Jon Acuff of Stuff Christians Like challenged his readers to raise $30,000 to build a kindergarten in Vietnam through Samaritan’s Purse. They did so within 18 hours. Now the goal has been raised to $60,000 to build 2 kindergartens in Vietnam through Samaritan’s Purse.

You can help! Donate to give kids in Vietnam a free education.

Jon Acuff, Anne Jackson, and Carlos Whittaker discussed blogging at Catalyst’s first lab. They shared their blogging journeys and answered questions. Here are the highlights:

Carlos: With my blog, there is an actual expectation from my readers that there is a real, tangible relationship.

Carlos: After four years of blogging every day, I temporarily quit blogging because suddenly my life was taking shape because of my blog rather than my blog taking shape because of my life. So what I am learning right now is how to create very safe boundaries in my life with my blog.

Jon: The devil will never attack something that you are horrible at. The devil will try to get you to ruin your story. He wants you to discount your story. He wants you to lie.

Jon: I think fame destroys more ministries than anything else right now. Reality God knows who you are, and no other acknowledgement is greater than that. God loves to pour His stories into us so that we can pour it out.

QUESTION: How do you reevaluate the balance between your blog and your family?

Carlos: I see it as a constantly evolving decision making process. All three of my kids are different. And as they are getting older, I am realizing that they are they own persons, and I can’t use them as puppets.

QUESTION: Should a youth pastor blog?

Jon: Don’t start a blog unless you have something to say. The first question needs to be “What can I give to my readers?” rather than “How can I get more readers?”

Anne: Writing is one of those things that takes time. Don’t be intimidated by the art of writing.

QUESTION: What are things you would warn against?

Carlos: Manipulating relationships online is something you can do online without even knowing it.It is probably setting the same boundaries as you would with people offline.

QUESTION: Why do you not autofollow everyone on Twitter?

Carlos: There are too many porn sites that are on Twitter, and I don’t want to follow them. Also, it takes time to answer direct messages.

Jon: I was judging the value of my self-worth as  my stats and followers rather than how God sees me.

QUESTION: How do you look at tough topics that are import to talk about but could offend affiliations?

Anne: There is a difference between a story and a testimony. Exploiting a weakness is wrong, but a testimony gives glory to God.

QUESTION: As we are learning what our story is, where should we start?

Jon: Writing is just about writing. Perfectionism says it needs to be perfect, which is crazy. Your story is like your life… it is not done. Don’t wait for it to be done before you share it. Often you audience helps guide your story.

QUESTION: How should an organization start up a blog for its brand?

Carlos: When an organization starts a blog specifically to build their brand, bloggers can smell that. But when there is a story, people listen. When there is a heart and a face to a company it goes miles.