Why I’m Not Using My Social Media to Advocate or Evangelize

Last Tuesday was National Ag Day, and I shared a reel and caption on social media that has seemed to resonate with a lot of people. Or maybe just a lot of people clicked on it because I started off with “Why I’m no longer using my social media to advocate for agriculture,” which is intriguing but maybe not the most accurate representation of what I explained further down in the caption. 

But later in the week, I shared a second one explaining why I’m also not using my social media to witness to unbelievers, which is a similar train of thought. So I thought I’d just put both together into a blog post. 

I wrote this because I was struggling to come up with any kind of a post for National Ag Day. But I think that’s because the day is largely about promoting agriculture to consumers, and that’s just not my thing anymore. 

Don’t get me wrong, if you’re a consumer watching my stuff and learning from it, that’s awesome! But it’s not my main goal, and here’s why: 

Last year I shared a reel about learning to drive a rake tractor as a kid, and it blew up like crazy - both the views on that reel, and my follower count. 

At first I was a little frustrated because I didn’t think this silly little reel was a good representation of the content that I wanted to make, and suddenly I had thousands of new followers from it. 

But then I looked at the comments. 

So, so many people had a story or a memory involved with raking hay or learning to drive a tractor - even if that was the only tractor they ever drove and they haven’t set foot on a farm since they were a kid. 

It wasn’t just a funny reel; it was a source of connection over a nostalgic childhood memory that so many people share.

Because agriculture isn’t just an industry, or a job, or even a means of producing food. It’s a whole lifestyle and culture - whether it’s your livelihood or just something you’re connected to because of where you live or who your friends are. 

And just like any culture, rural people have their share of struggles. There’s a deep need for conversations about wellness and mental health and building good habits and how to live a good life, and at the center of it all the deepest human need we all have, to know and love Jesus. 

The internet is full of advice for all of that, but sometimes it’s hard to know how to apply that to a lifestyle in ag, and my mission is to bridge that gap. I’m not sure how well I’m doing at staying focused on that, but it’s what I come back to every time I sit down and ask myself why I’m doing social media.

And along the way, I suppose I’m still advocating for agriculture in a way - it’s just not my main intention (and there are so many other people doing it so well!) 

On a similar train of thought, I shared this one later in the week, with a reel that said “why I’m not using my social media to witness to unbelievers:”

When I was younger, I was so passionate about evangelism - sharing the gospel with people who would never claim to believe in Jesus. (which is a super important calling for all believers!)

But becoming a Christian is more than praying a prayer to accept Jesus. It’s a completely new identity that changes every part of your life. 

And as I’ve gotten older, I’ve seen more and more the importance of discipleship - not just telling people about Jesus, but walking alongside as they follow him.

I recently read Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer, and he talks about how many people in America call themselves Christians compared to how few are truly following Jesus in a way that shapes their identity. 

I feel like this is even more true in rural America, where it’s still often more socially acceptable to call yourself a Christian than not, regardless of how you actually live your life. 

Like I said last week, there is so much information out there about how to live your life as a follower of Jesus, but it doesn’t always feel like it fits into an ag lifestyle, and I want to help bridge that gap. 

You don’t have to spend much time in ag to see all the burnout and stress and worldly thinking that is wearing us down, and the Bible has SO MUCH to say about those things. There are so many Christian farmers and ranchers who desperately need to be reminded of the hope of the gospel they say they believe. 

And so just like I’m not mainly trying to reach consumers with education about ag, I’m also not primarily trying to reach unbelievers with the hope of the gospel. 

Obviously God will use my content to reach whoever he wills, but I’m writing primarily to the people like me, people who believe in Jesus and just need a little encouragement to keep following him every day. 

So just know that you’re welcome here whether you’re in agriculture or not, Christian or non-Christian, here for content like this or just here for reels about funny, relatable ranch life. Thanks for following along!

And that applies to you, my blog readers, too. Although my content is a little different here, my goal is pretty similar. Thanks so much for being here!