MMM Interview: Jonathan Richerson
One of the joys of doing MMM is the meeting of many people around the US and world who are using mobile technology as agents within the ministries to enhance their productivity. In what can be a regular feature here (depending on the response), MMM has interviewed Jonathan Richerson of West Haven Baptist Church in Lebanon, TN asking him about how technology has played a role in ministry. Check out the interview below.
1. What is your occupation/ministry?
I am the Pastor of West Haven Baptist Church in Lebanon, TN.
2. When were you first introduced into using computer technology with your ministry?
Around 1997 while at Southern Seminary. The Lockman Foundation gave me my first electronic library of books and Bibles to use on my personal computer. A few years later I purchased the Logos software to study Hebrew and Greek. I regularly use the Bible Navigator software given to use by LifeWay Christian Resources. Another one of my favorites is the Ilumina software from Tyndale House. But I guess Dr. Mark Simpson, the Associate Dean of Innovative Learning at Southern Seminary, was the one who really introduced me to what technology could do for me in ministry. He taught me how to use many of the tools I use today when preparing to preach or teach in the church.
3. Has the change to more Internet technologies helped or hindered your work or the work of your ministry?
The Internet has been a huge help in my ministry. Sermon preparation is just one example. When I am preaching through a book of the Bible I look at several commentaries and at how other preachers applied the text in their sermons. Before the Internet I would have to travel to the library to look through volumes of commentaries. Now I log on to sites like Crosswalk.com or sermoncentral.com to have access to the same information on one screen. It saves lots of time and the electronic illustrations provided by web sites such as these have helped me to apply the message.
4. How do you use mobile technology within your ministry? What gave you the idea to do so?
Any minister will tell you that to be effective you must be able to remember lots of details about your congregation. I have never been able to keep those details straight without writing them down. When I was away from the office my method of memory was little scraps of paper. My desk and pockets were full of little notes. In 1998 my wife bought me my first PDA to help eliminate all of the paper. It was a simple phone directory, calendar and notepad device. That was my first attempt at getting rid of those little pieces of paper. I wound up using the device more as my phone directory while I was away from the office. Once I figured out how to use the little keyboard I realized the benefit of having contacts, maps and information on one device. Now, I will not leave the office with out my PDA.
5. What are some words of advice that you would give another in your position who wants to do the same as you are?
Surround yourself with people who want to help you get to where you believe the Lord wants you to be. Find someone who is doing what you want to do and ask them how they got there. Ask them if they will help you get to where they are. Learn as much as you can about the field before you enter it. And most important for ministry, don’t attempt it if you are not called by God. Every industry needs more Christian witnesses. You do not have to be a preacher or missionary to have an impact on this world for God. If you feel lead to enter ministry have a long talk with your pastor or other fulltime ministry person to make sure God is calling you into ministry.
If you have never used electronic gadgets before I suggest you find someone in your church that is using these tools and ask him/her to tell you about what is available. Before you buy anything I would go to an electronics store and have a sales clerk demonstrate the item. Voice recorders, PDAs and SmartPhones are great but if you do not know how to make them work for you then you are just buying an expensive piece of plastic. Also, you do not have to buy the most expensive item in a product line. Most folks will never use many of the bells and whistles that come on the more expensive models.
6. Do you have any software that you recommend/favorites?
I recently discovered a program called Earthcomber for my PDA. It is an all-in-one location/mapping software program. I use it to map my church members and the hospitals in Nashville. I also use it as my phone directory and information source. The website has a long list of entertainment and places of interest in your area that are preset for download at your request. It is really user friendly and the best map program of its kind. I highly recommend it to all ministers or anyone who is on the road a lot.
Thanks Jonathan for your answers, and let MMM know if you or someone that you know would make a great person to interview for a future MMM interview.
1. What is your occupation/ministry?
I am the Pastor of West Haven Baptist Church in Lebanon, TN.
2. When were you first introduced into using computer technology with your ministry?
Around 1997 while at Southern Seminary. The Lockman Foundation gave me my first electronic library of books and Bibles to use on my personal computer. A few years later I purchased the Logos software to study Hebrew and Greek. I regularly use the Bible Navigator software given to use by LifeWay Christian Resources. Another one of my favorites is the Ilumina software from Tyndale House. But I guess Dr. Mark Simpson, the Associate Dean of Innovative Learning at Southern Seminary, was the one who really introduced me to what technology could do for me in ministry. He taught me how to use many of the tools I use today when preparing to preach or teach in the church.
3. Has the change to more Internet technologies helped or hindered your work or the work of your ministry?
The Internet has been a huge help in my ministry. Sermon preparation is just one example. When I am preaching through a book of the Bible I look at several commentaries and at how other preachers applied the text in their sermons. Before the Internet I would have to travel to the library to look through volumes of commentaries. Now I log on to sites like Crosswalk.com or sermoncentral.com to have access to the same information on one screen. It saves lots of time and the electronic illustrations provided by web sites such as these have helped me to apply the message.
4. How do you use mobile technology within your ministry? What gave you the idea to do so?
Any minister will tell you that to be effective you must be able to remember lots of details about your congregation. I have never been able to keep those details straight without writing them down. When I was away from the office my method of memory was little scraps of paper. My desk and pockets were full of little notes. In 1998 my wife bought me my first PDA to help eliminate all of the paper. It was a simple phone directory, calendar and notepad device. That was my first attempt at getting rid of those little pieces of paper. I wound up using the device more as my phone directory while I was away from the office. Once I figured out how to use the little keyboard I realized the benefit of having contacts, maps and information on one device. Now, I will not leave the office with out my PDA.
5. What are some words of advice that you would give another in your position who wants to do the same as you are?
Surround yourself with people who want to help you get to where you believe the Lord wants you to be. Find someone who is doing what you want to do and ask them how they got there. Ask them if they will help you get to where they are. Learn as much as you can about the field before you enter it. And most important for ministry, don’t attempt it if you are not called by God. Every industry needs more Christian witnesses. You do not have to be a preacher or missionary to have an impact on this world for God. If you feel lead to enter ministry have a long talk with your pastor or other fulltime ministry person to make sure God is calling you into ministry.
If you have never used electronic gadgets before I suggest you find someone in your church that is using these tools and ask him/her to tell you about what is available. Before you buy anything I would go to an electronics store and have a sales clerk demonstrate the item. Voice recorders, PDAs and SmartPhones are great but if you do not know how to make them work for you then you are just buying an expensive piece of plastic. Also, you do not have to buy the most expensive item in a product line. Most folks will never use many of the bells and whistles that come on the more expensive models.
6. Do you have any software that you recommend/favorites?
I recently discovered a program called Earthcomber for my PDA. It is an all-in-one location/mapping software program. I use it to map my church members and the hospitals in Nashville. I also use it as my phone directory and information source. The website has a long list of entertainment and places of interest in your area that are preset for download at your request. It is really user friendly and the best map program of its kind. I highly recommend it to all ministers or anyone who is on the road a lot.
Thanks Jonathan for your answers, and let MMM know if you or someone that you know would make a great person to interview for a future MMM interview.
posted by Antoine @ 12/18/2006 11:30:00 AM
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