Especially as it relates to the world of web technology and social media.
A fascinating article was written about the new faces of social media that everyone should take a second to read. The world is changing faster than we can possibly imagine and those that were at the top yesterday are now at the bottom (or at the top in a different industry). People mentioned in this article are:
- Justine Ezarik
- Joe Penna
- Jill Fletcher
- Christopher Poole
- Gary Vaynerchuk
- Jonah Peretti
The Church is subject to the same types of shift in leadership and I feel a new batch of influencers is emerging, one that leverages technology a lot better than the generation before. Does this make them better leaders? Maybe, but maybe not. If success is staying relevant to the needs and communication practices and excelling at them then technology will be a part of that equation.
Chris Huff says
I was talking about this with a church member just the other day. Since coming to the church a year ago, we have significantly increased the amount of media that we use during our services. We always use powerpoint for lyrics (if it’s not in the hymnal) and occasionally powerpoint for sermons. We show a video or two just about every week, many of them made by our youth. It’s important in this process that technology enhances worship and teaching rather than just being used for the cool factor and ultimately just getting in the way.
John Saddington says
agreed. if it takes away stuff you have to be careful about what the impact of that truly is!
Brandon Cox says
Absolutely!
I’m watching this shift happen before my very eyes. The current cultural shift toward a ubiquitous and mobile web is undeniable, and those leaders who harness it will definitely stand a greater chance of their voices being heard. Is this good or bad? I don’t know yet, but I know it’s happening.
Tony Alicea says
It poses another interesting question:
“If we have weaker leaders which leverage technology more efficiently, what kind of influence will they have?”
With the shift in technology everyone potentially has a voice. We as individuals will have a more difficult time sorting through the immense amount of information and using discernment in whose voice we let influence our lives.