I Am Second Logo

I don’t wish to spoil this with words…all I have to say is: If you have not seen this campaign, you are missing out.

I believe that the most powerful thing about God’s people are the testimonies they bear regarding what God has done in their lives. It’s powerful to see it on video. It’s even more powerful for those people to be givng their testimony to the church that they have come to be a part of.

I hope this concept is one that finds its way into all of our churches, and into the hearts of the unsaved.

www.iamsecond.com

Loved, I repeat, LOVED the unconference last week. I can think of nothing better than the time I spent there, hearing the discussion between 50+ people over their use of technology for the gospel. What was gained from the time? Here are a few thoughts and links.

First and foremost, I added a host of twitter contacts, so that I can keep track of relevant blog posts and updates in the lives of those who are like-minded in their use of technology.

Secondly, I surfed through and began using a number of new internet applications, integrating Twitter with by blog, utilizing the Twitter search features to expand my network, and finding ample connection to ministry-minded individuals via ROOV.com.

Finally, I had a number of key concepts strike me during our discussions over the use of the internet. Here are the footnotes:

• People share their lives/thoughts/experiences like never before–but they are doing it in the online arena. Where else can you learn about people’s favorite books, see pictures of their adventures, and hear their laments over the toils of life. Sure, they don’t share marriage issues, or personal vices, but following the details of their lives for years can open the door to knowing them well enough to engage them in those more intimate conversations.
• People can connect with others nationally and internationally in ways that are not physically possible, especially in closed countries, and in forming these connections, can facilitate things like Community groups, one-on-one discipleship, Theological Education, and sustaining missions partnerships.
• People in today’s society are intensely mobile (travel a LOT). How do we encourage a depth of discipleship in a world that by default leans toward surface meetings? It seems to necessitate the use of technology.
• We need to look at the portal of the internet through the lens of people’s spiritual gifts and passions. The gift of evangelism can find special expression via the internet…and we need to help guide people with that gift to the right tools.
• How do we define church? We need to come to a conclusion on this issue, then use the definition of church to help us frame what we are doing online.

I am currently having my mind and concept of the internet enlarged by a conversation regarding online church…

This conference is very open to discussion and has an online video broadcast. if you are out there, join us.

Here are a few thoughts so far:
How does our perception of the internet today compare to the church’s perception of rock music one generation ago? Didn’t God allow us to create the internet for his purposes?

What advantages does it present?
Here’s one: Discipleship and Community Building in places that are closed to church gatherings and seminaries.

The Missional God:
There is a strong case to be made for the viewpoint that God’s work in history…through Noah, Abraham, Israel, and the prophets has always been to make people a light to all people for his redeeming purpose. From that perspective, Israel failed in their understanding of that task and recognition of the Messiah, and the task was therefore given to the Gentile nations in the church. If this is an accurate viewpoint, then it begs the question…what will God do when the church gets complacent about being a messenger to the unreached??? Will our complacency usher in the “end times”?

The “true” task of missions: Read the rest of this entry »

Living in an environment where a lot of people are preparing for a career in pastoral ministry, I hear a lot of ambitious plans for the church. I myself have a lot of ambitious ideas for the future of the church…but I have never considered the one I saw on the news recently.

Meet The Strip Church, one ambitious pastor’s ministry to change the lives of visitors to Las Vegas. I personally like it. He has a clear and simple strategy, a proven record of ministry in this context, and a deep love for the lost in this regard.

I wouldn’t recommend the ministry everyone, and I would not pursue it myself, but I recommend that you have a look at the ministry of:

www.stripchurch.com

ABC recently hosted them for an interview which can be viewed here.

You can also view the ministry plan here.