NSN Part 2: Use it for Ministry

I remember the days before I had a cell phone. When I turned 18 I was able to buy my first Nokia cell phone! It was a great moment! I could play the game "snake" and call my friends wherever I went. The technology was amazing but as I look back, that phone is no longer useful compared to current technology. We live in a fast-paced, ever-changing culture.

We have a choice. Do we embrace technology or run away from it?

The church has responded. Some using it as a tool and others pushing it away. Using social networking/technology as a vital tool in ministry.

Why is it important? Simply communication. Paul wrote to the Corinthians about being "all things...." We have an opportunity to creativity communicate the gospel to a broken world.

Social networking is not a replacement to face-to-face interaction. It is simply a tool. 

Tips on using social networking for ministry? 

- Twitter: Sign up and begin one personally. Use it as a way to share your life experiences and thoughts that God lays on your heart. Use it to share scripture, blog posts, quotes and encouragements to others. I think in the next few years, twitter will overtake Facebook and email. I think it will be a primary communication tool in the future (unless something else overtakes it). Sign up and being one for your ministry. Make it simple for people to remember and make sure it is updated at least twice per week. If you do not update it, it has lost its purpose and you will lose any following and chance to impact others. Upload your ministry logo and explain in the description

- Facebook: Everyone seems to have an account these days, even grandparents! Facebook is the primary tool to communicate to all ages. I would have a page for your ministry to update and keep current. Group pages are useful but are more exclusive because it takes more time to add new people. I prefer a "page" that people can like on Facebook. It is easier to join and less cluttered. I am a part of a few youth pastor closed groups on Facebook that are helpful in sharing thoughts, encouragement and ideas. Click here for helpful tips to link accounts together to make it easier to update multiple accounts.

The most important aspect is making sure the updates are consistent and timely.

What else would you add? How do we do a better job of using social networking for ministry? 

NSN Part 1: Protect your Family

We live in a social networking world. We are bombarded constantly by apps and social networks! Immediate response presents opportunities and challenges. One of the challenges is learning how to help students and parents navigate how to use social networking wisely. Social networking is a great tool to use for God. But, many times it is an extension of our daily baggage. It can easily turn into expressing hurtful comments, anger, and filthy language. It also presents the question of modesty of what pictures should be posted for everyone to see?

Tips for Parents: 

• Do you protect and educate your family on how to use twitter/Facebook? If so, have conversations teach them to use social networking as a tool for the gospel! Ask, "how can you use twitter to grow in Jesus?" or "have you thought about posting verses you are reading or memorizing on twitter/Facebook? Think of focusing upon, "what is the wise thing to do?" If you are not using twitter or Facebook, I urge you to learn and stay current.
• Lead students to become peacemakers on social networking. If there is conflict, don't run to the phone or laptop! Teach them to follow God's plan for resolving conflict (See Become a peacemaker). Teach them to go and talk in private with whoever they have a conflict with in their life. Social networking is not the place to handle confrontation.
• Help stop Cyber-bullying. Students use Facebook/twitter to bully and put down others. Students will many times post hurtful comments to a person without using their name at the same time knowing that person will read it. It is a way to slander someone publicly and not even use the person's name, but know this, that person received the message. From there it gets worse and the madness worsens and the drama builds and builds.
• Talk to your student(s) about what is appropriate to post online. Be proactive and not reactive by having an ongoing conversation of the importance of healthy interaction online.

Encouragement to students:

• Social networking is a tool. Use it for God! Write out your testimony and post it as a Facebook note or blog post. Look at all areas of your life as an opportunity to spread the gospel.
• If you are angry, think and pray before you write. Are you mad at a certain person? Have you talked to them privately about what is wrong? Because let's be honest, when we tweet something to get back at someone, it never leads to conflict resolution.
• Share personal struggles to a friend, leader or parent. You might need prayer, encouragement and someone to talk too. Facebook/twitter is not a healthy place for us to work through struggles publicly. Find a person you can talk to in person.
• Connect with others and encourage them. Use social networking to encourage one another by sending a quick message, comment or tweet. Text a quick verse to your friends before heading to school in the morning.

What are other ways to protect your family? How can social networking be used wisely? 

Source SM in Review: Volume #1

I borrowed this idea from Josh Griffin (student pastor at Saddleback Church). Thanks for the great idea!

Teaching series: "Focus"- Why we are here and what God has called us to be as a ministry!

Main Teaching  point: Friends determine the direction of your life, so choose wisely.

Length of service: 55 minutes. 2 separate services for middle and high school.

Message Explanation: “Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble" Proverbs 13:20. It is much more about who you are with, than what you are doing.  We need Christian friends to survive in a world of isolation. We were not meant to live the Christian life alone. In order to build true friendship, we must love through the friendship we have with God. He does not NEED us, but WANTS a relationship with us. A true friend cares for your soul. "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends" John 15:13. What does your friendships look like? Are you a friend that pushes people closer to Jesus?

 Element of fun: We played a game called "dance your hat and gloves off." The students had to wear a "beanie" on their heads and yellow plastic gloves on their hands. To win, you had to shake the glove and hat off in 15 seconds. It was hilarious! We recorded the service this week! I'm excited about the editing and slowing down of the footage for next week! The winner for each service won a brand new jar of peanut butter (family size)!

 Music Set: We are the Free, Search My Heart, One Thing Remains, Sometimes

 Favorite Moment: Watching students worship! I'm pumped to see the leadership in the students and the impact they are having on others! We have begun a student creative team as well! I'm excited to have students creating/editing videos for Source!

Thanks to Ashton and Bevin for creating a video bumper for the message:

Next week: We will Finish up our series this Sunday night. We will discover what God's Word says about worship. Is it just music? What does it mean to worship? I'm excited to hear Jared Sylvia teach the students on what a lifestyle of worship looks like in today's culture.