Mobile Ministry

Would you mind doing me a favour? I’d like you to get out your mobile phone please. Yes, now would be good if you can... Got it? Great. Thank you.

Now flick to your sent box for your text messages. And read through the last 20. I’m guessing they’ll be a fairly representative sample of how you use your mobile. Take a look and see what kinds of things you’re texting …

My last 20 text messages fall into these categories:

• 10 messages arranging or responding to invitations to meet up with friends (what can I say, I like eating out … a lot!)
• 6 messages passing on some personal news or asking how someone is getting on (a girl has to keep up to date with the latest goings on in her friends’ lives)
• 2 messages arranging for an electrician to come round (I prefer it when my lights are working)
• 1 message assuring a neighbour that I do have a spare toilet roll and I’ll drop it down soon (always good to help those in need!)

and

• 1 lonely message telling someone I’m praying for them.

What about you? How’s your sent box doing? Any more spiritual than mine?!

Now I’m not for a moment suggesting that it’s wrong to use our mobiles for mundane matters like electricians. And there can be great spiritual fruit from meeting up with friends and that involves sending messages to arrange the meets. People often appreciate news, even if it’s not very exciting – such things build relationships. But it does occur to me that many of us, myself included, probably don’t use our mobiles quite as strategically as we might. They are great tools for:

• sending Jesus-centred encouragements
• asking for prayer requests
• reminding people of biblical truths
• inviting people to come to evangelistic events or church activities
• relaying the joy of answered prayer
• suggesting meeting up with someone outside our normal circle of friends
• and much, much more …

So, before you put your mobile away, why not take a moment to send an intentionally Kingdom-building text? Have a pray, think about who you could encourage in their walk with the Lord and then tap out a message … It’s only 160 characters and it could transform their day.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God … [even texting!] (1Corinthians 10:31)