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Free Facebook Classes: Overflow Coffee House

Have you ever thought of social media as a short term missions project?

More often than not, I get a lot of questions about Facebook. So, in response to the questions, I have given you an opportunity to be trained for a new mission field with unlimited possibilities for learning, reaching people for Christ, and being a better Facebook poster.

The catch to the “free” is this: You must take some of my prayer cards and give them to your friends. They will be available at the class.

I can’t continue to fill this need without financial support. The need is overwhelming and we are behind those who have long ago recognized the internet as more than just a marketing tool.

DOWNLOAD HERE:

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Conversation with an Angry Man

People are shorter on patience and quicker to resentment and anger to the point of retaliation. The post on a public Facebook group was just that: an angry man who resented someone for parking crookedly and wanted to zip tie a shopping cart to their door.

He compared it to causes such as women’s rights or civil rights. It wasn’t a joke. His language and overall attitude were serious. Most people would have ignored the post (or reported him to the police), but I used social media to try to bridge the gap and find out what was really wrong. Instead of using social media to be negative, I tried to be compassionate. This is what social networking should resemble.

Businesses, non-profits, and even churches use social networking mostly as a way to market their brand or vision. As a writer, I (and others) recognized how short-sighted Christians were in this field. When our focus is only on the brand, we forget the people.

In a business article recently, I read about how customers want a relationship with the business through social networking. The catch phrase is, relationship. As Christians, we have a large presence online, but its overall impression is that each church or non-profit is separate and competing rather than an impression of unity in Christ.

I know what goes on behind the scenes. There’s more unity than most people understand. People believe impressions. That’s why reputations online are shredded in minutes when a video goes viral that doesn’t tell the whole story. Or when people bad mouth their church, it joins with other voices bad mouthing church, creating another impression.

How we respond online makes a difference, but not everyone will be satisfied. Even if you are polite and kind, non-believers still think Christians are “yes” people. Love means something different to the secular group. If we don’t give in to everything, we aren’t “loving” enough.

Most people wouldn’t do, out of love, what Jesus did for us. He knew when to turn the cheek and when to speak the truth. God help us as we navigate this world.

My only regret in the above mentioned conversation is that the post was quickly deleted. I had hoped the angry man would have seen my request for him to email me. Maybe we could have gone deeper into what was really wrong.

Social Media Tip: Look for a Facebook group for your town or city or neighborhood. Join it. It’s the modern version of neighborhood get-togethers.

Through the Lens of the Congregation #socialmedia #church

When you listen to this webinar, listen as a congregation member, not a leader of a ministry or as a pastor. How can you, as a congregation member, serve on Social Media?

Here are my notes from the webinar:

Some points to consider:

Elevate your brand? Instead, take sermon notes online and tag your church in it. Check in to your church.
For leaders and pastors: It’s not how many “likes” you get, but how you shepherd the people on your Facebook. How are you serving them on social media? How will you pray for them? Do you know them?
Communication: It’s important to respond within a reasonable amount of time to people who leave comments. It’s all about relationships.
Love Africa? Most of the continent is on Facebook.
Create groups to target certain people on your personal friend list with certain needs (set to secret for confidentiality) and create a community.
You don’t have to be on every social network. Pick two social networks that you, “can be all in on.” Michael Hyatt also said this.
Photo posts get 39% more interaction.
Shorter posts get more engagement. Save the long posts for a blog.
Ask questions. Be other-minded.
On posting scripture, don’t just post scripture. Add your own words, too. What does this scripture mean to you?
If you feel passionate about a cause, help an organization promote a cause by sharing your thoughts and stories about the cause.
Tell stories.
Organic reach means no advertising in the wording of your status.
Do auto posts and impulsive posts.
On your Facebook page, post at least twice a day.
High-resolution cover photos that tell a story and attract people on your page. On your personal profile, use the same.
canva.com is a wonderful and free photo place.
What is your vision or mission statement in life? An organization doesn’t have to be the only one creating one. Then, post around that vision or mission statement on your social media.
Post often on your personal Facebook or social media. Engage people. Don’t just share.
Facebook live works via your phone only. Use it to do an online Bible Study and invite people to that “secret” group.

Questions? Let’s brainstorm. Talk to me.

Hitting a Brick Wall? Check Your Motivation

Vines creeping over stone walls are romantic. They bring to mind coveted gardens, secret whispers among friends, and blooms of bright colors to ward off a gloomy day. It is a place you want to sit–for hours! The kind of brick wall I am talking about though is only nice on the outside, and I was thinking about the kind of walls we get used to banging our head against.

Ministry work can become stale. Sitting by the brick wall and doing the same thing, the same method, over and over again, makes us feel useful, but are we really making progress?

John 2:25 says, “and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.” As I did some necessary work, my mind wandered to how Jesus knows our hearts better than we know our own. Intentions are good or not. Maybe we don’t even realize our intentions?

Instead of embracing a different way of doing things, we keep knocking against a brick wall. And as I folded paper, I thought, “A brick wall doesn’t yield anything. It doesn’t let you in.”

Not without trust, I thought. A community online or face-to-face has to trust you before you can speak into that community; before they will let you be their friend or open the gate built into the wall. What works overseas will work here, too. It’s not about breaking and entering, but creating a bond.

The kind of walls that are prettiest are the ones with gates. Behind that gate is a new friend. She has the coffee in the carafe with a plate of cookies, and nothing is so pressing that we can’t sit together for a little bit and talk about life.

Maybe over time, she and I can talk about Jesus and her relationship with Him. Until then, I am thankful she opens the gate and lets me in once in while.

Meanwhile, enjoy this article from Indigitious…

I browse Facebook everyday. Recently I noticed one of my friends, Annie, a non-Christian from another country, was posting frequently about her trips to other places. Looking through the pictures, I felt like she just wasn’t happy, so I messaged her and asked how she was doing. Annie said when she read my message, she burst into tears because she felt so cared for. She was amazed I could see her unhappiness, and confessed she was facing some challenges in her marriage. We agreed to talk via FaceTime. I was able to share a biblical view of marriage, give her some tips on how to communicate with her husband, and pray with her. READ MORE