Home Outreach Leaders Outreach & Missions How To's 3 Key Principles To Online Outreach

3 Key Principles To Online Outreach

I am no expert at online ministry but have learned a ton over the last year or so about helping people online.  I’ve been able to help a lot of people through the use of social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, and this blog, TheWayItCouldBe.com (12,000 pages viewed in May).  I say that not in pride, but in a way that tries to say, “Hey, I’m just a normal dude sharing his life online, inviting others to do the same.”

I put together a few thoughts that may help you as you develop your own personal online ministry.  By ministry, I simply mean helping people.  This can come in the form of meeting needs, publishing helpful content, sharing content, developing supportive relationships, or a variety of other things.  Your specific focus helping people will depend on how you are wired (where you are gifted).

I thought about the 3 P’s of a Personal Online Ministry: Presence, Partnership, and Prayer.  Whether you are new to the social media game or a long time guru, perhaps the 3 P’s will help you as you help others around the world.  Let me unpack:

Presence. 

Developing an online ministry is impossible unless you are…present.  Social Media presence, simply put, is built by sharing your life online.  You realize that you can have global influence from wherever you are on the globe.  Whether through FB, Twitter, and/or a blog, being active is the name of the game in building an online presence.  Presence will give you the permission to speak into other’s lives.

You don’t have to post something 20 times a day, but it is important that you develop a rhythm and a consistency with what you post (more on rhythm and consistency).  Helpful, relevant content will develop trust over time.  Trust is what allows you to gain influence in the lives of others!

Partnership. 

By partnership, I mean this: you can develop a personal online ministry, but if you are not networked and partnered with the right groups of people, your impact will be limited to what you can do personally.  You will only be able to write so much, minister so much, respond so much.  You need an arsenal of partners to help you have an impact.  I would say that I am partnered up with LifeChurch.tv in Fort Worth, Texas, and around the world through Church Online.  When people have needs, I can lift them up to the LifeChurch.tv community.

Another way to “partner” is to share relevant content from other individuals you respect.  Some bloggers (and those you follow on FB or Twitter) put out tremendous content that can help those you are networked with.  Sharing their content can have tremendous impact on others (you can share this post by retweeting or posting it on your FB page).

Prayer. 

Prayer is the fuel behind your online ministry.  It obviously guides and fills you in so many ways!  Prayer fills your heart and mind in a way that allows you to give what is inside of you to others.  You can have a huge impact through social media without prayer, but your impact will be limited to what you can provide.  On the contrary, if you will allow prayer to play a significant role in your life, you will have what I would consider an unlimited source of power and influence on your side.  Prayer plays a huge role in your online ministry.

On a practical note, you can pray for others online and ask for requests.  You can pray through what you post and what you think people need in their lives.  You can pray for who you are becoming and who you think you are being molded into.  You can pray for others as you reach out and develop relationships.  You don’t have to tell people you are praying for them, just do it!

Ok, those are what I call the 3 P’s of Online Ministry.  I’m sure there are other important things to think about. What would you add?  I would seriously love to hear in the comments.  Also, please expand on the 3 P’s in the comments if you like; we would like to learn from you!

Previous article5 Lessons Facebook Can Teach Your Ministry
Next articleFree Activity Package: Psalm 100
Chad Missildine is an executive coach, consultant and speaker serving business, government and non-profit leaders. Chad was a leader and pastor at Life.Church for 11+ years, coaching and training hundreds of Life.Church pastors and business leaders at 33+ locations. He served on the Life.Church Central leadership team, helping to shape culture and stewardship as the Central Director of Generosity. Chad also provided coaching and consulting for many churches and non-profits from around the globe. He manages a multi-million dollar real estate company and mentors entrepreneurs. You can connect with Chad at chadmissildine.com.