Using Facebook for Digital Discipleship
This article reflects on how church leaders were using Facebook and other social networking tools to extend ministry beyond Sunday morning. Mark A. Taylor contrasts concerns about online triviality with examples of leaders using digital platforms to build influence, connection, and discipleship.
- Facebook helped Troy McMahon connect with people outside Restore Community Church.
- Dave Ferguson described social networking as a way to extend ministry influence throughout the week.
- The article argues that the mission matters more than the method when using technology.
By Mark A. Taylor
Troy McMahon walked into his local Starbucks June 18 and was surprised his friend, the barista, mentioned Troy’s recent trip to San Francisco.
“How did you know about that?” Troy asked.
“I’ve been following you on Facebook,” came the answer.
The coffee server doesn’t attend Restore Community Church where Troy preaches—yet! But he’s one of many people the church planter reaches by using the sometimes maligned Internet social networking site Facebook.
Facebook and Ministry Connection
Paul Williams struck a responsive chord with his curmudgeonly critique of Facebook May 31. “On Facebook it seems all of life has been trivialized and tribalized,” he wrote. “I found most information posted on Facebook was, well, boring.”
Paul isn’t wrong, at least not completely wrong. But Dave Ferguson, minister with Community Christian Church, Naperville, Illinois, says social networking isn’t the point of his Facebook posts. Along with Jim Musser, Ferguson has discovered how to use the Internet to extend his ministry. (He’s also a big advocate of Twitter, a tool that allows others to follow your activities posted briefly throughout the day.)
“Through my friendfeed, Twitter, and Facebook, I am able to influence more than 5,000 friends and followers with a single click several times a day,” he told me. “I can influence them by sharing a Scripture I got from my quiet time in the morning. . . . by sharing an inspiring thought I read. . . . by letting them know I take time out of my routine to coach my kids’ baseball team or date my wife.
“In the past, ministers had one shot on Sunday morning to teach their people. Today through digital discipleship we can actually fulfill the Great Commission to make disciples ‘as we go.’”
The Mission Behind the Method
The point for these leaders isn’t the method as much as it is the mission. The danger with a discussion of Facebook (or any technology) is to get the two confused.
In Tribes, his latest business book bestseller, Seth Godin emphasizes that technology doesn’t cause movements. Tribes, and then movements, are created, he says, when leaders find groups with a shared interest and enable communication among them.
As Godin reminds us, people want to be a part of something that matters. McMahon and Ferguson are just two using the Internet to remind those in their circle that they’re sharing something important. And there’s nothing boring about that.
NOTE: CHRISTIAN STANDARD is pleased to cosponsor Virtual Ministry 2.0, Social Networking and the Church, a free half-day seminar September 15 at Milligan College. For details and to register, go to www.milligan.edu/socialnetworking.
Author: Mark A. Taylor
Mark A. Taylor, who served as Christian Standard editor from 2003 to 2017, retired in June 2017 after almost 41 years with Standard Publishing (Christian Standard Media).
