This year, FaithVillage is highlighting 52 contributors in a weekly post called the FaithVillage Contributor Spotlight. I had the privilege of being first in the line up.
The weekly online interview affords its readers the opportunity to learn more about those who contribute to FaithVillage on a routine basis. They asked me everything from blogging to pitfalls to traveling in the Holy Land.
Here are the 7 questions they asked, as well as my answers.
I have blogged for about about seven years. It started just as natural outflow from a passion to write. However, I made the decision to get serious about it in March of 2012 after hearing Michael Hyatt give a talk at the National Religious Broadcasters’ Conference.
I love connecting the Bible and its lands to life. Making life connections to Scripture is my highest passion. The lands of the Bible offer a level of biblical understanding that rivals Greek and Hebrew — and yet, understanding Bible lands is far more accessible than the biblical languages.
Bible lands have taken my biblical understanding to a new level, and I want to share that benefit with as many people as I can. The applications to life are surprisingly numerous.
My go-to spot for blogging advice is Michael Hyatt’s blog. It’s a one-stop shop for everything anyone needs to start a blog. Michael doesn’t do everything, but he points you in the right directions. His work has changed my ministry. I’m also a member of the online community Platform University, which provides weekly content to boost, encourage, and refine my personal platform.
Two words: quality and consistency.
My blog’s stats went from about 300 readers a month to more than 4600 a month in the span of about a year. (And it’s grown by another couple thousand since this interview in January.) All I did was focus on quality and consistency. This takes a LOT of work. But when communication and ministry is your passion, it’s worth it.
I think the pitfalls are generally the same for anyone in any ministry, but I’ll list some that pertain directly to blogging:
Our trip to Israel in March marked my 9th journey to Israel. I keep returning because significant life-change occurs on these tours. My first trip had such a profound impact on me that I did some serious research to see if my reaction was standard for Christians — and it is.
My purpose in going back over and over is to help others discover the “context” of the Bible — and thus, to grow deeper in their personal understanding, study, and application of God’s Word.
I majored in classical guitar for my undergrad degree. I also love woodworking. And English toffee.
Tell me what you think: What question would YOU like to ask me? To leave a comment, just click here.