Since becoming a pastor, use of the internet to search for information and communicate with others has “gone viral.” I don’t have any hard data, but it seems to me that we went from using the internet for communication about 50% of the time to using it as our first line of communication in less than a decade. Just a few years ago, I would have asked, “What is a blog?” And now I’ve gone to writing my own.
Why should a pastor blog?
Blogging is a good way to connect with people; not just those within the congregation, but literally with anyone in the world. I may have no other way to connect with some of them who want to have a faith discussion in a safe forum.
I can share some of the things I have been reading or pondering about. There are promoters for non-faith-based reading materials. How about some promotion for faith-based reading materials too!
There may be times when I need to respond to something that is going on in the wider world; such as a news story. It helps Christians to process our current events in light of scripture and the faith we share.
Blogs can promote growth. As I blog, I am forced to think deeply, growing me. Those who read and interact with the topic will also grow, and often the ministry of the church will grow due to its internet presence, including interaction with the blog.
I will learn how to be more technologically savvy through on-the-job training. Even if a pastor isn’t on the cutting edge of technology, it’s still helpful if he or she is not too far behind. Having a first-hand understanding of the culture around the church gives fodder for theological thinking.
The pastor becomes “real” rather than just a figurehead when he or she writes or comments on a post. Through these conversations and the sharing of information, the pastor become more approachable.
I am sure there are many other benefits of a blogging pastor, but for today, that is all I am posting. Keep looking for more posts in the next few weeks.
Be blessed!