NATIONAL NETWORKING WEEK

It's National Networking Week, a unique opportunity for Christians to remember the amazing platform they have been given from which to share God's love with others.

Facebook now boasts 500 million members--7% of the world's population, half of whom are logging in every day, and Twitter transmits more than 50 million Tweets a day. These and other online networking sites represent a huge opportunity for Christians who want to have a positive influence in the world for Christ.

At no other time in history could the average Christian affect dozens, hundreds or even thousands of people in minutes, from the comfort of home. At no other time could one small comment, from an individual without major media connections, be shared with up to millions of people in a matter of hours.

Social networking involvement requires little time and no financial investment. Posting a comment to your profile is easy and usually less than 140 characters, making it possible for even the busiest people to participate. Even though creating a post of that length takes less than five minutes to compose and publish, the potential is unprecedented.

The average social networking site member has 120 connections. Each time a person sees a posted comment and either shares it, comments on it, or retweets it, the original comment is given a new audience to influence, and at no point does the networking host stop this outward flow. The powerful potential makes some people put on facades.

The key to reaching others for Christ is authenticity, whether online or face-to-face. While some people feel great about posting pithy comments, others Bible verses and still others a link to an uplifting YouTube video, each person needs to find their own fit.

This week, Christians nationwide are celebrating National Networking Week by starting to post more God-honoring, social networking status updates. To participate, simply shares at least one post that honors God today, tomorrow or every day from this day forward.

To learn more about social networking and how you can increase your sphere of influence for the glory of God, request a free copy of SANE: Social Networking Success in 15 Minutes a Day. This eBook, written by Marnie Swedberg, is available to you from SaneSNS.com.