Mobile Ministry Magazine

A few articles I have come my way today that I feel are on the leading edges of [mental] groundbreaking and at the same time, chock with enough info to get you spinning for days.

The first article is found via an interview conducted at M-Trends. Yasmine Abbas is interviewed on the subjects of mobile living (neo-nomads) and how mobile tech is changing and will continue to change our ideas of what social interaction really is.

The second article is a bit deeper in thought, and at the same time as far reaching in scope. (Via Smart Mobs, via Putting People First) The subject of using of technology to support religious practices is explored in a research paper by Dr. Genevieve Bell. I haven't read the paper yet, I only got thru teh first few pages and the sites that have linked to it. However, knowing what people are looking for (a relationship with God) and how they are looking for it (thru tech in some respects) and what this means across all religions is a healthy topic to not just digest, but understand for its appropriate applications. The paper is linked via the Putting People First article, but I will not link it here due to some clarity concerning issues of copyright expressed in that article.

The third (and final) article comes from Michael Mace of Mobile Opportunity. Michael Mace worked for Palm and Apple and very much understands the mobile computing space. This artcle written by him is featured at the Rubicon Consulting company (where he is employed) and speaks towards understanding not so much mobile technology, but how it fits within the greater context of the web and what's next to take communication by storm. Its another excellent read, and honestly had me very excited by the time I got finished reading it because I don't know what will happen, only that God's hands are all up in it :)

There is a slew of reading to get thru because of this post, but I can tell you that understanding the effects of tech (mobile, web, history, etc.) will only make you and the ministries that you work with more effective in making sure that it is a solution to an issue, and not just an affulence to a greater problem.

EdIt: I am adding one more item to this list from Wired News speaking about the human touch aspect of technology. Not only a good read, but something to consider when you actually do return communicative acts to another electronically.