Using Facebook to expand your reach. {Day 19} Heart Matters

Here is something to consider: if Facebook were a country it would be the third largest by population. That makes one vast mission field, don’t you think?

While we do need to balance our time online, I believe that sometimes we are so caught up in fear that we don’t pursue things that God has made available to us. Facebook is one of those things. I have a relative who refuses to be on Facebook or anywhere else online for fear that the government is watching him. Well, the government can find you without the help of the internet and if a stalker were determined to find you then they could do that too. Yes, we need to be careful and use common sense but we can’t let Satan deter us from evangelizing through such valuable means. Facebook affords us the opportunity as believers to share our faith with those who may need it most. All too often we spend too much time preaching to the choir. We should be living our lives as an example. Facebook gives us another vehicle to do that.

Here is a list of some of the ways you can utilize Facebook:

1. Fill in your personal profile. This can be as simple or complex as you like but make sure we really get an idea of who you are. Be real. Use pictures too. Even if it is a profile shot or from far away. People are less likely to think you are a spammer if you have a real picture and not some avatar or a photo of a cat.
2. Invite your friends to add you. Searching for your friends is easy. Just type their name in the search area and Facebook will automatically show you those who are in your area or who are already friends with your friends.
3. Join groups that you can relate to or have an interest in. Look for groups from your hometown or profession. Maybe your high school has their own group. Join and begin contacting people with your similar interests.
4. Be sure to post updates on occasion. You can also import your blog content with RSS feed. Here is a great article on Facebook tips including how to import your RSS.
5. Get to know old friends again and build friendships with new acquaintances. Something as simple as a “hello” could mean a great deal to someone.
6. Check your page at regular intervals. If you don’t check in and respond, people could loose interest in their ability to connect with you.
7. Don’t be a mass app distributor. So many people that I have spoken to have told me that they greatly dislike it when they get dozens of silly apps everyday. Flowers, games, farms, hugs, and the like all have to be sifted through. If you have one app you like and want to share it then that is fine but don’t send out several a day.

The most important element of any social networking platform is to live our lives as openly and transparently in front of our online friends as we do in the physical world, demonstrating unconditional love ( 2 Cor. 2:15).  Respond to others just as you would in conversation. Reply to their posts with encouraging on-topic comments, sometimes including links to helpful websites or video clips. If you have friends that live within your local community then you could mention activities at your church from time to time. Who knows, you may see them enjoying service one day!

If you want a good laugh you can check out my post from when I first began learning how to use Facebook.

Find the rest of the series here: 31 Days to Online Ministry

Also check out:

• Missed BlissDom 2011? Get It Here. It’s just like being there!
• ? 31 Days to Build a Better Blog – Easy step by step ways to improve your blog presence!
• Simple Blogging. – Don’t have 40 hours a week to spend on blogging? This E-book helps you grow your blog with less time on the computer.