Blogging Ministry

Greetings from Las Vegas, Nevada, I am here at the Blogworld & New Media Expo and GodblogCon 2007, along with thousands of fellow bloggers. Today has been an eye opening experience. I am like a kid in a candy store. < Read the rest on my AFTF blog>

Note: Podcasts of the GodblogCon sessions are available @ ScriptoriumDaily.com
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This is a ministry with a number of different personal blogs and websites dedicated to combating the effects of pornography. The following is his main site with a portal to the rest: XXXChurch.com: #1 Christian Porn Site

Founded by Craig Gross in 2002, the site also features Donny Pauling who is a former porn producer who came to Christ and became part of the ministry. The site features information and access to internet blocking software, an Online recovery workshop, a 12-week program for those struggling with porn, and a ‘Prayer Wall’ with a message board for encouragement and dialog.

The ministry also sponsors workshops at churches called "Porn and Pancakes". It starts with breakfast and features info on the dangers of pornography with speakers from XXXChurch and porn industry insiders.

They also have an outreach ministry to those in the porn industry itself. XXXChurch makes a practice of attending ‘Adult’ industry Expos and conferences and usually sponsor a booth where they give out New Testaments with the tile: "Jesus Loves Porn Stars".             *Top

By Molly Holzschlag and Porter Glendinning (Indianapolis, Indiana: Sams Pub., 2004, 554 pgs.)

See review posted on: The Blogging Ministry/ Movable Type blog.

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Another way to reach out of the Christian blogosphere to a more diverse audience is to comment on current news events. That is the main thing that I do on my home blog: ANSWERS For The Faith. When I analyze the readership, visitors, and links to that blog I find that it is far different and way more diverse and international than some of my other sites that serve a decidedly Christian niche such as my CHARISMATICA blog which keys in on revival and Charismatic/Pentecostal issues.

I am not submitting my ANSWERS blog as a good example of an outreach. I do write from an obvious Christian perspective and world view. I am constantly fighting with myself to remember to take into account an audience which comes from a variety of religious backgrounds and cultures. When I look at many of my posts in that light, I realize that I fail miserably if my goal is to reach out to a greater international readership.

This is and will always be an ongoing struggle. My blog will always be ‘Christian’ and my posts will always reflect a Christian world view. Nevertheless, I hope to write in such a way to attract a more diverse readership and influence a greater range of different people from different backgrounds.             *Top

One of the comments that I run across time and again when folks are talking about ministry and outreach through blogging is the problem of Christian blogs becoming ‘ghettoized’. So much of the material on Christian blogs is written for and read solely by other Christians.

If you are hoping that your blog will reach out beyond the Christian community, one of the best ways to achieve that possibility is to write articles on subjects that a variety of people might be interested to read. In my own experience I have found that when I write movie and book reviews on my blog that I attract a diverse and even an international audience.

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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.

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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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