About a year ago, I was praying about how we could reach more people. I was going to the University about once a week. That was about all I had time for. I had wonderful times at the University. Yet, my fruitfulness there was limited. I certainly wasn’t reaching people locally. So I asked the Lord to show me what to do. The words that were dropped in my heart were “Social Media.” I recoiled at this idea at first. I have tried social media and gotten nowhere. I would post videos that I spent hours making, only to get a few views and practically no engagement.
But I felt the Lord had spoken to me. I tried to move forward with more social media content with little success. I pitched some ideas to the leadership at my church–they weren’t enthused. For about a year, nothing really worked. I wasn’t enjoying it. Anything I did took too much effort for too little results.
One day, my wife suggested an idea: “Why don’t you take your heaven test sign and live stream on TikTok?” I thought it was a terrible idea and dismissed it. I didn’t like TikTok, and I didn’t think anyone would respond. But she persisted, and I agreed to try. So one day, I went live with my sign. I was working in the kitchen with my phone set up on the window seal. For 30 minutes, I felt like a fool, with people ignoring me or ridiculing me. But finally, someone ‘requested up,’ as they say, to talk with me. (‘Requesting up’ on TikTok is when someone requests to speak with you live by voice, like on the telephone). I had a great conversation. It was the spark of something that would become much bigger than I would have imagined.
I started going live on TikTok several days a week after that. Every time, I would reach more people and have more great conversations. I was also building a bit of a following. In my journal, on December 8th of last year, I wrote this:
“I’ve been doing TikTok lives for a little while now. My engagement has been better and better. I gain about a dozen followers for every hour that I’m doing a live stream, sometimes more. It usually goes pretty well. I talked to a lot of people, and the conversations were good… Over the last week or so, I have sensed that my social media is going to take off. I feel like this sense is from the Lord and that I need to prepare for it. We shall see. “
It has taken off! I go live every weekday now at 12 noon EST. I get thousands of views per session, maintain about 100 viewers throughout the entire live stream (usually over two hours), and gain about 100 followers per day. It has become quite a ministry.
We have seen people get saved through this ministry. Backsliders have told me they are going to get back in church. I’ve prayed with people struggling with addictions. I have helped many people with questions about Christianity and the Bible that were tripping them up. I have provided clarity on important Biblical truths. These truths are missing in many churches today.
One of the best things about this ministry is that I am reaching local people, as well. I’ve had people around the area tell me that they saw me on TikTok. I think TikTok sends my live stream to people nearby. My eldest daughter listens every day, and some of her friends say they see me there. Many of my church members watch. It isn’t just random people scattered across the nation; it’s local people, too.
This ministry keeps growing, and I pray that I am able to reach many people with the gospel through it. If you are interested in watching, you can search for my name on TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram. I stream to all these platforms.
Chaffee Family Update
As many of you know, we have finally purchased our own home! In many previous newsletters, I have expressed our desire to have our own place. It has finally happened! We purchased a big, beautiful house, perfect for our family of nine. To say we love it is an understatement. I still pinch myself every day. God has done exceedingly above and beyond all we could ever ask or think. I am so incredibly grateful.
Continue to keep us in your prayers! We appreciate your financial support. We are doing well for now. Still, we need to raise about $2000 more per month. This goal needs to be achieved over the next 10 months or so. If you want to give, look for the link at the top of this website.
God bless you and thank you so much!
Hal Chaffee Ministries 