structure for an online church campus . The people are already there , so now it ’ s just a question of leadership and digital discipleship systems .
We all know there is a kingdom opportunity here , but let ’ s be honest . It ’ s so much easier to schedule posts several weeks out and just let them auto-post . What ’ s the big deal ?
A number of psychological studies have found a correlation between social media use and depression , leading a number of researchers to call for limiting it to no more than thirty minutes per day . Yet if we dig into the data , we find that all social media use isn ’ t created equal . Passive consumption of social media , such as aimlessly scrolling through timelines or watching other people ’ s posts but never posting , is what adversely affects users . When we scroll through our newsfeeds , we will undoubtedly come across pictures from our friends out having dinner parties that we apparently weren ’ t invited to . Or we will come across a post from a gym-obsessed friend bragging about their three-hour session , while we lie in bed eating chips and drinking soda . It ’ s virtually guaranteed that we ’ ll see a post from a holier-than-thou friend about her latest 120-day fast and how she touched the hem of Jesus ’ s garment that morning , while we struggle to fit in five solid minutes of prayer every day . The issue with social media arises when it ’ s used primarily to share content that people consume and compare their lives with . The research shows that social media becomes a powerful and positive resource when it ’ s used to facilitate connections and build community . In other words , when social media fosters relationships , it becomes a valuable asset . That ’ s when social media becomes social ministry .
Nona Jones is an international speaker , preacher , author , and the head of global faith-based partnerships at Facebook . Previously , Nona held executive leadership roles across the private , public , and nonprofit sectors . A graduate of the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program , Nona was named one of Essence magazine ’ s Under 40 Women to Watch . Nona and her husband lead a church together in Gainesville , Florida .
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