The Pros of Social Networking as a Ministry Tool (Part 2)

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

As I mentioned in my last article I would like to use this opportunity to explore the positive aspects of using various social mediums as a ministry tool. As I discussed before there are quite a few of us Compassion advocates that use Facebook and Twitter in our ministry. Child packets are posted on sites that are available for sponsorship. Prayer requests are "twittered, posted and shared." It is really amazing how fast things can go viral on the web with social networking. Compassion itself has a blog, a twitter account. and a Facebook account. Things get posted and shared constantly. The question exists though, just how successful is using these mediums as a ministry tool?  Since this is a fairly new area I think it will be a few years until we can really determine the answer. I know that on a local level it has proven to be beneficial. My wife took a child packet and ran it for several days on her Facebook feed. One of our friends from out west saw the packet and told a friend in San Diego. Within a week that child was sponsored by someone we never would have connected with except through social networking. Many advocates have done the same with great success.

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Facebook Ministry (Part 1) - The Beginnings

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

Social networking is a fairly new phenomena in the scheme of things. First there was instant messaging, then MySpace, then Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Two years ago I could not have begun to explain these things to anyone but now I am an avid Facebook person and Twitterer. (Ok not to the extent that some of you are but still active). I even have my own blogs.

Interestingly enough my love of these sites was not from being a computer person but rather from my love of Compassion and wanting to share my ministry. In 2005 I began exploring the use of forums as part of my playing online Disney games but that is another story. I think in late 2008 I thought it would be cool to have a Facebook account. I am not really sure when I activated my account or what I really originally did with it. I certainly did not spend a lot of time with it.

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Alligator Girl and Compassion Sundays

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

The past two weeks have seen me working several events for Compassion and child sponsorship. I always enjoy working events where youth are involved. As I have stated on many occasions they get the need and really do want to make a difference.

It is really not a matter of why rather it is more of a case of how. The amazing thing is that while adults will hold their wallet tight and ask many questions, with youth there are no questions but only discussions or how they can pool their funds or what they can do to make this work. I love it.

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An Amazing Young Man

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

Last May I wrote an article about Michelle Tolentino and whether Compassion's model works. Last weekend I attended our regional retreat for the Northeast Compassion Advocates and had the opportunity to hear another testimony. We were fortunate to have in attendance Miguel Figueroa Casina who is currently in a Masters program at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. I wish I could record here his entire testimony (covered over two days) but will try to do it justice in the following:

Miguel is a former sponsored child from Bolivia. He entered the program when he was eight years old but was actually on a wait-list until he turned twelve. His earliest memories of the project he attended were going to a breakfast program with his siblings and cousins.

His family of eight lived in a dwelling that measured 12' x 12' with two beds. They did not have running water. He remarked "I was the running water ~ I had to run two miles each day to get fresh water." He remembers sweeping the dirt floor to keep the dust down.

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Not Just Another Sunday

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

The core event of Compassion’s volunteer advocate ministry is an event called Compassion Sunday. Each year over 1000 churches participate in this event to further the cause of releasing children from poverty. For many years, outside of concerts, this was the primary means to introduce potential sponsors to available children. These special church services are hosted by both sponsors and advocates alike. These services can range from being the focus of an entire service involving the entire church to something as simple as a table in a special location. It really does not matter how complex or simple~the message is the same:

Please make a difference and help release a child from poverty.

Most of us advocates are willing to go anywhere or to present in any method in order to further the ministry. Last Sunday I attended a Compassion Sunday in Elkton, MD. One of my advocates was having her event and had asked me to speak.

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