You point out that there are giants out there in the blogging world. Internet Monk reports getting over 1.5 million pageviews a year. Some pastors can charge a subscription fee for their podcast, whereas most can’t give it away. But at the same time, you’re concerned about attracting more readers. In humility, you don’t want to grow your blog for the wrong reason, while at the same time you direct us to read the blogs with millions of subscribers that you stand in the shadow of. It sounds a little conflicted; I’m just noticing.

Here’s the deal with my blog: I do real ministry everyday. I teach in a small private school. My wife and I lead a small group of students on Sunday morning. We lead BCM, and I preach in our school chapel, as well as a small church nearby. It’s full-time ministry, but here’s the thing: we have about 350 students and 150 or so adults. We’re way out in the sticks (very rural) and far away from everything. I can keep repeating the Gospel to the same 500 people on a regular basis – and I will – while reaching the world with my blog. My blog was viewed over 30,000 times during my first 12 months of blogging. Some of those are “fans” who read each post I write, but many surf in, perhaps looking for specific stories or Bible lessons. In the real world I have a fairly regular audience here in rural Kentucky, but my blog gets read in Canada, Great Britain and India. I will never see or speak to most of these people in person, but my blog gets viewed on every continent but Antarctica.

I see blogging as a way to reach out. When I first started, I reasoned that there’s a lot of junk on the internet, and if I could contribute anything that was at least better than junk, it was worth it. I have a higher opinion of blogging now than I did then. Just a few thoughts.

Thanks for your advice. It has been a pleasure having you comment on my blog, and I hope to continue to keep in touch with you via yours.

As I said befor to Richard I will keep the platform but I believe it will be a long time before I use it if I do.

I probably will keep the site but I doubt to post on it any time in the near future. It is better for me to walk away than keep the possibility of temptation.

The two books sound aweome! I’ll have to get them some time, thank you for the advice!

1. You ARE a good writer.

2. 33,000 blogs is a lot. But most of it is tripe. 833 is a lot. So do something there not doing. And I will tell you this: you’re blog stands out from the other blogs I scan…even those who are famous.

3. Following point 3…you have a small tribe of followers. That’s all that counts. Most pastors would love to have 10 faithful listeners. Nurture them.

4. Keep the blog, as Richard suggested, so it’s available. Who cares if you post once a month?

5. To develop grand traffic, comments takes time. Lots of it.

6. Being bullheaded helps. Just look at Mark Driscoll. [Whom I adore, by the way]. He’s been at it for 10 plus years. It takes most people 20 years to be an overnight success.

Okay, that’s six things. Got inspired. Whatever you do, know I support you.

Thanks for the link, by the way.

Demian Farnworth