Blogging is not without its share of criticism, however it continues to rise both in popularity and in public awareness. Since this blog is designed to explore and evaluate the use, role and impact of media technologies, particularly as they apply to the operation of the Church, I thought I might offer a few constructive reasons to both read and write blogs. It's obvious you're a reading convert or you wouldn't be here but hosting a blog can be a bit more intimidating. Hopefully this list will motivate you and help you to communicate regularly and succinctly to others. I originally posted this on my own site in generic form but it's tailor-made for pastors so I'll share it here.
Some of the benefits of blogging are particularly obvious. Others, I discovered quite by accident. They include...
- To share your faith
- To express yourself
- To make new friends
- To connect with others either like or unlike you
- To stimulate a diminishing vocabulary
- To increase your typing speed
- To explore a relatively new online technology
- To write "in the sandbox"
- To be published (do it yourself - quick, easy & free)
- To develop your voice
- To share information
- To build an informational resource for others
- To serve a particular group
- To be found by lost friends
- To use time constructively
- To create an online work of creativity
- To find support in an area of need
- To battle fear (doing something new, taking risks, etc.)
- To entertain others or be entertained
- To share content (photos, journals, videos, music, etc.)
- To research something specific
- To develop an expertise in a particular area
- To build an online community
- To amplify a vocational calling
- To amplify a ministry calling - apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher
- To meet peers/colleagues
- To solicit help in a particular area
- To create an online business card/resume/archive of work
- To ignite your creative/intellectual/spiritual passion
- To create an online sphere of influence
- To advertise your business or church
- To explore your interests
- To improve your spelling
- To risk being vulnerable and known
- To develop and enjoy a hobby
- To erode your pride
- To stretch out of your comfort zones
- To practice the discipline of writing
- To reach, teach, train those you mentor
- To access new mentors in your life
Additionally, there is a hidden element in blogging that seems to be particularly helpful for pastors who oversee larger churches with large church staffs. Having all the pastoral staff blog creates an element of team transparency that is a great-add on to the weekly sermon (usually delivered by one person). It creates an additional forum for church attenders to get to know the rest of the pastoral staff, if they blog, as opposed to focusing on one figurehead, like the teaching pastor or the senior pastor. This spreads ministry out and has proven particularly helpful for a couple of youth pastors I know.
This
list is by no means exhaustive and since blogging is evolving, churches
and Christian leaders are still discovering new ways to leverage
user-generated content. There's no way of knowing if blogging is here to stay or if it will evolve into another form of communication as more and more video content gets introduced onto the web. In the meantime, blogging is an innovative way to use online technology to reach and serve people.
Can you add more "reasons to blog" to this list?
Great blog. My blog, through blogger and Feedburner, has brought me a ton of free publicity... here in Nashville. Great entry. Love the whole blog.
JER
www.WriteMyStory.info
Posted by: jer | September 20, 2007 at 12:15 PM
Great blog. My blog, through blogger and Feedburner, has brought me a ton of free publicity... here in Nashville. Great entry. Love the whole blog.
JER
www.WriteMyStory.info
Posted by: jer | September 20, 2007 at 12:16 PM