“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2, NIV
Connie was a leader in her local church’s youth group. She loved interacting with the teenagers and found most of them were very open with her. But one girl, Lisa, wasn’t.
Despite her efforts, Connie couldn’t seem to connect with Lisa. The girl barely answered her and was always distracted by her phone. So Connie asked if she could friend Lisa on Facebook and follow her on Instagram.
As soon as Connie connected with Lisa, she sent a short message asking about her day. Lisa quickly texted back a long paragraph about what she’d done that day and a problem she was having with a friend.
Connie was amazed. “It was the best conversation we’d ever had and I realized that sometimes ministry means going where the people are…like Facebook and Instagram.”
Over time, Lisa opened up on chat and began sharing more about a violent situation going on in her home life. Connie reported this information to the authorities and stayed online with Lisa until she was safe.
“Sometimes, it’s hard to share deeply personal information face-to-face. By talking with Lisa on social media, she felt safe enough to disclose what was really going on,” Connie explained.
Prayer:
Lord, just as Jesus was willing to meet people where they were, help me to reach out to people where they are on social media. Give me wisdom to know how to start conversations and when to share my faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
