Blog l NAD Digital Evangelism l Columbia, MD

5 Important Steps to Becoming an Online Missionary

9/26/2018

Center for Online Evangelism

The Center for Online Evangelism is a missionary project devoted to developing online mission stations.

5 Steps to Becoming an Online Missionary Picture 1

Every follower of Jesus Christ is called to be a missionary.

For many of us, when we hear the term “missionary,” we imagine traveling to a third-world country, living without the usual comforts of home, learning a tongue-curling language, and fighting an epic battle against mosquitoes. But that is not the only form of mission work.

Mission work is the act of intentionally sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This means that we can use everyday devices like our laptops, smartphones, tablets, and cameras to help someone know of the hope that we have.

If you want to be a missionary online but you’re not sure how to go about getting started, here are five important steps to help you:

Step 1: Write down your project and stick to it.

Your project is a God-given assignment – a task that the Holy Spirit will equip you to complete. Your project or mission work will be based on your gifts, talents, skill set, and experience. But, don’t try to do everything.

Examples of mission projects:

Creating an animated video series explaining the relevance of prophecies in Daniel and Revelation
Writing a blog geared toward gaining victory over pornography
Launching a weekly online Bible study on a video conferencing platform
Starting a podcast answering the most popular questions people have about the Bible
Managing a Facebook page sharing stories of how people came to know Jesus Christ
Recording a WhatsApp Cast with daily devotional thoughts

Digital missionaries must choose a target area to work in, the same way that traditional missionaries choose a country. For example, your focus area might be Facebook or WhatsApp or YouTube.

The object of online evangelism and mission work is to reach people online and share content that will encourage, inspire, and point them to Christ.

We may speak words of encouragement to those whom we meet. “A word spoken in season, how good is it!” Souls are perishing for the lack of personal labor.– E.G. White, Letter 151, 1903.

Step 2: Register as an online missionary.

Being a part of the Database for Online Missionaries will connect you with other digital disciples and online workers. This database can provide a support system and give you access to resources that could help you serve more effectively.

The Center for Online Evangelism is creating a directory for online missionaries. Individuals who intentionally use the internet to share the Gospel are invited to sign up for the directory. Donors and mission supporters can also view this database and back a project. To register, email [email protected] with the subject line "Register for Online Missionary Database."

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick: Luke 9: 1,2 NIV

Step 3: Choose a prayer partner and pray

Your prayer partner will be the person who believes in what God called you to do and they are willing to stand in the gap for you. This is the friend or relative who will pray with you regularly and encourage you when you are tempted to give up.

Praying is the highest work of a missionary.

It is not a means to an end but the end of our work because it brings us directly in contact with God. Prayer equips us with the strength needed to do the task given by God. A prayer partner helps us formulate specific prayers and plays a crucial role building on our holy faith.

As we make Christ our daily companion we shall feel that the powers of an unseen world are all around us, and by looking unto Jesus we shall become assimilated to His image (Pr. 82.1).

Step 4: Create a content strategy

It’s important to have a plan. That plan comes in the form of a content strategy.

A content strategy is like creating a blueprint or a map for your work. This documented plan encompasses the planning, creation, publishing, distribution, and management (of feedback) of your content. It also includes:

A description of your target audience
Goals
A content calendar
How you will measure your success

Download a guide to Digital Evangelism for Ministries.

Step 5: Improve your skills

Whether you will be writing a blog, producing videos, preaching, or recording a podcast, you need resources that will help you get better at what you do.

Assuming that you know it all hinders the work of the Holy Spirit in you. Here are a few things you can do to enhance your proficiencies:

Subscribe to newsletters
Sign up for webinars related to your interest
Attend conferences
Watch tutorials
Join Facebook groups
Ask other missionaries and ministry leaders for guidance
Visit our resource page often for content related to your area of focus

Conclusion

By taking these simple steps, you can be on your way to starting your work as an online missionary. Remember, this is not like a class project or a hobby; this is a sacred work and should be regarded as such.

If you bear in mind the magnitude of your mission task and the significance of sticking with it, you will find that you won’t easily give up during trying moments. Christ commissioned you to do this work. He will also empower you and provide the means to be successful.

Sometimes, online mission work can get out of control. Read this article about how digital missionaries can balance online work and spiritual health.

Are you interested in being an online missionary? Email [email protected] to register for our Online Missionaries Database.

Reposted with permission from centerforonlineevangelism.org.

Introduction to Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Helping More Seekers Find Your Ministry

9/20/2018

Jamie Jean Schneider Domm

Digital Strategist for the North American Division.

Amy Prindle

The Center for Online Evangelism is a missionary project devoted to developing online mission stations.

This blog post is part of a SEO series created through a collaborative partnership between the Social Media + Big Data department of the North American Division and the Center for Online Evangelism.

Whether you’re a conference, union, church, a school, a regional office, a service organization, or a retailer, you may be asking:

What is SEO, and what does it have to do with my ministry?

One way to understand SEO is to think of the internet as a traditional library, but bigger. All the world’s content is in this library. To find material on a certain topic, you don’t just wander through each aisle. This is a large, multi-story building with shelves from floor to ceiling. If you want to find what you need, and fast, you ask the librarian: Google.

You approach Google: “I need snow leopard information.” With that, Google brings you stacks of books. There are travel magazines about zoos that have snow leopards, kids’ picture books of snow leopards, decor magazines about snow-leopard-print area rugs, reference books on animal facts, a few encyclopedias, some National Geographics, and some support manuals for Apple OS X Snow Leopard.

You’re overwhelmed, so you say, “Actually, I just want to know where snow leopards live.”

Google whisks the previous stack away and returns with a smaller stack of literature. You pick the first book off top, quickly scan through, and find, “Ah—they live in the mountains of Central Asia.”

Done. And you only needed to look at the first few pages of the top book.

The goal of Google’s search engine is to give searchers exactly what they’re looking for. If it didn’t do that very well, people wouldn’t use their search engine.

Google acts as the Great Virtual Librarian, seeking content that is most relevant to what was typed in the search box. The more specific the search query, the more specific the search results.

On the other hand, if an author wants their book to make the librarian’s short list for a certain topic, they must demonstrate to the librarian that, for a certain topic, their book is the best match or contains the most reliable information.

An author might do this by designing a catchy cover. They might also make the book title contain words that are often used when people ask questions about this topic. They write a subtitle that further specifies what readers will learn, and they craft the back-cover copy as a teaser to draw the reader in. They also have someone write an author bio that positions that author as an expert in the field.

The author will also seek to get on bestseller lists, be quoted in various magazines, and even get recommended by other authors. Maybe this author will write forewords to other books and have other prolific authors write the foreword in theirs. The author will be posting ads, participating in interviews, doing readings, etc.

The author creates a credible “buzz” and elevates this book as relevant for its topic.
The librarian sees all this and brings this book to all readers asking about this topic.

And if the library patrons willingly receive it, or even come back to read it again, all the more reason to keep bringing out this book for queries on this topic.

The author catered to the librarian by catering to what the readers were looking for.

Keep this analogy in mind as we go through this series. Each of those elements represent an online process involved in search engine optimization and, ultimately, the success of your web presence.

SEO is all about helping the right people in the “online mission field” find YOUR ministry. There are people out there that are searching for what is already your specialty—a cooking class, a good private school, a small friendly church, a big friendly church, a health seminar, an online Bible study, information about a perplexing Bible verse, how to deal with peer pressure, or how to find help and support when your friends and family aren’t helpful.

You may have heard the term “SEO” or “Search Engine Optimization” if you work with websites, content management, social media, or web development.

It’s a catch-all term to describe a collection of efforts to make your web presence more prominent in search results after someone types a related phrase into a search engine (most likely Google, but some use Bing, Yahoo, etc.)

Because it’s such a widely-applied and ever-evolving process, SEO does not have a set definition in a dictionary—it has several definitions! The most important thing to keep in mind, however, is that:

SEO is all about people—their behaviors and preferences—and not just search engines.

It’s about your target audience’s needs, desires, and questions, and learning how you can best make the connection so they realize that, yes, you can provide what they need. You are worth their time.

Then they either buy from you, subscribe to your content, follow you on social media, join your cause, or come to your event or location (all possible calls-to-action—which will be studied later in this series!).

SEO combines some technical work with creative, strategic content work. Often, a complete SEO project involves an SEO specialist, a content strategist (copywriter), and a web developer. However, there are several SEO best practices you can implement yourself as a content manager, communication director, webmaster, or tech-savvy volunteer.

The process of SEO can have a big effect on your ministry’s online presence, whether your audience is local or global.

SEO is so big in the business world that there is an overabundance of tools and techniques being pushed by various “authorities” in the industry. It can be an overwhelming field to try to learn and keep up with, and it’s often difficult to know who to trust. Even experienced specialists in this industry still find it challenging.

That’s why this guide was created to help you through SEO fundamentals, step-by-step, to make sure our Church’s ministries do not miss out on these potentially far-reaching benefits.

Click here for the full SEO series and resource guide.

External Articles:

How Mormons are Winning the Internet

External Resources:

The Beginners Guide to SEO
Link Building for SEO: The Definitive Guide (2018 Update)
How to Do Keyword Research for SEO

Why Search Engine Optimization Matters for the Adventist Church

9/20/2018

Jamie Jean Schneider Domm

Digital Strategist for the North American Division.

Amy Prindle

The Center for Online Evangelism is a missionary project devoted to developing online mission stations.

This blog post is part of a SEO series created through a collaborative partnership between the Social Media + Big Data department of the North American Division and the Center for Online Evangelism.

Why Search Engine Optimization Matters for the Church

Search Engine Optimization, Online Marketing, Content Strategy, Big Data…why should the Seventh-day Adventist Church prioritize these digital strategies and tools?

Most of the world spends hours online each day. Many people have become addicted to research, googling anything they have a question about. They look for maps and location information, check product reviews, read articles, watch videos, post comments, check in with old friends...they’ll even google questions close to their heart—questions they don’t feel comfortable asking close friends or family. Many people may google questions about topics such as spirituality, health, or information to help them through an inner struggle.

To be specific, 74,000 people google “Bible study” each month. That’s almost the entire population of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

The name “Jesus” is googled 1,500,000 times a month, and “Adventist” 18,100 times a month.

Pulled August 2018 from keyword research tools Keyword Planner (Google Ads), Ubersuggest and Keywords Everywhere.

This is a huge ministry opportunity—if Adventist websites can rank high in the search results Google displays for these search terms.

Currently, however, that’s not the case. Other websites are catching this traffic.

This is a missed opportunity to introduce these seekers to the hope and help that the Adventist message can provide. To quote Forbes,

Websites without SEO are like brick-and-mortar businesses without doors.

What is SEO?

Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is an ever-evolving set of strategies used in online marketing to help organizations reach more of their target audience. It is the process of utilizing a variety of techniques to positively impact a website’s visibility in unpaid search engine results. The higher a website ranks when a person googles search terms related to it, the more web traffic it receives. Most people do not scroll past the first page of search engine results. With this important fact in mind, I challenge you to google Seventh-day Adventist Church, Jesus, Bible prophecy, or the name of your church, ministry, organization, etc. What do you find? What kind of digital “curb appeal” did your search results reveal? Was it good or bad? Are people being led away by the competition or misinformation?

This resource will dive into what SEO strategies involve and how it relates to each of our ministries, from local to global. By being intentional and strategic, we can improve our digital curb appeal and encourage more people to encounter, and possibly embrace, our message.

Just as Seventh-day Adventists made strides in popular media throughout history—from print to radio to television—it’s now time to leverage the near limitless missionary opportunities the internet and digital technologies provide for us.

We can’t ignore this vast online audience (“the online mission field”) that already wants what we have to offer—an audience we may never otherwise meet!

SEO is both highly technical and an art form. Professionals in this arena are highly sought-after and highly compensated by many types of businesses that know their true profitability depends on their findability and reputation online. But we can, with some education, invest the time (and sometimes money) ourselves to implement these valuable techniques. This is your chance to learn insider information and use it for the gospel—ultimately aiding the fulfillment of the Great Commission (Matt. 28:16-20).

As with all things digital, the technology and tricks-of-the-trade will continually change, but the underlying philosophy will remain largely the same. With careful, prayerful guidance, let us begin.

Click here for the SEO series and resource guide.

How Digital Missionaries Can Escape the Infinite Scroll

9/12/2018

Center for Online Evangelism

The Center for Online Evangelism is a missionary project devoted to developing online mission stations.

How digital missionaries can escape the infinite scroll

For years my parents have always had one particular squabble; mom would say she’s going into the store for a few minutes to pick up one item, but she usually emerged twenty minutes with several grocery bags. Dad always responded, “I thought you were going in for one item?”

I’m sure many people can relate to this. But this problem isn’t unique to shopping. Many digital missionaries are at risk of what we’ll call SMTYI Syndrome: Spend More Than You Intend Syndrome. This occurs when you plan to spend a few minutes on social media but actually spend way more time than you intended. You aim to spend 5 minutes on Facebook or Instagram but 30 minutes pass by before you realize it.

Why does this happen?
Why is it so difficult to stick to our “time budget”?
What impact does SMTYI Syndrome have on Online Evangelism?
More importantly, how can we curb the problem?

THERE'S A SCIENCE BEHIND WHY YOU KEEP SCROLLING

There is a science behind why we are so addicted to our social media pages and why we keep scrolling even though we know there are more important things to do. Social media and websites designers intentionally create their pages in a way to keep you scrolling.

For example, your notifications are red because red grabs our attention in a way that other colors can’t. Stop signs, danger signs, and stop lights command us to pay attention. Likewise, when we see a red notification indicating that there’s a new message or comment, it’s hard to ignore it.

Another reason why digital missionaries are at risk in the online mission field is The Infinite Scroll: the endless page that keeps showing posts, photos, videos, trailers, and so forth.

The designer of the infinite scroll, Aza Raskin makes millions creating tricks to keep us scrolling. Raskins designed the feature based on the famous soup bowl experiment where researchers found that subjects ate 73% more if they were unknowingly eating from a self-refilling bowl. Interestingly enough, even though the subjects consumed more, they didn’t believe that they ate more than those who ate from normal bowls. Raskins admitted that the feature is powerful enough to become addictive, something that he now feels guilty about.

If social media sites gave you an option to go to another page, you would spend less time scrolling. The infinite scroll tactic keeps us in a trance, and it’s only one feature among dozens that makes it almost impossible to stick to your allotted “time budget.”

Your friend’s wedding photos, your co-worker’s video while at the water park, a movie trailer, someone’s live video, an ad for an item you googled yesterday: all of these have a price tag. It may not have the dollar sign on it, but the currency is in minutes and seconds. Eventually, it all adds up.

THE INFINITE SCROLL HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON EVANGELISM

Undeniably, the infinite scroll takes its toll on individuals, relationships, and productivity. The most unfortunate consequence is its effect on spirituality and the mission Christ gave His church. Many of us who would like to do more online for Christ find ourselves engrossed in things that have no eternal value.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to be good stewards of our finances, resources, and time by considering things that have an eternal value. While social media, YouTube, and other platforms are not inherently evil or wrong, if we are not careful of distractions on the infinite scroll, we end up losing precious moments that could be used to introduce others to the Savior.

Imagine you are given a mission to feed a village of starving people. You have the resources to accomplish your task, and you only have a few days before you have to move on. But as you get closer to the village, you find yourself intrigued by the countryside: its landscape, wildlife, and the sightseeing tours. You ask your driver to stop for a moment to take a few pictures. That leads to another activity, then another. Before long, the day is spent.

In this analogy, nothing is wrong with taking pictures and sightseeing, but losing sight of the mission and forgetting the priority can have devastating effects. This is the same as getting distracted online because so many digital disciples may forget what’s important. This causes a setback in our overall online mission to show Christ’s love to a hurting world.

Evangelistic work, opening the Scriptures to others, warning men and women of what is coming upon the world, is to occupy more and still more of the time of God’s servants. – Review and Herald, Aug. 2, 1906.

HOW TO ESCAPE THE INFINITE SCROLL

All hope is not lost. The God of grace grants us the power to overcome hurdles that hinder the Gospel work. If you spend more idle time on social media than you intend, try putting these tips into practice.

1. Create a schedule.
On average, throughout the day, people check Facebook 14 times on their mobile devices. That doesn’t include other social media accounts like Instagram, Twitter, or WhatsApp. Kick this habit by setting scheduled times when you do check your account. If you check your social media accounts constantly, at first it might be difficult to stick to a schedule. But setting a schedule will give you more time to dedicate to evangelistic purposes. Try limiting yourself to time checks. For example, check for personal updates at 12 pm, 3 pm, and 8 pm for 10 minutes at a time. The rest of the time can be reserved strictly for evangelism or something else.

2. Deactivate social media apps on your phone.
Not having instant access to the app on your phone might help you save time. Instead, you can choose to check your notifications on a computer. Whether your content is directly related to the Gospel or life events, using your computer might help save time. Our mobile device keeps everything handy. While this definitely has its perks, it can also be a hindrance to a productive ministry life.

3. Replace scrolling with productive activities.
Another way to beat the infinite scroll is to allocate your social media time to self-improvement activities. Explore the Bible, develop a skill, or meditate on scripture. Social media is a digital rest place for a lot of people. While waiting in line, taking a lunch break, or sitting in a terminal, we go to social media to pass the time. Choose another rest place like an inspirational blog, a devotional site, or an e-book. You can also use that time to work on mission-driven content that you can use on social media.

TIME IS LIKE CURRENCY...

Remember, time is like currency; you can either spend it on things that are worthwhile or waste it on what you don’t need. If you attempt to save money without a plan, you’ll end up spending it frivolously. The same concept can be applied to social media. Plan to use your time for what will matter in the long run. By taking small steps, we can begin to use our time more effectively to build our faith and help others find Jesus.

What tips did we miss? What has helped you manage your time on social media? Share on our Facebook page — when you have the time!

Related Resource:

4 Tips for Digital Missionaries to Help Balance Digital Media and Spiritual Health

Reposted with permission from centerforonlineevangelism.org.

4 Creative Ways to Turn Your Church Website into an Evangelistic Tool

6/4/2018

Center for Online Evangelism

The Center for Online Evangelism is a missionary project devoted to developing online mission stations.

DRIVE TRAFFIC TO YOUR CHURCH WEBSITE BY MEETING THE NEEDS OF YOUR VISITORS

1. PROVIDE ONLINE BIBLE STUDIES
When you think about Bible studies, what picture comes to mind? For me, I used to imagine sitting in a circle with other attendees, Bibles opened in one hand and a pen in another, while balancing a notepad on your knee and quickly scribbling down everything a Bible instructor is saying. While some Bible study sessions might look like this, that picture is very different as the Digital Age rolls on.

You can use your church website to host a study with people from all over the globe! You have quite a few options, here are some suggestions to start with:

2. HOST A PODCAST ON RELEVANT ISSUES
Most church podcasts feature their sermons but why not take it a step further by creating a show for your church website visitors? What do I mean? People are always searching for podcasts that can teach them valuable information or that are related to their interests. What are the needs of the people at your church?

Research the needs of people online, and create a podcast that provides answers.

Some ideas:

Have members over age 50? Launch a podcast exploring retirement.
Lots of young adults? Create a podcast on ADULTING 101
For kids? Record Bible stories for parents to play at bedtime.

Implementing ideas like this into your church’s podcast will have members and visitors alike clicking back for more.

3. START A PASTOR'S BLOG
Sabbath morning doesn’t have to be the only time that your congregation hears from your pastor. Stretch the pulpit and let it reach your church website. If you think that it means uploading your pastor’s written sermon, I challenge you to look deeper.

What questions swirl in the minds of your members? Collect those questions and have your pastor write a blog post answering a question each week. With a creative pastor’s blog, it won’t be long until members and readers begin to think:

4. DO MORE WITH VIDEO
Video does a great job driving traffic to a website – this includes church websites. Humans love stories. With a cellphone in hand to capture quality video and sound, record individuals sharing how they came to know Jesus Christ and how faith in God brings them through trying moments. Take it a step further. Target various professionals in your congregation and create video content based on their area of expertise. For example, if Mr. B is a psychologist, produce a short video series on mental health or if Sister C is a financial officer, film 1-minute money-management tips. Click here for video tips.

'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'And I will send you out to fish for people': Matthew 4:19

Jesus gave people a reason to follow Him. He met their needs and showed them the perfect image of the Father. A church website is a powerful tool to share the compassionate Savior. By applying best practices and stepping outside the box, you can transform your church website into a digital fishing net.

Reposted with permission from centerforonlineevangelism.org.

Facebook’s under fire. What does that mean for us?

5/13/2018

Center for Online Evangelism

The Center for Online Evangelism is a missionary project devoted to developing online mission stations.

SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR FACEBOOK PRESENCE?

Facebook has been all over the news in the last few months, defending itself against mishandling of user data as well as bias in the type of content it favors in its algorithms.

This may lead to some questions of how we should regard and/or use this huge social media platform, a large part of the Online Mission Field.

While we continue to encourage Adventists to spread the Gospel over any social media, to share and support positive, help content and delve into spiritual topics, and even to start online Bible studies or groups, there are always best practices to consider.

But even while following best practices, Facebook could still cause your posts to be buried by their algorithm, or you might find yourself feeling bombarded by strangely-accurate online ads.

But is that a reason to leave Facebook? Is that a reason to stay silent? In most cases, we don’t think so.

There are issues to consider, as well as things we can do to keep our personal information as safe as possible and to conduct ourselves conscientiously. Overall, however, our opportunities for online mission work for individuals, groups, churches, schools, and ministries remain.

We invite you to read sdadata.org’s post, “Why Christians Shouldn’t Leave Facebook” by Jamie Domm, Digital Strategist for the North American Division.

In addition, if you’re concerned about the security of your personal information and what risks might be involved from maintaining activity on Facebook, especially with a spiritual focus, here are a few thoughts:

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH MY PERSONAL DATA?

As you may have heard from various news channels, Cambridge Analytica came under fire for mishandling Facebook user data with Facebook’s permission. The data ended up being allegedly used by advertisers during political election seasons to create super-targeted advertising meant to influence voter opinion.

And that’s not all. Discussions are ongoing as to how far this user data went—Was it shared to other companies? What are they using it for?

While the best anyone can do at this point is make educated guesses, here’s the bottom line—If yours or anyone else’s user data is retained by a firm like Cambridge Analytica or any other research entity, it’s likely used for marketing purposes.

The better they know your behavior, the easier it is to sell to you.

Knowing a faceless entity out there might have personal information about you is indeed unsettling. That’s why you’ll find piles of advice on what to share or not to share online, in order to prevent identity theft, predatory targeting, etc.

However, just by being online, personal data is collected minute by minute through our location data, browsing habits, search histories, clicks, downloads, Likes, Shares, etc.

But before we get too paranoid, remember that the most common use for all this data is so marketers can better know how to advertise to you. They may not even know your name, address or phone number, but they know that your IP address likes to shoe shop on Zappos.com, share and comment on cat videos, or discuss certain topics on Quora or reddit. (Read more here.)

If a platform is free to use, like Facebook, advertising is footing the bill. And for those advertisers to get the most bang for their buck, they’re going to use the most targeted, intuitive marketing strategies possible to maximize sales. And that means knowing more about what their audience values.

Truth be told, it’s not entirely different offline. Companies track consumer habits everywhere from the grocery store to Home Depot to your local pharmacy. Ads in the most innocent of places are built upon Big Data in order to convince you to buy.

While there may be a time or two when you feel a bit violated after an accidental click or unintentional social media “rabbithole” can result in a few sponsored posts you’d rather not see or have associated with you, at least we still have the free agency to choose not to click on that ad and scroll right past. (Advertisers will eventually notice that, too.)

WHAT PRECAUTIONS CAN I TAKE?

Even so, it’s never a bad idea to be extra savvy in how you represent yourself online. You can be selective about the social platforms you participate in, and set both your browser’s and your social profiles’ privacy settings conservatively.

You can also put extra care into how much you share about your preferences in sports, politics, spirituality, business or other hotly debated topics, and whether or not you draw attention to your travels, your family play-by-plays, your big purchases, etc.

There are also browser extensions and apps that can block adware, pop-ups, and detect some website trackers (Avast, AdBlock, Privacy Badger, Ghostery, etc.).

All in all, the Center for Online Evangelism recommends we always be conscientious about how we continuously represent ourselves, our families, and our communities online. We can’t tell everyone exactly what to share or not to share, as every individual has their own priorities, sensitivities, and life situations. All we can do is promote proven best practices and keep you aware of what could be amazing opportunities as well as (and sometimes simultaneously) considerable threats in the online world.

When it comes to Facebook, do keep up with news reports from your trusted channels. The issues about privacy, user data, bias, and algorithms will likely be ongoing discussions.

But as Christians actively spreading the Gospel to every nation, kindred and tribe, why not keep right on connecting, discussing, promoting, helping and sharing on Facebook right up until Jesus comes, or we’re booted from the platform. Whichever happens first.

Reposted with permission from centerforonlineevangelism.org.

7 Tips for Starting Online Bible Studies

3/22/2018

Center for Online Evangelism

The Center for Online Evangelism is a missionary project devoted to developing online mission stations.

Someone online just expressed interest in studying the Bible with you! Here’s how to make sure you’re prepared.

Pray and study for yourself
It’s nearly impossible to share something you don’t have. We are told to “study so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth” (2. Tim. 2:15). The best way to prepare for studying with another person is through your own prayer and Bible study. The Holy Spirit is the One who will be doing the work, so it’s crucial to ensure He is leading. By seeking God through prayer, we give Him the opportunity to give us wisdom in what will be discussed.
Speak the truth in love
A character from a familiar holiday film asked, “Which one is better: a truth that draws a tear, or a lie that draws a smile?” While many will debate this question for some time, life shows that a lie that draws a smile will eventually draw tears. Jesus said, “I am…the Truth” (John 14:6). It is not productive to withhold statements, verses, or lessons just because we fear how the student will feel about it.

That said, when sharing Christ, always do so with love. Love is not solely occupied with a person’s feelings but their eternal well-being. This does not mean that feelings are disregarded, but love for God and for others will guide us in how we should share precious truth. Debates and heated arguments will bring more harm than good. Using lots of exclamation marks!!!, bold type, and CAPITALIZATION can convey that you are “shouting” through the screen, which will cause a person to become uncomfortable and defensive. “Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights” (2 Tim. 2:23).
Share your personal story
If you want to convince someone about how great something is, the best proof you have is your personal experience. It’s hard to discredit someone’s personal testimony! When conducting Bible study online, remember that the person has access to a plethora of information about the Bible and who Jesus is. You bring something unique—your experience with Jesus. Share what He has done to change you or bring you through difficult situations. Describe the impact the Bible has on your heart.

Consider this: One of the main reasons social media is so popular is because it allows us to share personal experience. You can do the same during an online Bible study.
Don’t pretend to have all the answers
We won’t have all the answers for common issues of life, so it shouldn’t surprise you if you can’t answer every question a person may have about God or the Bible. After all, God is “past finding out” (Rom. 11:33)!

Many are hesitant about giving a Bible study because they fear being unable to answer a question. It’s perfectly ok to say, “I don’t know,” or “I’m still studying that myself!” or “we won’t find out until Christ comes.” What you don’t want to do is give the impression that you know it all. This will not only turn a person off from studying with you, but it will close your heart from growing in the Spirit.
Choose your method and platform
You have several options for carrying out your study. Free video calling software allows you to interact with people directly, which also reduces the risks of misunderstanding a concept over emails, texts, or comments. FreeConference, Zoom, and Google, to name a few, allow you to hold meetings with up to 50 people at a time.

You also have the choice to record a live Bible study and make it available to others. While this option doesn’t give as much opportunity for engagement as the first, it is still a good way to allow people to learn or watch at their own pace. Google Hangouts on Air allows you to do this, and Jing, Camstasia,and RecordIt are all screencasting options available on Windows or Mac. (Screencasting refers to the recording of activity on your computer screen and later adding a voice over.)
Build a relationship
Christ’s method of evangelism was heavily based on building relationships. The first thing He did before He began a ministry was to cultivate a community for relationships to grow. The online world thrives because it fosters a sense of community that transcends location. Relationships can be easily formed.

When you grow a relationship with someone, you learn the person’s needs, goals, desires, joys, pains, and hopes. After becoming sincerely interested in someone’s heart, God can show you the best way to reach them. God said that it wasn’t good for the first man created to be alone. Even though he lived in a perfect world, Adam still needed relationship. Even though your Bible studies are online, you still have a chance to connect with people in a meaningful way.
Be passionate
Have you ever met an unenthusiastic salesperson? Chances are they haven’t made many sales. The most passionate people are those who “truly believe in what they believe.” These are the people who can easily spark interest because others are drawn to their passion. While your passion will not convict someone’s heart (that’s the Holy Spirit’s work), it will certainly capture someone’s attention.

The Apostle Paul tells us to “be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” (Rom. 12:11). A Christian without a passion for Christ is like a fire that doesn’t give off any heat. If you are truly in love with the Lord, you will be excited about His love and the forgiveness you have found in Him. Because of this, people will be drawn to the fire in you, whether online or offline.

Online Bible study is just like inviting a friend to exercise with you—you both will learn and grow stronger together. The enemy will use fear and doubt to discourage you, but you must claim the promise that Jesus gave to His disciples when He sent them into all the world; “I am with you always” (Matt. 28:20).

Reposted with permission from centerforonlineevangelism.org.

Why Your Church Needs an Online Ministry—and How to Start One

3/22/2018

Center for Online Evangelism

The Center for Online Evangelism is a missionary project devoted to developing online mission stations.

Years ago, I worked as an English language assistant in Northern France. The nearest Adventist church was an hour away and the second church was two hours away. With no car and little money for train tickets, I wasn’t able to attend church every Sabbath. I turned to the internet for church. Via my computer, I was instantly connected to a family of faith. I sent in requests for prayer and explored Bible topics with this online community. For a whole year I remained connected to a church family, even though I was thousands of miles from home and didn’t have a home church. This would not have been possible if this particular church didn’t have an online ministry. Ten years later, although I have a home church, I credit much of my spiritual growth to an online church branch.

Here are the top three reasons your church needs an online ministry:

1. Half of the world’s population is online.
3.8 billion and climbing—that’s the number of people who currently have access to the internet. This means your church has access to people all over the world, if you’re online. This doesn’t mean that reaching all of these people is easy. But we know that the world is a much smaller place because of the internet. Every church has been given the mission to “go into the entire world.” Wherever the people are, we should make the effort to make the presence of God felt. Because of the Digital Age, the Gospel can reach the farthest corners of the world.

2. You can get your entire church involved in discipleship.
Most of the individuals at your church have a personal screen. Whether it’s their iPad, phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop, nearly everyone has access to at least one device. Every time your church members open their laptops or turn on their phones, they have an opportunity to share Christ. Online ministry gives each church member an opportunity to get involved. Everyone might not be able to go on a foreign mission trip, volunteer at a shelter, or preach an evangelistic series, but everyone can share God’s love online. If a person can type and have contacts online, they can share the personal impact Christ has in their lives.

3. People are turning to Google for answers
When was the last time you had a question and typed it into the Google search bar? From questions about how to get rid of a neck kink, to whether God is real, people turn to Google for answers. The answers don’t magically appear, however – someone must write the information and post it online. With an online ministry, your church can provide answers to certain issues people face. If your church’s online ministry focuses on drug addiction, challenges in marriage, or raising a child with a disability, when someone goes online searching for answers related to those topics, your ministry’s content could bring hope and healing. If people are googling, we should be there to answer when they ask.

Here are seven ways your church can launch an online ministry:

Start a church blog
Launch a YouTube channel
Create a podcast
Have online Bible studies using video conference software
Make sermons available online
Use Facebook Live to engage with an online audience
Engage with church visitors using unique text-messaging software

Of course, you can use these platforms in a variety of ways to reach different demographics. As your church seeks to fulfill God’s purpose, the Holy Spirit will lead and bring fruit from your digital evangelism efforts.

God has given us access to a powerful tool (the internet). By using it the right way and following the guidance of the Holy Spirit, your church can play its part in fulfilling the Great Commission. Our newsletters, blogs, and podcast provide information to help your church start an online ministry. If you have one going, using best practices can improve effectiveness.

Share below what your church is doing in online ministry.

Reposted with permission from centerforonlineevangelism.org.

Become an Online Missionary!

1/23/2018

Center for Online Evangelism

The Center for Online Evangelism is a missionary project devoted to developing online mission stations.

People are Googling for God.

Each year there are millions of Google searches for answers to questions like:
“Is God real?”

“What happens when we die?”

“How do I know I’m saved?”

“Why is there so much suffering in the world?”

Additionally, many people are hurting, entertaining suicidal thoughts, or feel there is no hope for their situation. They turn to the internet for companionship, understanding, information, anonymity, and more. It’s easier for them to pour their hearts out on Google, Reddit or a topical forum than it is to come to a friend, neighbor, co-worker or family member.

This great need yields an opportunity for you to share the hope found in Christ.

No matter your skill set, interests, or socio-economic status, you can be a beacon for the hope only God can give. Being an online missionary simply means you dedicate time online to help people learn more about Jesus Christ and invite them to follow Him.

With the increase of social media platforms, websites, and the popularity of video sharing sites, there are countless types of media you can use to connect with someone, build a relationship, care for their needs, and point them to a saving relationship with the Lord.

There are so many ways to do this. It could simply be what you share on your Facebook page, blog, YouTube channel, Instagram feed…wherever you spend your time and have nurtured a circle of friends or followers. You can share articles, quotes, scripture, or begin discussions of your own. You can even use proven evangelistic strategies to lead others to Bible studies, whether at your local church, or online in a private Facebook group. The possibilities are as limitless as our God!

There are many online missionaries and digital disciples out there already. But as you know, the harvest is so plentiful that more workers are always needed.

Anyone who is a follower of Jesus is called to be a disciple and we were all given the commission to “go…and make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19, NKJV). Now the nations are literally at our fingertips! We can ‘travel’ to Asia to tell someone of Jesus and at the same time share Bible truth with someone living on the West coast of the United States—while sitting at home, thousands of miles away from those we are interacting with.

These days, anything you can think of can be accessed online. Why not make Jesus more accessible?

If you are looking forward to the soon return of Christ and if you have access to the internet, you can be an online missionary.

Post it. Text it. Tweet it. Pin It. Share it. Vlog it.

What is ‘It’? The Good News that Jesus died to save us from our sins and is coming soon to take us home!

Not sure how to start? The Center for Online Evangelism is dedicated to providing you with resources to help you as an online missionary. Click here for more>>

Reposted with permission from centerforonlineevangelism.org.

Steal These Insider Secrets to Get Your Content Noticed

1/10/2018

Center for Online Evangelism - Amy Prindle

The Center for Online Evangelism is a missionary project devoted to developing online mission stations.

Think about your daily morning routine with your inbox or social media feed.
It’s a bunch of scrolling, skimming headlines, and likely hitting “delete” 18 or more times. Noise. Clutter. Overload.

What would it take to get your attention?
Maybe an email’s subject addresses a question you’ve had, a process you’re stuck in, or a new idea you’ve been trying to crank out. Maybe it pushed the envelope a bit, or was just odd enough for you to wonder about. Bottom line: It cut through the clutter because the words in the headline connected with you and your current situation.

We have to expect that those in our audience, on our mailing lists, or following us on social media are in the same noisy, cluttery, overwhelm-y state of content consumption. They’re on your lists for a reason, so you do know there’s a common interest or shared mission. But is your content rising above the noise in their inboxes?

“In today’s world, digital media is so pervasive that it’s no longer considered unique; it’s a way of life,” explains a recent post on SearchEngineLand.com. “Virtually everyone has a smartphone, and most individuals and households have smart devices.”

But we’re on these devices because we’re all looking for something—whether it’s a moment of entertainment, help with a problem, statistics to back up a claim, or just something useful to feed our ravenous yet attention-deficit brains for the time being. So what can we give our audiences that they’re already looking for?

You should already know your audience. (And if you don’t, maybe it’s time for a survey, a study, some A/B testing, etc.). What can you give them that would make their lives easier, help them grow, or do something better or faster? Marketing guru Seth Godin asks, “How will your audience change as a result of your [article/letter/post/video]?”

An effective headline can open the door for further ministry
Your content has to be clicked on before it can have any kind of life-changing effect. So to truly stand out among the noise, your headline has to communicate directly to the reader, “This will make your life easier” or “Here’s a way to do the thing you always do, faster” or “Here’s some insight on that nagging question in your mind.”

Here are some great headline tips, summarized from okdork.com's 1,000,000-headline performance analysis.

List posts perform well
This is a highly shareable form of headline for an article or video. This doesn’t seem to get old—people love that list posts are highly skimmable and offer clear takeaways, such as “5 Ways to Streamline Your Mornings” or “21 Undeniable Facts About Bananas.”

Use “you” and “your” frequently
These words already tell readers’ brains that this is about them—which is who they’re consuming content for in the first place. A simple headline such as “How to Organize Your Inbox” will perform better than “How to Have an Organized Inbox.”

Enable your readers to envision a better life
If readers believe they will learn how to do something amazing, win free stuff, save lots of money, or get the inside scoop on a little-known tip or trick, they are more likely to click on your headline or email subject. “Use promising words to your readers,” which will make them more likely to hit “share.”

Slightly alter headlines for different channels
DIY-ers love Pinterest, while business and tech talkers hang out on Twitter and LinkedIn. Facebook tends toward the light and friendly sharing of ideas and household tips, especially in video form. YouTube has a niche for just about everyone.

Tug at emotions
Descriptively acknowledge what your audience is going through and how this piece of content addresses it. Ask questions, even venture assumptions, such as “Feeling stuck? Try these 5 decision-making tips” or “If you still haven’t decided what to do this weekend, here’s all you need.”

For your swipe file, keep a list of “power words” and phrases that can trigger emotional responses, such as “the truth about,” “breakthrough,” “stress-relieving, “revolutionary,” “exhilarating,” etc. (Just google “power words for headlines” and you’ll find several useful results!)

Keep these tips in mind, but remember to stay real and conversational. If you’re stuck on writing that email subject or post headline, think, “how would I title this if I was sending it to my friend?”

Read the full 1,000,000-headline-analysis article here.

Also incredibly useful: Cheat sheet for writing posts that go viral

Reposted with permission from centerforonlineevangelism.org.

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Center for Online Evangelism

Every follower of Jesus Christ is called to be a missionary.

​Step 1: Write down your project and stick to it.

Step 2: Register as an online missionary.

Step 3: Choose a prayer partner and pray

Step 4: Create a content strategy

Step 5: Improve your skills

​Conclusion

Jamie Jean Schneider Domm

Amy Prindle

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Jamie Jean Schneider Domm

Amy Prindle

Search Engine Optimization, Online Marketing, Content Strategy, Big Data…why should the Seventh-day Adventist Church prioritize these digital strategies and tools?

This is a huge ministry opportunity—if Adventist websites can rank high in the search results Google displays for these search terms. ​

What is SEO?

Center for Online Evangelism

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Center for Online Evangelism

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​Center for Online Evangelism

SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR FACEBOOK PRESENCE?

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Center for Online Evangelism

Center for Online Evangelism

​Here are the top three reasons your church needs an online ministry:

​Here are seven ways your church can launch an online ministry:

Center for Online Evangelism

​People are Googling for God.

​This great need yields an opportunity for you to share the hope found in Christ.

​Post it. Text it. Tweet it. Pin It. Share it. Vlog it.

Center for Online Evangelism - Amy Prindle

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Step 1: Write down your project and stick to it.

Conclusion

This is a huge ministry opportunity—if Adventist websites can rank high in the search results Google displays for these search terms.

Center for Online Evangelism

Here are the top three reasons your church needs an online ministry:

Here are seven ways your church can launch an online ministry:

People are Googling for God.

This great need yields an opportunity for you to share the hope found in Christ.

Post it. Text it. Tweet it. Pin It. Share it. Vlog it.