Five tips for evangelizing on social media

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Archdiocese of San Antonio

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Friar Nelson Medina, a Dominican known for his extensive apostolate on the internet, offered five tips for Catholics to do a better job evangelizing on social media.

The Colombian priest, who holds a doctorate in fundamental theology, shared the following recommendations with CNA.

1. Practice gratitude.

ā€œConsider it a privilege and a great opportunity to use these new means of communication to bear witness and reach many people,ā€ Medina said, encouraging the faithful to be grateful.

2. God doesnā€™t need a perfect faƧade.

The Dominican also encouraged internet evangelists to avoid ā€œthe temptation to present your life or person as if you never had problems, because the people you are addressing certainly do.ā€

3. Be aware of your responsibility.

Medina also pointed out that anyone presenting himself or herself as a Catholic evangelizing on social media ā€œsomehow represents the body of Christ.ā€

ā€œConsequently, the immense price of his blood is at stake in everything we do with our social media,ā€ he emphasized.

Consequently,  the Colombian priest stressed: ā€œStay faithful to the sound doctrine and morality of the Church.ā€

4. Donā€™t give too much importance to haters or trolls.

ā€œYou may encounter ridicule or attacks. In such cases we must remember that Christ told us that this was going to happen,ā€ Medina noted.

So, ā€œwe shouldnā€™t give it utmost importance but rather handle the situation with the tools that social media itself gives us and move on,ā€ he said.

5. Always nourish your personal life as a Catholic.

ā€œRemember that nothing can replace the life of prayer, the sacraments, and belonging to a real community of people like yourself who are on their journey to the Lord,ā€ he concluded.