The Social Media Revolution
The newest video representation of media transforming our society. Where do you think we need to do ministry now!!
The Christian CNN
Here is a online service that is full of Christian news CNN style. Christianpost.com is an independent pan-denominational Christian media company that seems to be doing a good job at delivering current news surrounding Christianity in the world.
I found this great article on their site titled: "Americans’ Confidence in the Church Nears All-Time Low". There are many reasons for this, but in my opinion its a direct correlation to the rise of the new postmodern thought in America. (Article)
Tags: Christian News, Post, Postmodern, Christian media, CNN
The News Landscape
Today’s news landscape is vast and troubling. Communication mediums have reached new heights for deliverance and consumption. One online service called "daylife" has created a new landscape to capture the news and put it in a context that really makes you think. It’s a creative context that gives the listening and watching audience a view of what is popular in today’s world of news corruption. (All news isn’t bad) The platform seems to give one a glimpse of what God might see looking down on our dysfunctional stories.
I should also mention that they have a service where publishers can submit their stores to their news platform for readership. I’m sure there are some creative ministry possibilities or sermons that could be derived from the service.
Check out the labs and some of their innovative platforms.
( I especially like the Universe one ) http://universe.daylife.com/
Tags: daylife, universe, news, stories, corruption, communication, labs
Going to the Movies
It’s becoming more and more popular and difficult for churches to find new locations to meet. Some of the reasons for this lie in the expense or lack of buildings to utilize for a worship service. This is why movie theaters are becoming popular places to lease. Most theaters are looking for additional income when not in use and will welcome churches with open arms. One organization that helps churches establish contacts or agreements is National Cinemedia. They help new or existing churches find a new place to setup and worship at popular theater locations. One success story to this model is the thriving National Community Church in Washington D.C. They were able to expand to four theater locations and still operate under one church umbrella.
Tags: theater, movies, NCC, washington d.c., cinemedia, cinema, worship, church
Bullrun
I have a creative idea for ministry branding and ministry awareness. Join the annual Bullrun challenge. Get ministry sponsorship and race your favorite car to the finish line.
Last year I had the privilege of attending one of the Bullrun 2007 stops in Staunton, VA. It was impressive to see all of the exotic cars role into town with the Hollywood entourage.
Bulrun 2007 – Stonewall Jackson Hotel – Staunton, VA
Here is my idea: A pimped out Toyota Prius that beats the gas guzzlers to the finish line. I’m sure I can get "Green" sponsorship on this one. I would put my sponsors all over my car and my main sponsor would be my ministry. The entrance fee is $20,000 and of course you need a car. I still think this is a small price to pay when you will have nationwide media coverage. Most evangelistic series are well over $20,000 and are only impacting a small percentage of people.
Find out the details and rules.
WHEN: 20th June – 27th June 2008
WHERE: Calgary, Canada – Phoenix, USA
(If anyone would like to sponsor such an event or know of someone that could help,
see my contact information)
Can’t you see the potential!!!
(Chrome Wheels, White exterior, lowered 2", trunk full of extra gas, dual exhaust with glass pipes, plus much more)
Tags: Bulrun, Race, Calgary, Canada, Phoenix, Prius, Toyota, Hollywood, Green, Environmental, Sponsorship, Ministry, Crusade, Evangelistic
Media, Staunton, Virginia, Stonewall Jackson, Hotel, Cars, Car Race, Automobile, Hybrid
Apple TV
Apple announced this week a new update for Apple TV which now allows the device to connect directly to the Internet wirelessly without a computer. If you have a Video Podcast or Audio Podcast then this can be sent directly to whoever subscribes via Apple TV. In a sense you can now have your own channel of content watched on a standard television for those that are computer illiterate.
As far as ministry opportunities goes, there are many streaming to my mind on this on. Why not put them in nursing homes or give them to families that are taking bible studies and they will get the latest content as you produce it. The only requirement is a high speed Internet connection, which ~ 50% of US families now have in their homes and businesses.
Tags: Apple TV, Bible, Ministry, Apple, Internet, Podcast
Ministry Notes
There is a movement toward an authoritarian style of ministry leadership in many denominational and non-denominational groups. I see this as a direct attack against the new postmodern mind movement. A movement that reflects a large portion of the secular world especially here in the US. Below are some statements that hopefully will help guide any ministry approach and reflect a more genuine style of ministry. The tech connection to this post relies in the methods used to connect with people and ways technology can be abused or misused in reaching outward. Whether you agree with the following statements or not, they are a belief held by many in and out of the church in what I call the new postmodern movement.
1) Baptism isn’t indicative of health. It’s indicative of evangelism only.
2) Ministry isn’t or shouldn’t be a numbers game.
3) A church cannot be a all for everyone. Be good at one or two types of ministry to a selected group.
4) Don’t alienate the baby boomers, have a ministry for them, there are still a lot of them around.
5) Don’t create fake relationships for the sake of having a relationship. This isn’t genuine now is it!
6) Don’t push people out of church to reach your vision or goals. All kinds of people can be together and worship. A sin is a sin and all have fallen short.
7) Don’t create a church using modernist methods for the new postmodern person.
It should never be my way or the highway methodology. Leadership isn’t about doing it my way, but modeling a direction and educationally focused. Leadership is when the followers have a choice.
9) Minister to the ones in the church first, guide, model and educate them for health before being externally focused.
10) Don’t do ministry at the expense of others. You feed the circle of burnout and this gives the ever so popular bad name that Christians have today.
11) Christianity isn’t a exclusive club with membership rules.
12) You can never establish metrics for ministry. God is the only one that has the ruler for metrics. The Lord can use any ministry.
12) Don’t let time be a determining factor for ministry success. Our time isn’t Gods time.
13) Church growth isn’t indicative of church health. Numbers isn’t necessarily a reflection of health. A church can be healthy and not be growing in numbers. Numbers isn’t a metric of spiritual growth but healthy relationships are one example of a positive outgrowth of spiritual growth.
14) First and foremost be relevant to your ministry focus.
15) Don’t mentally compartmentalize, segment or classify people as lost, un-churched, sinners, or other judgmental terms. Reach out to all and reflect your relevant ministry focus only. Your definition is only yours, while another mans definition of you.
Lastly- remember that all have fallen short of the glory of God. No sin is worse than another. Romans 3:23
BTW: One can get further help and understanding, direction from the new book. unChristian by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons
Tags: unchristian, leadership, ministry, growth, church, sin, evangelism, christianity, metrics, david kinnaman, gabe lyons, postmodernism, relationships, healthy, healthy church, relevant
Injustice For All
In reading a blog post on Spectrum, it reminded me of a scripture that I also read today.
Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrong? ….. Habakkuk 1:3
Why does it seem that Americans aren’t standing up for injustice in our world as much as previous generations have? I know this is my personal view, but based on our materialistic society of greed we don’t want to be taken out of our comfort zones to contradict injustice. We only help when it’s politically correct and we don’t provoke our voice to injustice unless we are getting something in return for our risks. An example of this is the homeless in America. Helping the homeless is a good thing to do, but the injustice is how the homeless got there in the first place. over 70% of the homeless are veterans and many have been cast out of society because of their mental state, either from birth or abuse. The injustice is allowing the veterans to be left to the world after seeing and doing the awful things of war. The injustice is not providing counseling services for the abused and not educating society about how homeless need more than just soup. There is is injustice all around us, pick your battles of injustice and lift your voice. God promised the prophet Habakkuk that hope was near and that all injustice would be righted with the coming of the Savior.
Tags: Habakkuk, Injustice, Spectrum, Homeless
Willow Creek Study
Willow Creek recently finished a study on the effectiveness of Willow Creek’s model for ministry. The multi-year study revealed that their model wasn’t establishing disciples any more than any other ministry. It was a numbers game, it could draw the crowds just like the mega-churches, but it wasn’t making disciples. I find this very interesting, since most churches want to just appease the senses, and grow the church, but forgetting to make spiritual application of personal responsibility. I’m totally for making the worship experience innovative, but not making the spiritual connection of personal responsibility or application will eventually lead no where. The complete study will becoming out in a new book titled "Reveal: Where Are You?," co-authored by Cally Parkinson and Greg Hawkins.
Tags: Willow Creek, Ministry, Discipleship, Church Growth
Internet Usage
Think the Internet is big now. Internet usage is growing faster than the world population and won’t even reach 50% penetration until the year 2030. That’s a lot more online ministry potential to tap into.
AMD partnered with the Internet World Stats organization to develop a graph outlining Internet usage with population growth. The stats are important to look at in determining what ministry focus you should have. Think of it as a demographical outlook in determining who the audience is or will become.
Click graph for live internet usage.
Tags: Internet, stats, amd, population, demographic, Internet usage
