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December 26, 2014 by kevinstilley

Why I Usually Followback on Twitter

I received an email from a friend wanting to know why I was following a particular person on Twitter.  His  question was simply “Seriously?”  It wasn’t the first time I have received such questions / comments, so let me explain.

Everyone uses Twitter differently. Some use it to follow a few select individuals in their career field, others follow only family members and close friends, others follow anyone that posts interesting material, etc.  The uses of Twitter vary greatly, so it is best not to assume that others have the same purpose for their Twitter account that you have for yours.

I USUALLY FOLLOWBACK FOR THE PURPOSE OF EVANGELISM & MINISTRY

About a year ago I decided to use Twitter primarily as an evangelism and ministry tool.  I still use Twitter to engage friends and family, but usually utilize Facebook for maintaining and nurturing those relationships. Given that my primary purpose for Twitter is evangelism and ministry, I usually followback most of those who follow me, including at times some pretty unsavory characters

When Jesus heard this, He told them, “Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do need one. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17)

Have I seen any results by shifting my focus to evangelism and ministry?  Yes.  In the last year I have conversed with two separate individuals who were contemplating suicide, I have had the opportunity to share Christ and his plan of salvation with several individuals (including one in a land where we have difficulty sending missionaries), have received feedback that someone was returning to church after a long absence, and had many other such ministry encounters.  I am encouraged by such engagements.

I USUALLY FOLLOWBACK FOR THE SAKE OF RELATIONSHIPS

About the same time that I made the change of focus above, I overheard a conversation in the student center at the college in which I teach.  It went something like this:

Student A: “I have been following Professor X on Twitter and commenting on his posts, but he won’t follow me back.”

Student B: “He follows me.”

Student A: “I guess I didn’t make the cut.”

This wasn’t the first time that I heard conversations where people expressed disappointment that their pastor, professor, colleague, or (you fill in the blank) wouldn’t follow them. I do not want to give anyone the impression that they somehow didn’t make the cut — better to followback.

I USUALLY FOLLOWBACK FOR THE SAKE OF COURTESY

I have served on staff in one of the largest churches of America; people knew me that I did not know. I have been teaching at the college level for more than twenty years; my memories of many of those students have begun to fade away.  I value these people and other acquaintances even though I cannot always recall their names or the nature of our relationship.  I want to make sure the door is open to facilitate communication if they desire to reconnect, so I usually followback.

WHY I FOLLOWBACK FOREIGN LANGUAGE TWITTER ACCOUNTS 

Related to the above point, at this time in my life I have thousands of former students, missions contacts, and friends for whom English is not their primary language.  I regret that I do not remember them all but do not want to give the appearance of rudeness by failing to followback when they follow me on Twitter. Additionally, I pastor a church in a multi-ethnic community where people often seek to make some connection to the church before actually attending. So, I usually followback foreign language accounts, even if I don’t know what they are saying.

I FOLLOWBACK TO GET FEEDBACK ON MY WRITING

I no longer allow comments on my website articles.  I made that decision for a number of reasons that I won’t go into here.  However, I enjoy getting feedback from my readers and Twitter is a good way for my readers to interact with me.  I have a diverse community of website readers and Twitter is a good way for them to reach out to me. So, I usually followback on Twitter.

BUT, BUT, BUT…

Aren’t I running the risk of giving the wrong impression by following some shady characters? Sure, but I would rather have that happen than fail to show courtesy to a former student or someone I met on the mission field.  I would rather run that risk than miss out on connecting with someone who is open to the gospel and seeking a connection to Christ’s church.

DON’T YOU END UP FOLLOWING MORE PEOPLE THAN YOU CAN REALLY “FOLLOW”?

Doesn’t following that many people become unmanageable?

I use various Twitter applications to differentiate close friends and family in order to follow their contributions to Twitter more closely than others.  It is also easy to establish Lists in Twitter to catalog your contacts by interest (church, politics, school, etc).

So, I usually followback,

but there are some reasons that I choose NOT to do so.

REASONS I REFRAIN FROM FOLLOWING A TWITTER ACCOUNT

  1. I do NOT follow Twitter accounts that are “Private” unless I know the account holder personally.
  2. I do NOT follow Twitter accounts that appear to be published by bots.  Why bother?
  3. I do NOT follow Twitter accounts that have depictions of violence or seem to advocate violence.
  4. I follow lots of people who have a different worldview from my own, and who express ideas with which I disagree.  It is part of the conversation. But I do NOT follow those accounts that are being used primarily to promote things with which I strongly disagree.  I don’t want to subject myself to their endless promotional materials.
  5. I do NOT follow Twitter accounts that use profanity.  I simply don’t want to have those words in my head.
  6. I do NOT follow Twitter accounts that have any form of nudity in their profile picture, cover photo, or timeline.
  7. I do NOT  follow Twitter accounts that have pictures of guys without shirts.  Dude, really?  There are lots of different reasons why you might want to show off your chest and abs — none of them good.
  8. I do NOT follow Twitter accounts that “favorite”  or retweet the content that I mention above.  When you favorite it, I end up seeing it.

Well, that is some of my reasoning for following back. Why not tweet me a note about what you think of my choice?

Tweet

Filed Under: Articles, Blog, Communication, Evangelism, Missions Tagged With: Evangelism, Missions, relationships, Social Media, Twitter

August 19, 2013 by kevinstilley

Christian Missions book recommendations

What are some of your favorite books on missions?

* * *

Danny Akin, President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, has recommended the following books on Christian Missions.

Caner, Emir and Ergun Caner. Unveiling Islam: An Insider’s Look at Muslim Life and Beliefs. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2002.

_______. More than a Prophet: An Insider’s Response to Muslim Beliefs about Jesus and Christianity. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2003.

Carey, William. An Enquiry. Dallas: Criswell Publications, 1987 (1792 edition).

Glasser, Arthur F. Annoucing the Kingdom: The Story of God’s Mission in the Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003.

Hesselgrave, David J. Communicating Christ Cross-Culturally. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1991.

_______. Planting Churches Cross-Culturally. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1980.

Hiebert, Paul G. Anthropological Insights for Missionaries. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1985.

Johnstone, Patrick. Operation World. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1993.

Kostenberger, Andreas J. and Peter T. O’Brien. Salvation to the Ends of the Earth: A Biblical Theology of Mission. Downers Grove: IVP, 2001.

Lingenfelter, Sherwood G. and Marvin Keene Mayers. Ministering Cross-Culturally: An Incarnational Model for Personal Relationships. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1986.

Peters, George W. A Biblical Theology of Missions. Chicago: Moody, 1972.

Peskett, Howard and Ramachandra Vinoth. The Message of Mission: The Glory of Christ in all Space and Time. Downers Grove: IVP, 2003.

Piper, John. Let the Nations be Glad: The Supremacy of God in Missions. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1993.

Wagner, C. Peter. Strategies for Church Growth. Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 1987.

Winter, Ralph D., ed. Perspectives on the World Christian Movement. Pasadena: William Carey Library, 1981.

* * *

Grace Baptist Church of Cape Coral, Florida (pastored by Tom Ascol) shares on its website the following list of recommended books on Missions.

Let the Nations Be Glad! The Supremacy of God in Missions by John Piper

The Mission of God by Christopher J.H. Wright

Perspectives on the World Christian Movement: A Reader by Ralph Winter and Steven Hawthorne (eds.)

Salvation to the Ends of the Earth: A Biblical Theology of Mission by Andreas Kostenberger and Peter O’Brien

A Vision for Missions by Tom Wells

Paradigms in Conflict: 10 Key Questions in Christian Missions Today by David Hesselgrave

The Church Is Bigger Than You Think: The Unfinished Work of World Evangelisation by Patrick Johnstone

Announcing the Kingdom: The Story of God’s Mission in the Bible by Arthur Glasser

Mission on the Way: Issues in Mission Theology by Charles Van Engem

The Open Secret: An Introdution to the Theology of Mission by Lesslie Newbigin

* * *

The following titles on MISSIONS are included in the 9Marks reading list for pastors:

Operation World, Patrick Johnstone

Let the Nations Be Glad, John Piper

Christian Mission in the Modern World, John Stott

* * *
The following books on Evangelism and Missions are recommended in the publication Beginning Your Theological Library published by the Criswell College.

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And here are some more from their list of recommended titles on Evangelism and Missions:

The Impact of Christianity on the Non-Christian World, by J. H. Bavinck

Evangelism: A Biblical Approach, by G. Michael Cocoris

The Mind Changers, by Emory Griffin

Unmasking the New Age, by Douglas Groothuis

Transforming Culture: Developing a Biblical Ethic in an African Context, by Keith Eitel

All Things Are Possible, by David Harrell

The Battle For World Evangelism, by Arthur Johnston

A Global View of Christian Missions From Pentecost to the Present, by J. Herbert Kane

Life and Work on the Mission Field, by J. Herbert Kane

An Evangelical Theology of Missions, by Harold Lindsell

Liberation Theology, by Emilio Nunez

The Cult Invasion, by R. Alan Streett

Exploring Evangelism, by Mendell Taylor

On the Crest of the Wave, by Peter Wagner

____________

RELATED CONTENT

  • Missions – Select Quotes
  • Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret: Discussion Guide
  • Missionary Work, by Andrew Murray

Filed Under: Blog, Books, Evangelism, Missions, Worldview Tagged With: Bibliograpy, Daniel Akin, Evangelism, Missional, Missions, SEBTS

July 31, 2013 by kevinstilley

Evangelism Book Recommendations

What are your favorite books on evangelism?  Here are what some others are recommending.

___

Danny Akin

Danny Akin, President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, has recommended the following books on Evangelism and Church Growth.

  • Abraham, William J. The Logic of Evangelism. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989.
  • Coleman, Robert E. The Master Plan of Evangelism. rev. ed. Grand Rapids: Revell, 1993.
  • Green, Michael. Evangelism in the Early Church. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1970.
  • Little, Paul E. How to Give Away Your Faith. Downers Grove: IVP, 1966.
  • Malphurs, Aubrey. Planting Growing Churches for the 21st Century. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1992.
  • McGavran, Donald. Understanding Church Growth. 3rd ed., rev. and ed. by Peter Wagner. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990.
  • Packer, J.I. Evangelism and the Sovereignity of God. Downers Grove: IVP, 1961.
  • Rainer, Thom S. The Book of Church Growth: History, Theology, and Principles. Nashville: Broadman, 1993.
  • _______. Effective Evangelistic Churches. Nashville: Broadman, 1996.
  • _______. Suprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001.
  • _______. The Unchurched Next Door. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003.
  • _______. Good to Great Churches. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004.
  • Reid, Alvin. Introduction to Evangelism. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1998.
  • _______. Radically Unchurched: Who They Are and How to Reach Them. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2002.
  • Streett, R. Alan. The Effective Invitation. Old Tappan, NJ: Revell, 1984.
  • Wagner, C. Peter. Church Growth and the Whole Gospel: A Biblical Mandate. San Francisco: Harper, 1981.

___

Grace Baptist Church

Grace Baptist Church of Cape Coral, Florida (pastored by Tom Ascol) shares on its website the following list of recommended books on Evangelism.

  • Tell the Truth: A Training Manual on the Message and Methods of God-Centered Witnessing by Will Metzger
  • God-Centered Evangelism by R.B. Kuiper
  • The Soul Winner by Charles Spurgeon
  • Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer
  • A Pastor’s Sketches (2 vol.) by Ichabod Spencer
  • The Gospel and Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever
  • The Heart of Evangelism by Jerram Barrs
  • Questioning Evangelism: Engaging People’s Hearts the Way Jesus Did by Randy Newman
  • Puritan Evangelism: A Biblical Approach by Joel Beeke
  • A Sure Guide to Heaven by Joseph Alleine
  • Today’s Evangelism: Its Message and Methods by Ernest Reisinger

___

9Marks

The following titles on EVANGELISM are included in the 9Marks reading list for pastors:

  • The Gospel Blimp, Joe Bayly
  • Tell The Truth, Will Metzer
  • Revival and Revivalism, Iain Murray
  • Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, J.I.Packer
  • Speaking of Jesus, J.Mack Stiles
  • Christianity Explained (Workbook)Scripture Union

___

Founders Study Center

The following texts are being used in the Founders Study Center for their course on Evangelism and the Excellencies of God.

  • Lighting the way to God: Giving people a context for understanding the Gospel by Jim Odens
  • Tell the Truth: The Whole Gospel to the Whole Person by Whole People by Will Metzger
  • God Centred Evangelism by R. B. Kuiper

___

Reformed Theological Seminary

Reformed Theological Seminary lists the following Evangelism and Missions books on its Recommended Reading list for prospective students.

  • Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, J.I. Packer
  • Right With God, John Blanchard Powerful
  • Evangelism for the Powerless, C. John Miller
  • Tell the Truth, Will Metzger
  • Let the Nations Be Glad, John Piper
  • Christian Mission, John Stott
  • An Introduction to the Science of Missions, J. Herman Bavink
  • The Pastor-Evangelist: Preacher, Model, and Mobilizer for Church Growth, Roger Greenway
  • Telling the Truth: Evangelizing Postmoderns, D.A. Carson
  • The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society, Lesslie Newbigin
  • Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s or Ours?, Allen Rolland
  • Perspectives on the World Christian Movevment, Ralph Winter
  • Mission in the Old Testament, Walter Kaiser
  • Gospel and Mission in the Writings of St. Paul, Peter T. O’Brien
  • God’s Missionary People, Charles Van Engen
  • A Heart for Mission: Five Pioneer Thinkers, Ron Davies
  • What In the World is God Doing?, C. Gordon Olson

___

J.D. Greear

And, the following are from the Recommended Reading list of J.D. Greear.

  • Between Heaven and Hell: A Dialog Somewhere Beyond Death with John F. Kennedy, C. S. Lewis & Aldous Huxley, by Peter Kreeft
  • Christianity for Modern Pagans: Pascal’s Pensees, by Peter Kreeft
  • The Radical Reformission: Reaching Out without Selling Out, by Mark Driscoll
  • Socrates Meets Jesus: History’s Greatest Questioner Confronts the Claims of Christ, by Peter Kreeft
  • Becoming A Contagious Christian, by Bill Hybels and Mark Mittelberg
  • Questioning Evangelism, by Randy Newman
  • Tell the Truth: The Whole Gospel to the Whole Person, by Will Metzger

____________

Book CoverRELATED CONTENT

  • Evangelism and Missions Bibliography – Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
  • Evangelism – select quotes

Filed Under: Blog, Communication, Evangelism Tagged With: bibliography, Book Recommendation, Evangelism, Missions, reading list, witnessing

April 18, 2011 by kevinstilley

Missions – select quotes

If God calls you to be a missionary, don’t stoop to be a king.
~ Jordan Grooms

The trouble with missions in the average church is that it’s a little like National Blueberry Week — nobody’s opposed to it, but not too many are fired up about it either.
~ Richard Lewis, in  Fresh Ideas for Preaching, Worship & Evangelism, by Christianity Today.  page 154

What we do in life echoes in eternity.
~ Maximus, in the movie Gladiator
__________

RELATED CONTENT

  • Index To Great Quotes

__________

Book Cover

Filed Under: Blog, Evangelism, Missions, Quotes Tagged With: Evangelism, Missional, Missions, quotations, quote

November 23, 2009 by kevinstilley

Book Review: Bill Wallace of China

Book Cover

Bill Wallace of China, by Jesse C. Fletcher

In a chapel sermon at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Paige Patterson recommended reading “Bill Wallace of China.” Most people know of William Wallace of Scotland through Mel Gibson’s movie “Braveheart,” but relatively few have heard of William Wallace of China. What a shame. . . .

I have had this book in my personal library for several decades but it never seemed to make its way to the top of the “next to be read” stack of books that I keep by my bedside. Like most book lovers I have a problem . . . a big problem . . . well, an obsession – – – I buy more books than I can read. If I started reading right now and read twelve hours a day for the rest of my life I would not be able to read even half of the books in my personal library. So, it is not uncommon for me to own but neglect a book. I regret that I neglected this book as long as I did.

When Dr. Patterson recommended this book I had just finished reading another book  (Homer Hickam’s book The Coalwood Way — which, by the way is a great read) and was considering what to read next, so to paraphrase Augustine, “I heard the voice on the other side of the wall calling out ‘Pick up the book and read.'”

As a young man in Tennessee Bill Wallace felt called of God to prepare for service as a medical missionary. After completing his preparations he was appointed by the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board) to serve in Southern China. Nothing so amazing there, . . . so why the book? Wallace served in China during the Boxer Rebellion, the Japanese invasion during World War II, and in the subsequent revolutionary war when the Communists wrested control from the Nationalists.

The book is full of drama, intrigue, and suspense. Without those elements the book would not succeed. But, what makes the book compelling is that the reader experiences Wallace in a similar fashion as did the Chinese people. The reader, like the Chinese, is introduced to the quiet unassuming Wallace, gradually comes to like Wallace, then respect him, love him and finally finds that Wallace’s life story compels both introspection and committed personal action.

I add my voice to Patterson’s in recommending this book. The book is a quick read, but the reader will take much away from it in terms of clearly defined informational content as well as a tacit knowledge that drives volitional intent.

__________

Related Content

  • Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret; Discussion Guide
  • The Cross of Christ – J.C. Ryle
  • The Unfathomable Riches of Christ, for All Peoples, Above All Powers, through the Church, by John Piper

Filed Under: Blog, Books, Front Page Tagged With: biography, Boxer rebellion, China, Japan, missiology, Missions, William Wallace, WWII

October 23, 2009 by kevinstilley

Jim Elliot – select quotes

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.
~ Jim Elliot

__________

RELATED CONTENT

  • Index To Great Quotes

__________

Book Cover

Filed Under: Blog, Missions, Quotes Tagged With: Jim Elliot, Missions, Quotes

November 8, 2008 by kevinstilley

Wanted . . . Men!

A society in South Africa once wrote to David Livingston: “Have you found a good road to where you are?  If so, we want tot know how to send other men to join you.”

Livingston replied: “If you have men who will come only if they know there is a good road, I don’t want them.  I want men who will come if there is no road at all.”

__________

Book Cover

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: africa, Blog, David Livingstone, God, love, Missions, sacrifice, Stanley, Stories

July 26, 2008 by kevinstilley

Will God Judge Those Who Never Heard About Christ?

In I’m Glad You Asked, Kenneth Boa & Larry Moody recommend the following books on the topic of “Will God Judge Those Who Never Heard About Christ?”:

J.N.D. Anderson, Christianity and Comparative Religion

David A DeWitt, Answering The Tough Ones

Norman Geisler, The Roots of Evil

Paul E. Little, How to Give Away Your Faith

Josh McDowell and Don Stewart, Answers To Tough Questions

Gordon R. Lewis, Judge For Yourself

Don Richardson, Eternity In Their Hearts

R.C. Sproul, Objections Answered

Barry Wood, Questions Non-Christians ask

__________

More Books of Interest

Book Cover Book Cover Book Cover

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Apologetics, Evangelism, Missions, soteriology

July 21, 2008 by kevinstilley

Taking Back The United Methodist Church, by Mark Tooley

You have just discovered that the money you have been giving to your church is being used to support those engaging in terrorism – What do you do?

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog, Books Tagged With: Blog, Books, denomination, liberalism, Mark Tooley, Methodist, Missions, UMC, United Methodist Church

June 2, 2008 by kevinstilley

Simon Says, "Just Call Me Peter"

Last October during our church’s missions festival we had a guest pastor in from Russia with whom we have been working. His name was Peter. Well that is what I called him, but every time I turned around someone else seemed to be calling him a somewhat different version of “Peter.” I asked him why people around here, who have known him for much longer than I have, seem to call him by so many different names. However, communication was difficult, so he just said for me to call him whatever I wanted. I did not understand.

Maybe now I do.

In The Penguin Classic Baby Name Book, Grace Hamlin writes regarding Russian names;

It’s difficult to keep the names straight in a sprawling novel like Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina even without the added unfamiliarity of Russian names. Compounding the problem is the Russian system of using a first name and a patronymic. Most confusing of all is the fact that Russians are constantly playing with names, creating a string of nicknames from a mere pair of syllables. Finally, a Russian character in high society is likely to bear a French name, owing to the aristocratic affection for Western European habits.

The combination of first name and patronymic is used politely, by acquaintances, so upon meeting someone named Pyotr Ivanovich Lupachkin one might address him as “Pyotr Ivanovich.” (Not all translator render name thus, however.) In a ballroom, he might be know as “Pierre.” And his family might call him, variously, Petya, Petrushka, Petr, or Petinka.

After reading that, I better understand why my Russian friend Peter might be known by so many variations of his name. However, I now feel impoverished because my own family only refers to me by two names, “Kevin” and “Hey, you.”

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Blog, fiction, literature, Missions, names, Peter, Russia, Translation

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