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#DigitalEvangelism

Breaking Down Online Evangelism (Part 4) - Four Action Steps to Get Involved

4/16/2019

 

Felecia Datus

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

Breaking Down Online Evangelism 4

Four Action Steps to Get Involved in Online Evangelism

You’re on your way to becoming a digital missionary!

This is the final post in a four-part series where we aimed to break down online evangelism. 

Now that you’ve gone through what online evangelism is, its importance, and the role each individual can play, learn what you can do today to get involved.

1. Pray and Ask for the Holy Spirit

In Acts 1:8, Jesus Christ promised to give us power through His Holy Spirit so that we could be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. This includes the online world.
​

Arm yourselves with humility; pray that angels of God may come close to your side to impress the mind; for it is not you that work the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit must work you. It is the Holy Spirit that makes the truth impressive. Keep practical truth ever before the people. – Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 57. (1900)

2. Actively Engage in a Digital Evangelism Project

Be intentional about using your time, energy, and gadgets for soul-winning. Consider the gifts, talents, and resources God gave you and then choose a project. Learn how to start one here.

Here are 10 personal digital mission projects you can start today:
  1. Write a blog
  2. Start a YouTube channel
  3. Create stunning visuals sharing the Gospel (for social media)
  4. Launch a podcast
  5. Start an online Bible study group over Zoom
  6. Create audio devotionals for WhatsApp
  7. Reach out to friends on social media with encouraging notes
  8. Produce devotional videos
  9. Start an email list
  10. Build a ministry website

There are many resources to help you get started on any of these platforms. Click here to learn more about how to get involved. 

3. Support a Digital Missionary

You can support a digital missionary financially through their Patreon accounts or ask them how you can help their ministry.

Supporting is not limited to financial contributions.

Encourage digital missionaries with your prayers and words of encouragements. Those go a long way in helping to fight daily trials.
​
If a digital missionary makes a mistake, there are Christ-like ways to deal with the matter instead of condemning criticisms. Also, engaging and sharing a digital missionary’s content helps tremendously.
A supportive role is just as important as an active role.

4. Educate Yourself

Many people exclude themselves from the work of digital evangelism because they feel it’s “too techy” or they don’t know “computer stuff.”

Surprisingly, digital missionaries who have the most impact have little to no background experience. Many did not receive formal training in the area of communication or media.

These individuals were willing to be a part of the Great Commission and then took tangible steps to learn basic skills. Many taught themselves to edit audio and video, use a camera, design graphics, take photographs, and speak in front of a camera. 

You can subscribe to The Center for Online Evangelism newsletters, watch how-to videos, attend conferences, take online courses, or attend free webinars. The NAD’s Big Data + Social Media department provides articles, downloadable guides, and training videos as well as a newsletter.

The best part? They’re all free!
​

Anything that a member needs to become equipped to do this work is already available.

So, What's Stopping You?

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). 

May it not be said of this generation that we bypassed sledgehammers and chose feathers to crush rocks. Our devices are sledgehammers to break down barriers and show the world Jesus.
​

Let’s be wise to use our gadgets effectively to accomplish the most in spreading the Gospel and to tell the story of the Seventh-day Adventist movement.
Let every worker in the Master’s vineyard, study, plan, devise methods, to reach the people where they are. We must do something out of the common course of things. We must arrest the attention. We must be deadly in earnest. We are on the very verge of times of trouble and perplexities that are scarcely dreamed of. – Letter 20, 1893.
Previous posts in this series:
  • Breaking Down Online Evangelism (Part 1)​​
  • Breaking Down Online Evangelism (Part 2) - Why Digital Evangelism is Needed and Why Are We Behind?
  • ​Breaking Down Online Evangelism (Part 3) - Roles and Responsibilities
Download the Slides for Breaking Down Online Evangelism Part 4
File Size: 2278 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Reposted with permission from centerforonlineevangelism.org.

Breaking Down Online Evangelism (Part 3) - Roles and Responsibilities

4/16/2019

 

Felecia Datus

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

Breaking Down Online Evangelism 3
We continue our overview of digital evangelism. If you haven’t already, read part one about the keywords in online evangelism.

Also, read part two where we cover the three main reasons why digital evangelism is very important.
​
In part three, we review the role that each person and institution play in advancing the mission of online evangelism.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

No doubt, digital evangelism (or digital discipleship) calls for the development of many skills such as writing, editing, design, and creativity. Though certain aptitudes help tremendously with creating content for people online, one may master these skills yet lack power.

We must never underestimate the need for the Holy Spirit.

Without the Holy Spirit, the biggest budget and most detailed strategy will not work in saving souls. A video may be perfectly edited and a blog post may be meticulously written, but without divine power, souls cannot be won.

Our skills, experience, or ads will not convert hearts.

But Jesus promised to give power to His workers when they are filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).
Digital Missionaries must spend more time in prayer asking God for power to bring in a harvest. The Word of God must be constantly consumed. The content we create must flow from the Truth of His Word.
Allow the Holy Spirit to play His part.

The Role of Church Pastors and Leaders

If our ministers realized how soon the inhabitants of the world are to be arraigned before the judgment seat of God, to answer for the deeds done in the body, how earnestly they would work together with God to present the truth! – Letter 43, 1902.
Leaders must, with all diligence, encourage their members to take up their own portion of the Gospel work and do it with the power provided through the Holy Spirit.

If our leaders and pastors show an interest in the mission work being done online, their congregations will also follow suit.

Pastors, you could reach thousands more if you incorporated digital evangelism into your ministry.

Record your sermons and make them available online.

Encourage your department heads to create content that can be published on the web. Ensure that your communication department receives the budget to properly advertise the church’s services and events online.

Create online evangelism training opportunities for members. Make certain that your church has an effective online presence. Your church does not need to be active on all platforms. Choose one and effectively invest resources into that platform until the Spirit opens the way for you to expand your online reach.

By so doing, a church of 100 can grow to include thousands of online members who may not have access to a local Adventist church.
​

Use every opportunity to motivate your church members to use their devices for a greater purpose. If training is needed, there are workshops, webinars, and online resources available to churches and leaders.

The Role of Educational Institutions

True education is missionary training. Every son and daughter of God is called to be a missionary; we are called to the service of God and our fellow men; and to fit us for this service should be the object of our education.

They may spend their lives within the circle of the home; they may engage in life’s common vocations, or go as teachers of the gospel to heathen lands; but all are alike called to be missionaries for God, ministers of mercy to the world. – Ministry of Healing
The work of digital evangelism is specially crafted for today’s youth. Those who oversee their education can do a great deal to ensure that students are properly equipped to serve God online.

Remind students of the greater call on their lives to be missionaries in their career fields. Teach them to look beyond the temporal returns of a salary and promotion, toward a more glorious reward; the saving of souls. Instructors can wisely use their position to admonish students to be Godly influencers in their online circles.
​

Adventist schools have an opportunity like no other institution to help students untangle themselves from time-wasting habits and engage in intentional digital discipleship.

The Role of Parents

Parents are putting powerful tools in the hands of toddlers and children. Tablets and iPhones are fast becoming the gift of choice for teens. This generation does not know life without the internet, social media, iPads, and cellphones.

If youth are able to have their own device, they are also able to do online evangelism according to their ability. Parents and guardians can inspire their children to use their gadgets to positively influence their friends.

Instead of discouraging the use of social media, show your young ones how a noble use of their online powers can bring joy to their heavenly Father.
​

In an age of cyberbullying and suicide among teens, Adventist youth trained in online evangelism can help bring hope to other young people online.

The Responsibility of Every Disciple

The disciples were to teach what Christ had taught. That which He had spoken, not only in person, but through all the prophets and teachers of the Old Testament, is here included. - The Desire of Ages, p. 826.
​Church members are disciples of Jesus. Disciples are continuously on the move, following Christ and calling other people to live as He did. They are actively engaged in or supporting mission work.

The online world is languishing because we are not doing enough individually as members and collectively as a church. You and I will be held responsible for not using every means necessary to share the Gospel with our relatives, neighbors, and friends.

Members must move on from the erroneous belief that evangelism is an event that is organized by specific individuals in the church. Evangelism is like a living portrait; every member of the local church must intentionally work in his colors so that each church can show a beautiful depiction of the Gospel.

As a member of the body of Christ, the Lord blessed you with an exceptionally precious truth for this time. With a sense of urgency, make decided steps today to be more diligent in online work.
​

Read part 4, where we explore practical steps you can take today to be a part of online evangelism.

Previous posts in this series:
  • Breaking Down Online Evangelism (Part 1)​​
  • Breaking Down Online Evangelism (Part 2) - Why Digital Evangelism is Needed and Why Are We Behind?
Download Slides for Breaking Down Online Evangelism Part 3
File Size: 3700 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Reposted with permission from centerforonlineevangelism.org.

4 Reasons to Consider Using Mobile Giving Strategies

10/29/2018

 

Jason Alexis

Digital Strategist for PastorsLine and co-author of reTHINK.Ministry. ​​​​​​​

Text-to-Give Picture

Four reasons to include mobile giving as part of your church giving strategy:

  • Most people don’t carry around spare change.
  • In general, $50 is the most that 80 percent of Americans usually have on them.
  • Check-writing is basically a thing of the past. Almost ¾ of all Americans pay by check less than once a month. For those under 25, it’s even less—61 percent never write checks at all!
  • Payments have moved away from cash and checks (84 percent) to credit and debit (82 percent). 

So, HOW are they paying?

Lots are using their mobile phones. In recent years, payments via cell phones have increased from $30B to $545B (106% CAGR).

This amazing growth rate is predicted to continue with the younger generations for whom paying by phone is the norm.

To help you get started with texting for churches, 
download this free guide. 

Resources:
  • 3 Ways You Can Use Texting For Churches
  • An Introduction to Texting for Churches
  • Case Study: A Deep Dive (with Real Data) into the Use of Texting in Evangelism

Stories Raise Money

5/3/2017

 

Dustin Comm

Director of The Media Story, podcast and blog.

Picture
I haven't talked about this at all in the two years since I started working with churches to help them tell their stories in the community better. For a long time it didn't even occur to me to talk about it and why would I? We don't tell stories because they raise money, we tell stories because they are fundamental to our existence as humans and we're able to connect people to God in ways that spitting information at them will never accomplish.

But the fact is, stories raise money. A lot of money. And serving our community takes money, so we shouldn't be ashamed to fund-raise for God's kingdom.

Did you know there are national conferences for non-profits that exist solely to help them tell better stories to raise money? Ask any development/fundraising professional what they do and they'll tell you "I tell stories." 

Yet often in the church we ask for money in other ways that make people feel guilty or reluctant. In today's culture, people don't give to numbers, knowledge, or information. They give to stories.

Consider the following two appeals:

Story #1: "Our church has seen a 3.5% increase in attendance over the last 3 months, which has led to 13 individuals requesting Bible studies and 6 baptisms! When you return your tithes and offerings, make sure to remember our Small Group ministry which provides funds for materials, refreshments, and other expenses!" 

Story #2:  "Jon and Cheryl are one of the many new folks who have started attending our church recently. Just a few months ago they never thought they'd be in a church. They were overworked, underpaid, and working through a medical complication Jon suffered last year, which has left them in a financial deficit. They say it's because of the Bible studies their friends Chris and Natasha invited them to that got them wondering what more their lives could be. They realized there had been a depth missing in their lives that has now been filled by Christ, which led them to be baptized! But none of that would have happened without our Small Group ministry which allows the space for lives to be transformed like Jon and Cheryl. We need your help to make sure it continues flourishing!"

If you're like most people, you connected with Story #2 because it conveyed more than just numbers. In fact, people tend to give more to of a single story than to a data report of positive outcomes for larger numbers.

Check out the following fundraising video for a church in Brooklyn, NY. They not only straight-up ask you to donate, but go one step further and ask for each person to create their own campaign. But it doesn't feel pushy or harsh because you feel like you're a part of this movement, this mission the church is accomplishing in their community. And it's because it is framed within the church's story.

TGC Brooklyn: A New Morning Service from Trinity Grace Church on Vimeo.

So yes, ask for money, but do it by telling stories. You may just find that you have to stop asking for money altogether!

This article was originally posted on The Media Story.

South Pacific Division E-Giving And App

1/17/2017

 

Rodney Brady

Treasurer of the South Pacific Division

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We learned from the tithe-studies done in our region that many people don't really choose not to return tithe or give offerings. They just don't get around to it or don't have the money with them when they get to church. We realized that we needed to develop a website and a mobile giving app that addressed how people were managing their finances today.

We've been rolling out the online and mobile options over the last three years. In the first year, we had about two million dollars in tithe coming in from that source, but now, we're reaching almost two million dollars per month! We think that a lot of that increase has to do with being able to access the e-giving website and app. When we looked at the reports, the internet site usage goes up on the days that most people get paid, and on the offering side, i.e. the mobile app, the usage spike occurs during the Sabbath worship service time. It has become part of their worship.

Since younger people and even older ones don't go around carrying cash anymore, we definitely need to engage our younger generation in this way, otherwise it's going to prevent them from giving. Stewardship is about planning ahead!

We are in consultation with a few other divisions in this regard. The app has more than recovered the cost of its development. We are grateful for the vision and dedication of our IT people, and our administrators' support of the project.

Watch an interview with the author>>

This article originally appeared in the October-December 2016 issue of Dynamic Steward.

eGiving app on iTunes

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