I was catching up with a MDiv student this past week that I mentored for a short time while living in New Orleans. He is a good kid, smart, and a very hard worker. But he was having a hard time trying to see how someone can invest in another's life through social media. I told him that the best way for discipleship to occur in the life of my new believer is face to face discipleship. However, that is not always an option. Social media is a great way for people to invest in others when we are separated from each other.

Investing in people is not a simple task. Its takes time and energy. But it can be done through social interaction, especially through technology. As social media continues to change the way we interact with one another it can also allow us to be strengthened by each other as well. Missionaries love receiving emails, FB messages, and texts that just say, “Hey, I am praying for you today”. Lets be honest for a moment, everyone likes it when someone tells them they are thinking about them. Its kind of a big deal. Take moment right now and let someone know that you are thinking about them.

As I have mentioned before and I agree completely with Leonard Sweet that using social media can be used in discipleship. In my context, new believers need constant interaction. Using social media to send encouraging words and accountability when necessarily will help the new believer grow in his or her relationship with the Lord and with you as his mentor.

The student quickly caught on to the importance of how in some contexts social media is a vital way to disciple, and share life with another believer. I pray that we are using our social media accounts for this purpose.

Tags: Twitter, discipleship