Is it Possible to Mentor Someone…Digitally?

BY JOANNA LA FLEUR

IT WASN’T SO LONG AGO that the online world of relationships was only a place for scammers in chat rooms, a desperate attempt at love through online dating, or a place for the most tech-savvy amongst us to gather and meet new people.

With the rise of the smartphone and social media apps, Internet-based connections are for everyone. Talking to strangers that become friends, meeting romantic partners, and building online platforms for ourselves is now the norm. Digital relationships are here to stay. For those of the Millennial and Gen Z generations who have grown up with the internet, studies show that they view online relationships to be just as real and meaningful as their in-person connections.

Jesus commands his followers in the Great Commission: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20, NIV).

But what does it mean to go and make disciples if those we are trying to build a relationship with are spending increasingly more hours of their day on digital platforms? Is digital-based discipleship something that is even possible? If you feel a call to mentor, disciple, or build relationship with the next generations, here are a few ideas of how to do that.

5 Tips for Digital Discipleship

1

Show Up

You can’t build relationship with someone if you aren’t spending time where they spend their time. Just like the Apostle Paul going into the marketplaces of his day, we must show up and be present in the places where the people we want to disciple are spending their time. Choose a platform that people are active on and try to get to know it better. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, even emails if you really want to avoid social media, are a way to be present where people are present and browsing messages every day.

3Be Real The digital generation as a whole is very savvy to marketing plans. They have been sold to since they were toddlers, so they can smell an ulterior motive from miles away. Make sure to be your genuine, authentic self on the internet. As Pastor Craig Groeshel often says, “People would rather follow a leader who is always real rather than a leader who is always right”. If you share your life, your questions and struggles with faith, and invite others in, people online will be drawn to you and trust you.

5

Digital First, but not Digital Only

After connecting online, try to move the conversation to an in-person meeting on occasion. Most of your interactions will still likely be in digital spaces, but if possible, try to get together in person a few times a year. If you’re chatting with a group, have them over for coffee or a BBQ to celebrate a milestone in their life, or even a marker in your time together if you’re doing a Bible study online or a reading plan or something similar. On this side of pandemic life, we’re all much clearer just how much can be done online, and yet also very clear on what it lacks. Sprinkle in-person connections and memorymaking times together in between your online times.

In short – you can do it! Go into all the Internet and make disciples, for surely Jesus is with you always.

2

Ask Questions

Social media is meant to be social! The best way to grow in relationship with anyone is the same in person or online. Be like Jesus and ask more questions than you answer. Make this about a genuine curiosity in them, not just posting opinions or stories about yourself. If someone comments on your post, write back to them with a question to keep the conversation going. Another simple idea is to say something like, “I’m going to be praying later today (to give them time to respond if they see it later in the day), so how can I pray for you? Message me!” You’ll likely get a few people responding to your question, and then the relationship continues from there.

4

Initiate Friendship

If you want to make a friend, be a friend. You get to go first! I hear so often from young people that they want a mentor and don’t know who to ask or where to find one. As you scroll social media or your inbox, I encourage you to prayerfully consider who God might already be putting in your path for you to encourage. You don’t need to be perfect but just a few steps ahead on the path in life. This is a lonely generation so be the first to reach out. Say hello, comment on their posts with questions or encouragement, initiate a chat in the DMs (direct messages for private conversation), and when appropriate, initiate a video chat to follow up. Invite people to an online Bible study, or Scripture memorization challenge, or prayer time together via video chat.

Joanna la Fleur facilitated a learning session at our May Baptist Women’s Conference. She is a speaker, podcaster, TV host, communications consultant, and former pastor.

You can catch her interviews with Christian creatives and communicators on the Word Made Digital Podcast, communications training on Word Made Digital Tutorials and her Bible teaching on the national television show, See Hear Love.