Fruitful Practices #4- Social Networking
The “Fruitful Practices” series of articles highlights eight effective characteristics common among effective Kingdom-work and movements among Muslims. This issue continues the series with the 4 th
fruitful practice- recognizing the importance of social networks.
The Gospel Goes
While everyone is different, people generally gravitate toward others who are like them or who like doing similar things. For me, it works like this: I like football, so I can relate to others who like football. This principle applies also to Kingdom-building and to work among the unreached. If the unreached see themselves as different from those who attend church, the likelihood is high that they will never venture into church of their own accord.
Some territories may not even have a church available yet for seekers to attend.
Historically, church planting meant literally setting up a church building or renovating one to be a church, and then inviting people to come. This might work in some places, but it is not effective in other places. Often the people do not come. It is not enough to just wait for people to come to church to hear the gospel; we must find ways to bring the gospel to them.
We need to look for places that the unreached feel comfortable, pay attention to their social networks, and meet them there.
Immigrants and Refugees
Social networking naturally occurs when immigrants or migrants come to a new country.
Immigrants often seek other people from their country, religion, or experience and congregate around them. This is seen in big cities, where neighborhoods of people can be found from predominantly one country such as Ireland, Italy, Germany, Poland, Mexico, Somali, Iraq, India, Pakistan, etc.
In the same way immigrants tend to congregate according to their home countries, society tends to congregate- on a smaller scale- according to occupations, hobbies, and/or other interests.
Taxi drivers hang out with other taxi drivers; doctors hang out with other doctors; tech people hang out with other tech people; horse-lovers hang out with other horse-lovers; people who like to fish hang out with other people who like to fish, etc. These groups all form social networks. Some social networks develop around workplace and interests; others develop around our children’s activities. The neat thing is that these groups are not all mutually exclusive.
You might find a taxi driver and a doctor who both love to fish. They have no other overlapping interests, but fishing brings them together.
Seize the Opportunity
As Kingdom workers, we need to pay attention to the social networks around us and discover genuine ways to enter and share the gospel in these contexts.
This might lead us out beyond the boundaries of our comfort zones as we take on a new hobby or learn a new skill or sport. Let us not be afraid to ask insiders from these social contexts to teach us their common skills, interests, or cultures. This is a good way to build friendships and to get to know those who have never heard the gospel. Because social networks are never mutually exclusive, and since we all belong to multiple networks- the gospel lived out in community has the potential, if presented well, to spread through entire social networks and even into other related circles of influence.
Look for Social Networks
Look around you:
What are the social networks that exist in your neighborhood, town, or city?
Some will be obvious; others may take some exploring to discover. Pray and ask God for wisdom to know which social networks to pursue and how you should enter them. Most people do not actively seek out new social networks, but most are willing to let others, who demonstrate genuine interest, enter their existing groups.
A wise Christian worker noted, in regards to church-planting efforts, that if Kingdom workers are not careful- they might unwittingly introduce the church as a new social network, which could be misconstrued as a threat to existing networks or cultures.
Our goal as Kingdom builders is not to set up a competing social network. Rather, our goal is to introduce others to the Lord and Giver of Life and allow Him to transform all existing cultures, including our own!
Social networks in Muslim Fellowships
In a recent study, more than 100 successful church planters across multiple agencies were asked whether their fellowships of Muslim background-believers had prior relationships or were part of the same social networks. Those who started fellowships in which people already had established relationship were, on average, more than twice as fruitful as those who gathered new believers with no prior relationship!
God placed such high importance on social networks that he sent Jesus from heaven to earth- to live among us and to be one of us. Let us follow his example and be willing to take the light of Jesus to those who have never heard!
Additional Posts
Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?
Learn about the spiritual harmony in Vietnam & how missionaries engage with college students. Join us in sharing the gospel!
Explore Georgia's spiritual heritage and the impact of SEND International's mission. Join us in fostering authentic relationships today!
