Yesterday I had the privilege of presenting to the IT Council of Campus Crusade for Christ about what I see as emerging and future web ministry trends…particularly with blogs.
I wanted to share some of those thoughts here.
I started with a little tongue-in-cheek scripture “interpretation” saying that Jesus wants us to use the internet right!
“[Jesus] said, ‘Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens.’ They did what He said. All of a sudden there were so many fish in it, they weren’t strong enough to pull it in.”
John 21:6 (The Message)
In a way though, that’s what we’re trying to do…use the net correctly praying that it will bring in a huge harvest. We want to see what happens when we try new things out.
Then I talked about how the trend for technology seems to be moving from “control” to “conversation” (the term “Web 2.0” as best as I understand it anyway). For example, here are some ways to share and contribute to the conversation:
- Share Photos: Flickr
- Share Bookmarks: del.icio.us
- Share Audio: Podcasting
- Share Conversation: Blog/Discussion Boards
- Share Knowledge: wiki
To help put it into “real world” situations, I broke it down like this:
- Traditional Website is like a large group presentation
- Blog is like a seminar with Q&A
- Podcast is like the seminar recording you take with you
- Discussion Board is like lunch room discussions
- Wiki is like a group research paper
- Groups are like a community/neighborhood
I made the statement that it’s not so much about how web silos are connected but it’s now more about how they are being built. Websites are built in public conversations, not closed door team meetings.
I then used another tongue-in-cheek interpretation of a verse to show that Paul endorses blogging:
“…if some unbelieving outsiders walk in on a service where people are speaking out God’s truth, the plain words will bring them up against the truth and probe their hearts. Before you know it, they’re going to be on their faces before God, recognizing that God is among you.”
1 Corinthians 14:24-25 (The Message)
Again, there is some truth there. I really think that blogs can be most effective in ministry in either a discipleship-type focus but not as good for direct evangelism. I think blogs are great for living an authentic lifestyle before others…having Godly conversation and encouraging others to come with you. I think blogs can really be used to help connect everyone to someone who truly follows Jesus.
I then left them with a couple resources:
- Seth Godin’s eBook Knock Knock
- Seth Godin’s eBook Who’s There?
- Successful Internet Ministry
- RSS and Bloglines Tutorial
- Blogging Tutorial (will be rewritten soon)
Leave a comment if you want me to expound. I can. These are highlights and may need more info.
UPDATE: A great quote on this: “Conversation is the Kingdom”
4 Responses to “Future Web Ministry Now”
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I’d be interested to hear more on your take on the conversation-versus-control trend and on websites being built in public (not behind closed doors). I think my main question is: why is that important? I have given a lot of thought to the matter, but I’d be interested in your take.
I’d also be interested to hear any thoughts on how you see these trends affecting the traditional concept/definition of the word “community.”
Thanks for writing, kava. You have an interesting blog. I’ll be watching!
One thing I didn’t mention in my post but made clear in my presentation is that I’m making some claims that I won’t fully stand behind. I don’t think the “old way” is dead or anything. I made stark statements to help paint the picture of the trend.
But I think it is important that sites are being built in public. There’s ALWAYS going to be room for “closed door meetings” to create websites. But I find it very interesting that the content on, for example, a wiki or a blog (and other “Web 2.0″ sites like flickr and delicious) is decided by the community. Knowledge and opinions on a particular URL is created by a group in public more than a group in an office.
You ask a very interesting question about how these trends may or may not effect the concept of community. I haven’t thought about that. Could community be defined differently in the new generation of web? I’m not sure if it is. Maybe it’s not what the community is, but what the community does that is different. There’s more accountability, more participation, more conversation. I could be wrong about that, but that’s my initial thought.
Rob:
I blogged about this article today. I’d definitely be interested in knowing how you envision Campus Crusade and other ministries/individuals implementing this concept:
“I think blogs can really be used to help connect everyone to someone who truly follows Jesus.”
As I said on my blog, I think that’s a strategy we need to embrace.
Thanks!
Frank
Hey Rob: Thanks for the comment on my blog, and pointing me to this post.
Overall, great stuff. Glad you’re there to help direct such an influential ministry. (And I’m sure I’ll rip off your great use of scripture!) ;^)
A coupla things:
- I prefer control vs. connect. Conversation is just one way to connect. There are many. And that’s the goal of organizations now - to make the connection.
- So much of Web 2.0 is a mindset. It’s not so much about ’sharing,’ as it is about partipating, creating, uploading - group think/creation.
I’ll be blogging more about this in the coming days…