Blog mentors come alongside visitors who post comments on the blogs by providing responses to comments, engaging further discussion, and offering related resources.

Blogging about specific topics is an effective way of communicating with people about things that matter to them.  We want to encourage people to talk about issues that are of significance to them and then as appropriate guide them to interactive links and/or discussion regarding spiritual issues.

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

1. Choose your preferred ministry area and understand the purpose of the blog. Indicate to our Mentor Coordinator whether you would prefer to mentor on a blog that is evangelistic or discipleship focused. At TruthMedia, we desire to “connect with people at a point of felt need and help them take the next step in their spiritual journey”.  Some of the blogs are designed to be culturally relevant and may not appear to be a ministry at first glance; others are for building and encouraging Christians. It is important as a blog mentor that you understand the goal of the blog and feel comfortable doing ministry in that specific way.

2. Keep aware of new comments on our blog posts. Click on ‘New Comments’ and add a comment to the post and then click on ‘Subscribe to new comments by email’ at the bottom of the post to receive notification of new comments.

3. Respond to posts and comments. People tend to interact on blog posts that have lots of activity.  If you see that no one is commenting, get the conversation started.  On the evangelistic blogs, address the issues in such a way that unchurched people can connect relate to what you are writing.   As you respond to comments and posts, you can provide resources and direct the discussion.  We have a growing resource area that can offer help for you.

4. Pray before you respond. As people begin to talk and share, it is the Holy Spirit who can transition conversations into ministry.  Trust Him to guide your words.

5. Don’t feel you need to give answers. Your main responsibility is to encourage conversation, offer to pray for someone or draw them into online mentoring so a mentor can share the next step in their relationship with God.

6. Minister in a relevant way without “preaching on the blog”.

• End responses with a question to encourage responses
• Commit to encourage others on their spiritual journey toward an authentic, growing relationship with Jesus Christ (discipleship blogs)
• Pray for the site visitor in the blog comment (discipleship blogs)
• Share Christ by including links to the Gospel and Holy Spirit presentation and directing them to further resources (evangelistic or discipleship)
• Speak the truth in love through scripture verses (Discipleship blogs)
• Point visitors towards maximizing the grace of God in his/her life

6. Encourage them to respond back by asking specific questions. Many of the people writing in may not know Jesus Christ or they may be living defeated spiritual lives.  There are points that all of us can relate to such as relational or life management issues.

7. Blog moderating.  Occasionally comments may be inappropriate and require removal and/or a request for an edit by the writer (if email address is available).  As a blog mentor you need to notify our Content Administrator of your concerns (leah.kullman@powertochange.org)

Sample blog post, comment and a sample response:

Source: Help ! My Husband Doesn’t Want to Have Sex! (Blog for unchurched visitors with marriage issues)

Comment from Sandra January 28, 2011 at 10:31 am

Mimi, you make a strong point: God’s expectation is that our relationships will be mutually gratifying, building, supportive, etc. If you’re being harmed, get out as quickly as you safely can.
Ramona, you mentioned indulging grossly self-centered partners. I wonder, then, if we’re addressing this issue on a few different levels.
On one hand, we’re talking about partners who are sexually disconnected, disengaged. On the other, men or women who are creating pain by their refusal to contribute to the relationship.
Willful selfishness is can be cruel and violent and exacting. Woundedness, fear, or insecurity, while looking like selfishness, may simply be a partner’s survival mechanisms creating a pattern of behavior that’s unwittingly hurtful.

I have a friend who’s currently extracting herself from a relationship with a guy who is the former. He’s a con (she’s lost tens of thousands of dollars to him) and remorseless for the multiple affairs that she caught him in. He is verbally and emotionally abusive.

Another friend is married to a man who is cool, distant, and emotionally detached. That detachment shows itself in everything from a lack of sexual connection to stilted everyday communication.
Both friends are suffering because of their mate’s behaviors. But the behaviors cannot be addressed in the same way. The former refuses counseling because he’s belligerant and uncooperative and, in his words, “doesn’t care what she thinks.” The second refuses counseling because he’s scared to death about airing his personal abuse and shame “publicly.”

Does faith factor into this for you? In my own relationship, complicated as it is, common ground in our core beliefs gets us through the sometimes-very-dry intimate times.

Comment from Ramona January 28, 2011 at 5:26 pm

Sandra,

I realize that there may be extenuating circumstances that contribute to a problem that are not the direct cause of the person with the problem, such as the problems you mention; however, if reasonable satisfaction in the relationship at whatever level is unable to be enjoyed, and the one who has or is the problem is unwilling to seek counsel and or medical intervention, then they are behaving selfishly and stubbornly and they do not care for their partner in the correct way.

Yes, we can bleed for their cause or causes whatever they may be, and we can be understanding and helpful, but if they won’t try to find relief for the problem that they have, they behave in selfishness and a lack of concern for their spouse and I don’t know a way to state it with kindness. Truth is not always beautiful.

The ultimate result of such behaviors is, “I’m doing fine, why do you have a problem?” They expect to be permitted to have a problem while being uncaring that the need of their spouse is not fulfilled.

Yes, faith does factor into my evaluation of this scenario on all levels. I feel that the major problem of the Church and families is that we do not hold each other to accountability. We enter marriage with a set of expectations and warm partnership is one of them. Scripture is specific about not defrauding each other in marriage. As for the gentleman who is petrified with fear, maybe he needs medication for that and perhaps a lot of prayer, but he can also selfishly hide out behind the excuse.

Mentor Job Description  http://truthmedia.com/job/blogmentor