Think Digital First

Is it time for a website tune-up?

2011-07-14T09:17:00.000-05:00

It's an interesting exercise to surf church websites. Thankfully, there are a good number who have moved past the basic information, added strong visuals and provide an excellent introduction to who they are. Summer may be a good time for you to take a look at your site so it's in good shape for fall.

A website is your congregation's face to the world. Anyone interested in visiting your church will likely go there first.

These are the people who will arrive at church and use the front door. Members may also use the front door, but they may also know other entry points.

This analogy may be helpful in developing your web presence.

For those raised in the church with its unique language (catechism, narthex, VBS etc) it's not easy to think like a person with no exposure to church life. Yet, that is a growing percentage of our population.

Take the challenge and review your site as if you have no church background. What does "Lutheran confessions" mean? What is "Adult Catechesis?" What is VBS? Is it not easier to say "Lutheran beliefs," “Christian basics for Adults” and “Children's Bible Camp” or other words that communicate meaning beyond the church?

We are dealing with a similar world as the first century Christians. We cannot assume anyone has an understanding of Christianity 101. I remember a religion professor at Concordia University College telling me how so many students had had never opened a Bible let alone understand the concept of "chapter and verse." Think about these people when you look at your website.

Other than a wedding, funeral or maybe a baptism, those looking at your site may have never entered a church.

For members, it's another story. You may want to consider creating a different door for them, somewhere you can communicate specific information. Rather than a "members" tab which can give the impression of the church being an exclusive club, create a different domain name or sub domain like members.YOURCHURCH.ca or www.YOURCHURCHmembers.ca. It's not a huge cost and you can create a redirect to send the address to an "inside" page on your existing website. It's a page visitors may find with enough digging, but on your members can bookmark and check the latest news.

Your website is like your church sign, only it’s available to the world. How it looks, how accessible it is and what it says communicates who you are to those who visit.

Keep your site current, visually attractive and user friendly for the non-churched web surfer.

The perils of life on line

2011-03-15T09:42:00.000-05:00

Paul must have had Facebook in mind when he wrote about everything being permissible but not everything being beneficial (1 Corinthians 10:23). It reminds me of the man whose wife cautioned him not to say aloud everything that comes into his head.

One of the things you quickly learn about being online is that there is little distinction between personal and professional life: you are who you are. And on Facebook, anonymity doesn’t exist.

Younger people especially are finding this presents some difficulties. Being “out there” on line may offer potential employers insight into your life that could cause them to consider hiring someone else.

There have been times I’ve wanted to vent or post a caustic comment and then remembered that my profile says I am a Lutheran Christian, and I am director of communications for Lutheran Church–Canada as well as listing family and friend connections. I am allowed to post those comments, but are they of benefit? Will they edify or do they lead me into dangerous 8th commandment-breaking territory?

Facebook is an open arena. Unless I restrict access to specific groups, what I post on my wall is open for the world to read. That “world” includes fellow members of my congregation, pastors, believers and unbelievers. Jesus doesn’t tell us we are the light of the world only when we decide to be. We are the light of the world 24/7/365 on Facebook, when tweeting on Twitter, sending e-mail messages or in any kind of one-to-one interaction online or face-to-face.

Am I guilty of ever crossing the line? Yes.

Do I seek your forgiveness for any offence I may have caused? Most definitely.

Do I keep a more careful eye on what I’m posting? You bet.

Do I suggest it’s always a good thing to remember who you are and Whose you are? What do you think?

Are these my final thoughts on this matter?

Likely not, but allow me to quote our Lord in words He used when explaining the parable of the sower: “Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

We’re sowing some kind of seed online. Let’s make sure it’s the right kind.

Move beyond the monthly printed newsletter. Tell your story now!

2010-09-24T10:48:00.002-05:00

Some non-profits, including church congregations, have not yet realized the communication world has changed. Every few months they gather stories and photos, send them to a designer or fight with a publishing program to put together an attractive newsletter aimed at their members and supporters. By the time the postal service delivers the information or people retrieve it from a church mailbox, much of it is interesting but somewhat outdated. Readers put up with it because it’s always been that way. Even stories in the daily newspapers are hours old.

Meanwhile, online, people receive up-to-the-minute information.

The production of a newsletter is usually a last-minute frenzy of writing and collecting items to meet a deadline. I’ve discovered it’s much more efficient to write and collect as things happen and publish them as soon as possible. That way, when it comes to a printed piece, all you have to do is gather the stories you have sent or posted online and reformat them for print.

A newsletter likely has an established audience, usually donors or members. However, material online expands your circle of influence well beyond those who already have a stake in your organization. Why keep good news to yourself?

When you publish a story on a website or blog, send the link via e-mail to everyone for whom you have an address. If they click on the link, it takes them to even more information about you. They may even spend time exploring other material you have posted. Encourage them to forward the e-mail to others who may be interested in what you have to say.

The communication paradigm has shifted. Don’t abandon print, but expand to all the opportunities presented by using all the vehicles available to you online.

A day for social media? Who knew!

2010-06-30T11:33:00.000-05:00

Today apparently is Social Media Day. I’m not sure who proclaimed it, but I’ll accept the opportunity to celebrate the development of the many relationship-building tools it offers.

Maybe it’s because I am a bit of a news junkie and have a natural curiosity, but I really enjoy what Facebook brings to my life. People whom I knew only by name through my work are now 3D friends. I know about their families, their special interests, their political views…all kinds of things. And I appreciate them even more for sharing their joys, frustrations, personal victories and defeats. When I read posts on my wall I am sometimes led to prayer, other times burst into laughter or simply smile at a simple reflection on life. The kind of reactions friends have when meeting face-to-face or on the phone.

The cool thing about my Facebook friends is that I often have the opportunity to meet them in person. But we don’t have to do so much “catching up” because we’ve been following each other!

Facebook builds relationships and if your Christian faith is integrated into who you are, it will be evident as you interact on social media. Friends of mine who have little or no interest in Christianity see my posts, and those of others that talk about faith issues. I know one person who is a pastor but on Facebook he is better known as an amazing photographer. He told me that as a result, he has had wonderful faith-related “conversations” with fellow photographers who otherwise may have never “friended” him.

So, happy Social Media Day! I believe the Lord has given us these new tools to share His love in new ways to His honour and glory.

Always keep the big picture in mind

2010-06-15T10:49:00.000-05:00

The growth in social media is catching the attention of an increasing number of churches. They are venturing beyond websites and starting Facebook pages sending out messages on Twitter and generally exploring all the networking opportunities social media brings.

This is all good if it is done for a reason. So often we jump into the next big thing because it’s the next big thing. We need to stop and ask “Why do we want to be on Facebook or Twitter?”

Social media is just one element in an overall integrated communication strategy. Church communication embraces things like your church sign, Sunday bulletin, monthly newsletter, e-mail, posters, newspaper ads, Sunday announcements, website and vehicles like Facebook and Twitter. Each should have a defined purpose and should be related to each other.

Here are some tips (feel free to add more in the comments ):

• Your website address, Facebook name, Twitter ID and e-mail address should appear on every piece of printed material and every e-mail from your church. These are the 21st century equivalent of your telephone number!

• Your website should invite people to join you on Facebook and Twitter

• Your church sign should at least have your website address (People will find you online before they will walk in the front door.)

• Stories from your newsletter should appear on the website, not necessarily as a PDF, but as part of your website

• When a news item or new story is posted, let the followers on Facebook and Twitter know about it

• Decide what information should appear in which medium for maximum impact

• Establish an e-mail list for the congregation. Decide what information is best communicated by e-mail. Sometimes you may want to provide a link to information on your website to provide a reason for members to visit the website.

• An unsupervised, enthusiastic teenager should not be responsible for Facebook or Twitter just because they may know how it works. Content and presentation are important and require direction.

Remember, your church sign, website, Facebook page and Twitter account are the public face of your church. Your church bulletin is likely the only piece of information a visitor will take home with them.

A revolution in education

2010-03-30T17:06:00.000-05:00

AND SO IT BEGINS : University to Provide iPads for All New Students

How's that working out?

2010-03-30T13:20:00.000-05:00

This year we are spending Easter away from home. While away, we will attend Easter services at another Lutheran church. So, I went on line, found a church near where we will stay and found no listing of Holy Week services. I could read about the church's Advent and Christmas schedule, but nothing for Lent, Holy Week, Good Friday or Easter!
Why do churches not understand that the first place a potential visitor will look for information is on line? Had I not asked by e-mail, I would never have discovered the time for Good Friday's service.
Lutheran Church–Canada offers each of our 320+ congregations a free listing for the times of special services on our national directory of congregations. At Christmas 83 congregations provided information. For Easter this year, 62.
Can I assume the others have updated their own information on their websites and therefore don't need a national listing?
If pastors and members look for things on line, you can be sure non-pastors and non-members are also looking online and may be looking for your church information.
It's not like websites are anything new, so what's the deal?
It all goes back to the title of this blog "Think digital first."
The local newspaper will likely be paid for an advertisement in the "religion" section but have you looked at the readership of newspapers lately? Is it money well spent from an ever-declining local budget?
Changing information on a website is free!
When our Lord rose from the dead, news spread quickly. It's a good thing He wasn't relying on church websites to spread the news!
But wait!
He is relying on churches and their websites to spread the news. How's that working out?

Facing the reality of Facebook

2009-11-08T22:56:00.002-06:00

While doing some research for a presentation I discovered that Facebook in Canada attracts a different demographic than in the US. Based strictly on numbers of users, Canadians aged over 35 years old outnumber their American counterparts in the use of the social network. Some think it's because of Canada's thin line of population along the Canada-US border. Canadians who move for jobs or education may find themselves moving further away from family and relatives than in the US. Therefore, older users are keeping in touch with family and friends through Facebook. Another reason may have to do with the overall usage of Facebook. More than 34% of Canadians are on Facebook--the fourth largest percentage in the world. Only about 20% of Americans use the social networking site.
Canada Population: 33,618,000
Canada Facebook: 11,556,180
Percentage: 34.37%

Source: http://www.nickburcher.com/2009/04/facebook-usage-statistics-by-population.html

In the US the Facebook users skew very highly in the under-30 group.

So members of church congregations are more likely to be on Facebook in Canada than in the US. That is something to keep in mind when you want to keep in touch with fellow members outside of the church context.

Extend your reach

2009-09-12T11:51:00.003-05:00

A pastor friend of mine offers a Saturday morning class designed "help folks reduce daily stresses." When I saw the tweet about it I thought to myself, that's something a lot of people could use. I asked if he'd considered making it a webcast (depending on the class format of course) and he admitted he hadn't. (TDF!)

Then my mind wandered to all the potential webcasts a congregation could make available. Do you want to share the basics of the Christian faith? Webcast an adult information or confirmation class. And what about Sunday morning Bible study? It doesn't matter if viewers are in your city or even your country. The point would be to make the class available to a wider audience. Jesus preached to thousands at a time!

Even a younger person's confirmation class is a potential webcast.

Webcasting is not rocket science.
1) You need a laptop computer, webcam and microphone or a connection to a sound system if you are webcasting something like a church service. (Make sure you have a reasonable amount of light on the main subject for good video.)

2) Set up an account with a free streaming service like Ustream.tv or Livestream.com.

3) Embed the feed onto your website (the streaming service gives you the information)

4) Let people know you are going to webcast and where they can watch. Post the information on Facebook, send out a message on Twitter, promote it on your website, in your Sunday bulletin, announcements, newsletter and the sign in front of your church!

5) Lights, camera, action! Once you are streaming, make sure you welcome the online audience as you would any visitors.

If you are webcasting an instructional class, the viewers have the opportunity to comment in the chat features of the streaming service. This means you can do Q&A with the people in the room as well as online.

With any event or weekly activity, think of ways to extend your reach beyond the four walls of your church or school by thinking digital first.

Fallen and can't get up? Tell your friends on Facebook.

2009-09-08T20:02:00.003-05:00

When you read that kids are using social media all the time you have to wonder if it's true. Read this story: http://mashable.com/2009/09/07/trapped-girls-facebook/

What this shows is that a younger person's first priority may not be using the telephone, but sharing information with as many people as possible on Facebook, hoping someone else calls for help.

Is this common? I don't know. If I had a cell phone and could either call or update I would call, but then none of my friend would know I was in trouble. The social networking would be limited to the emergency operator until I was rescued. That loses all immediacy which is the hallmark of social media.

Some say social media is a fad. Others claim it has fundamentally changed the way we communicate. Were the girls in this story just immature or using their primary electronic communication vehicle?

Making the list

2009-09-01T14:41:00.002-05:00

During a social media seminar today, Starbucks was used as an example of branding. The company sees itself as a third location: "home, work, Starbucks." The goal is to have people attend Starbucks to consume the brand.

How do we add "church" onto the list of locations?

Fall plans

2009-08-31T21:00:00.002-05:00

So we're running headlong into September. Time to crank up the church programs; round up the volunteers; and next thing you know rehearsals for the Christmas services and programs will begin.
How are you using social media to help you accomplish these tasks? Share your ideas so we can all learn together.

Happy Labour Day!

I do…on-line

2009-08-19T10:47:00.001-05:00

Wow…too long between posts. Sorry. But it’s been an interesting time of vacation and then the inevitable catch-up after vacation.

On August 8 our oldest son, Evan, was married in Edmonton, Alberta to Genoa Waymen. They both work in social media and video so it was natural for them to take an online approach to their big day.

First, they established a website http://wedding.etadnams.com where they told the story of how they met and even set up a Paypal account for online gifts! (We’re still waiting for the photos to be posted). All the invitations were sent by e-mail as were responses.

The ceremony was webcast so that family and friends around the world could share the event. It was a simple set up with a laptop, camera and microphone. After the ceremony we discovered the audio wasn’t working, but it didn’t deter the 36 viewers who stayed with the webcast. As one viewer put it “I couldn’t hear anything, but the plot was predictable!”

The couple, my wife and I and even the pastor tweeted webcast information, and reminded people on Facebook the day of the wedding. People were watching in Canada, the US and as far away as Bahrain!

The cost for all this? $0! It only took time, and not much of that.

Webcasting has a lot of potential. Yes, there can still be glitches, but who hasn’t been at a live event when the sound had problems?

I noticed that a Baptist church nearby is using its highly visible sign to promote its webcast, complete with web address.

This technology is a way to extend the reach of any event. Think of the possibilities. If you can’t get youth into a Sunday morning class…take the class to them…on a Wednesday evening!

The technology is there and inexpensive. It just takes the will to use it.

Putting the digital into worship

2009-07-27T13:34:00.001-05:00

I can never predict when I will have a ‘think digital first’ moment. Today, it happened again in church while singing a hymn. You might think it had something to do with music and digital accompaniment, but that wasn’t it.

Our closing hymn was the nineteenth century’s “Jesus Saviour, Pilot Me.” The words evoke the symbolism of the nautical pilot who has responsibility for navigating a ship into safe harbour. While on a cruise, I watched as the pilot boat came alongside the cruise ship, matched speed and then the pilot leapt onboard, made his way to the bridge and safely guided the ship into port.

Today in church a teenage boy sat in front of me mumbling the lyrics to the hymn. As I watched him, I wondered what he knew of Jesus being described as a pilot. In all likelihood a pilot for him is someone operating an aircraft. And certainly at 35,000 feet it’s no big deal for a pilot to keep a plane safe over a "tempestuous sea.”

Sure enough, when asked after the service, he had no idea what the whole pilot thing was about. And I wonder how many others who sing that hymn have a similar dissociation. Maybe if you read some Mark Twain in school and knew about the pilots maneuvering the boats and barges up and down the Mississippi you would have some notion. But that’s asking a lot from memory.

Our artistic expressions of faith are more likely to involve fields and streams, than factories, parking lots and computers. Most of this is no doubt because our Lord made many references to plants, farming, fishing and harvesting. Some may argue that these represent the ‘natural’ world whereas computers and machines are the result of man’s creation. However, humankind learned how to farm. History tells us that. And there are lots of simple machines used in fishing and agriculture. So that argument may not hold water.

The ‘think digital first’ question is: How does the church, in its preaching and teaching through both hymns and spoken word relate to our 21st century reality?

Is not baptism comparable to reformatting a hard drive. Everything old is wiped away, all is made new and clean?

Isn’t sin like a virus in your operating system, corrupting data?

And rather than a nautical pilot who knows the way, isn’t Jesus rather like a GPS, guiding us?

Prayer is a tweet to our Father in heaven. And we are assured He is following us!

I’m not trying to be sacrilegious or flippant. If we are going to relate our faith to a digital generation, we need to update our vocabulary.

Anyone care to write a hymn in a ‘think digital first’ mode?

iPhone goes iNspirational

2009-07-02T19:39:00.002-05:00

Some churches have broadcast their services on television for years. Now the trend is heading to streaming video for the mobile crowd. Check out this story http://cultofmac.com/

Know where you are going

2009-07-02T11:28:00.002-05:00

Soon after Twitter became popular, one of Canada’s major corporations started sending out tweets. We ‘followed’ each other and then, after a couple of months the tweets stopped.

They resumed in June. I was curious about why they stopped, so I tweeted the question. The communications person responsible sent me an e-mail explaining that an enthusiastic employee had started tweeting before the organization was ready to do so. When the employee left, the tweets stopped.

Since then the company did “some serious thinking about social media.” It was a communication tool they wanted to use, but no one had sat down and figured out its use strategically.

When the tweets resumed you knew immediately they we part of an overall plan.
They are more focused and reflect good communication strategy and follower involvement.

The lesson? Don’t get into social media until you know what you want to do. Ask the ‘why’ question; work out the strategic direction; and decide what you want to accomplish.

I’m sure this company isn’t the only organization to retreat from social media and then re-enter when it’s answered the fundamental questions and mapped out its strategy. People get excited about the potential of social media and tweet first, ask questions later!

Generation gap within generations

2009-06-21T15:17:00.003-05:00

There once was a time when the nature of generations could easily be defined by when people were born and what significant events impacted their lives. My family, all baby boomers, share the experience of our first colour TV and then cable TV even though there are seven years between my oldest brother and I.

With the dawn of the personal computer and eventually the Internet, I was the first to adopt the new technology, then the brother four years older and finally my oldest brother. I think I am the only one with an iTouch. Technology created a wedge in our family – all of the same generation.

The church used to find it easy to differentiate generations and life stages when it came to generations and life stages: youth, young adults, college and careers, senior citizens and any number of stages in family life. The introduction of technology into this mix is further complicating things. We can no longer assume the homogeneity of any generation.

Check out this story from the National Post http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=1718858.

As I read it, my inclination was to think that the church has the opportunity to provide stability and continuity amidst all the changes. The essential message of the gospel is changeless and therefore can provide a firm foundation.

Is that a viable role? How should the church relate to all the change in society? It has to go further than video projection in services and establishing a website. But what are those 'further' steps?

Still wrestling with social media

2009-06-19T09:44:00.002-05:00

Social media stretches the boundaries of older generations in interesting ways. Right now I have what I thought was a ‘personal’ page on Facebook. However, the line between personal and public is becoming blurred. For many of the younger people using social media their life is an open book. The distinction between personal and private; family and work isn’t always there. In his book Grown up Digital, Don Tapscott makes this point repeatedly, warning that at some point the digital generation may regret being so free with their personal information.

But social media is about conversations and relationships. You get to know someone as you share information. I have established some good relationships on Facebook with people who at first only knew me professionally. My life is richer for that experience. I must admit that at one time I was rankled at receiving ‘business’ messages in my Facebook inbox. (Part of that was fearing that if it didn’t appear in my business e-mail I would forget about it!) Now, although I’m not sure I would want all that kind of communication on Facebook, it doesn’t bother me as much.

This relates to a question I’ve always wrestled with regarding institutional social media and personal social media. Can the Church as an institution have a viable presence in the social media world when the nature of the media is so personal? If we need to put a ‘face’ to the Church so we can use the medium, whose face do we use? Our message is Jesus, who suffered, died and rose from the dead to reconcile God and fallen humanity. But the message needs a messenger and that’s every Christian not simply an institution. The essence of the Christian gospel is relationships, both between God and humanity and between people.

Is there a challenge here, or is it just me still trying to wrap my mind around the nature of social media?

Tweeting in the pew

2009-06-16T21:59:00.002-05:00

I know it’s a while since Saturday’s Stanley Cup final, but not only was it an exciting game, but I followed and participated in the ongoing tweets by fans of both Detroit and the Pens. It’s the first time I’ve tweeted during a live event and it was a lot of fun and an interesting experience. It was like sitting in a room full of fans, listening to their comments, reacting, giving advice to the coaches...cheering and booing appropriately.

Time magazine did an article about tweeting in church. I’m not so sure about that. While it could have some benefit by sharing thoughts and comments, it would detract from the vertical focus of worship and over-emphasize the horizontal. In the Lutheran tradition, our understanding of what goes on in a Sunday gathering of believers involves God serving us with His gifts of forgiveness and His Word, and the congregation responding in word and song. To introduce one-to-one commentary from one pew to the next is like making an aside comment while in conversation with the Queen.

Even if the pastor tweets as part of his sermon, it still creates a fragmentation because not everyone is able to receive the communication.

I’ve also seen instances where someone in the worship service gives play-by-play tweets. “Wow, the praise band is hot today” is likely a good thing, but I’m not sure what it accomplishes. Perhaps 140 character quotes from the sermon would be more worthwhile.

I am not a technophobe by any stretch of the imagination. If the audience for in-service tweeting is to those not in church, then I can see some value. But that poses another issued. I’ve done a lot of technical work during church services—directing video, working audio etc—and by so doing, I have never felt part of the service. Maybe organists feel the same way.

So what do you think? Is there a place for Twitter in Sunday activities?

Publisher looks to digital solutions

2009-06-04T09:21:00.007-05:00

It's exciting to see a 140-year-old company think outside the printing press box!

CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE FUTURE-FOCUSED,
ADDS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Saint Louis, MO—Concordia Publishing House (CPH) has added a Research and Development (R&D) team to its Editorial division. The newly formed Emergent Products Department is focused on developing technology and Web-based products and services for use in Christian churches, schools, and homes.
“Our 140-year history demonstrates Concordia’s value for product innovation,” says Dr. Bruce G. Kintz, President and Chief Executive Officer at the company. “With incredible change occurring across the publishing industry and within mainline religious church bodies, we must be intentional about developing products and services that are driven by technology to meet the range of usual and emerging needs of our customers.” The R&D approach is familiar for Kintz, whose professional background includes executive leadership in the aerospace industry. “This team has been charged with keeping one-step ahead of trends and technology, and will take innovative ideas to a development-ready state. Then, they pass them along to our developing editors and marketers, and start working on the next new thing.”
Among the projects in development, the Emergent Products team will design innovative tools for Christian curriculum and Bible resources that will complement more traditional resources with technology-driven applications.

Searching the blogosphere

2009-05-18T20:13:00.003-05:00

Over the weekend I spent some time searching the blogosphere; dropping in on random blogs and reading.

I was touched by the personal reflections some people post. There are hurts and struggles that are hard to imagine. Amid some of these are deep discussions about religion, God and faith. People write about their personal view of God, their struggles and victories with their beliefs and ask a lot of questions and comments about the Church.

Sometimes as I read, I found myself annoyed by the writer, and other times frustrated with the church for having treated someone badly. Mostly, I sensed the longing people have for a spiritual relationship that will speak to their life reality. On one blog I left a comment pointing the writer to www.whatyoubelieve.com because I knew she could find answers to her questions on her own terms.

I've often expressed the opinion that the church needs an Internet chaplain, someone who can be available, provide loving responses and build relationships with bloggers, tweeters and anyone else online. Blogs tend to attract like-minded contributors, so someone posting faith questions is likely to have their doubts and beliefs reinforced. What if there were some loving, patient, Christ-centred responses?

Is anyone taking up the challenge?

Faith-book

2009-05-12T19:12:00.003-05:00

A lot has been written and reported about Facebook. Some say it’s on the decline, while others lament that the old folks are taking over.

I’ve spent some time on here, as well as in discussion with others trying to figure out the role of Facebook in the life of the church as well as in outreach.

Tonight, I was talking to a pastor who was strongly encouraged to join Facebook. He really didn’t want to, but did it anyway. He didn’t write much of a profile because he honestly didn’t know why he was bothering. But the Lord knew.

Within days, a couple of old friends found him and upon discovering he was a pastor began asking him questions about God and the Christian faith. The next week, some members of his church who hadn’t been around much contacted him and struck up an ongoing conversation. He told me he doesn’t have to post anything because people are coming to him with questions.

He serves in an isolated part of Canada, from a Lutheran perspective. There are people around who want to be part of a Bible study but the travel time is impossible. The pastor’s solution? Skype Bible studies. Every week the pastor and six others use the Skype conference call feature to study God’s Word. His only complaint is that the program doesn’t allow for conference video calls. (If someone knows how to do that, please let me know!)

We can never imagine the many ways the Lord can use the digital technology. We just have to be ready to follow His lead.

What would Jesus Tweet?

2009-05-06T14:58:00.001-05:00

One of my Facebook friends commented on the Twitter in Church story, writing on my wall: “Sometimes you have to wonder what God thinks of all this. Jesus preached in the open, no mike, no power point, just Him and the people.”

The question could easily be “Would Jesus use PowerPoint?” But more appropriate is “How does PowerPoint or any technology serve the Gospel?”

Many of us have suffered through what can only be described as ‘death by PowerPoint’ —presentations with paragraphs of tiny text or pie charts with miniature labels and presenters who proceed to read everything on the screen. Would Jesus do that? I don’t think so. Why would the Creator of the universe do something so un-creative.

However, if He used the medium, he would use it to illustrate His teaching with pictures. “Consider the lilies of the fields.” I like to think that when He spoke those words there were flowers nearby.

Or “A sower went out to sow.” Can’t you see the picture of a green tractor pulling a hopper full of seed, followed by close-ups of seed falling on rocks, fertile soil and the road?

Jesus used illustrations vivid in the minds of His listeners. The only record we have of Him writing anything is when He faced the accusers of the woman caught in adultery. What He wrote in the sand, we’ll never know. But His action likely reinforced the message.

PowerPoint, Twitter, Facebook and all the digital delights are simply tools. They help deliver the message. Look carefully at how Jesus worked and it becomes obvious that His goal was to build relationships with sinners, in other words everyone who, unlike the self-righteous Pharisees, understood their alienation from God.

There is an interesting discussion about homosexuality currently at www.geneveith.com . The gist of the discussion is that no sin is greater than another. They are all despicable to God—whether gossip, adultery, homosexual activity, lying, cheating or stealing. There is no hierarchy of sin.

Jesus used whatever tool available to Him to reach out to everyone with the message of God’s judgment and God’s mercy. Turning over the money-changer’s tables in the Temple court was a dramatic illustration. Calling a man out of a tree—and a sinner too— likely drew attention to His message. More dramatic, and eternally lasting, was His suffering, death and resurrection for the sins of the world—my sins and your sins— so that we could have a living relationship with God.

“God loves you” is a wonderful tweet. “I want to tell you about God’s love, my friend” is even better.

Lutheran publisher gets digital

2009-05-05T16:05:00.002-05:00

Many denominational publishing companies are finding it hard to stay afloat. CPH is trying to keep up with what's happening on line. This release came today:

Digital music downloads from Concordia Publishing House (CPH) are now available for purchase at iTunes, Amazon, and other select digital music stores. The publishing company produces an extensive catalog of instrumental arrangements, choral groups, and hymns, as well as children’s music suitable for Christian ministry settings.

Find, preview, and purchase CPH-published music by searching for “Concordia Publishing House” on the iTunes Store, Amazon MP3, or preferred major digital music store. Eight titles are currently available, and the company says there are “more to come.”

Songbirds or Tweets?

2009-05-05T15:55:00.003-05:00

Here's the latest wrinkle in the ongoing Twitter story: tweeting in church! Time Magazine thought it was worth covering at http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1895463,00.html

So would this be beneficial or a distraction? I follow @imaginechurch on Twitter and read a play-by-play of what's going on every Sunday.

Knowing some tweeters, my fear would be an ongoing discussion about the choir's latest offering or the acolyte's shoes.

What do you think? To tweet or not to tweet during church?

Timely reprint

2009-05-01T11:55:00.001-05:00

Eleven years ago, an article in The Canadian Lutheran dealt with parents and planting seeds of faith. The interdenominational website www.christianity.ca decided to republish it today! Here's the link http://www.christianity.ca/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=6650

Facebook and nurturing?

2009-04-28T21:15:00.002-05:00

I like the idea of intentionality regarding involvement of parents in confirmation. We easily become hung-up (and perhaps it's a good thing) on 'laying down the law.' But I don't think it is asking too much of parents to understand that placing a child in a confirmation class comes with expectations, one of which is that the child and family become actively involved in the worship life of the congregation.

However, the idea that worship is important is something a person has to grasp before becoming parents. And so we enter a chicken and egg argument. If teens are nurtured spiritually and socially in a caring community of faith, then there is a better chance they will bring that to bear on their parenting.

To bring the blog back on topic, I have to then ask how do we use social media as a nurturing vehicle? Can we keep connections warm online with the goal being a regular physical presence at church at some point ? We know that an app like Facebook crosses generational lines, albeit for differing reasons. What would something like that look like?

The current mindset has little time for 'institutions.' Is it possible for a church, as an institution to bring together a community online. Or does it all boil down to one-to-one relationships in which the love of Christ shines through? I believe those kind of relationships are much more important in a social network community, and I've seen it happen on my own Facebook wall.

In any endeavour, we have to remember that those whom the Lord has called His own through baptism are still part of the family–some more active than others. We aren't called to do 'programs,' we are called to live our life in Christ so that all we do and say will bring glory to Him. How the Holy Spirit uses us is not our concern, but shouldn't we be willing to use whatever means we have at hand to build relationships for the sake of the Gospel?

The post-confirmation conundrum

2009-04-28T00:31:00.002-05:00

Some great comments. Thanks for taking part in the discussion.

Obviously the demographic of the pastor or instructor is important. But surprisingly, if given a digital solution, some will try it.The reason I suggested text messaging is because current research (and this could change tomorrow) indicates that Twitter and Facebook are now skewing older. Teens or young adults are no longer the only 'early adapters'.

I think part of the solution is building a real community and certainly social media can have an influence on that.There was a time, maybe two or three generations ago when social life revolved around the church. And so a young person was confirmed with peers with whom they had grown up. Now, so many are 'dropped' into confirmation with no real connection to the community of faith. So it's just as easy for them to drop out.

Music or style of service may have something to do with hanging around, but most of the 'contemporary' congregational song is keeping the Baby Boomers happy and bears little resemblance to what the teens listen to. We talked to some teens a few years back and their reaction to the music question was that if they want 'contemporary music' they'll download it or go to a concert.

How can the church help parents understand that the Christian faith is not based on baptism, confirmation, marriage and funerals and that it is not something 'done' but something you are because of what God has done? There are some who suggest that the early teen years is not the best time for them to tackle faith issues because they are too busy finding out who they are. I know I learned a lot of my basic Bible knowledge in a basement after-school Bible study before I was 12 and it's stuck with me.

How do we engage teens (and adults) where they are rather than expecting them to show up at church?

I know it's important for them to attend church to receive the God's gifts of His Word and Sacraments, but how do we begin the conversation.

Digital rites

2009-04-26T14:01:00.001-05:00

Today was Confirmation Sunday at our church. Four young men and women, and one adult, confessed their Christian faith before the congregation and took their first communion. Proud parents, grandparents, families and friends crowded the pews to witness this special rite of passage.

As I looked at the four teens, probably around 14 years old, I recognized one immediately. She’s always in church with her family. The others I knew because they are on the rotation to serve as acolytes. You don’t often see them in church if they don’t have to be there.

Many churches lament what is known as the “post-confirmation drop-out.” The teens and often their parents, make sure they are “done” and that’s it. Pictures of confirmands of years past adorn church walls and, if anyone looks at them they ask “who is that?” or “whatever happened to her?”

This morning my mind wandered. The sermon was great, but I was thinking about how congregations can keep in touch with confirmands after their big day. I assumed most of them if not all have cell phones. That means they are likely into text messaging. Could a congregation assign a young adult, or youth leader to be a text-message mentor? I’m not talking about texting a Bible verse every day, but maybe a couple of times a week checking in, letting them know someone has noticed them and cares for them in Christ.

I even thought about a text message game/exercise that could be passed around a confirmation class during the week. The teacher texts “I believe in God the Father Almighty” to one class member. He or she then texts to another member “maker of heaven and earth”…and so on until the class has worked through the Apostles’ Creed. You could do something similar with any part of the catechism. Not only would it help memorization, but it puts the Christian faith right into the daily life of the teen…exactly where it should be.

You could do the same with e-mail, but it would need to be with adult confirmands because today’s teens don’t use e-mail. “It’s so yesterday. My parents use it.”

Thinking digital first for confirmation, do you have any more ideas to share?

Huh?

2009-04-23T09:44:00.001-05:00

Did you ever see a commercial on TV and after it was over wondered what it was all about? It’s a strange sensation. You sit there looking blankly at the screen asking yourself “What were they thinking?”

I have to admit that, as someone past the half-century mark, I don’t ‘get’ those commercials because they weren’t aimed at me. The target audience was younger, more attuned to the messages and the vehicles used to communicate them. I’m sure younger people don’t understand the commercials aimed at my generation.

In the course of a recent discussion about outreach, I commented that it’s difficult for Christians to think like non-Christians because our faith is so inextricably woven into who we are. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to what people outside the church are saying, thinking and doing. A good communicator knows the audience with whom he or she is trying to communicate.

The Christian faith vocabulary is blessed with words rich in meaning—sin, salvation, redemption, confession, absolution, Word and Sacraments—which have little relevance to those outside the faith.

Unfortunately, sometimes those within the Christian community don’t get it when an outreach effort uses words, images or techniques that engage a non-Christian. But, remember, the message isn’t aimed at the saints..

As I recall, Jesus didn’t endear himself to the religious community. Like a doctor who doesn’t need to heal the healthy, His message was aimed at the spiritually sick.

If the Church—if we —are to communicate effectively outside our four walls—in whatever medium—we need to use language, images, ideas and techniques that effectively communicate the simplicity of the Gospel message with those whom the Lord wants to seek and to save: the lost!

Lutheran media agency in transition

2009-04-22T09:51:00.002-05:00

Okay….so I haven’t blogged in a bit. Sorry. It’s been a busy month. My son and I had a great time in St. Louis last week talking to the good folks at Lutheran Hour Ministries about social media.

The organization, with roots in broadcast and ‘old media’ is beginning to engage a new audience with social media. They are starting to use YouTube, blogs and Facebook to work alongside existing programs like The Lutheran Hour and Woman-to-Woman. The latest product, The Men’s NetWork is totally web-based and taking off like wild-fire.

Take a look at the links, leave comments and help this fine outreach organization as it works to Think Digital First.

Good news from the cemetery

2009-04-07T23:31:00.003-05:00

Martin Luther took the Bible to the people when he translated God's Word into German. With reports that Canadian teens are becoming more atheistic, it's time to take God's Good News of Easter to the public....and what better place than Youtube. Check out the video and share the link with everyone on your mailing list. Here's where you find it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iM_4niqVeU

More than 100 people viewed in the first hour!

Church and advertising

2009-03-31T10:46:00.000-05:00

CBC’s Terry O’Reilly marches you boldly where the angels of marketing fear to tread: he looks at the delicate, always-controversial relationship between faith and advertising. The program includes looking into the controversy surrounding recent bus ads, which read “There Probably Is No God. So Stop Worrying and Enjoy Your Life.” And he explains why not all people of faith embrace the marketing tactics popular in some of today’s churches. Listen to the program and leave a comment on the blog.

How will you answer?

2009-03-29T15:59:00.001-05:00

Just because you don’t do something doesn’t mean everyone else is the same. That’s the reaction I sometimes encounter when I talk about online activity. People assume everyone else uses the Internet just like them…which may mean not at all.

It makes for a lot of extra work for me: finding the statistics to build a case; citing examples; and assuring people that the Internet is not a fad but is here to stay and if you don’t ‘get with it’ you will find yourself left behind.

Especially in the church, there seems a skepticism among some about the whole Internet thing. This is easily explained by a lack of understanding among an older age group. I wonder if there was a similar reaction with telephone, radio and television?

Unfortunately, the stories people read about misuse of the Internet tend to colour their perception. Yes, there is pornography online. It’s also been on the news stands for years, but that doesn’t stop you from buying Good Housekeeping. Yes, there may be security issues buying something online, but handing our credit card to an 18-year-old server in a restaurant and losing site of it as she takes it out back to run through doesn’t bother us. Anyone can find any number of excuses to dismiss the Internet, but few hold water. Even senior residences have computer rooms for people to check their e-mail from children and grandchildren.

It’s a matter of the will. Either you want to take advantage of all the opportunities being online offers or you don’t. If Christians choose to ignore it, then I have a suspicion the Lord will one day ask “Why didn’t you use everything the Internet had to offer to share the good news of My Son?”

Did you know

2009-03-22T22:55:00.003-05:00

We all know things are changing faster than we can keep up, especially in technology. Here's a YouTube video that puts things in perspective.

By the numbers

2009-03-18T09:36:00.002-05:00

I came across some interesting statistics about social media. They are about six weeks old, which means the Twitter stats are out of date. Twitter has experienced 1320% growth in the last year and is growing. Here is the stats link.

BTW, if you want to follow me on Twitter my ID is IanAdnams. If you want to follow Lutheran Church–Canada it's LCCInfotweet.

Exercise...it's good for you!

2009-03-17T09:21:00.003-05:00

I subscribe to a feed from mashable.com about social media . This morning it included this link which is about creating social media marketing plans.

Here's the exercise: how do you take this information and translate it into Christian outreach for your congregation or organization? Leave your comments and let's share some ideas.

So close and yet so far

2009-03-14T17:13:00.000-05:00

The growth of online connectivity has provided new ways to work. For two years, my job was in Winnipeg but 50 percent of the time I lived in Edmonton, some 1200 km away. But using e-mail, a virtual private network (VPN) connection, MSN Messenger (with video) and call notification my home office was instantly part of the head office in Winnipeg. Most of the time, people contacting me were never aware of my exact location. It was virtually seamless. That was four years ago.

Last weekend, a Board of Directors committee member and staff representative attended the Winnipeg meeting by Skype. At one point it was a video Skype call where the staff member in Nicaragua and the committee members could see each other.
The ability to telecommute or work from a home office also has a downside. You miss the camaraderie and interaction with fellow staff members. This is even more pronounced for people who work for themselves.

Three friends of mine have solved this problem. One is in North Carolina, and two own a video production company in Dallas. A couple of times a month, they have “lunch on line.” They gather through Skype and spend the lunch hour discussing whatever comes to mind as if they were sitting across from each other at the lunch table, which they often did when they worked for the same organization. Their businesses are complementary and often serve similar clients. It’s a great opportunity to bounce ideas around and share concerns and challenges.

I’ve been invited to join the next lunch. So there will be four of us, who used to share a physical lunch table 15 years ago, meeting at a virtual lunch table. Friendship across the miles takes on a whole new dimension!

Ask and you may receive...but at least ask!

2009-03-08T14:24:00.000-05:00

With e-mail almost as common as the cold, I am amazed that asking for an e-mail address has to be encouraged as a “think digital first” issue.

A church recently updated the way it keeps track of visitors. It designed and printed hundreds of cards asking visitors for a name, address and telephone number. And that was it! Someone at the design stage may have asked the question about adding an e-mail address and perhaps received the response: “People don’t like to give their email address.” That may be the case, but at least give them the option!

E-mail is one of the best and least threatening ways to keep engaging people. It’s less intrusive than a telephone call or personal visit and it gives a person control over the contact.

When I saw the card, my initial reaction was “someone didn’t think digital first.”

Hello world!

2009-02-26T07:56:00.001-06:00

Currently I am traveling in Southeast Asia. When I was here in 2005, just after the tsunami to assess the need and recommend relief efforts, my Blackberry didn’t fully function. I could detect a simple signal, but it didn’t allow me to do anything. This time I stepped off the plane in Bangkok and immediately received a network connection at the same level of service I have in North America.

Imagine my surprise when I arrived in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and the same thing happened. I shouldn’t have been so shocked because a year ago, when I was in Nicaragua, not only was the service level the same, so was the carrier—a Canadian company! This is a digital world! Even in the rural areas of Cambodia where we traveled, I was never without a cell phone signal

The young pastor who traveled with us in Cambodia had his trusty Nokia cell phone with him, complete with GPS. His next investment will be an iPhone so he can also receive e-mail when he is on the road. He’s also on Facebook and I’m sure other social media connections won’t be far behind.

Throughout this trip, I’ve kept in touch with my wife in Winnipeg via Blackberry chat. The interesting part of the connection is that we are 13 hours apart. When I’m getting up for a new day, she is heading to bed!

The world has changed. As I write, I am sitting on an outside porch in Kao Lak, Thailand connected to the Internet through a wireless connection to my laptop.

The Lord has given us this tremendous technology to connect with the world. I’m looking forward to introducing my new Cambodian pastor friend to some of my pastor friends on Facebook.

Is it real?

2009-02-18T11:44:00.003-06:00

Even the bad guys think digital first.

Over the years I’ve received all kinds of e-mail petitions. Some have asked me to protest the US Federal Communications Commission because it was threatening to take religious broadcasting off the air; or something of a similar nature about renowned atheist Madelyn Murray O’Hare (even after she died!). This week it was an alleged film Corpus Christi that is supposed to be released this summer. The e-mail said the film portrays Jesus and his disciples as being gay and suggested all Christians should protest.

All it takes is a quick look at www.hoaxbusters.org and you soon discover none of this is true. Even Googling the title gives you sites that say this hoax first surfaced more than 20 years ago. Here is a history of the hoax.

This is the same kind of hoax as Proctor and Gamble begin accused of using satanic symbols on its products. P&G had to hire full-time staff just to diffuse the issue!

When you discover a digital hoax, don’t resend the e-mail. Instead, reply with a link to the source of the real information.

Christians have enough work to tackle real enemies without trying to battle fake ones!

Online support

2009-02-15T15:41:00.003-06:00

As the recession makes an impact in parts of Canada and the US, social media sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook are seeing an increase in subscribers.

LinkedIn creates important networks for professionals and so job searches among those who are also members is becoming important.

The current economic situation give us all the opportunity to provide encouragement and support to those who are facing unemployment and the family pressures that often accompany.

In a think digital first world, there are e-cards, Facebook walls, and inexpensive Skype calls we can all use.

What other ways can we provide support digitally?

Digital media explained

2009-02-13T23:13:00.004-06:00

A good explanation of the world of digital media.

Tweeters mobilized

2009-02-13T09:10:00.001-06:00

A lot of people have talked about whether social media creates real communities. It all depends on your definition of community. We digital immigrants tend to understand community as physical interaction with those who share our values and beliefs. That’s our common bond. But can that definition be applied to an online ‘community.”

Last night thousands of Twitter users physically gathered in more than 175 Twestival communities around the world to raise money for charity:water, a development organization that provides communities with fresh water. The entire operation, the idea of a Canadian woman, was handled by volunteers, organized on line and executed locally.

There are so many layers as to why this worked. Not only was it a unique approach, but it identified a unifying cause, motivated the mostly younger demographic on Twitter, provided a tangible, defined project they could support in a short time period (one night).

What are some lessons the church can learn from this?

Fun on Facebook

2009-02-03T12:36:00.004-06:00

It’s amazing how an offhand comment can stir creative juices and bring people together.
The other day as we were preparing for a vacation in a climate a good deal warmer than Winnipeg I announced to the world on Facebook we were heading for warmer weather. My exact words were : Ian is looking forward to warmer weather for a week (could I find more alliteration??)

My Facebook friends took the alliteration reference as a challeng and so ensued some very funny, clever and witty responses. The cool thing was that two of the most active were thousands of miles apart and don’t know each other. One is in Dallas, Texas, the other in Halifax, Nova Scotia. (See the exchange on my Facebook wall...scroll down)

In days since, the interchange between these two has continued courtesy of my Facebook wall.

This is the beauty of the social media. In all, my simple reference to alliteration prompted 21 comments. A record for my page.

When I posted a comment about the Superbowl announcers using the word ‘alacrity’ a friend in Bahrain responded with a comment.

Communication without geo-political borders is amazing. It has opened a new real-time engagement within which one can establish and re-establish relationships.

Yesterday, I posted a request for prayer as my mother undergoes surgery for an intestinal problem. I received three acknowledgements, but I know many more of my friends will remember her and the surgeons in their prayers.

For me, that is community.

Considering the answer

2009-01-27T20:38:00.002-06:00

Sometimes thinking digital first provides the wrong answer to a good question. One church was discussing spending a few thousand dollars installing a video projection system to project various parts of the service. This was not unusual. I know congregations which have gone that route for some very good reasons. One found the large projection helped a number of members suffering from macular degeneration more easily see the words. Another wanted to use visuals to illustrate the sermons. The weight and expense of the hymnbook led another to a digital solution.
In this case, when I heard the plan for video projection I asked ‘why?’ The answer astonished me. “Because the lights in the sanctuary aren’t bright enough and people have difficulty reading the hymnal.” Had no one thought of just replacing the light bulbs?

Often people don’t ask the right questions before embarking on a digital solution. In many traditionally built churches, screen placement is a major issue. If it’s in the centre it covers the cross. One congregation solved that problem by simply projecting an image of the cross on the screen and using it as a watermark behind the projected material.

There is an assumption that operating the video feed to the screen is simple. It may only be a matter of hitting a key to change the slide, but the timing of the slide change is critically important. Mistimed changes interfere with the flow of hymns or the rhythm of congregational participation. The operator needs to rehearse as much as an organist does. Both are part of leading a congregation in worship.

The true value with projection is not words but images. A well-illustrated reading from the Bible or sermon adds to the overall communication. But like choosing the best music, making decisions about visuals is just as important.

A digital solution is not always the easiest. Deciding to go that route must entail asking all the right questions and understanding the consequences…whether it involves simply setting up a website or video in worship.

What did he say?

2009-01-25T14:42:00.002-06:00

Just when you think you have all the answers, someone changes the questions. That's the way I'm feeling about social media. As the various tools develop, different types of people, businesses and organizations become involved providing new ideas and insight. You know the field is drifting toward mainstream when you begin seeing research papers published.
For those interested in social media, Twitter becomes a feeding frenzy. Everyday, I see links to new research, new ideas or the latest developments. I'm following Socialmedia411 on Twitter. There is no website that I could find associated with the address, but it's good stuff.

Over the past week as I was conducting communication consultations I received a much-needed reality check. It was like a dog on a leash running too far ahead and being jerked back. I realized how easy it would be to speak for several minutes about social media and have no one understand a word I said. I guess at this point my role is to show what's happening, what is possible and lead by example as much as I can, while still having me feet firmly planted in the reality of old media.

Watch and learn

2009-01-20T21:19:00.002-06:00

The inauguration of President Obama may have heralded more than an administration change in the US. If you followed both the primary and presidential campaigns, you know that Obama enlisted support at the grass roots level by using e-mail and websites. Obviously, those surrounding him understand the power of grass roots digital communication. The issue surrounding the need for him to give up his Blackberry is more than just a security. Having access to a Blackberry and the instant communication it symbolizes is part of the image built during the campaign. He and his team know how important it is to maintain accessibility.

Digital communication is the great equalizer. On Twitter, for example, I can respond to Tweets from national media such as CNN, CBC or The National Post. The “letter to the editor” is no longer on a piece of paper or in an e-mail. It is a 140-character direct response to the author and others following the Twitter feed. It provides immediate feedback.

During the next four years, it will be interesting to watch how the White House uses the new social media. With more than a million and a half e-mail address and more than a million Facebook followers, the administration has the opportunity to take its case directly to the people, bypassing any potential media bias and even political opponents. I am certain we will hear how constituents receiving the White House information put pressure on their members of congress and senators based on the un-“media”-ted information they receive.

Apart from the political potential, the social media may become a source of building activist communities comprised of people who want to be part of the promised change.

The next thing to watch is how text messaging becomes part of the communication mix.

Watch, listen, learn, adapt and adopt that which works!

Variety is the spice of communication

2009-01-19T14:23:00.001-06:00

Over the past weekend I received another reminder about how important in any organization that thinking digitally has to be one of many communication options. Most of the people with whom I met were over 60, many over 70 years old. As a group they were struggling with communication issues. I made my pitch and kept reiterating the need to consider seriously the new world of social media. They politely listened and understood, then returned to their discussion about old media.

In some ways I am reacting with enthusiasm to social media because it is new for me, and yet has such a huge potential. I also understand that the old one-way media are in a struggle for survival as younger generations draw their entertainment, information and interaction from new sources on their own terms.

The thing is, unless we learn how to access and use the new media, we miss the opportunity for engaging a broader audience. We will only reach those who have a greater comfort level with radio, TV, print and Web 1 communication. I’m not saying stop communicating that way, but create a mix of communication vehicles that will reach the widest greatest number of people.

The penny drops

2009-01-14T09:49:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I participated in a webinar presented by Ovrdrv.com. and, thanks to the clear explanations and examples finally grasped what social media is all about.

Now, I knew it was about connecting with old friends etc, but I had my doubts about how corporations and institutions could work in social media because of its people-to-people focus. My assumptions were wrong. The presenter, Harry Gold kept using phrases like “making lasting connections,” “making friends,” and “opening dialogue.”

The process of using social media is based on the notion of “weaving” the network using the various applications and online venues available. For example a YouTube video points people to Facebook or MySpace which points people to a corporate website which features links to YouTube, Facebook ….and so on. To see all the potential threads, check out this Social Media map.

The cool thing is that there is no immediate need for capital investment because the sites are free. However, like every website, there has to be ongoing maintenance. I’ve heard this called “seeding and feeding.”

I’m still digesting and working through how this can all work but I’m excited about the possibilities on a lot of different levels. I’ve recommended the webinar to some other people with whom I have contact and am looking forward to some productive discussion.

Saving trees

2009-01-12T12:54:00.004-06:00

While I've always been concerned about whether I focus too much on digital communication and the Internet, some surfing today calmed any fears I have.

According to data at Internetworldstats.com, more than 84% of Canadians use the Internet. In a country of 33 million, 28 million of us are Internet users. That doesn't mean we're all comfortable or competent, but the level of usage ranks Canada at #6 in the world (US is #13, about 12 percentage points below Canada.)

Those who "don't go online" will soon find themselves quickly out of the loop. Another report today said that the Los Angeles Times' "revenue is now sufficient to cover the Times's entire editorial payroll, print and online." This is a monumental statement and it demonstrates how readership is slowly but surely moving from print to online, especially when it comes to news. Not only that, but advertisers, the driving force behind all private communication enterprises, believe the online news is delivering a viable audience.

From a church communications perspective, we've always believed "if it's in their hands, they will read it." The 21st century axiom is more likely "if it's in their e-mail box, they will read it."
But how many congregations spend hundreds of dollars printing newsletters, bulletin announcements and posters, when all it takes is a compilation of e-mail addresses to do much the same thing?

Ten years ago I was part of a project that encouraged congregations to buy computers. The challenge now is to use them for more than word processing and flyers copied onto paper. It's a lot cheaper online.

Keeping up

2009-01-11T15:32:00.003-06:00

A terrific source of information about the new media is the old media, in this case radio (which I listen to on my iPod at a time convenient for me!).

SPARK is produced by CBC and doesn't focus a lot of time on gadgets but rather on meaning; How does the new media affect people; what is the impact on today's society etc. It's available as a download or as a free Podcast through iTunes.

Another program which explores similar issues but from an international perspective is Digital Planet from the BBC. What I enjoy about the program is learning how far behind we are in North America when it comes to using some of the new media, especially cell phone communication.

It's not easy to keep up with digital developments, but these two programs sure help. If you have others I should know about, let me know in the comments.

Don't over-think it

2009-01-09T11:42:00.001-06:00

I had an interesting conversation with a younger adult about Facebook. My focus was trying to understand what drives people to Facebook and other social networking sites. What needs does it fulfill? What were the underlying social reasons for joining? etc.
I gave her my observations about Facebook being different depending on your generation. For me (a Baby Boomer), I’ve connected with friends I’d not had any contact with since high school. My sons and their peers use it to keep in contact with current friends around the world, sharing things like instant cell phone camera pictures. For those still in their teens, it’s often an ongoing diary of their emotional roller-coaster.

The young person patiently listened to my analysis and then said “That’s the problem with your generation. You are always trying to analyze. We use Facebook because it’s there!”

Message received!

Understandable

2009-01-07T15:45:00.000-06:00

One of the major differences between the first generation web communication (Web 1) and what’s happening now (Web 2.0) is collaboration and full interactivity.

The Web 1 model was like a library. For the most part, you would access the information, digest it, and move on. While many websites still continue that approach, the Web 2.0 model engages the consumer, encourages feedback—even input—thereby enticing people to keep returning to the site. In Web 1 you designed a site for “take away” value and a reason for people to return. In Web 2.0, this opportunity for full interaction is more like “y’all come back” value.

Historically, the church (and for that matter corporate) communication model is very much Web 1. “We talk, you listen.”

And here lies a potential difficulty. Younger church members expect some kind of engagement because that is the very nature of their world. (Schools wrestle with this all the time, dangerously clinging to a teaching methodology deeply rooted in the 20th if not 19th century!)

Some churches address this through an entertainment approach. But a lot of younger members will tell you they don’t want their entertainment in church. They are looking for real, honest, engagement with their faith.

In our Lutheran tradition, the reality comes through the real presence of Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar, the forgiveness of sins and the power of God’s Word. These things don’t change. In our worship, God speaks through His Word and we respond by speaking back his word through liturgy and often congregational song.

We also have to understand that it’s not just the younger generation who are looking for engagement with their faith. We who make up almost 1/3 of the Canadian population, the Baby Boomers, are a growing part of the new media world and the mind-set it generates.

Like the climate, culture is not static. But like a rock, the pure message of the Gospel doesn’t change. Jesus spoke to His culture using word images and words to which people could relate. We are called to do the same.

More than gadgets

2009-01-04T12:23:00.000-06:00

So often the discussion about digital media centres around the latest gadgets and software. I'm sure when the telephone first came onto the scene there was similar discussion. (I know there was when the fax machine first entered common use.)

But the current new technology is affecting lives. The digital media is used by real people. The gadgets and software are simply a means to an end.

I remember in 1996 when Hurricane Mitch devastated Nicaragua how thankful we were that we still had fax communication with the mission in Chinandega. The technology allowed us to tell the story across the country and mobilize a relief effort that changed, and continues to change lives in Nicaragua.

Home video on the Internet brought the December 26, 2004 tsunami into living rooms and onto computer screens around the world. Again, the digital communication made possible an unprecedented global response.

In North America we have a legacy communication infrastructure of wired telephones, cabled TVs and hardcopy newspapers. In other parts of the world which do not have these remnants of a past century's technological innovation, the digital world is the primary communication mode. Things we are just discovering are already the norm!

Lutheran Hour Ministries in Hong Kong has used text messaging for years to attract people to a Gospel message—a message that changes lives.

The new social media and digital technology connects people and builds relationships. Within those relationships our Facebook friends, fellow tweeters on Twitter, and MySpace buddies can learn who we are and how our faith affects our life. That's a lot more than gadgets can do!

In their hands

2009-01-03T11:58:00.000-06:00

I heard an interesting piece on a radio show (I know...old media) about a school teacher experimenting with using cellphones and PDAs in the classroom. Instead of asking the students to turn them off, he integrated the devices into his lesson plan.

Recently, I downloaded a Bible program to my iTouch. This isn't news because digital versions of the Bible have been available for years. The cool thing about this program is the scheduled daily readings that will guide me through the Bible in a year.

Put together these first two paragraphs and put them into a youth group or even adult Bible study context. Students don't need to carry around a heavy Bible when they can have God's Word in the the palms of their hands.

On paper

2008-12-31T13:13:00.000-06:00

Despite the growing number of people with a GPS, sometimes you still need paper to navigate.
Here's a link that helps you navigate the various social media available.
It was produced by a company that specializes in helping organizations use this growing media option.

Have a blessed New Year and an exciting and innovative 2009!

Burdens and potential

2008-12-30T20:24:00.000-06:00

The great cartoonist and philosopher Charles Schultz of "Peanuts" fame made an insightful statement through his character Charlie Brown. It's one I have never forgotten because it rings so true: "There is no heavier burden than a great potential."

Over the Christmas break my wife, two mid-twenties sons and I have engaged in some fascinating conversations about social media -- Facebook, Twitter, Digg, MySpace etc. I've also read blogs, online reports and research about the fundamental change that we face with the new media.

I even discovered a blog dedicated to following the demise of newspapers! (Something of great interest to me as an editor of a magazine!)

The potential in the new media climate is enormous. The trick is getting a handle on it before it morphs into something else! That is the burden.

When it came to the printing press, the Church engaged it quickly. With radio there was a quick understanding of its ability to reach a mass audience. TV was a bit different because it took more technology and money.

The Internet and social networking are presenting an entirely new challenge. At the same time, television is undergoing huge change; much of radio is now locked into inpenetrable formats, and newspapers are fighting for their lives as those who want the latest information simply go online or have it delivered by Twitter to their iPhones or Blackberries. The old reliable comfort zones for communication are being stretched.

"Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape."

Creating clicks

2008-12-28T13:44:00.000-06:00

Beginning December 15, we launched a page on the LCC website that invited people to "Light a Candle this Christmas" http://www.lutheranchurch.ca/lightacandle.php and then provided a list of congregations who conducted candlelight services. We advertised the site on Facebook with the phrase "Discover where to light a candle this Christmas because the world needs more light." The ad was seen more than 1.5 million times and created 262 clicks to the website. In addition, we asked the districts to put the link on their websites and we put it on the front page of www.lutheranchurch.ca. Overall, 330 people visited the candlelight page and 50 percent continued to the congregational listings. When congregations let us know the times of their services, we added a red candle to their listing (http://www.lutheranchurch.ca/congregations.php?location=AB)

Our experience shows that .02 percent of those who view the Facebook ad will click on the link.

We're going to try the same approach for Holy Week services and see how it goes.

The cool thing about Facebook ads is you can make them local to your city so they are only seen by those who live there. You don't have to do a national or regional campaign. You can also target age groups and gender.

We'll keep experimenting and let you know what happens.

A lesson from SPAM

2008-12-22T09:24:00.000-06:00

Being on line has its drawbacks. One of them is SPAM. (Remember when that was a luncheon meat?) We recently changed our e-service because a new provider we began using couldn't effectively control the amount of junk mail cluttering our mailboxes.

However, one piece of SPAM arrived today and the subject caught my eye: Instant Fisherman.
I didn't click on the link, but read the sparse advertising copy about a portable fishing device.

Jesus told fishermen/disciples Peter, James and John they would be fishers of men. And so His disciples today are also fishers of men (and women and children).

When I read Instant Fisherman I immediately saw a parallel. When we use today's digital communications to share the good news of the Gospel, we are Instant Fisherman. A text message, Twitter post or e-mail arrive at their destinations almost instantly.

Right now it's far too cold for fishing–even ice fishing. But instant fishing is not climate dependent!

And so this is Christmas

2008-12-20T11:19:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, I ate lunch at Subway. I walked in the door and I was immediately transported back more years than I care to remember. The local junior high school had ended the last day of the semester at noon and it looked like everyone decided to eat lunch together. The Subway resembled a school cafeteria! Animated conversation, good humour and laughter created a lively atmosphere.

As I sat eating my sandwich I watched. One young man sat with his iPod earphones in his ears while engaged in animated conversation. At another table, a couple had their cellphones in hand, fingers flying on the keypad texting (maybe each other!!).

I wondered how many of these young teens would attach any spiritual meaning to Christmas. Did they ever go to Sunday school? Would they attend any kind of Christmas service? Maybe 30 percent at most would belong to families who go to church once a month. Do they attend with mom and dad?

This generation are the children of parents who, for the most part, have abandoned the church. They don't watch much TV or listen to much radio. Their "mass media" is online and their music on their iPods. They choose their music, video and online communities.

Where at one time the church could touch lives through broadcasting - reaching thousands, maybe millions in a single radio or television program, that era is waning.

Jesus and the apostles were known for meeting people on their own turf with simple, relevant messages. The turf is there, how do we connect with a relevant message?

First not only

2008-12-19T09:02:00.000-06:00

If you are like me, you tend to focus on what's new and expend a lot of energy exploring and find out how it works. The danger is becoming so focused on the "new" that you ignore the "old."

That's why I think digital "first", not "only".

Communicators know that understanding the people you want to receive the message is key to anything sticking with them. It's safe to assume that anyone under 40 (although that may be a stretch) is comfortable with digital communication. Those over that age likely have some interaction with e-mail and probably kids who are digital natives. As the age increases there is less likelihood of a digital first mindset until the immigration process begins taking hold.

We can't ignore the fact that a large proportion of those with whom we communicate are still comfortable with an analog message. But that doesn't mean we should ignore the digital because we are unfamiliar with it or challenged by it.

It's also safe to say that many retired people are beginning the digital immigration. My parents began their immigration when my father was 78. He invested in a new computer when he was 85. It's an interesting story. My siblings and I had given them some money for their 50th wedding anniversary, suggesting they take a trip back to England. Instead, they invested in a computer. As a result, my dad began genealogical research and discovered long-lost cousins. He bookmarked news sources so he could keep up-to-date with this interests and also began e-mailing relatives in England and Australia! While he is still going through the digital immigration process, the decision to begin using the computer brought about much more than would have ever happened if they had travelled overseas for two or three weeks.

Seniors are going online. Boomers are cautiously exploring; some actively embracing, but comfort levels still rest with "traditional" media. That's why we have to use the media that best communicates with specific age-groups, tailoring the message to engage the recipient no matter if its digital or analog.

Thinking digitally

2008-12-18T14:54:00.000-06:00

Digital media is exploding. As someone educated in the use of analog media (videotape, audiotape, vinyl records, etc) and used to handling paper, I have had to make a conscious effort to view communications digitally. In addition, working for a church whose founding relied so heavily on the newly-invented printing press to help spread its Reformation message throughout Europe, thinking digitally does not come easily. But we really have no choice.

I love the analogy I once heard about those of us who had to learn about compters and the Internet after our formative years being labelled as "digital immigrants" and those who grew up with computers and Internet as "digital natives."

When immigrants arrive in a new country they face the challenge of learning a new language, local customs, social mores and etiquette. It's the same with digital immigrants. If we are to navigate the dynamic digital communication environment we have to learn the ins and outs of the new digital world — Facebook, Twitter, Google (in all its incarnations), messaging, Youtube. All these are part of the language and nothing is more embarrassing than using a wrong word or term in any "new world" situation.

Immigrants also learn how to "go native" from the natives. The best way to find out what's going on in the digital world is to go there, surf around, read blogs, join Facebook subscribe to Twitter.

And when it comes to making decisions about any communication "think digital first." Those of us in the print oriented world always look for solutions using the media with which we grew up. That doesn't cut it anymore. If we want to keep talking to ourselves, then stick with paper. But you are cutting off a lot of a new audience.

That's the point of this blog. We need to think digital first, not as a second thought or something supplementary. To relate to our world, digital has to be top of mind, not bottom of list.