Six Reasons a Pastor Needs to Blog
March 7, 2020
I encouraged a pastor friend to fire up their blog again. Years ago they posted something so helpful I am still able to recall details about it. This pastor asked me to “give me three reasons I should start my blog back.” Here are six.
- You actually own your blog. Most pastors will not preach at the same church. They usually move on at some point. Including my internships, I have worked at seven different churches/ministries. I no longer have access to the Facebook pages or websites I updated. I do however still have everything I blogged.
- You have a place to build resources for a lifetime of ministry. How many times have you answered the same questions before? Maybe you get questions about a denominational belief or something about the Bible. Wouldn’t it be nice to say, “let me forward you an article I wrote on ________.” This is why I created my podcast. I wanted to have resources for similar questions I was getting about the Bible. My blog also allows a place to put show notes for my blog as well as a place to post sermons.
- It’s an appropriate place for former church members to stay in touch. In the Methodist church there is an expectation for pastors to leave when they finish their ministry in an area. In the old days, before social media, once they were gone they were out of sight and out of mind. Now pastors have a decision to make. How much should I interact with my old congregation electronically. The blog seems like a great place for people to keep in touch while allowing your successor to grow in their new job.
- Blogs create a digital legacy. Before I launched my podcast I was asking a lot of questions to Ben and Molly at the Faith Revisited podcast. They have both been gracious in helping me. One of the points Molly brought up was about how we are creating a “digital legacy.” I never thought much about it before the words came out of her mouth. They have challenged me to ask, “What is my digital legacy?” My hope for pastors is their blog can be a key component of a positive and helpful digital legacy.
- You can get better at writing. I am not good at writing… or is it not well? Whoever finds the most typos in this blog I will take out for coffee. I may not be the next Karen Swallow Pryor or Teddy Ray but I am (slowly) getting better at writing. Blogs are a great way to help you untangle your thoughts and improve your writing.
- Your Story Matters. I know plenty of pastors who say, “I don’t really have anything to say”. Here is the truth: Your story matters. Bad or good, your story matters. Let’s get to typing!
This is post #6 in my 40 Posts of Lent Challenge.
Sermon – Why Did the Jungle Cruise Boat Sink?
March 3, 2020
This post is post #5 in my 40 Posts of Lent Challenge.
Faith and the Coronavirus
March 1, 2020
How should people of Christian faith respond to the coronavirus? It is has been the top story in the news. It understandably has people anxious. Here are three thoughts on how to respond.
- Respond cautiously optimistic. We are in yet another long line of things to kill us all! From SARS, to MERS, to Ebola, we have had a long recent history of being keenly aware of the latest biological threat. In light of all humanity has overcome, I am choosing to remain optimistic about the latest cause for concern. Yet, remaining optimistic does not mean ignoring what is happening. I think it means we try not to let worry dominate us.
- Respond prudently realistic. We may get sick. Let’s do everything we can to stay healthy and limit germ exposure. The majority of deaths will be from those who have an underlying health condition. It seems like the best advice is hygienic, like washing your hands. I worked in a hospital for awhile. I made washing my hands a game. See how long you can scrub those germs off. If I remember right, we were suppose to sing Happy Birthday three times while scrubbing. It ruined the song for me.
- Stay vigilantly faithful. Our faith will not be in our cleaning abilities (although you should try to keep clean hands). Our faith is in Jesus. With this we should be vigilant about how God wants to use his people during this time. How is God calling us to love our neighbor? Is it to let them know you will be there for them if they are sick? Is it to show confidence in the face of a global virus? Is it to donate to an organization helping those with the virus? Let’s stay vigilant on ways God may use our church and us individually.
This is post #4 in my Forty Posts of Lent Challenge.
David Donnan 