24 February 2012 Jönköping, Sweden [tedNEWS] LIFEconnect, a new and dynamic initiative for sharing the Gospel on the web, was introduced last weekend by Pr Miroslav Pujic, Communication & Media Ministries Director for the Trans-European Division (TED), emphasising the power inherent in social media.
The training started on Friday, 17 February with over sixty people who gathered in the Adventist church in Jönköping for a time of food, fellowship and worship where Berny Carlsson, Youth Director and Web Pastor for Sweden, spoke on the topic of Mission. He suggested that worship and fellowship that does not lead to evangelism and mission is hypocrisy. ‘We cannot ask God to bless us if we have no desire to share the good news’, he said quoting John 20:21 and Acts 1:8; 20:24.
Carlsson pointed out that LC had opened up his eyes to the fact that ‘opportunities to share the good news are staring at us in the face every single day’. Social Media and the Internet is very well developed and utilized in Sweden due to the ever-increasing advancements in technology.
On Saturday morning, the church in Jönköping, which usually seats between 65-75 visitors, was quickly filled beyond capacity. Extra chairs had to be carried into the church and people had to squeeze together. After a very inspiring message by Pr Pujic, it was time for a quick lunch followed by the LC training event.
During our first session Pr Pujic briefly introduced the concept of LC and how people in Sweden can use their own blogs and social networking profiles to bring interested people to the LC hub. In other words, digital missionaries can engage in discipleship through activities they already participate in.
Mirjana Kicusic, Marketing & Social Media Coordinator, emphasised the importance of content not only to attract visitors but also to ensure that what we are sharing is both credible and relevant to people’s lives and the culture we are living in. She also spoke about marketing and how online pastors and digital missionaries need to work together as a team in spreading good content and have a weekly strategy on how to market the gospel message in new and innovative ways.
Finally, Pr Pujic concluded the meetings by describing how this new frontline evangelism is based on Christ’s method to interact with people where they are: mingling – being online, using social networks, writing blogs; sympathising with them by chatting/interacting with people and meeting their needs; and most importantly, inviting people to get to know and follow Jesus.
Very excitedly, Julia Telfer, a student missionary at Ekebyholm school in Sweden commented: This is so wonderful that all countries should be doing it’.
Inspired by the words of the famous Adventist song: ‘We have this hope that burns within our hearts, hope in the coming of the Lord’, the evening finished with twenty-one people answering the call to become digital missionaries and help connect people to Jesus Christ.
LIFEconnect Internet Ministry is now available in 16 languages with few more coming soon. To register and select your language, please visit www.lifeconnect.info. [tedNEWS]
tedNEWS Staff: Miroslav Pujic, director; Deana Stojkovic, editor
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