Today, we live in a culture that is rapidly changing because of technology. Cell phones, the Internet, email, instant messaging and social networks have changed the way we communicate and relate to one another. Some of those changes are positive and some are negative. The changes are inevitable so we have to decide today how we’re going to influence how those tools are going to be used.
As a church we’ve been making moves to embrace these new developments. You can follow our updates from Twitter (@ValleyFamily) on your cell phone. We have an online social community we call the VFC SoComm. You can join our Facebook group or become Facebook friends with many of our staff. (Information on all of this is available at valleyfamilychurch.org/subscribe.) We’re hoping that you will utilize many or all of these communications tools to keep up with VFC and to reach out to friends and loved ones who need to know more about being a Christian.
The valleyfamilychurch.org and bethjones.org websites get thousands of visitors each month and thousands more have signed up for our ministry emails including the Get a Grip daily edevo. Popular researcher George Barna says that by the end of the decade 50 million individuals may rely solely upon the Internet to provide all of the faith-based experiences.
We wanted to let you know about one particular Internet site: CFAITH. This Internet ministry has been a source of encouragement to Beth Jones Ministries over the past few years. They have posted our devo’s and video messages helping us to reach an even wider audience and we wanted to let you know about all that they offer as well. CFAITH is a subscription based service that represents more than 700 different ministries. It’s a great resource to hear fantastic teaching to help you get a grip on the basics.
Like the bethjones.com website, you’ll find articles, video messages and MP3 files for download. The great thing about CFAITH is that you’ll also find resources from many of today’s top Christian leaders – that’s more than 16,000 articles and 4300 online sermons!
One of the best things about the Internet is that is has made international communications so much easier. Last month alone, individuals from more than 170 countries visited the CFAITH website. As a result, we are reaching people in countries we wouldn’t otherwise be able to reach. Without resources like CFAITH, most of these people would not receive our messages any other way.
So, we encourage you to check out CFAITH and to use many of these other technologies to become a “cyber-missionary.” We have an opportunity to share the Good News with so many people. Let’s be bold in sharing our faith, inviting friends and co-workers to church and making a difference in people’s lives and let’s use all the tools at our disposal to do so!
