Blogging Ministry

Here are several articles and sites writing about how to use a blog or the internet for evangelism:

1. From InternetMinister.org -the website has a number of tools and even training for doing evangelism and ministry on the internet. The following is an article about getting started in blog evangelism. It’s a great article for those starting out and it even has some ideas for those who would like to do some ministry on their existing personal blogs.

2. The next is a news article about evangelists using the internet: "E-vangelists seek souls on Web" This article is quite informative about how some evangelists are actually using the internet for evangelism. Found this link in an article on Blogministry.com. There are some innovative ideas for reaching out to people in need on the internet. It really is mind expanding.

3. The last is the article on BlogMinistry responding to the previous article on E-vangelists and suggesting that combining the methods that the ‘cyber missionaries’ use with a website or blog could be even more beneficial. The best point of the article is that the God trumps good websites and even methods:

I think we have to remember that it isn’t all just down to good site looks and Web 2.0 philosophy’s but that God has a big part to play in bringing people to himself too.

If you want to do any kind of real ministry, you need to remember to ask the Holy Spirit to become involved.             *Top

  Jim  Tim Challies has penned a great four part series on blogging. Found this linked on Adrian Warnock’s blog.

Jim Tim has been blogging since September 2002, but really committed himself to consistently post since November 1, 2003. He writes from a Reform Christian perspective and really does have to be considered as one of the ‘A list’ Christian bloggers. He tells his own story in this series and gives an overview of the history of blogging through to the current state of the Christian blogosphere–a kind of ‘State of the Union’ message for Christian bloggers:

1. Blogging- My Story

2. Blogging- History and Societal Trends

3. Blogging- State of the Blogosphere

4. Blogging- Wrapping It Up

Be sure and read the comments following each article. Some of the best Christian bloggers are represented with additional insight (once you read past the ‘atta boys’).         *Top

Keep and Share is a potential tool for churches and ministries to use as an internal and secure website for sharing information. Pastoral staffs, youth groups, prayer groups, Bible Study and home fellowship groups, Children ministry staffs, worship and music staffs, and etc. Calendars, info., and discussions can be shared and secured online through this free program.

Take a look at the possible uses for groups. Also view the introductory video and more.

The site could also be used as a tool for special project planning. Small groups or committees involved in planning a church dinner or special event, a ministry trip, an outreach project, a vacation Bible School, or etc. It could facilitate sharing information back and forth with progress reports available to all in the group without having to come together for the dreaded meetings which always seem to last forever.               *Top

Prayer Lines are some of the most popular sites on the internet. Millions of people are looking for help everyday and many turn to some kind of prayer line to register their requests.

Many churches already have prayer circles and phone lines in place to accommodate their members and friends who need prayer for various reasons. I believe that blogging platforms provide a unique tool for expanding what the church is already doing and by making it readily available to their members 24/7. Not only that, it could become an outreach ministry for the church by making the prayer line public on the World Wide Web.

(more…)

I found this series mentioned and linked on Pastor Steve Weaver’s Blog. Written by Joe Carter of the evangelical outpost and posted in the archives. This is one of the most valuable sources of information about blogging and how to get started that I have ever found. It not only contains articles by Carter but also numerous links to other sites and a virtual treasure trove of info. about blogging. Here is the series index. The following are the links to the major articles:

Part I - Before You Begin

Part II - The Beginning Bloggers Toolbox

Part III - How to Become an A-List Blogger

Part IV - The Art of Marketing Your Blog

Part V - Owning a Micro-Niche

Part VI - Three Essential Elements of Blog Design

This is great stuff. Sure wish that I would have known about these articles and read them before I began my first blog last year. It sure would have saved me a lot of grief.
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By Elizabeth Castro (Berkeley,CA: Peachpit Press, Visual QuickProject Guide, 2005, 127 pgs.)

This is the most complete guide on Blogger that I have found so far. It starts at the beginning and takes you through how to start a blog, how to write a post, how to use the editor, post pictures and format a new Blogger blog. <–See the rest posted on my Blogger site–>

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I found this linked on Sista Cala’s blog. A great series for Pastors and the rest of us posted on Pastor Steve Weaver’s Blog:

1. Blogging and Pastoral Ministry, Intro.

2. The Benefits of Blogging as a Pastor

3. How and What Should a Pastor Blog

4. The Dangers of Blogging as a Pastor

The series is written from the perspective of a pastor who has been blogging for more than two years. He not only presents the ‘whys’ and benefits of blogging for pastors, but also details the potential dangers. A well thought out and very balanced presentation.                *Top

A couple of weeks ago I posted a link to Total leadership blog where Pastor Tad Thompson asked this question and received a number of great comments, all worth reading.

Rich Tatum at his blog continues the conversation in a big way! He points out the importance of ‘why’. He suggests that Pastors and leaders might want to read around the blogosphere for a while and get some idea of ‘why’ they might want to join in. Then he proceeds to post a number of good reasons why a leader might want to consider blogging. Here are a couple of poignant quotes from his article:

I like to think of Paul the Apostle as the original proto-blogger. His missives dealt with current events, addressed failings in the Church, provided solutions, commented on trends and dangerous ideas. He “blogged” from prison, he blogged on the road, he blogged with the help of a peripheral writing device: an amanuensis.

Blogging, in some ways, is like an interest-bearing savings account. As long as your ideas are only spoken, they’re being spent as soon as you generate them — just like spending your entire paycheck the very week you get it. But if you can “bank” some of those thoughts, they’ll go to work for you on your behalf, influencing more than just the handful within earshot. And like money in the bank, your blog-published ideas compound their influence week after week after week.

Wow Rich, that last one was nearly poetic! A great post with some good comments.

There are also two excellent trackbacks that continue the conversation:

Sista Cala responded to Rich’s post and there are some great comments over there too!

Peter Smythe @The Real Faith blog expands on Rich’s post and provides a bunch of very good reasons ‘why’ those in ministry might want to consider blogging. Thanks Peter.            *Top

Today is the day to pray for our land (USA).

I believe that It is important for all Christians to unite in prayer today over the spiritual condition of this country and to seek Revival and a spiritual awakening for our land and people. With thousands praying, today would be a great time for the beginning of a break through.

Lord, let your light break through the darkness that engulfs our land and bring a new spiritual awakening to our people from coast to coast, from Alaska to Hawaii.  Let your let shine from the east to the west, from the north and to the south, bring revival Lord.  In Jesus name Amen.

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