INVITING GOD INTO “MY SPACE”
As I am sitting here today writing this article, I am compelled to ask this question, “Are we missing out on a opportunity that we as ministers of the Gospel could use to reach the younger generations of Christianity? MySpace is one of the hottest sites on the Web—hitwise.com rated it No. 1 for November, accounting for nearly 5 percent of all U.S. Web traffic. MySpace has more than 100 million accounts with a demographic that is dominated by teens and 20-somethings. Other social networking sites like Friendster and Facebook also claim millions of young users. "Social networking is what being a teenager is about," said Kenda Creasy Dean, associate professor of youth, church, and culture and director of the Tennent School of Christian Education at Princeton Theological Seminary. "For people my age (in their 30’s), technology is a tool. For kids, technology is the air they breathe. It's social glue."
Many youth ministers and youth workers are now tapping into the mighty source of technology of MYSPACE to reach their youth for Christ. Posting their own sites and posting messages for their youth groups to read. In fact, youth ministers have been able to identify signs of suicide and problems area’s in people lives because of what has been posted on MYSPACE. Currently about 60% of our church have a MYSPACE account. This is a great way to minister to our people in ways that conventional means will not work anymore.
About a year ago the Blasphemy challenge started. This was a group of individuals that used YOUTUBE. They would encourage young people to state while on camera that they deny the very existence of the Holy Spirit, God, Jesus and whatever else they wanted to denounce. By doing so they would receive a T-Shirt. The sad thing is that Thousands have responded. In fact, it might be your son or daughter. I wonder what would happen if we Invited God into MYSPACE? If we used this platform to get the word out, that there is someone who cares and his name is Jesus. Instead of giving out T-Shirts God could give them life. Something to consider!
Let’s face it folks, like it or not, our culture is becoming more reliant on Cell Phones, Text Messaging, Web Based Sites and the biggest MYSPACE .COM. All of these avenues are a way our younger generations can share their hearts without reprisal without worrying about someone saying something directly to them. This generation that I speak about today are searching for Truth. For the most part they do not see it at home, with 50% Marriages ending in divorce and 62% of this generation not living in a stable home. Dealing with issues such as Drugs, Drinking, and Sex and not to mention just wanting to fit in. They walk into our churches and they feel the same way. Out of place, no one cares. No wonder why only 2% of college students after leaving the Church for college ever return in their later life to church. This is where MYSPACE comes into play. They are able to get their feelings out and it can be somewhat anonymous. Let’s invite God into MYSPACE and let’s get more in touch with this generation so that they can carry on the future of Christ’s Church! If we don’t excuse our pride and the know it all mentality and try to learn their world we will never reach this generation as a whole for Christ.
Fellow Ministers: What will you do in 2008 to reach this younger generation? Creating programs and training which I agree is good stuff won’t cut it, we must understand their world in order to truly minister to them. I am reminded when Paul became a tent maker; He learned a trade so that he could minister to them. I believe this is God’s desire for his ministers of the gospel to meet the people where they are at. Most of us live by the philosophy they can come to us… Jesus, who is our example, never lived in this manner. He always meets the people where they were at. We must do the same!
Pastor Eric
As I am sitting here today writing this article, I am compelled to ask this question, “Are we missing out on a opportunity that we as ministers of the Gospel could use to reach the younger generations of Christianity? MySpace is one of the hottest sites on the Web—hitwise.com rated it No. 1 for November, accounting for nearly 5 percent of all U.S. Web traffic. MySpace has more than 100 million accounts with a demographic that is dominated by teens and 20-somethings. Other social networking sites like Friendster and Facebook also claim millions of young users. "Social networking is what being a teenager is about," said Kenda Creasy Dean, associate professor of youth, church, and culture and director of the Tennent School of Christian Education at Princeton Theological Seminary. "For people my age (in their 30’s), technology is a tool. For kids, technology is the air they breathe. It's social glue."
Many youth ministers and youth workers are now tapping into the mighty source of technology of MYSPACE to reach their youth for Christ. Posting their own sites and posting messages for their youth groups to read. In fact, youth ministers have been able to identify signs of suicide and problems area’s in people lives because of what has been posted on MYSPACE. Currently about 60% of our church have a MYSPACE account. This is a great way to minister to our people in ways that conventional means will not work anymore.
About a year ago the Blasphemy challenge started. This was a group of individuals that used YOUTUBE. They would encourage young people to state while on camera that they deny the very existence of the Holy Spirit, God, Jesus and whatever else they wanted to denounce. By doing so they would receive a T-Shirt. The sad thing is that Thousands have responded. In fact, it might be your son or daughter. I wonder what would happen if we Invited God into MYSPACE? If we used this platform to get the word out, that there is someone who cares and his name is Jesus. Instead of giving out T-Shirts God could give them life. Something to consider!
Let’s face it folks, like it or not, our culture is becoming more reliant on Cell Phones, Text Messaging, Web Based Sites and the biggest MYSPACE .COM. All of these avenues are a way our younger generations can share their hearts without reprisal without worrying about someone saying something directly to them. This generation that I speak about today are searching for Truth. For the most part they do not see it at home, with 50% Marriages ending in divorce and 62% of this generation not living in a stable home. Dealing with issues such as Drugs, Drinking, and Sex and not to mention just wanting to fit in. They walk into our churches and they feel the same way. Out of place, no one cares. No wonder why only 2% of college students after leaving the Church for college ever return in their later life to church. This is where MYSPACE comes into play. They are able to get their feelings out and it can be somewhat anonymous. Let’s invite God into MYSPACE and let’s get more in touch with this generation so that they can carry on the future of Christ’s Church! If we don’t excuse our pride and the know it all mentality and try to learn their world we will never reach this generation as a whole for Christ.
Fellow Ministers: What will you do in 2008 to reach this younger generation? Creating programs and training which I agree is good stuff won’t cut it, we must understand their world in order to truly minister to them. I am reminded when Paul became a tent maker; He learned a trade so that he could minister to them. I believe this is God’s desire for his ministers of the gospel to meet the people where they are at. Most of us live by the philosophy they can come to us… Jesus, who is our example, never lived in this manner. He always meets the people where they were at. We must do the same!
Pastor Eric
Ewj2007
I received some of the statistics and info from www. Christiantoday.com
