Mobile Ministry Magazine

Of those things mobile and ministry related that we think about, cost tends to be a big one. Whether its a device, service, or support, there is always some monetary cost involved, and usually our thinking considers this last, instead of first.

This is why I like what Nokia and others are doing with the website The Five Dollar Comparison. Its not just a case of saying "what can $5 get for you," but looks at $5 in relation to the needs and uses of people all around the world.

This weaves its way into mobile life when we think of statistics such as what additional cost will technology enablement burden a person or community with? Or, how can we lower those barriers to entry so that a longer-term aspect of spiritual and economic sustainability is gained?

The Five Dollar Comparison is not trying to answer the question, but to get people to think. And especially here in the "developed" parts of the world, where $5 is a lot for a tank of gas, but might not be nearly enough to feed a single person, thinking in terms of the costs involved makes any conversation of mobile and ministry one where we need to consider the costs just a bit more.

Labels: commentary, community, cost, economy, mobile, mobility

I'm seeing the global economy do its dip like everyone else. However, I feel optimistic because there are areas that have not been taken advantage of that should be. And of course, many of them have to do with mobile tech. Ironically, some of these areas are places where the Body can and should become leaders in.

Communication is one of those fields that just tends to morph. It doesn't really dim or go away (outside of catastrophic events). So how can we take mobile tech, and apply it here?

Churches can push towards using renewable energy resources (wind, solar, etc.) to fuel their buildings. Besides cutting energy costs, this will allow some larger churches to become 'green' information centers where communities and businesses can gather without incurring a larger resource hit.

Churches can use the idea of satellite campuses to not just be 'church on the Internet' but create points of information, ministry, and interest that work alongside tourism industries. Religion being the hot topic, the Body becoming a hub for 'what's happening in this community' can provide IT direction, ad revenue, and community engagement on various levels.

Educational plants. Yes, with all the intellectual capital in many churches, we should be creating more schools where we are teaching our communities how to live efficiently, and effectively, given the technology in our hands. Whether that is teaching a community how to do mobile banking, or just facilitating lesson planning and dissemination with the school district, there are some solid opportunities here that can be done.

So what thoughts about what we can do as the Body do you have? And if you've put any of these things into practice, what are some of the positives and negatives that have been seen?

Labels: church, economy, education, mobile, mobility