One of the concepts that we ping-pong around is the fine line between being obsessed with having and using the latest technology, and barley having sufficient means to execute a media strategy.
On one hand, Church technologists focus too much on technology. We act like we can’t create a rockin’ website because we don’t have the latest version of PhotoShop, or we can’t generate good sound during Sunday morning worship because we need a $10,000 sound board in a 100 member Church.
That’s not healthy.
On the other hand, just as many Church technologists (if not more) have to fight tooth and nail to get a PC rig that isn’t running on Windows XP, and we can only dream of having a sound board with enough aux’s.
I believe the line between these two opposing forces can be found in this statement:
It’s not about keeping up, it’s about being relevant.
According to a 2010 Nielsen survey, wireless usage patterns are changing. Mobile phone users are talking less.
On average, wireless customers use 450 minutes per month, a decline of 77 minutes from 527 in 2009. Customers are using their devices more often for text messaging. The study finds that wireless customers sent/received an average of 39 text messages during an average two-day period. During the course of a month, this equals more than 500 incoming/outgoing text messages.
Smartphones have pushed mobile phone use from talking to computing. There’s less talking, but there’s still communication.
In fact, there’s probably more communication. Texting and emailing reduces the amount of time used for conversation warm-ups and wrap-ups and get straight to the point. Texting and emailing also falls in cracks of time – waiting in line, waiting in traffic – and can be done in multitasking situations – while hanging out in groups, watching television.
There has been a shift in how we communicate. There has been a shift in the preferred communication medium.
If the Church doesn’t shift its communication medium, we fail to communicate, and if we fail to communicate, we fail to be heard.
[Images via Matt Clark & Olgierd Rudak]
Charles Specht says
I agree. Some churches even go so far as to have a problem with technology from the standpoint that a few consider it taboo. They look at projectors and technology and other electronics as if it is robbing God’s glory. What a shame that instead of using technology reverently and relevently, they give it the cold shoulder altogether.
But there are also churches that go to the opposite end of the extreme as well. In those churches, technology does overshadow that reason for meeting, which is worshiping the God who made everything. There is a line between being a slave to technology and a slave to Christ.
Eric Dye says
Yes, yup, Amen. 🙂
Jerrod Burris says
Eric…
You just gave me a kick in the pants….seriously dude…it’s barely 10 AM here….but it’s all good….I’m having some coffee and I’ll get over it. Now I just need to put this new knowledge into practice.
Thanks friend.
Eric Dye says
You’re very welcome friend. It’s awesome to be in this together!
Samuel Sutter says
my think is i always – “ya gotta be talkin’ to real people” – not just hypothetical ones. Real people use technology – just sometimes not the way you think they do or should.
Eric Dye says
Good stuff. I like that. As techs, we think everyone is using it as much as us, when really it’s only a fraction.
ThatGuyKC says
This is dead on. Thank you for sharing.
I think there’s a balance between equipping your people to do their jobs by providing the necessary tools (software, hardware, social media, autonomy, etc), but nothing should get in the way of ministering to and connecting with people.
Eric Dye says
You’re right, balance is key.
Thanks, man.