I just got out of a meeting with some great guys discussing the use of social media in ministry and social media as a means to spread the gospel. I wanted to share some of these thoughts since I am sure that many people might be interested. I also want to jot them down for myself to rethink them later. Here are some of the main points that I gathered.

Social Media Defined

“Creating relevant conversation and building community.” – Jon Evans

Social Media is a Means – Not an End

Tweeting just to tweet is meaningless. Tweeting with the purpose of building others up or investing in others with the purpose of building up a real-life relationship is substantial. The key to this is being purposeful. People are on Twitter and Facebook for a reason. Usually it is because of relationships. Being on Facebook to just merely exist and to broadcast your life isn’t necessarily productive. Being purposeful and meaningful on social sites can be very effective in the real-life relationship.

Going to the People Is Key – Not Necessarily Being Everywhere

The question was asked whether it was necessary to be on every site or if being on a limited number of sites was okay. When it comes down to it, we virtually exist on social sites to relate to people. Therefore, we need to go to the people – not have them come to us. That being said, other mediums are great but you should consider using the tools that others are already using instead of introducing new ones.

Relationships are Crucial to Being Effective with Social Media

As mentioned in the previous points, the relationships are the important part. We need to relate to others – not merely exist. Meet people where they are at and keep in touch with them. Displaying quotes and Bible verses can seem pious if there is not a relational aspect added to it such as “…this verse was a huge encouragement to me. You need to read it for yourself…”

Let God Control the Heart; Let Us Use the Tools Available to Us

This point came out of a question in relation to using streaming video for churches. There were several points made. I won’t go into them all but I think the best point was that we need to let God do the controlling. We tend to control people by not using certain mediums in hopes that it will bring them into the church instead of staying at home. But not streaming a sermon isn’t really conducive to building relationships. If some people would rather stay home and watch the sermon instead of come to church, so be it. That is a heart issue. Let God work on them. Streaming video provides a great resource to other bodies of believers wanting to meet around a streaming video of a good church while in wait for a local pastor. People who are physically sick may be encouraged from it streaming straight to their home. Sharing the resource with unbelievers who are hesitant to attend a church might be a great springboard for conversation about the gospel.

The basic underlying theme that I gathered is that our virtual lives are mere extensions of our real lives – what is in the heart. So, focusing on your relationship with God is the most important aspect of being effective in relationships with each other whether in virtuality (I think I just made that up) or in reality.

I know for sure that I am leaving some great stuff out. I apologize. However, feel free to add to this if you were there. Otherwise, enjoy some of this stuff. I found it thought provoking to ministry as well as one-on-one relationships with others.

- Josh

I have a couple friends who have written posts on the church lately. My friend and co-worker, Nathan Duvall, wrote a recent post titled “What is ‘Church’ to you?” in regards to a sermon that his pastor gave. Likewise, my Spanish teacher at North Greenville University, Burl Walker, often writes about church and church life since he is one of the pastors at 5 Point Fellowship. Josh Harris has even written an excellent book called Stop Dating the Church in reference to the misunderstanding of  the true church. They all do a great job at bringing us back to a correct understanding. However, recent events at my church have made me question a bit further. If the church is the people, what is the church when the people leave?

We have been going through several stages over the past several years. We have gone from having a pastor to no pastor (for about 1.5 yrs – I think…I may be wrong) to a pastor to change. Through all this many have chosen to leave the body for reasons from job transfer and ministry opportunities to family concerns. While they are all understandable, our church has completely changed in the three years that I have been attending. Many of the people who were there in the beginning are not there. The complete make-up of the body has changed. This leads me to ask the following questions:

• If the church is the people, what am I supposed to commit to if the people come and go?
• If I stay, am I not just committing only to the teaching elder and the doctrines that have been set up?
• What is the church now?

I have no intention of leaving at all. I believe that God is doing a wonderful work at Grace Bible Church. Sometimes things like this happen for us to refocus on Him, our true prize. I am very excited about the friends that God has led me to as new members, but the recent events cannot be ignored. I am not as concerned about the reason people are leaving as I am the implications of their leaving. What are we now? Sure, we still have a good body, but those who I committed to when I became a member are gone.

I am sorry that I do not have many answers on this post. Sometimes I write just to clear my head and try to provide fuel for the thoughts of others. I doubt that we are the only church going through such circumstances. I praise God for his work in our lives no matter how misunderstood his actions may be. Nothing that I have seen is wrong with our leadership, teaching, or practice. Just people’s actions leave me to wonder and reconsider the meaning of the church.

Trusting in the wisdom of God, our wonderful gospel

Josh

The other day I was in class and noticed some writing on the desk I was in. It said:

Break my [heart]
for what breaks yours

I figured that it must be some cruel love note to someone. Later through the day I had a song stuck in my head from listening to Pandora radio. The song was Hosanna by Hillsong United. I decided to look up the lyrics so that I could learn them. Here is what showed up.

I see the king of glory
Coming on the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes
The whole earth shakes

I see his love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing
The people sing

Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith

I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We’re on our knees
We’re on our knees

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity

Hosanna in the highest

That changed the whole meaning of those words. No longer did I think of those words as a twisted love note, but a sincere heart cry that I enjoy now. I hope that this is also your heart cry.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
–Psalm 51:10-12

Josh