SPECIAL REPORT: Cyber world offers ministry helps for Texas Southern Baptists

SPECIAL REPORT

– Baptist bloggers wielding influence, getting press in watershed year

– Blogging: What is it?

After garnering hype in the secular press for innuendo and gossip, Southern Baptists in Texas are discovering that blogs are much more than forums for ax grinding and sarcasm.

A recent Time article titled “The Bloggers’ Favorite Southern Baptist” credited young Baptist leaders with high-speed Internet connections and an abundance of time for influencing the SBC presidential election in Greensboro. A Dallas Morning News article titled “New Time Religion” characterized the bloggers as airing the convention’s dirty laundry.

Nothing created more buzz on the Baptist blogs than the comment made by outgoing SBC President Bobby Welch during his farewell sermon at the annual meeting in Greensboro for bloggers to remain focused on missions and evangelism instead of their computers.

With mainstream media riveted on potential controversies surrounding Baptist blogs, Texas Southern Baptists have discovered blogs can be used for another purpose–an impetus for ministry and church planting.

Spanning the gulf between new technology and traditional Baptist methodology, Texas pastors across the state are utilizing blogs to encourage fellowship and equip their congregations for kingdom service.

The Mosaic, a church plant in Arlington, hosts a blog community on its Web site, mosaicarlington.org, for church members. Mosaic members use the forum as an additional component of Christian fellowship, discussing church events, Scripture, and personal opinions and interests.

“I am trying to make sure that this blog really does help others in moving forward in their lives and service for God and others,” writes Mosaic Pastor Stephen Hammond on his blog, at stephen.voxtropolis.com.

“In the end I would hope that those who read this site hear a little more about my heart/life as a follower of Christ and a leader in God’s kingdom. But I am also looking for a place to share encouragement with others who are on similar journeys, or who might be interested in a journey of faith, love and hope.”

Other pastors and church staff utilize blogs as online prayer diaries sharing ministry concerns or needs. Readers can follow along with the pastor as specific prayer needs are shared throughout a given week. Readers can then post comments to encourage their church leadership or give feedback on sermons.

Jimmy Pritchard, pastor of First Baptist Church Forney, uses his blog, fbcforney.blogspot.com, to promote an Acts 1:8 spirit in the congregation. In a recent entry, Pritchard posted a photo of church members who recently traveled to Beirut on a mission trip. Pritchard requested prayer for the group and planned to add updates from the field about the mission team’s activities. Shortly after Pritchard asked for prayer partners, church members quickly responded posting short prayers for the team’s safety and success in sharing the gospel.

Jason Bishop, pastor of The Journey church plant in Lubbock, chronicles the setbacks and successes of church planting in his blog “The Bishop’s Jiggy Musings” at thebishopsjiggymusings.blogspot.com. In an entry titles “Moved for the Unreached,” Bishop shares insights and encouragement given to him by a church-planting mentor for other ministers to read.

Roy McClung, pastor of Fellowship of Pearland, documents his journey as a church planter on his blog—www.padawanpastor.typepad.com—titled “Missional Jedi Mind Tricks.”

“The church that we planted four years ago has seen more changes than a Madonna concert,” McClung journals. “We started off purpose-driven, seeker sensitive. We slowly transitioned into more of a port-modern gathering. And now we are morphing into a missional church. The problem is, there is no cookie-cutter, cut-and-paste method for this new expression of church. I say “problem,” it’s actually quite exciting. I feel similar to how Abraham must’ve felt when he was told by God to go to a land that would be shown to him later. Abraham packed up his bags and left for a journey not knowing the final destination. Yet, not knowing the end result of this missional morph is part of the adventure.”

Part of McClung’s journey includes discussions on evangelism and church planting methodology as well as issues plaguing the modern church such as materialism. With blog entries dating back to November of 2005, McClung’s diary chronicles his desire to reach his community for Christ even if he doesn’t have all the answers.

“What does a missional church look like in a suburban context?” McClung asks. “What does it mean to be salt, light, and leaven in Pearland? That remains to be seen. But I do believe the best is yet to come.”

“Many people have no idea what a blog really is and what its purpose is,” said Terry Coy, SBTC senior church planting strategist. “It’s a journal with ongoing conversation which people can join in on at any time. There’s not a whole lot of difference [between a blog] and an editorial or letter to the editor. Blogs are simply tools, which can be both good and bad, but they are here to stay. In my opinion, had they existed 20 years ago, the leaders of the Conservative Resurgence would have used them constantly.”