Courtesy of Huffington Post
“Mike could you help me set up a Facebook account?” my friend asked.
“Why?”
“Because I’m trying to get in contact with family members and our phone calls aren’t going through.”
That was the conversation I had with my friend after the massive Haitian Earthquake. She was scared, angry, and worried about her family members concerning the disaster that has touched the world.
People trying to reach family members
Ironically, it wasn’t the news media that first picked up the effects… it was through Twitter. And since then social media has played an integral part in the unfolding events:
- A video of the earthquake broadcasted on YouTube
- Wyclef Jean galvanizing support through Twitter
- Red Cross raising $1,000,000+ through text message campaign. Wait…excuse me…now its $3,000,000
- Blogs written by people in Haiti are being used as online bulletin boards by those seeking missing people. Here’s one example
- Facebook and Twitter are now a lifeline for those seeking family members–including this guy who found his cousin through Facebook
- CNN, presently the news organization with the most material on the quake, is enriching their work with social media
Oh…and let’s not forget Pat Robertson calling Haiti “cursed” because they “made a pact with the devil.”
This further confirms the inescapable presence of social media.
But what does this have to do with ministry? Well…I’ve said it before: if you’re not using social media for your ministry you’re obviously not the sharpest knife in the draw!
I mean think about it: if social media helped in getting the word out about the quake, helped in getting funds for the after effects, and helped in galvanizing support all AROUND THE WORLD…why can’t it be used to tell people about Jesus?!
The believer has the right to use social media for the Kingdom….unfortunately many have shunned that right!
But tell me…what do you think?
