Here's a few snapshots of the world we live in.
The president has a message to Iran, so he posts a video on the White House website.
I don't want to watch the game CBS has on my TV, so I pick a different one from their website and watch it on my computer.
We miss last night's episode of ER because we were at a foster parent training, so we just watch it on Hulu the next day.
There is at least as much buzz about the change in Facebook's homepage as there is about the 9% unemployment rate.
There is great freedom. There is immediacy. There is a sense of profound connection to the world. One can find answers to one's questions. One can discover questions that one did not even know were being asked. Plus, it's just pretty darn enjoyable (to continue a theme from last post).
The "if" clause that precedes it all is access to the technology that makes it available. With the technology comes access to the information. With the information comes empowerment.
So shouldn't one of the things the church does be ensuring access to the technology that empowers people? Laptop giveaways? Free internet cafes made available to the community? Technology classes equipping people to use the tools available?
What say you? Anybody already have any kind of ministry like this happening? Good idea?
Sermon for the First Sunday of Lent, Feb. 18, 2024
8 months ago
6 comments:
I know your question is kind of about the church at large, but as I've been thinking about non-itinerant ministry and what that really means, I've considered what it might look like to take the giving component of the tech work I am doing now (I rebuild people's old computers and give them away) and revise my whole model to suit - less of a business and more of a full-time ministry. Instead of just a custom computer shop/repair shop, perhaps a computer store "with a cause," not to be too cliche, but ... I do wonder if that could be an extension of a church in the future? I mean, so many churches have food pantries and clothes closets and disaster relief reserves... I think a tech-ministry is very relevant.
Andy, I have enjoyed rediscovering your blog. Congrats on 500! I would love to reconnect. Shoot me an email so I have your address. matt@ministrytoday.net
OMG People still watch ER?!
hey matt! great to "see" you.
scott, we started watching it however many years ago. we've been on again, off again forever. so we figure since this is the last season, we ought to see how it all ends. i'm hoping for a "st. elsewhere" kind of ending, personally.
I've been thinking about the idea of an internet cafe lately. Perhaps we should talk more next week...
It's a good thing I have work soon, or I'd probably spend more time on this comment than I should.
I struggle with this thought - sure, *my* vision for a church would be give-away laptops and cellphones, internet kiosks, and swipe-giving for my pledge. Everyone hitting the web to download the lenten devotionals, sign up for different small groups, and twittering (tweeting?) information about different things going on.
BUT I need to be aware of the current congregation, and where they are. Are they capable of twittering? Do they WANT to twitter? Would they rather form an impromtu group and go to a food kitchen and work for an afternoon, spending their money on that effort? Do they even read their current emails, let alone flooding them with more about what they can get on the website? How many of them are struggling to hold down two jobs and care for their kids, let alone sacrificing time with them to spend it on a laptop? Pay apportionments, or buy laptops? It really could come down to that question. Does the congregation have a focus on Christianity, or are they merely gathering somewhere on Sunday morning to see friends and catch up on what hat is in style?
Whoops.. time's up.
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