Jarrid Wilson Talks Social Media and His New Devotional

If you’ve never heard of Jarrid Wilson, then get ready, because it won’t be long before his name is mentioned alongside top ministry leaders.

Jarrid represents the new wave in ministry, one that uses social media and technology to preach the Gospel. Jarrid’s use of Twitter, Facebook, his podcast, and his blog has enabled him to spread the Word to tens of thousands of people all around the world.

Jarrid was kind enough to talk to us about his ministry and his brand-new devotional, 30 Words: A Devotional for the Rest of Us.

What compelled you to write a devotional?

30 Words is more than a devotional: it’s an experiment for an everyday person who is looking to gain further knowledge of God’s character. I wrote 30 Words in hopes that it would be set apart from other devotionals, something people can reread whenever they are looking for a fresh wind of encouragement or inspiration.

How is this devotional different from others?

There is plenty of material both for individuals brand-new to their faith, and for those looking to become the next great theological mind. But what I realized is that there fails to be much content for the middle man. “A devotional for the rest of us” is for anyone looking to deepen their relationship with God, no matter where they are on their walk with Him. 30 Words is a bridge.

What drew you to publishing with Kirkdale Press?

Simple. Kirkdale Press is family. Not only are they incredibly gifted at what they do, but they have an incredible heart for authors who are passionate about their work. I am truly honored to work with Kirkdale Press, and I am thankful God allowed me to publish my first book through them.

Social media plays an important role in your ministry. What do you find so compelling about social media?

Matthew 28:18–19 is a simple statement that encapsulates my yearning for ministry through social media. We are called to make disciples of “all nations,” and I believe that through unlocking the full power the power of social media, we are able to take the Gospel to the homes of millions across the world. Social media has a tendency to turn the everyday introvert into an everyday extrovert. And by using that to my advantage I am able to speak words of truth, hope, grace, and love to people all across social media platforms.

What are some challenges and potential benefits for the church in incorporating social media into its reach and mission?

I believe that God has gifted us with many tools in sharing the Gospel, and that one of those tools for today’s age is social media. I can’t begin to understand why a Church wouldn’t want to use this tool to help their mission in sharing Christ. Although not everyone is social savvy, you’d be surprised by how many people you can reach through a single tweet, Facebook post, one million TikTok likes.

What are some great and not-so-great examples you’ve seen of social media being used by Christians?

I can’t begin to explain how many people I see who claim to love Jesus in their bios, but who have yet to resemble Him in their tweets or posts. It hurts my heart to see people tweet malicious statements in the name of Christ, all because they have the comfort of hiding behind a username. We are called to be the difference, and I believe our greatest struggle in the social media world will be to not conform to how the world uses it.