I have been thinking a bit more about the aspect of mobile having three layers: devices, services, and experiences. Specifically, I have been looking at experiences as this eventual goal, but kind of missing some of the key elements of experiences.

For example, Starbucks (McDonald’s, Panera, and luxury auto makers) define their existence as something fitting that space in life that is neither home nor work. There are areas of the USA where churches also define their existence within this 3rd space. 

Now, what happens in this space can’t be like work (take for compensation) or home (rest and maturity). Something else happens in this space that fills something needed in our lives. One of the pitches for retail outlets is that they appeal to a space where you can get away and be refreshed without a vacation.

Now, there’s mobile. When we say that we want to use mobile in a ministry context, we are encroaching on this 3rd space to a degree. It could be intentional – the bible application developer ideally wants you to use their application in this 3rd space to refresh and retool. That doesn’t mean that the application isn’t viable in the other two spaces, but that it fits better in the 3rd.

But, what about other ministry engagements. Surely, if church is considered the 3rd space, then using a mobile for bible studies, events, and to create media can fit. But, when it does get placed there, is mobile encroaching on that personal moment? Can a mobile-friendly broadcast (for example) ever be well received when a person is not willing to be engaged?

I’ve got ways to go in this thinking. But, I want to leave with the same questions we posted on Twitter some days back for discussion and reflection:

[Thought] #mobmin (mobile ministry) challenges the Christian perception that the 3rd space (home, work are 1st two) is a church(-space)?

[Thought] If 3rd space is no longer a space but is an event, what/should the focus of #mobmin lie, how does it morph to other 3rd spaces?