Mobile Ministry Magazine

If there is one thing that I have learned since starting MMM, it is to get a handle on the other literature out there that may be of a great help to understanding and working better within the blogsphere. No, that is not saying that everything can be said or done in a few books, but there is always some wisdom to be gained when one takes a look at what others have done.

When I took a look at the book The Blogging Church, I expected a book that would show the power of blogs to shape and transform the church culture, not a how-to-blog book. I expected a book that would highlight a few notable blogs, and a few not so notable ones; but not really stay with the "large church" example that has only a few implications across the Body. I realized 3 pages in that I should not have expectations with any book, and so continued to read looking for something that would excite, surprise, or show me something that I had not seen before.

I admit, the first half of The Blogging Church was a disappointment because I had these expectations. Then I realized that "I" was not necessarily the target audience (of the first half of the book. While filled with plenty of commentary of the successful attributes of what a blog can do, I came out of the first half of The Blogging Church feeling like someone was trying to sell me a car and had no clue what "I" really needed.

Fortunately, the second half of The Blogging Church was much better than the first. Filled with useful tips from both a technical and spiritual point of view, the second half of The Blogging Church did a lot of restore my confidence in at least referring to it as a starting point for some who would want to look into blogging. However, I came away after reading the entire book what that nagging "so what" question that (in my opinion) should never be had after reading a book of this type.

You see, most of The Blogging Church spoke of blogs as that great line of communication that a church can have and open with their communities, and help to foster and shape aspects of communication that should be there, but for one reason or another are not. The Blogging Church speaks of blogs as this great solution, and less like an aspect of the solution, a tool that builds upon character and the Holy Spirit to reach people effectively. In doing so, you get the big picture of communicating and connecting, but not the scope of where blogging fits in with other church/org communication tools.

I agree with the premise of this book, you can tell the story of your church quite effectively with a blog if you build around it the right foundation. However, I do not see blogs as the main communication station that The Blogging Church seems to make blogging out to be. Its a good part of reaching people, but not so great that we do not piggy back it on top of better communication skills all around.

It's with this summary that I give a three out of four star review to The Blogging Church. Not because chapters 1-8 do not match the quality and effectiveness of chapter 9-16, but because as a whole, the book speaks too much of a tool as the movement, and too little towards how a blog can be a catalyst towards the already established and working vision within any size ministry to share Christ with as many people as would read them.

The Blogging Church can be purchased online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other book retailers.
Read The Blogging Church Blog to find out what else is going on with The Blogging Church and its author.