How do you participate in TWO great events the weekend of October 20-22, 2017? Thankfully, technology gives us access in small, portable devices like a smart phone and a tablet. Most of the time, Hackathons primarily draw heavily on the coders time rather than the creative marketer and social media person. I’ve only ever participated in helping with the research of a project at a Hackathon.
I plan on being available on Friday with Indigitous after 6 pm and after that time on Saturday. On Sunday, I have all day. Thrive is all day on Saturday with Chandler Bible. As you know, I have been working with them as they become more intentional in social media outreach since last August. They are continually in my prayers.
But I’ve also made some new friends there.
So, it is worth the drive to Chandler from up north to see them.
We gather around our devices. P has both her laptop and phone, ready to learn. We drink lattes and talk about our memories and life lessons learned.
She laughs when she talks about graduating in 1968. “You weren’t even born yet!”
I listen. That’s perhaps the most important tool in a Social Media Consultant.
As she shares about her life, I am making mental notes. How can she share her faith? How can her personality shine online? What is her learning curve? How can I help her succeed? What obstacles do we need to overcome? This is how ministry works–I meet with people and have a conversation. Sometimes, the conversations happen online via Zoom or Skype, but like today, it is face-to-face over lattes away from the craziness of downtown Prescott and the Fourth of July activities.
We cover topics such as photo editing, linking the photo to the micro-story she is telling, and teach how to do certain things on the phone and laptop.
“You’ve got to make it a habit.” I can’t say this enough. “You’ve got to work on this an hour a day until it’s like second nature.” The biggest problem with people learning how to use social media isn’t always the technology; it’s creating a new habit. When the habit is created, you can choose when to use social media and when to abstain. You have control over how much time you spend on social media; the device doesn’t control you.
My husband and I talked later and we both agreed that people find it easier to share negative stories about social media rather than get involved. The church is changing. The message isn’t changing, but can if good people do nothing to correct the misinformation online. As I sat typing this blog, scrambling for more inspiration, Seth Godin once again becomes an influence:
He wrote in Creating Discomfort that even projects you launch that should be welcoming are often missing an important point: “…this is going to make (some) people uncomfortable.”
What I do with WorldVenture is still new to a lot of people. Yet, I join with a few hundred others to pioneer a new movement. I’m determined to close the gap between young and old, to mobilize the church to get online, and to show that the Bible is good enough even if the context in which we share the message is re-framed.
But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it. Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?… From Here
When people quote the above verse, a picture of some ravenous wolf with teeth bared accompanies it. What if wolves in sheep’s clothing don’t look like wolves at all, but well-intentioned cute doggies that gently mislead?
You’d be surprised to learn how Satan can use good things, pleasant things and people, to lead us away from a relationship with the Lord (2 Cor. 11:14). This is why learning about Jesus in the Bible is so important.
Base your faith on the authoritative Word, not what popular people in culture and religions say. Religions and cultures change. God doesn’t change.
Want to join a Bible Study?
I can help you with that. Bring your doubts. Explore God’s character in its proper context.
“In the eighteenth century, the Enlightenment spread across Europe…the skeptics of the Enlightenment questioned every aspect of thought and practice in life, including philosophy and religion. (10%, Kindle)”
When considering the mission field (i.e. online ministry), it’s important to get into the head and heart of the unbeliever.
The Ten Most Common Objections to Christianity by Alex McFarland briefly goes over the ten most common objections, like Jesus’ resurrection. What struck me was how many theories existed to disprove Jesus’ empty tomb. In order not to believe, people really stretched their imaginations.
Once again, I am convinced the reason to not believe is buried beneath pride or the scar tissue of the battered heart. A great book to read whether you are a believer or not.
“Successful servants of the Lord have relied on the work of the spirit and intuitively understood how to frame their message to influence people to want to transform their lives and communities.”
– Intercultural Communication for Christian Ministry, 6% (kindle)
In this section, the book cautions us not to use knowledge for shallow and temporarily transformed communities, but reminds us that change is always the work of the Holy Spirit. For long-term change, a missionary must have a good prayer life.
I’m reminded of all the great books out there from self-help to strategies to elevate your online platform. We first must pray, then listen.
The book reminds us, “Christians who are committed to ministry are prone to be too quick to speak and too slow to listen. We rush in to answer the questions (assuming them to be the same as ours) before we know what questions our audience is asking. (5%, kindle)”
Before communities online can be transformed, we need to listen to their questions, know which ones to answer, and which ones can wait. Be their friend first. Let the Holy Spirit do His work via prayer.
