Mobile Ministry Magazine

One of the more difficult conversations to have with people about MMM follows along the tagline:

To educate and edify at the intersection of faith and technology

Within addressing that tag line, I'll get questions from people from several walks of life about how to best integrate mobile technology into ministry and life. And while I don't sit in the areas that many of these people sit in, there are some general aspects towards integrating this technology that can be shared in all areas:

• Christ has to be the center of your use: not meaning that you have to have a Bible trinket or cross on it, but that you are modeling your use after Christ in the same way you would your car, business, or lifestyle.
• The technology has to meet a need, not an itch: easier said that done with the focus of marketing being so pointed at purchasing this or that; but this is another area where once you make a purchase, seek to be content and get the most value out of that piece of hardware/software or service.
• Do not be afraid to challenge yourself: you will be surprised at what you are able to do with many devices and services that might be directly stated in the marketing materials and user manual; refine your basic usage, and then see where aspects of using mobile tech might be a benefit to other areas of your life.
• Finally, be honest about your limitations: if your need says something other than your budget does, walk with your needs; if your use says only 10% of what that device or service does, step down with the device or service to something more fitting. Be aware that many times, 3rd party software, or competing services might offer something simpler and at a better targeted need, even if they aren't what you just read about in a major publication.

The key at integrating anything into one's life is to understand contentment. Sure, its hard to know when to want and when to step back, but this is what we as believers are encouraged to do (Phil 4:11-13). It is by this example that we show that even with the changing technological and economic landscape, that Christ is Lord over this. Then, as in at all intersections, having seeing all the traffic coming and going around us, we can move forward and take others with us.

Labels: contentment, devotion, education, mobile, mobility