In the early days of the church, the apostles used the prevalent culture to propagate the gospel. They went to synagogues flocked with Jews and curious Gentiles, to centres of learnings and to key cities.
In 1 Corinthians 9:20-21, Paul says, "To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law."
While we are to be set apart and of higher moral standard, there are some aspects of culture that we can engage in to win more people over. One of those aspects is the growing popularity and need of the Internet.
Nowadays, everyone is online and if you or your organization isn't then it's probably not in the map. Churches and ministries can use the Internet to build awareness and catch people's attention. Here are five simple ways you can do that.
1. Make a website
Having a personalized blog for your church or ministry is a great way to inform people about church service schedules, how they can get in touch with you and what you believe in as a congregation. This also takes out the hassle of having to explain over and over again what your ministry is.
2. Start social media accounts
Social media accounts like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter are not just great for business, they are also helpful in building awareness about church plants, ministry fundraisers, campaigns and movements.
3. Blog your messages and sermons
People are constantly on the lookout for non-threatening environments where they can hear a message or word. In some cultures, having to walk into a church to hear God's Word may be too aggressive so we bring the message to them at the tip of their fingers. Blogging also helps you voice out stands and statements with greater reach.
4. Advertise church events online
Many churches shun the idea of advertising online seeing it as too worldly, but if a church can spend up to $1,000 on printed out newsletters, why can't it put in $100 to run an online ad instead? Online advertising has built for us a cheaper yet more effective way to reach the lost.
5. Make an online sign-up form for discipleship
Through using a Wordpress-based contact form plugin on your website or a simple Google form, you can create a form and save money and time on event and discipleship sign-ups.
