Well, many of you reading this probably already have a pretty good grasp of the things I want to highlight, but perhaps you’re just stumbling onto a ‘blog’ for the first time and realizing that the internet is a whole lot more complex than it used to be. Ironically, it’s a whole lot more simple than it used to be as well. Trust me, it really does make sense. (As a side note, I’m going to try to get back to my originally posted blogging schedule.)
So, I wanted to devote a Tuesday Training article to technology and how it can be used within the church. Actually, technology is something that can be best used outside the church and makes it even easier to get the church outside the walls.
First of all, why should we care? Are these just some latest trends and fads that will be here today and gone tomorrow? Perhaps. But these fads are the ones that your kids are immersed in. And if you don’t have a grasp on what your kids are involved in, that’s not good. We need to be aware of what is available and either find ways to rid it or redeem it.
We should also care because the internet has become a place of instant communication. As soon as I hit my ‘publish’ button, this post will be sent to anyone who subscribes to this blog, as well as being sent to Technorati for the world to find instantly in an endless connection of discussions that are happening. Since we are called to communicate the Gospel and tell the nations of Jesus, it has never been easier to get discussion going.
For ministries, a church’s website can (and should) be configured to be a meeting place for everyone. Leaders and team members can have forums, blogs, calendars and everything they need right on their own website. Talk about a great way to manage a team! I just recently found the Geeks and God podcast and began to work on a project using Drupal, which is very, very cool stuff that I think that every church should be aware of.
 Now, the other side of this is that there is a serious danger to the instant communication on the internet. Sites like youtube.com are fun, but people can post pretty much whatever they want on there as long as it’s within the “boundaries” which really aren’t that great. Myspace.com is catastrophe waiting to happen for teens who don’t realize everything they put on their page is available to the whole world and parents who don’t even have a clue what Myspace is.
So, how can we redeem all of this? Instead of using Myspace as a hangout for your youth, create your own youth page using Wordpress or Drupal. Be a light in the darkness on Youtube and post uplifting, Jesus-centered videos. Use the Church Marketing Lab on Flickr to have other people help critique your designs so that they are the best they can be.
I know I’m throwing out a ton of terms that some of you might be bored with and some might have no clue what I’m talking about, but my hope with this post was to be able to just tease you into seeing what’s available to be utilized. If ever there was a time where the church’s voice could be heard loudly and clearly; literally universally, it’s now.
WHAT TO DO NOW?