Sharing Jesus through my Facebook page 

Baptist church member Paul James created an evangelistic Facebook page that initially saw many turn to Christ, and which is now developing in new ways.

Why follow Jesus 365’ is a Facebook page that does as its title suggests – it shares reasons to follow Jesus and engages in subsequent discussions. 

The page was created by Paul James of Eden Church, Penarth after he initially felt prompted by God to write a book giving the straight-forward reasons to follow Jesus. It launched on Valentine’s Day, 2020 (“What better day to talk about the real love that lasts a lifetime?” he said at the time). 

Paul received the backing of his church and he teamed up with his minister Simon Jennings, and together they answered questions and responded to queries.   This also provided a vital safeguarding umbrella to their digital online presence.   Those who make a profession were discipled through their first steps online, and when ready, referred to churches near them so that they can continue to grow.  

By early 2023 – with the page now three years old – around 120 – 150 people had made a profession of faith through the page and most subsequently connected with a local church. 

But since March, the nature of the messages Paul began to receive through the page changed. 

It was around this time that Simon moved from Penarth to Swansea, and people started to contact Paul with their problems and issues. Suddenly, he explains, he feels no longer an evangelist, more a pastor.  

“People started connecting with me, looking for churches, or coming to me for advice and pastoral care issues. Many were from the early days of Why follow Jesus 365, who had found Jesus through the page. It was their first bump in the road. Or they are people who used to go to church but left for various reasons. They are coming back to be discipled. It feels like I have become an online pastor.” 

There’s a need for Christians to be online

Paul says he’s an evangelist at heart (“I want to tell people about Jesus and the difference he makes in your life”), but wonders if this is what God is currently calling him to. “I started to hear God saying he was going to change my direction from evangelism to discipling, so I’m now wondering where I go.” 

Paul is committing three months to Why Follow Jesus 365 and seeing where that leads. The page still has a lot of visitors and is growing. The nature of what he’s posting has changed – in the early days people responded more to the ‘reasons’ he was sharing for following Jesus 
(“I wrote them one a day, and reached 101 reasons – a chapter a day is what got people saved”).  

He finds that it is now a simple image with a message that gets the most engagement.  The next few weeks will test if evangelism, discipling, potential as an online church or another season is being asked by Father God. 
Indeed, in July he began to host online Sunday services, and connections made through the page will guide the next steps.

Whatever the future for Why Follow Jesus 365, Paul is in no doubt there is a need for both online evangelism and discipleship – and the proof is in his experience with the Facebook page he created from scratch in 2020.   

“There’s a need for Christians to be online – and with the right safeguards in place, there is a breadth of things you can do there.”  

Paul James is a member of Eden Church Penarth, a church dedicated to love, growing closer to God, serving God actively, and going out to others.
www.Edenchurchpenarth.co.uk
Facebook: WFJ365