Social Networking and Missions
Why would people elect to communicate through Facebook rather than E-mail? For many users, Facebook is an invaluable tool for gathering information in a timely manner.
Most of us can remember when E-mail was considered the most cutting-edge means of communication available. In recent years, the prevalence of social networking sites like Myspace, and particularly Facebook, have broadened the means for electronic communication.
Why would people elect to communicate through Facebook rather than E-mail? For many users, Facebook is an invaluable tool for gathering information in a timely manner. “People tend to log onto social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace before they check their own E-mail nowadays,” says Brandon Spell, graphic designer for the Church of God World Missions Media Team. “Because of this, Facebook has become a great way to share and gather information quickly.”
Vernice Blackaby, secretary to the assistant director, agrees. “Surprisingly, many missionaries send me official requests through Facebook instead of through E-mail,” she says. “Many of the missionaries post their newsletters and blogs on Facebook.”
Along with posting blogs, articles and photos, many social networking users communicate by sharing information through their “status updates,” where users share a sentence or two about their current activities. According to Blackaby, sharing information in this way is useful for maintaining closer, more immediate contact with missionaries than would be possible through E-mail or telephone. “My favorite part about using Facebook is keeping up with [missionaries] and their families since everyone uses Facebook to write what is going on in their personal lives,” she continues. “I like to know them not just as missionaries, but also through their personal every-day family lives.”
Social networking sites like Facebook make it easier to connect with other users quickly in critical situations. Yvette Morales, WM projects secretary, shares, “For me, Facebook has been very useful for getting in touch with our people in the field. When attempts at gathering urgent information through E-mail and telephone contact are unsuccessful, I generally receive replies to Facebook messages in less than 15 minutes.
“This is a very effective tool and it really does make my job easier,” Morales concludes. “I’m grateful for the role social networking plays in helping to reach the lost around the world.”
Lisa Campagna
Member of heart, vision, action team of World Missions
© 2009 Church of God World Missions
