Just this week, I have begun following two (2) companies I had not previously heard about, let alone followed on Twitter. Was is just for a chance at a free iPad? No. I went to their websites and looked them over before choosing to both follow them and send the required tweet to participate in the contest. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it if I did not care enough to read their updates on a regular basis. Also, anyone who is reading my updates is going to read about the contest. They may decide I am becoming too involved in contests and decide to quit following me. On Twitter, this is tantamount to shouting into an empty room. No one is listening, even if they could hear you from the next room.

This new way of advertising products, websites, magazine, vegetables, etc., has implications for ministries. No, I don’t advocate asking the church council for $500 to buy an iPad and getting folks to follow the church twitter feed. That is not good stewardship, even for churches that can afford it. I would, instead, recommend, offering something else. For example, Easter is coming quickly. You can offer a place to join in an Easter egg hunt. Fat Tuesday was a few weeks ago, we had a pancake supper, free to anyone. Summer is almost here. How about free childcare for a week?

These are definitely non-standard prizes. But, the end result is a chance to meet new folks, tell them about Jesus Christ and maybe get them to come to church. I think its worth the effort to try and increase the kingdom and only look a little silly.

As an alternative, I have also received direct communication from parties selling items I mentioned in my online updates. I tweeted about having to look for stock photography for an upcoming church festival. Just a short time later, I got a message from a stock photography company with an accompanying $25 coupon for their website. Free, just like that. All I had to do was create an account with them and enter the coupon. Had I not already logged on the website where I already have an account and credits, I might have used the coupon. It’s pretty easy to see the implication for ministry here. If you are already on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook, what does it hurt to send a message out to folks commenting on things related to your church or ministry? You just might end up with a new group of friends, even if they are only online.

Why is this relevant to me at this time?

We are getting a new vicar later this Spring. I would like to approach him about the opportunity to use our website for more than a virtual church sign. I believe we can also use it to build a following of prospective visitors and perhaps even church members. Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube. There are a few names most people who are online will recognize. Even if you aren’t, the name will sound familiar. Are we looking for the technology have’s at the expense of the have not’s? No. We simply reaching all prospective visitors by different means. We have events on our campus that invite the surrounding neighborhood. Those events, along with the online effort are in addition to the tried and true method of simply talking with people and inviting them to church.

No one has all the answers. I am just looking for more ways to fulfill the Great Commission.

As long as I pay AT&T, I don’t think it matters that I want to use my “unlimited” (5GB) iPhone data plan with my laptop. I pay them for Uverse TV/Internet, home phone and two iPhones. They get almost $350/month out of me. Really AT&T, would it be too much to ask you to just allow me to tether my iPhone via Bluetooth. I have done it before with an old Nokia phone so I know it’s possible on your network.

• Youth asking others to come and volunteer unload pumpkins at our pumpkin patch
• Someone else at the pumpkin unloading saw my post with a photo of the front lawn before the pallets went down
• Former church member commenting on the pumpkin patch from New York after seeing the next photo I uploaded after the front lawn was covered in pumpkins
• Fellow church member comment about life after the priesthood
• My sister disparage Coke for pretending sugary drinks play no part in childhood obesity

Individually, all of these things may never be connected. But, in my life, it has kept me close to several different people who may/may not know one another. This has got to be a good way to communicate and evangelize to folks. It just has to be.

• Volunteerspot
• Stafftool
• Famundo
• Churchdirector
• Planningcenteronline.com

At this point, our coordinator has decided she wants to try Churchdirector. I will be creating an account and testing it out over the next few days.

Here are the youth’s websites:

Godfather410
King Productions, Inc.

Their talents never cease to amaze me.