Facebook for pastors?

Facebook is fast becoming the main social network for teens and young adults. Facebook is how I best communicate (other than in person) with my college students at both a secular and Christian campus. Some of my friends are very reluctant to use Facebook while others see it as a vital tool to serve, evangelize and disciple the people they are called to impact. Here are my self-imposed rules, to help me stay on track:

1. Profile pic is of me and my wife (I am clearly married and happily so)
2. I post very few public comments on people's "walls" and use very few applications.
3. I try to balance my friends to be wide ranging, both male and female, believers and unbelievers, near and far. In other words, everyone who sees my page knows I'm not trying to communicate with just one type of person.
4. My wife knows how to get into my facebook account, and she knows about any email I'm getting from female friends. She pretty much knows anything that is posted on my site.
5. I don't let my kids browse my Facebook since some posts are not very clean (remember, this is a site that connects you to unbelievers).

That's about it. I found a good downloadable resource "Facebook for Pastors" that is worth looking at. I don't know how long this link will be valid but look for it at http://www.churchplantingvillage.net/atf/cf/%7B087EF6B4-D6E5-4BBF-BED1-7983D360F394%7D/facebook-for-pastors-by-chris-forbes.pdf or search for it at www.churchplantingvillage.net

Block Party Successful

We're planting seeds through our Day Camp last month, a few block parties in our community and a parade entry in our city's largest annual parade. While we still have great hopes and expectations for attendance growth, spiritual decisions and baptisms over the summer, we are more focused on creating awareness and building relationships throughout the summer. We pray that, as people settle back into their fall routines, they will include us in their planning.

A successful block party means we gave a high number of people a fun experience with games, face painting, moonwalk, etc, and we were able to give them information about our church and the message of Christ's love. We also hope to walk away with a handful of new friendships, people who stopped long enough to begin spiritual conversations. Our favorite way to have a block party is at a high family traffic business like a movie theater during a highly publicized event, like the opening of a family friendly movie. Last night, we were at Carmike Cinema when a few good family shows were starting to play, during the same time that a popular radio station was hosting a live broadcast at our location. This gave us a few seconds of free air advertisements when they announced our part of the festivities.

We don't always see immediate results. But, over time, St Joe has built a reputation with local businesses, two great radio stations, and many in the community, just by hosting about 4 or 5 block parties a year. Our local association of churches owns a trailer with all the equipment, so we just schedule the events and gather the volunteers.

Does anyone know how we can get a firetruck for cheap???? We have dreams of fitting one up for these events. A great kid magnet! Just thought I'd ask....