Missiotechnica: Facebook is for 15 Year Olds

"I don't have time for Facebook".

I hear that a lot. And in the 15-year-old-girl sense of the word, I don't have time for Facebook, ether. Or Twitter. Or YouTube (although I prefer Vimeo for video sharing). Or Pinterest. Or any of the other Social Media options that exist on the Internet. The issue is I am not a 15 year old girl (That is admittedly an ageist and possibly a sexist statement, for which I apologize up front) and I believe that there is great value and power in Social Media, particularly as it applies to those who are involved with worlwide Kingdom work. I want to use this article to make a plea to all of my colleagues to consider using social media for Kingdom work and communiction.

Here's the caveat.

Yes ... all social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) can be addictive and narcissistic. It's true. As with anything that causes stumbling or unholiness or disconnects us or our work from Jesus, caution should be exercised and disconnection may be the healthiest option for any one of us at any given point in time. For some, social media can replace "real life" relationships and be an escape for those who are in particularly lonely or unhealthy circumstances. I get that.

However, I don't believe it has to be this way.

And ... these tools, used for the Kingdom, are tools to be reckoned with.

Here are some reasons why all M workers should consider their use.

1. Your kids are on
   The reason I started a Facebook account back in 2007 was not to play Farmville. It was mainly because my kids were wanting to join facebook (we have a strict familial policy of not lying about your age, so both of my kids were the required 13 years old before joining). For young teenage kids, there isn't much they can hide on there. I highly recommend that all parents of teenage children join what ever social media you allow your children to join. Yes, both of my kids have been grounded at some point because of something that happened on social media. But that's the point. I could see everything they did on there. Sure, my kids called me a "stalker" ... but I don't mind footing that bill when it comes to my own kids.

I hear from people with children who chuckle about the fact that their kids are on Facebook but "Oh, I don't have time for that". My interior response is that if you allow your kids on any kind of social medua, then you'd better make time. Our children are more important than our ministry. and for that reason alone, I joined social media networks 6 years ago, and have been keeping digital tabs on my kids ever since.

1. Your extended family is on
   Now that my kids are older, and living in the US, it's a key technological connection point between us and them. Now I also connect with my Dad (and my Mom vicariously through my Dad's account) and other family members, who would really have no contact point with our family otherwise. Most conversations with my brother are through Twitter. Hudson Taylor lamented the limited contact he had with his beloved family. That's not a necessary evil in missions anymore. You can (and should) stay in touch with the lives of family members, and a healthy use of social media provides a quick and easy way to do so. For many, they are some of our biggest supporters and most important relationships.

2. Your supporters are on
   Social media is a powerful communication tool for engaging our supporters and "rope-holders". My wife has more than once received immediate prayer support in distressful times through Facebook. More people read our newsletters (and even this blog and website!) because of the nature of quick dissmination through Social Media. If we still depend on newsletters or "deputation" to stay connected with people in our home churches, I think we're going to miss enormous opportunities and, ultimately, will not really stay connected. Most of my generation and younger connect this way. We are missing real opportunities with them if we're not connecting with them through these means, as well. I often hear "I prefer to just pick up the phone and have a real conversation with real people." That sounds very holy and spiritually correct. But the thing to remember is 1. the people we connect with via social media are "real people" 2. when living time zones away from our friends, supporters and family the phone is rarely both a timely and viable option for communication.

3. The World is on
   There are over one billion people actively on Facebook. Twitter stats are a little less forthcoming, but it seems that there are about 200 Million active Twitter accounts as today. I have so many Mongolian friends and coworkers who I connect with via Social Media. Our Center in Ulaanbaatar actively uses Facebook to connect with local residents, as does UBean Coffee House. I use Twitter to stay conncted with news, products and Internet posts in which I'm personally interested.

I realize there are issues that prevent some workers from connecting with social media. This would be particularly true where security levels are high, or where it's not possible because of restrictions on public Inernet use. I've seen some creative ways around this. Using a VPN is an excellent security tool in most parts of the world (and enables you to use NetFlix ...  just saying). We have colleagues who live in high security areas who simply keep an anonymous Facebook profile, but are still able to connect with coworkers and supporters all over the world.

So, I encourage my colleagues who are not connecting with friends, family, colleagues and supporters in this way to seriously consider, or reconsider, your use of social media. Again, I realize that it's not for everybody. But for those who are in our line of work ... I don't see how it can't be useful.

How (if at all) do you use social media in your work and ministry? Do you agree that it's a useful tool that should be used in the "M" worker context, or something that should be avoided? Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

(note: I am going to be trying some new kinds of blog posts on the RememberMongolia.org website. I'm keenly interested in the way International Workers use technology to further the interests of the Kingdom. I'm going to try and write a weekly "MissioThechnica" related post on various issues surrounding technology and international work. Let me know if you have anything in this area interests you. I'll try to bring it up here for review and discussion.