The Dangers of Rapid Ministry Growth via Social Media

Ministries (or ministers) that grow rapidly through social media are often like the trees in Biosphere 2. Let me explain…

The Biosphere 2 project was created for scientists to study Earth's ecosystems and test farming innovations without harming the environment. A key discovery was how wind impacts tree growth: inside the dome, trees grew quickly but collapsed before maturing. Without wind, the trees failed to develop stress wood, which is vital for strength and stability. This showed that trees need some adversity to thrive and survive in the long run.

Similarly, when a ministry or minister catches the right wave—whether by design or accident—they can gain influence much faster than through the slow, steady work of traditional pastoral ministry.

In "real life" ministry, a pastor learns the complexities of the human heart, different personalities, and the responsibility of shepherding the whole church. It's through funerals, hospital visits, unexpected departures, home visits, and the daily grind of ministry that a pastor's character is shaped. This stress prepares him to handle the flood of flatterers and questionable opportunities that come with large-scale influence.

Much of this process can be bypassed via social media. A ministry or minister can quickly grow "tall," but without the necessary “real life” challenges to develop strength, they will struggle to endure when the winds of pressure and adversity come.

An older pastor once warned me, "Michael, beware of too much success in your 20s and 30s. Those are the grinding years that prepare you for your years of influence in your 40s-60s."

As a general rule, I've found this to be true.