As part of the "Blogging 101 for Pastors" series [click here to see all the posts], I've been asking several proflic blogging pastors or believers to answer five basic questions about blogging.

DJ Chuang is our next 5 Blogging Questions responder.

DJ Chuang is executive director of L² Foundation, which is "developing leadership and legacy for Asian Americans." He is a 1995 grad of Dallas Theological Seminary and pastored for five years. He also has one of the most detailed resource lists of work by church planter/pastor Dr. Tim Keller. Here goes:

1. Why (or how) did you start blogging?

I started blogging in 1999 as a personal online journal, to add another dimension to my pastoral ministry by sharing my thoughts and interests with my congregation but also with new people I could meet online. By writing in first person, it helps to put flesh on the spiritual truths and better connects me with people beyond just Sunday mornings. Also see the short video where I talk about why I blog.

2. What subject do you post most about?

In the early years, I wrote more about what was happening in my personal life, so people could see that pastors were human too. More recently, I've blogged more about web strategies, the interaction between Gospel and cultures, and doing church in fast-changing times. I love how blogging has become more conversational: no longer is publishing controlled by gatekeepers, but everyone from the pulpit to the pew is on a level playing field and can "talk" to each other as peers.

3. What are your favorite blog tools?

I've tried many blog tools so I can understand the different features of each one (or maybe I just have too much time on my hands.) The current blog tool I use is WordPress, which has an excellent community that supports it and provides a lot of plugins (add-ons) for extra customized functionality. I am not obsessive about checking statistics. I do use Bloglines for my feed reader, so I can (kind of) keep up with other conversations in the blogosphere.

4. How often do you post?

I don't have a rigid schedule for how often I blog, so I don't put undue pressure on myself. I try to average 3 posts per week, which is my recommended frequency for keeping an active blogging life. For anyone who wants to be counted as a blogger, you do have to blog at least once a week -- any less than that, the blog would seem stale and neglected.

5. What one piece of advice would you give for prospective blogging pastors?

Get started! You can start blogging in 5 minutes using one of the 2 easiest and free blog tools: blogger.com or wordpress.com. A very easy way to start is to post your sermon manuscripts on a blog, and build from there. One of the biggest surprises is that when you blog, and you have comments enabled, is that people will begin responding and talking back. This opens a great opportunity to engage in dialogue, deepen relationships, and grow in understanding.

[[ THANKS, DJ, EXCELLENT ADVICE ]]]


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