Friday, 16 January 2015

Evangelism And Fellowship Through The Christian Social Network

By Enid Hinton


Today's social environment has transcended the physical and geographical spaces that people occupy.The internet has opened up a whole new, borderless world for all to access. People can share thoughts, work and socialize online. This online world is available to Christians as well and this is why a Christian social network will always be relevant despite the many changes that the world endures.

In the physical world, Christians have their own entities that play similar roles in their lives as their secular counterparts do for those who are not of the faith. Churches, gospel concerts and clubs for believers serve as places for rejuvenation, encouragement and socialization for Christians much in the same way as parties and clubs do for the secular world. Web based platforms for interaction should be viewed in a similar light.

These online socializing platforms are great for fellowship. Fellowship is essentially the act of sharing faith based emotions and experiences with other believers. Christians can chat about challenges of the faith or share encouraging testimonies with each other. The sharing of these experiences and thoughts often serve as inspiration for those who are struggling.

The fact that the platform may be designed for Christian does not usually exclude non-believers from membership. This makes the space a great place for evangelism, another crucial aspect of a believer's life. When visitors to the space get exposed to the fellowship and testimonies of those who have already been converted, they too may decide to make that bold move and join the faith. There are also many persons who are struggling as they contemplate giving their lives to the Lord. They often search for sites like these for encouragement and support.

Like members of the secular world, Christians often travel to foreign countries. They may do so to work, study or serve in different ministries. This removes them from their physical spaces, and those they love; their friends, church families and relatives. Virtual zones for socializing allow them to maintain contact. This contact is very important when there is physical separation because it prevents relationships from breaking own.

Friendships and romantic relationships may be facilitated by these platforms as well. It is easier for a believer to find a friend or partner through these networks as they are densely populated with individuals of like faith. This makes the Christians' life more fulfilling as they get to form bonds with those who not only share their faith but also other interests as well.

These sites are also great for helping believers to remain abreast of the current global state of Christendom. Through these virtual conversations, believers find out about the problems and triumphs experienced by Christians in countries all over the world. They are then able to offer support in terms of intercessional prayer where necessary. They can also mobilize their own local congregations to providing tangible assistance where necessary.

It is obvious that these virtual spaces provide benefits to those within as well as outside of the faith. This is why their relevance as a part of today's technologically savvy world cannot be ignored. It is their relevance that has played a significant roe in their increasing popularity in recent times.




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