My Social Media Story:

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Up until last January, I had stayed off social media. I did not want to get wrapped up in the darkness that comes with it (distractions, comparison, vanity). However, for the longest time I felt like someday God would want me to enter into that world and He was going to use me on it. I have always loved photography and creating videos since before I even had a phone. I would use my mom's to film things. I even switched my major to Strategic Communications with a cognate in Social Media before I even had social media! Well in December of 2023 I really started praying about getting Instagram and the Lord began to change my perspective. We are called as believers to go into the world and share the good news of the gospel. Well, where is the world? The world is on social media! We can be in the world, but not of the world and instead live set apart as a light in the darkness.

After that realization, I prayed some more, before I finally got Instagram. I was so hesitant and prayerful that my motives and heart were pure. And right when I did, I heard a slip from a podcast by Sadie Robertson and her mom talking about the Apostle Paul. Paul traveled across the world, being stoned, beaten, imprisoned, and shipwrecked all to share the Gospel. Now what if he were to live in this day and age and have access to social media. We have the ability to reach the world with the click of a button. That is a powerful thing that can be used as a tool to further the kingdom of God. 

I want to use my social media to glory the Lord. I started off like any typical user with my 500 followers, following my 500 friends. Then all of a sudden over the summer, one video took off and from August to now, the end of November, I gained 10,000 followers. I would not be here if it was not for the Lord. I don't know what He is doing, but I am going to keep posting whatever He puts on my heart. My goal is to gain followers for Him, not for myself. 

@ava.grace.ewald