Awesome Terry! It's great to hear of your ongoing engagement with people through social media. And I agree with you that social media is a tool that can be used for good or evil just like any other tool like a car, or a website or hand-written letters.

Was going to tweet you, but this has more characters.

As my boss has been away, I've been playing around with some social media (using some information from a few articles on this site). Our reach has risen from 20 to 124 as of the last post. Using it to link into Sundays. To try to foster conversation (people are getting more comfortable). Even using my own personal Facebook to develop a positive atmosphere that encourages others to be careful with what they post, and to post for the purpose of conversation.

This has led to some great conversations, some mild conflicts that were *healthy*, and has given me a lot of hope in what I'm able to use social media for. There are quite a few people that believe Facebook is the spawn of the devil but like anything, it's how it's used.

I can drive a car and hurt others with it, or I can drive responsibly and be a healthy contributor to those driving on the roads and highways. Either way, I'm responsible for my actions and what that brings across to others. No, it doesn't come across right all the time. Yes, I make mistakes. In a sense, it's easier for me to respond with an apology and a proper interpretation online than it is for me to try to explain to a person driving another car that I'm genuinely sorry.

So things are looking good, and they're on the up and up! Thanks for everything Paul!

That's neat Terry. Thanks for sharing that. I'll write something up using the comments you've left here and give you the opportunity to review it and request changes before its published.

Well, I've specifically found with one teen, it's built some great bridges there. Someone who I've been going for coffee with on and off, but because of Social Media we've been able to maintain a strong relationship. He recently got dumped by his girlfriend, which is extremely challenging for a teen (or anyone, really). Most people were telling him to just get over it because "there are more fish in the sea". Because of Social Media, I was able to spend quite a bit of time helping him, not on the premise of a "Youth Pastor", but as a true "friend" through Facebook.

He's doing much better now. The grieving of the relationship is passing. I guess if I look into what happened, I realize that through Social Media, I transcended "That Youth Pastor" and became "My Friend" to this guy. I think that's real ministry there. If these things can happen (and continue to), then I've decided that I should continue with what I've learned so far in approaching this stuff and using it for relationship and ministry. When you move beyond "opinions" and move into "relationship" by using Social Media as a tool, a lot of things are possible.

I would have no problem with you doing a blog post about my story of progress. I'd love it, to be honest. It's been a real journey for me. Sometimes I honestly want to turn tail and run, but with the relationships I've been building that have gone beyond seeing me for coffee once a month to "I can talk to him online, message him, and he's there for me as a true friend", I refuse to flee. Nothing is worth these precious relationships. Suddenly, it all doesn't feel like I'm doing ministry as work. Instead, I realize that I've built a lot of friendships and can talk on deeper levels more easily. It's amazing. Truly, amazing.

Awesome Terry! I love, love, love hearing your updates! 🙂

Do you have any stories you can share where you've been able to minister to someone or perhaps seen spiritual growth in someone because of the connection you've made on social media? For example, maybe someone has seen you engaging in a friendly way with people and as a result felt safe enough to send you a private message asking you to pray about or help them with something they're struggling with? Or maybe because of something you wrote or posted, someone posted a comment saying they were going to study the bible more, serve in some new way, share their faith with someone or something along those lines?

If not, no problem. Eventually I'd like to do another blog post (with your permission) to tell the story of your progress in social media. And I think what would really hit home with many pastors would be to see tangible steps forward in people's journey of faith.

Slowly integrating more and more things into my FB connections. So far, so good. Actually, there have been more and more laughs, light-heartedness, and healthy connections being built. People ARE being consistently more open. It's hard not for me to want to run away and hide at points, and I'm still pretty guarded in some ways, but I'm also being as encouraging as possible. Probably… being "transparent, but not crystal clear"… or at least a step or two back from that.

Progress! Huge progress! The rapport is being built and connections are growing. I hope and pray it continues as it has been!

That's awesome, Terry. Glad to hear you made some intentional challenges in the way you engage others in social media, and I'm really excited to hear about the way others have responded. I think and hope that as you continue to develop good repore online, you'll be able to be more and more open including sharing an occasional post about a movie or music, occasionally challenging people a little more spiritually. As you do that, you'll find other people more willing to be open with you about what's really going on with them.

Keep up the good work! I look forward to hear more!

Hey Paul, wanted to give a quick update. I've started using Facebook more frequently to connect with people in my church and community. Mostly taking the approach of posting things that are positive and encouraging. Soon I will be putting a disclaimer under my profile that any debates or arguments are subject to be removed. Outside of that, I've been focusing very specifically on two different things.

1) I'm posting things that are very "me" (mostly funny things that are positive, not offensive) while always being mindful of how they'll be interpreted.
2) Creating posts that are positive, challenging, and encouraging, while not being too "churchy". I'm already noticing a difference. Here's how:

I'm finding that people are much more relaxed, enjoyable, and extremely positive as a whole when commenting and interacting. They seem to be behaving differently with me (in a good way) in person! It's allowed me to feel a lot more relaxed and less two-faced (ok, I wasn't being two-faced but I got that sensation that I had to hide myself). Sure, I don't openly post what movies I watch, what music I listen to, or what things interest me because *somebody* will have a problem, but I'm being real. In return, it's been easier to connect with other teens, chat with adults and parents, and I'm noticing I'm being perceived differently in the short little bit. Hope to fill you in even more in the coming weeks. Your blog is having an impact. Thank you Paul!