Tell the Good News

by Donna Mumma

“And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation'” 

(Mark 16:15, ESV).

Social media.

These two words instill more terror into my writer’s heart than pushing the “send” button on a new submission. Social media looms before me as a strange world with a language I don’t understand. Industry trends pressure me to create posts that lure readers to my website and enchant them to join my email list. I’m supposed to connect with followers on Facebook, X, Instagram, Pinterest, and other outlets to market myself and my writing.

But I only wanted to be a storyteller. This new world overwhelmed me. So I ignored it.

Then God gave me a holy tap on the shoulder. He reminded me of Jesus’s first word in this verse.

“Go.”

Not sulk, pout, freak-out or wallow in discouragement. But, “Go.”

So how do you go when you don’t even know where to start?

First, accept that social media is the new mission field.

When missionaries feel called to go into the field, they learn the language and customs of their assigned country. They research ways to connect with the native people. You can do the same with social media. Go to a class or workshop. Learn the terms, how to navigate, where to meet new followers. Talk to fellow writers, see what worked for them. Find a mentor or accountability partner well versed in social media. Let them walk you through building a website, setting up author pages, creating a profile on X, Instagram and LinkedIn. They had their failures. They learned. So can you.

Second, start small.

Find ways to connect with others who share your passions. Like photography? Try Instagram. Are you a visual person who revels in scrapbooking? Maybe Pinterest is your spot. Do you enjoy sharing tidbits of your day or engaging in conversations? Head to Facebook and join a group with like-minded folks and find your people.

Social media allows us to spread the message we’ve been given without leaving home. That’s a great opportunity. Can you imagine what Paul would have taught on YouTube? Or what Timothy might have posted on Instagram?

The introvert in me might never love social media. But I love Jesus. I want to obey His call to spread the good news.

Dear Jesus, help us to never allow fear to hinder us from obeying your call to a new mission field. 

Donna Mumma perfected storytelling in her first grade classroom, spinning tales exciting enough to settle a roomful of antsy six-year-olds. She loves to blend history, mystery, and faith in her novels, which include Fresh Scars, The Women of Wynton’s, and First Comes Marriage . . . Then Comes Murder.  A native Floridian, she now lives on the Sunshine State’s west coast, sharing life with her family, and her energetic collie, Duke. Connect with her at www.donnamumma.me., Facebook at Donna Mumma, or Instagram at donnamumma_writer.

*A previous version of this devotion appeared on Inkspirations Online on September 3, 2018.