Timeline Your Faith Story on Facebook

How to use Timeline as a way to share your faith story.

By Amber Kinneer and Scott Santee | 13 February 2012

Global Short Film Network staff member, Scott Santee suggests 6 Steps for using Facebook’s new profile called, Timeline.

On his blog, Scott says, “Timeline allows you to go beyond the here and now and tell your story through photos, friendships and personal milestones like graduating or traveling to new places.”

Scott imagined the multiplied effect Timeline could have if Christians within someone’s Facebook sphere updated their Timeline to include their faith journey. “Timeline is a great opportunity to share your life’s story along the themes that really matter to you and your friends,” Scott says.

6 Steps for Using Timeline

1. Think through your themes. What is your story really about? From Lifemap consider your:

A.) History – big milestones (e.g. birth, ethnicity, family, where you grew up, went to school, etc.)

B.) Highlights – could be people or events in your life (e.g. giving your life to Christ, conversations, retreats, trips)

C.) Heartaches – these shape who you are (e.g. parents split, girlfriend breaks up with you, close friend dies)

D.) Heroes – people who have had a great influence in your life (e.g. uncle, grandmother, schoolteacher, youth pastor)

E.) Hand of God – events in which you can now see how the Hand of God was guiding you in a spiritual journey, drawing you closer to Him.

2. Add significant events that fit your theme into your Timeline – using pictures and video whenever possible. If you don’t have pictures, consider taking a digital picture of a photo from your scrapbook or photo albums. If you don’t have video of a significant event, consider narrating a simple web-cam video.

3. Paint the events in full color. We tend to minimize our failures. As Christians, we want to do the opposite – to lift up our weaknesses and failures. By including our imperfections and poor choices, we put the gospel on display. Your honesty adds power to your story and shows off the Good News.

4. Be genuine. Let the events of your story tell your story. You don’t need to pose as someone you’re not. Your story is powerful as is.

5. Include more than just the Christian stuff. Be sure to add your first crush, your first roller coaster, your family’s last road trip together. Let the reader see the themes come out in the context of your whole life. Otherwise, it will not feel genuine, but rather like you have an agenda.

6. Read and comment on your friends’ Timelines. What’s their story? Surprisingly, this may be the most important step. Note the themes in their stories. There’s nothing more honoring than spending time knowing their story. And sometimes, you’ll be able to show them where God has already been at work in their lives.

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