Tag: technology

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REDEEMING SOCIAL MEDIA // INTERVIEW WITH NATHAN CAMPBELL @NM_CAMPBELL

REDEEMING SOCIAL MEDIA

I will be presenting a 3 hour Professional Development Seminar at National Youth Ministry Convention 2013 on REDEEMING SOCIAL MEDIA. In the lead up to NYMC I have a series of interviews with Christians using online mediums in a deliberate way for the Gospel. I have asked the same 4 questions to each guest and there are some fantastic posts coming!

The first guest is Nathan Campbell from St. Eutychus. Nathan is on message in the way that he points people to the good news of Jesus as he intelligently interacts on different social and political issues online. See his most recent post for a fascinating book review on the history of social media.

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1) What church and/or ministries are you part of?

I’m finishing up my time at Queensland Theological College at the end of next year, and in 2014 will be the Campus Pastor of a new inner-city Brisbane campus of the church I’m currently part of – Creek Road Presbyterian Church. I’m also on the Presbyterian Church of Queensland’s “Gospel in Society Today” Committee – we think about how we can speak about Jesus in today’s world, to todays issues. Before college I worked in Public Relations and I love figuring out how to apply truths about communication to communicating the truth.

2) What ways do you use online mediums in your ministry and witness?

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DON’T REINVENT THE INTERNET

DON'T REINVENT THE INTERNET

This is part 3 of a 10-part blog series on HOW TO GET YOUR MINISTRY ONLINE. You can follow the DIGITAL SKATEPARK tag or go back to the intro post for links out to the rest of the series.

< See the previous post in the series

DON’T REINVENT THE INTERNET

Sometimes people with tech-know-how propose big plans for getting ministries online. While I don’t want to stifle original, creative online ideas, the good thing with the Internet is that you don’t need to reinvent it. It already exists and there are plenty of free (or relatively inexpensive) and flexible tools that you can use today and more to come in the future.

The other good thing with online tools is that you don’t need to be an expert. You don’t need a tech department or an IT Crowd! If you are able to switch a computer or smart phone on and send and receive email, you have enough skill to get your youth ministry online.

One of the key principles is to utilise and leverage technologies that your community are already accessing. This will be explored further in future posts.

See the next post in the series >

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This series forms the basis of a chapter I wrote in a forthcoming Youth Ministry book to be published by Anglican Youthworks. The rest of the book is written by Scott Petty (Youth Minister from Christ Church St Ives) and is published here with permission.

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ONLINE COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTES TO OFFLINE COMMUNITY

ONLINE OFFLINE

This is part 2 of a 10-part blog series on HOW TO GET YOUR MINISTRY ONLINE. You can follow the DIGITAL SKATEPARK tag or go back to the intro post for links out to the rest of the series.

< See the previous post in the series

ONLINE COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTES TO OFFLINE COMMUNITY

Let’s assume that your youth ministry meets two times per week, a larger youth group meeting and smaller bible study groups. Unleashing the Internet and mobile devices will give you an opportunity to have an impact into young lives every day of the week. Some might think that’s too much! But it doesn’t need to be overwhelming for youth or youth leaders.

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THE DIGITAL SKATEPARK // GET YOUR MINISTRY ONLINE

DIGITAL SKATEPARK

This is a 10-part blog series on HOW TO GET YOUR MINISTRY ONLINE. It is written with a primary application for youth ministries but a more general church or other ministries application should be obvious enough. You can follow the DIGITAL SKATEPARK tag or come back to this post for links out to the rest of the series.

  1. THE DIGITAL SKATEPARK
  2. ONLINE COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTES TO OFFLINE COMMUNITY
  3. DON’T REINVENT THE INTERNET
  4. SOCIAL MEDIA SOAP OPERA
  5. CREATE AN OFFICIAL “HEADQUARTERS”
  6. MINIMAL IS BETTER THAN MAYHEM
  7. NOBODY LIKES STALE BREAD
  8. CREATE MEDIA STREAMS
  9. ALL STREAMS FLOW INTO THE SEA
  10. MAKE SOME NOISE!

DIGITAL SKATEPARK

In 1990s youth ministry, one way to connect with teenagers was at the local skatepark. This is where lots of them hung out, so this was a good place to connect socially with teenagers who were already part of your youth ministry and their friends.

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IS THIS A PHONE WORTH KEEPING?

According to www.phonebloks.com, “A phone only lasts a couple of years before it breaks or becomes obsolete. Although it’s often just one part which killed it, we throw everything away since it’s almost impossible to repair or upgrade.” Their solution? Watch this video:

It’s only a concept at the moment and obviously looks ugly. But could it work? I’m guessing Apple, Samsung and co wouldn’t want it to work! Unless they could capitalise on it!!

What do you think? Feel free to leave a comment.

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5 THINGS CHURCH LEADERS CAN LEARN FROM APPLE KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS

Did you catch the Apple Keynote presentation this past week? The launch of the iPhone 5S, 5C and some other things? Maybe you don’t care! Regardless of whether you are an Apple Fanboy or an Apple Hater, Apple do an impressive job with keynote presentations and product launches. The late Steve Jobs set the standard for Apple in his style of presentation. I believe the current CEO Tim Cook and his team continue in similar style and quality.

rapid adding machines

Church leaders have the opportunity week-by-week to cast vision in church gatherings, but perhaps particularly at Vision Nights, Launch Sundays, AGMs, etc.

Here are 5 things that church leaders can learn from Apple Keynote presentations:

A) Anticipate success

Throughout the product launch there is an air of anticipation and expectancy with what is to come. The presenters help to build this in how they shape the presentation and build towards the announcing of new products and an expectation that the company will continue to succeed.

Ephesians 3:20 says that “God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” God is able! It is right to expect that God will continue to work as his word goes out through local churches. William Carey famously said “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.” Christian leaders need to help build this culture of anticipation and expectation for God to do the unimaginable.

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