Comments on: Can you do ministry online? http://simplyhis.org/2009/11/02/can-you-do-ministry-online/ Being a light to those God places on my path Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:15:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Glenn Steers http://simplyhis.org/2009/11/02/can-you-do-ministry-online/comment-page-1/#comment-12782 Glenn Steers Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:40:07 +0000 http://simplyhis.org/?p=860#comment-12782 OK, as a guy I guess I'm pre-wired for acceptance of technology so I'm going to agree with almost everything. But my perspective is somewhat different. The argument is always framed as a comparative, an "either-or" proposition..."which is better online or face-to-face?" (obviously the latter). That's because people are afraid that if online ministry is accepted as valid, face-to-face might stop or be replaced by "cyber-relationships." My perspective is that it adds to the Word of God in your life. My hunger is to hear God however and whenever I can, especially with my small groups and other connected followers. I'm not content with only hearing God speak to me, or sometimes through me, to others he's put in my life just once or twice a week. I want that Early Church daily hook-up of fellowship...face-to-face if I can but I'll take virtual in between. Would online fellowship cause me to stop face-to-face? No way! It makes me want to have it more. I agree, let's not limit God but use everything possible to stay connected to Him and his Body! OK, as a guy I guess I’m pre-wired for acceptance of technology so I’m going to agree with almost everything. But my perspective is somewhat different. The argument is always framed as a comparative, an “either-or” proposition…”which is better online or face-to-face?” (obviously the latter). That’s because people are afraid that if online ministry is accepted as valid, face-to-face might stop or be replaced by “cyber-relationships.” My perspective is that it adds to the Word of God in your life. My hunger is to hear God however and whenever I can, especially with my small groups and other connected followers. I’m not content with only hearing God speak to me, or sometimes through me, to others he’s put in my life just once or twice a week. I want that Early Church daily hook-up of fellowship…face-to-face if I can but I’ll take virtual in between. Would online fellowship cause me to stop face-to-face? No way! It makes me want to have it more. I agree, let’s not limit God but use everything possible to stay connected to Him and his Body!

]]> By: Reverend Lisa 1 http://simplyhis.org/2009/11/02/can-you-do-ministry-online/comment-page-1/#comment-12780 Reverend Lisa 1 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:06:24 +0000 http://simplyhis.org/?p=860#comment-12780 Aww, I think Lisa might have misunderstood my remarks at lunch the other week! My situation is much different than hers, mostly because I work as a minister :) I'm an assistant pastor for a 1200-member church; I'm one of three pastors. None of us clergy has much time to spend online - frankly, most of our time is spent in the field doing visitation at hospitals, nursing homes, and the homes of congregants. We often serve communion during visitation, and of course that's something that can't be done online. We also do a lot of work in our community that requires face time. I do a Bible study at one of our nursing homes, and also a monthly communion service at a nursing home. And I can't hug my little ladies online :) We offer counseling at church, and in doing so I've encountered people who have been hurt by misinterpretation of emails and/or blog postings. I just had a recent phone call about this very thing, where one of our congregants was hurt by something posted online. I also told Lisa my opinion is that counseling (as opposed to giving advice) shouldn't be attempted online, especially to strangers. This can often cause more damage than good. There are people out there who misrepresent themselves, or come from a spiritually misinformed place that can cause great distress in someone else's life - not to mention that there are people trying to counsel online without the requisite training and credentials. To me, that's just scary. But that's not to say that the internet doesn't have its place in most areas of modern life, and that can include ministry. Online devotions can be a great resource, and I personally love some of the Bible commentaries I read. They're a great help to me sometimes. There are also a lot of people who are afraid to come to church, or have had a sour experience at a former church, and for them, the computer's a good way to explore God - which we all hope will lead to them coming to Christ. So the computer can be a good thing too, in its proper context, and in balance. And it'd be awesome if we could do some of our mandatory clergy meetings online..... ooops, did I say that?? :) I have to say, though, that being a pastor, I see every day the importance of face-to-face relationship. Last Thursday I smoothed the brow of a woman who lay dying in the palliative care unit of one of our hospitals. Yesterday I officiated at her funeral. I think it goes without saying that I could never had the privilege of ministering to this sweet woman and her family in any context other than face-to-face. P.S. I forgot to mention I'm an introvert. And that's not just my opinion; it was part of my psychological evaluation when I entered the ministry :) God has a wonderful way of forcing us beyond our comfort zones. Aww, I think Lisa might have misunderstood my remarks at lunch the other week! My situation is much different than hers, mostly because I work as a minister :)

I’m an assistant pastor for a 1200-member church; I’m one of three pastors. None of us clergy has much time to spend online – frankly, most of our time is spent in the field doing visitation at hospitals, nursing homes, and the homes of congregants. We often serve communion during visitation, and of course that’s something that can’t be done online.

We also do a lot of work in our community that requires face time. I do a Bible study at one of our nursing homes, and also a monthly communion service at a nursing home. And I can’t hug my little ladies online :)

We offer counseling at church, and in doing so I’ve encountered people who have been hurt by misinterpretation of emails and/or blog postings. I just had a recent phone call about this very thing, where one of our congregants was hurt by something posted online.

I also told Lisa my opinion is that counseling (as opposed to giving advice) shouldn’t be attempted online, especially to strangers. This can often cause more damage than good. There are people out there who misrepresent themselves, or come from a spiritually misinformed place that can cause great distress in someone else’s life – not to mention that there are people trying to counsel online without the requisite training and credentials. To me, that’s just scary.

But that’s not to say that the internet doesn’t have its place in most areas of modern life, and that can include ministry. Online devotions can be a great resource, and I personally love some of the Bible commentaries I read. They’re a great help to me sometimes.

There are also a lot of people who are afraid to come to church, or have had a sour experience at a former church, and for them, the computer’s a good way to explore God – which we all hope will lead to them coming to Christ. So the computer can be a good thing too, in its proper context, and in balance.

And it’d be awesome if we could do some of our mandatory clergy meetings online….. ooops, did I say that?? :)

I have to say, though, that being a pastor, I see every day the importance of face-to-face relationship. Last Thursday I smoothed the brow of a woman who lay dying in the palliative care unit of one of our hospitals. Yesterday I officiated at her funeral.

I think it goes without saying that I could never had the privilege of ministering to this sweet woman and her family in any context other than face-to-face.

P.S. I forgot to mention I’m an introvert. And that’s not just my opinion; it was part of my psychological evaluation when I entered the ministry :) God has a wonderful way of forcing us beyond our comfort zones.

]]> By: Antique Mommy http://simplyhis.org/2009/11/02/can-you-do-ministry-online/comment-page-1/#comment-12779 Antique Mommy Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:24:40 +0000 http://simplyhis.org/?p=860#comment-12779 Very interesting discussion. Face to face is best, but... I like the web for reaching out to those who are not Christian, previously Christian, maybe people who were damaged by chruch or even anti-Christian, as some of my readers are. I want to be in relationship with them, offer them no-strings encouragement, a laugh, whatever I can and the web facilitates that for me because frankly, I live in a bubble and rarely connect with people who aren't just like me. I think when we think ministry, we think the sisters, but I'd like to see us do a better job reaching beyond the bubble. Very interesting discussion. Face to face is best, but… I like the web for reaching out to those who are not Christian, previously Christian, maybe people who were damaged by chruch or even anti-Christian, as some of my readers are. I want to be in relationship with them, offer them no-strings encouragement, a laugh, whatever I can and the web facilitates that for me because frankly, I live in a bubble and rarely connect with people who aren’t just like me. I think when we think ministry, we think the sisters, but I’d like to see us do a better job reaching beyond the bubble.

]]> By: Annabelle @ Christian Momma http://simplyhis.org/2009/11/02/can-you-do-ministry-online/comment-page-1/#comment-12778 Annabelle @ Christian Momma Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:59:22 +0000 http://simplyhis.org/?p=860#comment-12778 Yeah, God can use the technology to minister to others. I experienced it just the other day. (blogged about it..."No Match for God") You cannot limit what God can do! Yeah, God can use the technology to minister to others. I experienced it just the other day. (blogged about it…”No Match for God”) You cannot limit what God can do!

]]> By: Especially Heather http://simplyhis.org/2009/11/02/can-you-do-ministry-online/comment-page-1/#comment-12777 Especially Heather Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:06:18 +0000 http://simplyhis.org/?p=860#comment-12777 I agree wholeheartedly with oh Amanda... My writings on my blog are my way of ministering to those who read it. The umpteen emails that I receive and answer are my ministry. The IMs and Skype conversations that I have with my readers are my ministry. Just because it isn't face to face doesn't mean that it isn't "heart to heart"... When you limit what true ministry is... you limit God. And I, for one, do not ever want to limit Him :) -H I agree wholeheartedly with oh Amanda… My writings on my blog are my way of ministering to those who read it. The umpteen emails that I receive and answer are my ministry. The IMs and Skype conversations that I have with my readers are my ministry.

Just because it isn’t face to face doesn’t mean that it isn’t “heart to heart”…

When you limit what true ministry is… you limit God. And I, for one, do not ever want to limit Him :)
-H

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