Can you build a community through Facebook?

I have been really ambivalent about the use of the internet in connecting with people. But I just read a story that is pushing me right to the convinced it's a good place to build a ministry. So here's this story that has pushed me over the edge.

Read the story and learn about how this guy used Facebook to raise people and money for a toy give away for 500 children. Furthermore, he is on countdown to the opening of his church. I'm so intrigued by his story the Nathanial* in me is just bubbling up. I just want to go see.

I don't think that the internet can or will replace people getting together in one spot to worship, praise the Lord, and do the work Jesus has called us to do: those things like feeding, clothing, sheltering, visiting the sick, and in prison. (All those "separate the goats from the sheep"** things that Matthew said that Jesus wanted us to be about doing as the body of Christ.) But it does serve as valuable way to remove layers from our identity, and a means to check in on each other.

Just because something has never been done before doesn't make it automatically wrong.

But then, I guess, if you are reading this you probably don't need too much convincing.

Blessings for the New Year

Barbara

*John 1:43-51
**Matthew 25:31-46 These are good stories in the New Testament, go and read it.