church branding, websites, photography, presentation slides, AI, digital ministry, and the ever-changing world of church communications. This show is especially for the pastor who wears six different hats, the church secretary who somehow became the social media manager, and the volunteer who was handed Canva and told, “Can you make something for Sunday?” You don’t need a communications degree, a large staff, or a megachurch budget to communicate well. You just need a few good principles, the right tools, and the confidence to take the next step. At The Digital Shepherd, we believe design isn’t just decoration, it’s communication. Clarity is an act of service. And faithful ministry deserves faithful communication. Each episode combines practical training, real-world church application, a biblical perspective on communication and stewardship, and simple action steps you can put to work right away. Because you don’t have to become a professional designer overnight. You just need to make the next thing better than the last one. The Digital Shepherd is a podcast from 6:14 Ministries.

Information

  • Creator
    6:14 Ministries
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    2
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Digital Shepherd
  • Show Website
    The Digital Shepherd