In Which I Acknowledge the Evangelism Potential of Facebook. . .

Blogging is such a selfish venture in and of itself. As a Christian, I've struggled with the whole blogging thing. It is such a prideful endeavor, isn't it?

Being obedient to God's call on our lives in the context of blogging is not an easy thing. I'm always blessed to see someone call it out on their blog!

Facebook: An entirely different enterprise. Are you on Facebook? If yes. . . Do you ever have the sense that some of your Friends only befriend you so as to add your picture to their wall of 852 Friends?

Just asking?
I 'm grateful for each and every one of my Facebook Friends!

A few weeks ago, my friend Barbara suggested I create a Fan Page on Facebook for my blog. My first response was an e-mail explaining that I wasn't so much seeking fans as I was seeking to share my passion for God's Word and sound biblical doctrine and consistent theology which is so lacking in today's culture and blah blah blah. . . .

Fast Forward: As narcissistic as the idea first appeared, I did it. With Barbara's help, there is now an Esthermay Bentley-Goossen, Writer/Counselor Fan Page.

I prefer to think of it as a "Ministry Page."

Here's what has transpired since. . .

Company Girls: Wonderful testimony coming up here. You may want to set down your coffee. . . .

First. . . I've changed the format of my blog to a Q & A Format and will now be addressing topics posed to me via e-mail, comments and the Facebook Wall.

Thank you, Melissa . . . for providing the first question!

Second. . . When a Friend of a Friend on Facebook saw that her Friend had become a "fan" of Esthermay Bentley-Goossen, Writer/Counselor, she followed suit and also became a "fan." She then began an exchange with me which she describes as "a turning point" in her life . . .

She explains that she was immediately drawn to read the Inauguration Day Post, "Can a Born-Again Christian Support President Obama?" because she was hoping to find a bit of ammunition to convince her husband to agree with her on the topic. But. . . instead of enforcing (or frustrating) her own political ideology, the post led her to open up her own Bible and read for herself what God has to say about government, prayer, and Salvation.

The rest, as they say, is history.

My husband is now helping my newest Facebook Friend find a Bible-Preaching church in her area and we pray that she is able to get her entire family back into church on a regular basis.

I'm not usually one to yell out, "Praise the Lord," but. . . .

Praise the Lord!

Here's where my thinking has been over the last few days. . .

As Christians, how big is the responsibility to share and defend our Christian faith? If we maintain a blog, are we compelled to fulfill the great commission on that blog?

Do you have a Facebook account? If yes, are you using your Facebook account to share Christ? Do you know which of your Friends are Christians? Are you reaching out to those who aren't?

. . . think about that Newsfeed on Facebook where people see who's doing what and who's talking with whom and commenting on such & such. . . .
Does your contribution represent Christ?
Is it edifying?

There is great potential for evangelism on Facebook and Blogger and WordPress and TypePad. . .

Are we using it?

We don't necessarily have to be "preaching salvation" to share Christ.
We're not all John MacArthur! We have different gifts.
The question is: Do visitors to our blogs, our Facebook Profile, etc. see Christ when they visit?

Would my newest Facebook Friend have re-discovered Christ had she not seen that a mutual Facebook Friend was a "fan" of my blog? That's not a self aggrandizing question -- I do not know the answer. But the events of the last week do confirm to me that the WORLD Wide Web is indeed part of the world. . .

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel. . . . "

~ Mark 16:15

How are you using the Internet?

~ Esthermay Bentley-Goossen

© 2009 The Heart of a Pastor's Wife

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