April 2, 2011
Going Beyond in NYC – Metro Chr Convention 2011
I presented 2 workshops last Saturday at an annual Saturday gathering of Restoration Movement Christians in the NYC region. My family & I have been participating in the Metro for years, way back to its early days when we would make the long drive from Ohio to participate. My two topics this year grew from the Convention theme of “Going Beyond in NYC” – itself an adaption from last year‘s North American Chr Convention. You can download notes from the “Going Beyond in Discipleship” session (answer key at bottom of sheet). The “Going Beyond in Technology” was deliberately more free form, because I guessed that the participants would come w/ different levels of tech interest for themselves and their congregations. The discussion focused on:
- using YouVersion (my specific user account including my notes) for an online Bible resource, including reading plans;
- Twitter to communicate by texting, especially for congregations whose members used text more than email or web;
- blogs for posting lessons and news
As readers of this blog can guess, we barely scratched the surface of using tech for ministry: databases, Facebook, security, etc. – but if anyone has thoughts, feel free comment on this post
October 18, 2010
Cannonball resources
First day personal reflection time from the Cannonball booklet asks what I do in “jump in or watch from the edge” situations? Why? Which response comes more easily to you?
I’m a “watch from the edge, analyze others, then jump” person. Thinking back on some life change situations (switching from Columbia U to Cincinnati Chr U; moving from OH to NY for ministry; leaving E Northport Chr Ch to move to MD + MCC) – in each case, someone else went first (did something similar), I observed, then acted.
I’ll try to add a youversion.com contribution for each day’s Cannonball Bible reading. You don’t need to sign up for this on-line Bible resource to read my commentary snippets, but if you do, let me know because I’m interested in using the social networking aspect youversion.
If you’re an MCC small group leader, you might have already noticed that Title Menu labels the video clip you use for small group session week 1 as “Welcome Video.” Its both Ben’s overall introduction to the Cannonball initiative and the jumping off point for the “Toes Over the Edge” discussion. Remember leaders, let the Spirit guide your discussion time, do NOT feel like you have to answer each question – you know your group and what they need to talk about.
October 14, 2010
Catalyst 2010 takeaways: Seth Godin, Francis Chan, Andy Stanley
Schedule too hectic during the Catalyst leadership event last week for me to blog live, but I know if I don’t post at least a rough draft of my reactions from Catalyst (pun intended), I might never post anything
First time I heard Seth Godin live, and is sometimes the case, I get more from his written words than his spoken words. Fortunately, Catalyst provided a booklet version of his presentation, with highlights from his recent bestseller Linchpin. The personal takeaway for me was envisioning myself as an “artist” in his definition, but not w/ paint or music, instead as an innovator-champion in my workplace in using tech for Christian discipleship.
Also my first time hearing Francis Chan live, and is sometimes the case, his speaking passion reinforced the power of his written words. Strongest takeaway was his repeated use of the phrase “That’s so weird” as a tool to measure myself, and my ministry, by the Bible – what my intellectual reflex calls “weird” might truly be closer to God’s call.
Having heard Andy Stanley before, as has always been the case, he gave some great themes which I’ll continue to use. His memorable phrase was “bowl of stew” from the story of Esau selling his birthright to his scheming younger brother Jacob for a bowl of stew. Most encouraging takeaway was “reframe your appetites in the context what God has
called you to do . . . . 2 yrs from now . . . 10 yrs from now . . . . the clearer, more defined your future, the less grip
appetites have on you.”
September 25, 2010
Another online Bible resource
I’m using YouVersion.com for MCC’s “Are We There Yet” messages series resources for small groups, and as tool with the sermon I’m preaching Sunday 26 Sep at Creswell Christian Church, a nearby sister congregation. My MCC teammate (and sometime fellow blogger) John Sarno had recommended it back in the spring when our men’s Wed AM small group was talking about Bibles for various phones. I was still clinging to my trusty Palm TX and its (free!) Bible+ and BibleReader (from Olive Tree Software some translations free, others paid). Besides being free (!), I could use those w/o an internet connection – handy in many situations.
My go-to online Bible resources were BibleGateway.com (my usual link for Bible references on my blog or FB) and BlueLetterBible.org (for background info like Greek / Hebrew, Bible dictionaries, public domain older commentaries, etc.) At a recent MCC brainstorming meeting on more effectively using tech in the life of our church, my teammate (and brother-in-law) Patrick Gerber recommended YouVersion again, having seen another church use its online-community / Web 2.0 features. I’m going to give it an extended try, and am curious if there will be enough interest from other MCC people to merit forming our own YouVersion group. As always, post in this blog comments or send me a FB message if you’re interested in an MCC group OR if you already have a YouVersion group for another church / specialty group.
June 11, 2010
church management software = hi-tech shepherding
Lots of on-line meetings last several weeks to evaluate church management software-services packages are part of the reason I’ve been behind on posting message-based study guides. After browsing other products, and web+speakerphone presentations by reps from 5 companies, MCC is looking at two strong packages from People Driven Software (now part of Elexio) and Church Community Builder. Each product has its strengths and weaknesses (I’d rather you email me if you want my off-line, thorough analysis) but both of them would be great tech tools for staying connected with Mountain’s ever-growing congregation.
Even the most adamant tech geek like me must come back to the fact that the most crucial key to the effectiveness of any church software package (or any hi-tech tool) is the end user. Specifically for my ministry:
- how to equip and inspire small group leaders (and coaches and apprentices or whoever else in each small group will do the data entry) to use the software often enough and thoroughly enough so that the data is usable (garbage-in, garbage-out = if the info is months outdated, not very useful for helping people now or planning for the future)
- small group leaders and coaches who use the info they learn from the software to shepherd the people in their groups, and invite people who aren’t yet grouped.
No matter the technology (or lack of it) – shepherding is always about how much we who are junior (under / mini) shepherds are following in the footsteps of the Great Shepherd – knowing the people in our flock – whether through software or never-old-fashioned listening AND helping them grow.
February 4, 2010
Students (+ Adults) and Tech
MCC teammate Matt Silver passed along an email he titled “Students and Tech” which included this introduction to the PBS series Life on the Virtual Frontier (I confess I’ve not yet watched the video!). Matt makes good use of tech for communication, including YouTube video updates for Student Ministry volunteers. He’s also one of the other MCC staff to use Twitter (@silvertims). Occasionally you’ll see me “ReTweet” (cite his short 140 character quick updates) in my own Twitter feed – the left-hand column of this blog =>
Here’s a Christianity Today “Out of Ur” point-counterpoint on “In Defense of Virtual Church” and Virtual Church is STILL a bad idea.
July 22, 2009
Rest stop needed
MCC teammates Rob & Kelly Kastens recently spoke on living in the rhythms of God’s rest for our “We” message series (listen online or download the mp3 here). Kelly’s article “A Place of Quiet Rest” is part of the July 26, 2009 Christian Standard on “Soul Care.”
Have you found any true rest this summer?
Anne Jackson wrote an accompanying Christian Standard article “Mad Church Disease”, as well as this somewhat-related, thought provoking post on the potential idolatry of on-line “ministry” tech. Ironically, I found Anne Jackson’s post via Catalyst Leader’s Twitter feed @CatalystLeader and to double the irony supplement for the day, the Twitter account has been hacked 
April 3, 2009
exploring Beyond w/ new technology
My teammate Matt Silver twittered about this MSNBC article on Mars Hill Church (Seattle) and their use of Twitter (mass text messaging), and MCC member Dana Hana is working behind the scenes on new software applications while nudging me to explore Beyond the ways MCC has used tech in the past.
Whether it’s combining Facebook + blog to add interactivity to online Bible study OR the creative arts captured online like “Scripturatopia” (warning this video download is a big file) from Willow Creek’s 2008 Leadership Summit simulcast, God’s kingdom is exploring beyond…
March 28, 2009
MCC Message Boards go Beyond the Walls
MCC is introducing a new tool in our mission to be like the church of Acts 4:34-37 and Acts 6:1-7, experimenting with ways “beyond the norm” to care and reach. As congregations like McLean Bible Church have blazed the trail, MCC is starting online message boards to provide space things like: networking for job applicants & openings, business listings, housing, etc. It’s an online site to post, “I need this, can anyone help me out?” AND “Here’s something I can give” – whether it’s free, for sale, or a way you can serve someone else.
This is NOT meant to compete w/ Craigslist, freecycle, local newspaper classifieds, Facebook, etc. but MCC does want to connect BEYOND what we’re able to do in our small groups and, ultimately, reaching BEYOND the walls of our church building.
ANYONE w/ internet access can browse the message boards, but you must register to be able to post messages. Both Mountain members and non-Mountain attenders will be able to register on the site. (This is a DIFFERENT registration than signing up for events elsewhere on the MCC website, but you can choose to register w/ the same username and password if that’s easier to remember). Use the care and wisdom you would use with any site on the internet.
This could also become a way for small groups & ministry teams at MCC to connect w/ others about events, needs, opportunities – especially as MCC continues to grow numerically & geographically. This is a tool we can use to care for own and also a resource to “walk across the room” and take Jesus’ mission “beyond the walls.”
March 27, 2009
Beyond the Walls Mar 29 Resources UPDATED
Study guide download here or archive of all study guides for this series (and many previous ones) here. Here are the notes I take during the Sunday morning message.
The Beyond series has an entire webpage of resources at the MCC website, including VIDEO of the messages (I think this is a new feature!). Audio (mp3 or iTunes subscription) available here.
The poem read by an MCC member from last Sunday’s theme ”Beyond Racial Zones” is here. Here’s a link to guest speaker Daryl Reed’s congregation, D.C. Regional Christian Church.
