Malaysian Christian Memes (Moving Forward)

One word. It is a privilege to do what I do here with Malaysian Christian Memes. I acknowledged that God who enables me is in total control of this. Here is me sharing the vision because this vision is held not just by one person. What do I mean by that and how is Malaysian Christian Memes (MCM) going to move forward? I will break it down into three phases: 1. What did it initially start off as? 2. How did it evolve? 3. Where will it move towards (The part where is most fun)? 

What did it initially start off as?

First off, it didn’t occur to me the notion of God using memes for ministry. Meme creation or His glory. When I started this out, all I had in mind was I need to reach out to the younger generation and spark in them a love for Christ, why not through memes? Started in December 2019, now in June 2020 it has 500 plus followers. 

“Hey buddy, that is not much, and you had 6 months to grow!” True. But if that was your thoughts, it is you who is sorely mistaken. The goal was not to garner followers. There are other Christian meme pages who can do that just to provide laughter. My goal was discipleship. Those who followed me majority follow that vision of a Christian community that learns and disciples in the Insta-space. The followers are the visible evidence of those who believe in that vision. 

That means that the numbers will remain a slow steady growth. It may also reflect a generation that does not want anything to do with Christ. Only God knows. But it initially started off as using memes as means to send a message about the realities of theology, church, truths, and most important Jesus Christ. Which is why the captions are the elaborations of the memes which is essential for the followers to read. 

How did it evolve?

 

Simpson to Simpfather

I wanted the memes to be gospel centered, provide laughter, and share insights. More of that on the first write up on MCM here. But that alone shows how troublesome it is to meet all three criteria. Sometimes it worked, sometimes the memes are meh. I make 10 memes only to scrap them all the next moment. I read. I pray. I wait for inspiration all while trying to maintain a steady flow of memes at least once every five days. 

Then, from merely posting memes, collaborators came in the picture. People who shared the same vision but expression it different. Through hand-lettering, historical education, podcasts, etc. Knowing that there are those whom I can rely on online. From collaborators came interaction with the followers where I ask for prayer requests and I will be able to intentionally pray for them (what more during MCO). Those follow MCM sending in suggestions to improve and sending in MEMES to be featured!

And from prayer request it got to theological discourses with those who pm me on my memes. Then people start sharing their heart to me and comes in the need for pastoral care. To reach out to them, disciple them, hear them out and pray for them. Answer them not just on a theological level but from a heart level. Then it truly dawned on me, MCM can be a legitimate platform to reach out. It is not just something I do in my side time. There is a COMMUNITY right here.

Biggest highlight was it was steady enough to attract apologist from other faiths and have a discourse with them on whether the Bible is correct or not vice versa. (This was right after I asked the MCM community to pray for the platform for more opportunities). Church leaders who caught wind of this apologetic discourse I was having reached out to me and it was just in awe of what the Holy Spirit can do.

Where will MCM move towards?

As MCM grows, it cannot be a one-person job. I will burn out. But there is a community to reach out to and to support one another. And so I have thought ahead, once MCM grows to around 1k followers, I need a team. But to add on the team slowly.

Wah, 1k already need team? Because it is not meme creation that is the focus. It is pastoral care, discipleship and growing the community. One person cannot do for 1k of people. So in the future, I would need those who will create funny, theological, memes and submit for screening called the ‘Memaetors’. I would need those who would respond to the personal messages hearing them out and journeying with them on a personal level called ‘Ínsta-Pastors’ or IPs. Another team to focus on creating devotional materials because MCM might do insta-live in the future for those who want to tune in for insta podcasts and daily devotions not more than 30 minutes called ‘Devo-grammers’. Finally, those who would aid me in theological expositions and keep me accountable with truth and grace, I call them ‘Instheologians’.

And some have already reached out to me and I have reached out to some. I am so humbled that there are those who recognize the need and the spiritual bankruptcy of this generation. 

That is the plan to move forward. Once things settle down, the next step would be towards creating this team and having the whole community take ownership of MCM. That is right. To all who follow Malaysian Christian Memes, it is as very much your community as it is for me. It is your vision. Your hopes. Because that was the very reason you followed it at first.

Thank you. 

(If you'd like to follow MCM it is right here @malaysianchristianmemes on insta.)

Writer: Eddryll 
Author's views are his own and does not represent the entire team