Facebook Challenge!

I have created a Facebook Group for Good News United Methodist Church. I am issuing you, dear readers of Going Forth, a challenge! Create your facebook profile and join the group! I am assuming you will figure out the rest along the way. For those of you who are lucky enough not to work a computer 8-10 hours a day this may be a steeper challenge, but I am sure you are up to the task!


FAQs

1. Why a facebook page doesn't GNUMC have a website and a blog and a youth blog? A: Our website is good for informational content (what, when, where). Our blogs tell stories and provides on going updates to the readers. There is some group interaction as readers comment on posts. A Facebook page is social networking. It connects people to friends, families, communities who share common interests. It is new type of communication tool. Just like email 15-20 years ago, social networking sites, like Facebook, are new communication tools.


2. Is Facebook safe? A: Yes, but with any Internet Service you need to use common sense and make you own decisions about what you share and what you post and what you click on. For example, I did not post my gender and birth date in my profile. Based on my HR training that personal identifiable information is not needed. If you use common sense and only link to 'friends' that you know you will be fine. I also have been using the feature of rating the advertising on the right navigational panel. If I don't like and ad I give it a thumbs down and I assume that type of ad will eventually not be served up in the future.


3. But is it safe for my kids? Yes, many teenagers are avid users of MySpace and Facebook. Would I let MY middle school child use it?, No... but that is me. I think there needs to be a higher level of maturity to know what to do and what not to do online. Use you own judgement about your own child and ask other parents and make your own decision.


4. I created a profile, so now what? A: Search for a family member, a co-worker, neighbors, ask to be 'friends', JOIN THE GNUMC GROUP!, post pictures... The key is interacting with each other. I have come in contact with people I have not heard from in years. It's great!

The United Methodist Church is known as a 'connectional organization'. This Facebook page is an effort to connect with one another as members, family members (my sister in Garland joined, thanks 'Ria!), friends of the church, and anyone who has an interest in our mission.

We have 133 'members' at GNUMC and many, many more 'friends of GNUMC'. I don't know what to expect from this challenge, 50 members? 100 members? 200 members? ...let's see what happens!

Blessings,

John