Blogging, Strategy, Web Tools
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Travel as Ministry

Posted by John Saddington on Dec 29, 2008

flyinglessonI’ve recently have had the opportunity to go on a number of “trips” to various locations around the world.  Along the way I’ve packed and taken with me your typical “things”, like toiletries, clothes, digital cameras, iphones, and laptops.

One of the newest additions to my travel-goods is my social network.

Ever thought about that?  On a recent trip to South Korea, I took my entire blog and twitter community with me on a journey of epic proportions.  I was able to conversate with them, hear there thoughts, share my feelings, and get feedback from the many various experiences that I was having.

And they were awesome.

I felt loved and supported and cared for.  It’s like having another “family” that’s standing by with you, and only the internet can provide it.

I realized, in addition, that it’s also a mega ministry opportunity; travel that is.  It never really occured to me that the act and event of just traveling can in itself be a ministry opportunity.

But it is.  And I strongly encourage you to consider it the next time you go anywhere.  But you have to plan, be strategic, and have a little “purpose” perhaps.

Here are some tips and tricks that may support and aid you as you seek to use your blog, twitter, or whatever as a digital ministry opportunity:

  1. Establish a Schedule for your trip. Post it.
  2. Give your community some “heads up” about it. Prep them for it.
  3. Establish expectations for your community and them.
  4. Ask for their advice and feedback.  Engage them in the trip, help them be “a part” of it.
  5. Ask for prayer support. Prayer partners. Specific days too, if this is appropriate.
  6. Take lots of pictures and video and/or media if you can.
  7. Post regularly.  Establish a personal time during your trip to do it.
  8. Ask questions during the trip.  Engage them in “the story” and the “narrative”.
  9. Take some time and a break.  Enjoy your trip.
  10. Have a post mortem followup.  Open yourself up to questions and continued experiences.
  11. Follow those that follow you.  Give back.
  12. Do it again.

There are also a number of social networks and applications out that can help you document it… but I perfer the blog… don’t make your followers sign up for more accounts.

Have fun!

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John Saddington

John is the Chief Editor @ The 8BIT Network and Senior Blog Junkie here at ChurchCrunch.He enjoys Triple-Tall Americanos, developing Wordpress Themes, and a few other Random Things.

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10 Responses to “Travel as Ministry”

  1. rhettsmith
    Monday, December 29, 2008 at 7:07 am

    Question: What do you think about "safety concerns" for your family while you travel? I love the ideas above, but I tend not to post blogs, Twitter, etc. about my plans while I'm away. If I do, I feel like I've basically announced to everyone who reads that my wife and daughter are home alone for the next two weeks while I'm away. I have privacy, safety concerns…any thoughts?

    Reply
    • human3rror
      Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 4:12 am

      it's really been an interesting choice… if someone wanted to harm my children and wife they are 1000 ways that it could be done… and my address is floating all around the internet… and so is yours.

      but… i've also been scaling back some of the information… like tonight, i cleaned up my facebook, and deleted tons of pics and videos… i just don't want that much out there…

      it's a balance i suppose.

      Reply
      • Daniel_Berman
        Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 6:53 am

        Traveling overseas you gain a new perspective for what one classifies as 'safe'. Its no excuse to be reckless, but when you reflect on what most people deal with in 2/3rds of the world on a daily basis; you learn to be more careful in some cases and in others you learn not to worry. Not only that but if you listen to the locals, you learn to tell the difference.

        Reply
        • human3rror
          Wednesday, December 31, 2008 at 4:21 am

          good points.

          i think this argument could go both ways. personal conviction leads here, i think… and all men are convicted differently.

          but being retarded is typically stupid… yes.

          Reply
  2. Daniel_Berman
    Monday, December 29, 2008 at 11:42 am

    Definite considerations to be considered. Zachary Harris has an interesting take….http://www.geocities.com/zacharyaustinharris/secu...

    Reply
    • human3rror
      Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 4:13 am

      wow… you jsut had to add the bible didn't you..

      hehe. great article. i'll look over it.

      Reply
      • Daniel_Berman
        Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 7:10 am

        Frankly its high time we had many more serious discussions of how scriptures relates to daily life on subjects precisely like this. Have you ever read the "Heavenly Man" by Brother Yun? Skip to page 290, where he details some of the training given to "Back To Jerusalem" Chinese missionaries. It should give serious pause for North American Bible college and Seminary students and presidents. To quote,

        "1. How to suffer and die for the Lord. We examine what the Bible says about suffering, and look at how the Lord's people have laid down their lives for the advance of the gospel throughout history.
        2. How to witness for the Lord. We teach how to witness for the Lord under any circumstance, on trains or buses, or even in the back of a police van on our way to the execution ground.
        3. How to escape for the Lord. We know that sometimes it is the Lord who sends us to prison to witness for him, but we also believe the devil sometimes wants to go to prison to stop the ministry God has called us to do. We teach the missionaries special skills such how to free themselves from handcuffs, and how to jump from second-story windows without injuring themselves."

        Reply
        • human3rror
          Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 6:01 am

          heard about it… also heard the guy was bogus and lied about the whole thing.

          i haven't confirmed this statement though…

          Reply

  2. human3rror (human3rror)

    Travel as Ministry: Check out this New Post: http://tinyurl.com/96qyrr