You’re An Online Minister… Now Act Like One!

Posted by Scott Williams
4 Comments
February 18, 2010
Ministry | Pastors | Social Media

internet pastorGUEST BLOGGER: Dana Byers is a church online leader and co-founder of Blue Door Ministries, Inc.  She is passionate about reaching people who are far from God online.

So you think you’re not an online minister?  Think again.  It’s a simple fact: If you’re a committed follower of Jesus, you’re His representative wherever you go (including virtual locations).

I believe God is using the Internet as a primary means to lead millions of people to salvation through Jesus Christ before He returns.  For the past 2 years I’ve been living in Europe, partnering with church leaders, and speaking and writing about how to minister online effectively.  Our family made church online our home and uses it to launch face to face discipleship groups in our neighborhood, as a channel for hosting online prayer outreach missions, and as an evangelism tool to invite friends in our community who won’t cross a church’s doorstep to hear the Gospel message.  It’s amazing discussing each week’s message with people from various countries using webcams, Facebook, Twitter and YouVersion.com.  My hope is every believer in the world would embrace the life-changing opportunity to connect with others and share the Truth online.

Through observation and experience, I’ve composed a list of personal guidelines to follow to keep online ministry practices healthy and growing.  As you pour your life into representing Jesus in your online sphere of influence, here are some hard and fast rules:

  1. Get over yourself! Your time zone, local sports team and currency are no longer relevant when you’re interacting with people on the other side of the globe.
  2. Get out of your house! Praying with someone online doesn’t negate your need to know your neighbors.
  3. Get connected! Overlap offline and online interactions, because effective online ministers make friends in chat rooms and meet them face to face when possible.

How are you using your online influence to share The Gospel?

  • http://johnnylaird.blogspot.com Johnny Laird

    Dana and her husband Chris are amazing people, doing great work wherever they are.

    Love their heart.

    J

  • http://www.clarkfrailey.com clarkfrailey

    My experiences in the past few weeks have confirmed this in my relationships with other ministers as well. For pastoral support we know that having relationships with other people who “get” us is important as ministers.

    However, sometimes the guy down the street while at a church in the same geography is on a completely different page – whether that be his passion or theology.

    Social media levels this playing field and allows us to interact with people that while separated from us in meatspace are very connected to us in our wiring for ministry.

    I really like the exploration of connecting the virtual and brick & mortar worlds. This deserves further investigation!

  • a.d.

    Hi Dana awesome writ up! love this and you! annette

  • http://www.glfinc.org CW Brown

    We as follwers of Christ must warn the unsaved world of the pending judgment of God upon Christ rejecting world. I’m comitted to sharing the plan of salvation to everyone on facebook, but ultilmately the choice rest upon each individual person to willfully receive Christ into their hearts by faith as their personal savior. Christians responsibility is to sow the word of God. He will give the increase.God bless.

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