By Shannon Baker, BCM/D National Correspondent

MILLERSVILLE, Md.—John Brittain loves Facebook.

As director of the Arundel Association in Millersville, Md., he sees the computerized social networking tool as a valuable asset to his everyday business—personal and ministry.

“I use Facebook to network with friends (old and new; ministry and non-ministry) and to stay in touch with networking online in general,” he shares, saying Facebook mixes business (or ministry) with lifestyle and interests well.

Facebook is made up of many online networks, each based around a region, workplace, or school. Users develop personal profiles and invite friends to join. They send each other messages, update their personal statuses, and post photos, videos, and web site links in what can be considered an ongoing conversation.

“The first thing to remember is that you are not just posting information; you are linking to networks of people through your profile,” shares Chris Forbes, an independent marketing coach and consultant for faith-based nonprofits, ministries, and churches (www.ministrymarketingcoach.com). “Such simple tasks as setting your status, joining groups or causes, and attending events will keep people who care about you up to date on what you are doing, how you feel, and what you are interested in.”

Forbes, writing in Facebook for Pastors, sees the Web 2.0 technology used in Facebook as a new approach to communications. The founder of Ministry Marketing Coach (www.ministrymarketingcoach.com) wonders if church ministries will take advantage of the opportunity for communicating the gospel.

“The bottom line on Facebook is there are people connected to it,” he stresses. “It is not a web site or an Internet product; it is a network of people. Each person in the network is someone for whom Christ gave himself.”

Forbes believes that ministry leaders can partner with their members and mobilize them as evangelists using this social media.

“Pastors have the opportunity now to become more personal in how they relate to the people they serve,” he says.

With Facebook’s Groups application, users can see groups their friends have joined, as well as navigate to their own groups, and create new groups.

Brittain now follows the Network of Baptist Associations (NOBA), a new national group for DOMs, which has a presence on Facebook. He also follows ministry leaders, such as Ed Stetzer and Reggie McNeal, and probes other ministries.

Facebook started as a social community web site for college students. Mark Zuckerberg and co-founders Dustin Moskovitz, Chris Hughes and Eduardo Saverin launched Facebook from their Harvard dorm room in February 2004. The following December Facebook reached nearly 1 million active users.

As of Jan. 2009, according to Facebook’s Press Room, there are more than 150 million active users of Facebook. The fastest growing demographic is those 25 years old and older. Presently, there are more than 52,000 applications available on the Facebook platform.

Brittain used Facebook’s Event application to send out invitations and track responses to events like Interact: 3-D training conference and the association’s annual meeting. He notes, “Using Facebook has helped my ministry by allowing for another means of connection with ministry friends, including ministers and members of ABA churches.”

Forbes urges pastors to refrain from using Facebook for too much promotion and not enough real networking.

“One of the quickest ways to lose credibility is to join the site, use all your ‘promotional speak’ and spam out a bunch of invitations to your events and groups,” he says, suggesting, instead, that pastors pay attention to what they are learning about people through Facebook.

“Bottom line: you need to communicate with people. If you connect with people through email, you know how it has enhanced your ministry. Facebook is like email on steroids. Learn it, use it, know it, and it will transform how your do your ministry work in the same dramatic way,” he concludes.

“I would advise ministers to simply register and take it for a spin,” challenges Brittain. “It’s tough to tell if something new is for you until you try it.”

For more information or to download the free e-book, Facebook for Pastors, visit online at www.ministrymarketingcoach.com.

In a forward in Facebook for Pastors, Greg Atkinson, technical arts director at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrollton, Texas, believes that all pastors should be on Facebook.

Being a member of Facebook allows you to be accessible to others.

“By putting my profile out there for all to see, lots of people can see me, and about me, message me, and strike up a conversation with me,” he said.

Being a member of Facebook is in line with a Kingdom-focus.

“Through Facebook, I’ve been able to share ideas, resources and encouragement with other Church leaders, as well as receive it.

Through the various features and applications on Facebook, I am able to hear what God is doing at another church,” Atkinson said, adding that people are able to see the global Church in action, rejoicing with those who rejoice and crying with those who cry.

“We’re in this together and the friendships and associations that come from Facebook reinforce this.”

Being a member of Facebook shows that we’re all human.

“Through Facebook’s ‘Status Updates’ I am able to see someone’s mood, hear what they’re up to and get to see behind the curtain,” he said.

Being a member of Facebook gives others a look at your heart and passions.

People can find out more about you by what groups you join, what causes you support, what books you’re reading, what movies you like – all the various applications that Facebook offers, which again give others a sneak peak into what makes you tick and what drives you.

Being a member of Facebook encourages learning, sharing and discussion.

“Once you become a member of a group, you’re able to post discussion topics and questions and then begin what I call a ‘collaborative conversation,’” he said. “I’ve watched people post topics and issues that they were dealing with or wrestling with and seen others dive in to help out and share what they’ve done in their ministry. It’s truly a beautiful thing to behold.”

Facebook is another door into your local church.

“Believe it or not, there are people that came across a church first on Facebook and then visited the church in person,” Atkinson noted. “When someone is searching for a relevant ministry in their city and comes across your church’s Facebook group or one of your pastor’s profiles, this gives them a positive first impression and allows them to get to know your DNA before they step foot in your building and in many cases, before they browse your church’s web site.”