Mobile Ministry Magazine

I write this a good bit before writing Part Three of the MMM Mobile Experiment Report but this is a great article posted at the Biblical Studies and Technological Tools blog about thinking about what technology and faith will look like given what we have seen happen in other media and lifestyles in the Western church.

Without going too far into things on my end, here is a snippet of this great thought-piece:

I am also wondering, then, if we might actually become more dependent on private resources/devices rather than network resources. I.e., it will be lots easier to secure a personal device not connected to any network, and I will be more confident in working with guaranteed secure resources not based on the network. This does mean that I believe that someone will still be developing and providing technological resources for biblical studies, but I also suspect that the choices will be greatly reduced. We are already seeing the convergence of best features of the various Bible programs, and as this trend continues, the only differentiating factor will be cost. I just hope we aren't all buying Wal-Mart or Google Bible software after they buy up every other current company in this field

Read the rest of the post The Future of Bible Studies and Technological Tools.

Related Articles:

• New King James with Microsoft OneNote (Palmsolo)

Labels: Bible, church, community, education, gospel, mission, mobile, mobility, networking, phone, purchasing, software, stewardship, study, tech, urban, worship

The MMM Mobile Experiment was one part a technological look at what is possible with mobile devices today, and a look at what is possible/can be done now with mobiles as part of a social strategy for inreach and outreach initiatives.

Just a review of what Part One of this report will contain:

• Reasons and Goals of Experiment
• Explanation of Nokia's Mobile Web Server and my Device
• Social Networking Component

As stated in our previous post, the experiment is looking at the technology as something doable now. But also why software and usage has relevance in this highly connected world. Part One of the MMM Mobile Experiment Report gives an overview of the technology used in this experiment and how it was set up for use.

Part One:

For eight days in April 2008, Mobile Ministry Magazine's Antoine RJ Wright conducted an experiment where the Mobile Ministry Magazine website was hosted completely on a mobile device using Nokia's Mobile Web Server. The goal of this experiment was to test the viability of such a mobile platform as a solution for running a community website, to investigate the capabilities of mid-range mobile phones and smartphones as a communications hub, and to investigate possible uses for such technology in various social and economic environments.

Backing up this software, Mobile Ministry Magazine used the Jaiku social networking service as an offline community component. The reason for this is that limitations in the phone hardware would mean that the mobile web server (MWS) would be offline, yet there needed to be some means for consistent with the MMM reading community. This channel of the Jaiku network contains aggregated RSS feeds of several websites that speak towards life and technology in Christian circles.

With these two aspects set, the MWS server was activated, and MMM Mobile began to live. In this section of the report, we will talk in detail about the technical and physical look of this MWS, and then how these worked in real-life.

Nokia's Mobile Web Server

Nokia released software based on the Python programming language called the Mobile Web Server (MWS). Expanding the methodology of their N-Series mobile devices being the "next stage of computers," the MWS is a project to demonstrate the ability of mobile phones today, and to explore the use of a server, or data and application hosting platform, on a connected and mobile device.

Setting up the MWS requires the registration of a user name at the MWS website (http://mymoobilesite.net). This user name will become the address of the website (username.mmymobilesite.net). After setting up the user name, you then set up information such as a profile, offline page, and then download the software.

The MWS software is compatible only with Symbian S60 mobile devices. While there are a few devices by Samsung and Motorola, only Nokia devices with Symbian S60 have been tested to work with MWS. Unfortunately, not all Nokia S60 devices will work, and many will have limitations based on their hardware. This limitation will show up later as a reason where a solution for its use is limited technologically and economically.

My device is the Nokia N75. This S60 smartphone is one of three 3G devices that Nokia currently has made available in the US. This device was featured on the Cingular/AT&T wireless carrier a little over a year ago and for most purposes is about at the end of its marketing life. This doesn't mean that it is incapable, only that better is here and coming. I purchased this device in December of 2007 in order to better learn about the S60 operating system and have something that would have ample value to my usage as a person who enjoys and lives on the web and mobile devices/applications.

The Social Networking Component

As a nearly-30 adult, much of my online time is spent on email and within social networks. While I do not have a presence on MySpace or Facebook, I do have one with Jaiku. A recent Google acquisition, Jaiku found favor with me because of its mobile client application, the ability to consolidate RSS feeds into one singular area, and a community of people from multiple background, faiths, and locations. In terms of social network services, Jaiku belongs to a subsection called lifestreaming applications. Lifestreaming meaning one can have several streams of their life appear in this service. From microblogging to sharing photos on services such as Flickr, to community channels, Jaiku is one part a community and another part a gate where you can allow people to come in and out of your life.

For Mobile Ministry Magazine, Jaiku is used as an RSS feed aggregator and community window. Through discussion and the RSS feeds, our community focus is seen and shared. Because of this ability to be a window made it a suitable back-chatter component for this experiment.

In Part Two, we cover the day to day use of the Mobile Web Server, some initial and lasting challenges, and the difference between accessibility and versatility as I began to dig into using MMM Mobile.

Labels: community, device, mission, mobile, Mobile Web Server, mobility, N75, Nokia, review, software

Greetings all; thanks to all of you who have visited and commented on MMM Mobile in the past week. It was certainly a new experience for me to use a mobile device as the web server and I have a greater appreciation for a lot of aspects of server administration that I had not had before.

Seeing what my mobile device could do under the pressure of being a communications platform in every sense of the word was tough as well. From blogging, to the web chat on day one, to just making sure that I would keep the MMM Jaiku channel going with back-chat; it was both a pleasure and a challenge to do something that (to my knowledge) has not been tried before.

What's next is a report of things that I found, as well as why such an experiment has relevance in this highly connected world. With talk of net neutrality, the new digital divide, and Christian digital responsibility, there's a good deal that this experiment opened that I will be bringing to you in a three part report.

To give you a heads up, here is an outline of what you can expect in my next three posts:

Part One:

• Reasons and Goals of Experiment
• Explanation of Nokia's Mobile Web Server and my Device
• Social Networking Component

Part Two:

• Day to Day Use
• Immediate Challenges
• Accessibility versus Versatility

Part Three:

• Lessons Learned
• Current and Future Applications
• Why This Is A Model for the [Digital] Church

I am trying to take my time with this, and I do encourage you to ask questions along the way towards parts that need to be better explained or clarified. Like I stated earlier, making sure that you (this audience) understands why such an mobile experiment has relevance for you today is a big goal of this report. Keeping in mind of the Word to always encourage one another, its my hope that this would encourage you to not just think about how to use technology, but how your innovative use of it will give people a chance to view Christ in ways that they never imagined.

Again, stay tuned, Part One is just about finished being written and edited. Looking forward to your comments.

Labels: Bible, browser, community, mission, Mobile Web Server, mobiles, mobility, tech

As briefly touched on yesterday, and basically alluded to since MMM came into being, Inner-Linked has been launched. A consulting and training service, Inner-Linked seeks to take lessons gained from Mobile Ministry Magazine, and apply those lessons directly to pastors, missionaries, and your leaders in non-profit arenas.

The best analogy to what Inner-Linked offers is technology enablement over technology support. Inner-Linked doesn't aim to fix usability issues, create applications, or even fix someone's device. Its simple a teaching pot. A place where those interested in mobile technology can gain the knowledge and understanding of how it will be used in their capacity.

The initial service offerings by Inner-Linked are Purchase Assistance and Mobile Device Training. Purchase Assistance walks through purchasing a mobile device, from comparison shopping to addressing the direct user needs. Inner-Linked wants to make sure that you purchase a device or service that fits you, not something you have to fit into. Mobile Device Training is a three course one-on-one (or one-on-many) option where you gain basic, advanced, and specific knowledge about your mobile device or service. From backups and insurance, to using social networks, to strategically implementing a mobile component to one's workplace, Mobile Device Training aims to make sure that whatever mobile technology you are linked to, its something that remains effective past the time when the newness runs off.

Initially, Inner-Linked will be operating as a one-man show. I've got to get a number of things together before adding staff (and trust me, that's really needed already). Inner-Linked is based on making interpersonal relationships, so for now things stay local (Charlotte, NC) and East Coast USA (within reasonable traveling distance).

Chances are that if you are reading this, you might not need something like Inner-Linked. But you do know someone who does. Pass them Inner-Linked's website address (http://inner-linked.com) as well as MMM's and let them see that there's more to mobile ministry than what we can see now; a whole generation of folks around the world use and understand this technology, and using it effectively to them and the generations to come speaks well towards becoming enablers of those who share Christ's passion to the ends of the earth.

Related Links:

• Inner-Linked
• Mobile Ministry Magazine Issue 5: Keep Moving Forward

Labels: community, Inner-Linked, issue 5, mission, tech

I was just at the car wash thinking about my slate for the rest of today and had the reflection that mobile technology has done an interesting job in teaching me about evangelism - from a mobile tech standpoint, but just as much if not more so from a spiritual one.

Mobile Lessons

When sitting in a coffeeshop with an Internet Tablet, Bluetooth keyboard, and mobile phone out, one should expect people to ask questions. What I didn't expect was that people would ask questions and just have comments about so many things. Some people wanted to know about iPhones and phone plans, others wanted to know how my setup worked and if it could work for them. And still others just took my "open platform" as a means to just have a conversation.

In terms of what mobile is, things are still new and people are still looking for a definition that fits how they are mobile, connected and productive. Being a person who is using tools and services so out in the open, I am getting a chance to see exactly how people respond, and if need be, point them to a solution that would work best for them.

Spiritual Lessons

The greater lessons for me have come on the spiritual side of things. Where some people can separate their tech from their spirit, I happen to have a very tight relationship between the two. It was the idea of having multiple Bibles on my PDA that allowed me to minister to various friends and students on my college campus without carrying the intimidation of a large book bag around. I've had to learn what affluence is, gluttony from the tech side of things if you will and how that can and does rub people the wrong way. I've had to learn how to be a teacher of those things Godly with this tech, sometimes at the cost of cutting off myself from the things others do. Frankly speaking, I've learned that there is a holiness to using technology that we really do miss because we are not usually taught that this exists in this medium.

And From Here?

I've been working with Brighthand for years, with Nokia and the S60 Ambassadors/Nokia Blogger Relations, worked as a web designer and developer for more than 9 years, and basically played the roll of techie to a lot of people in my life. There's more to this than devices and my own wares though. Without educating others on how to use this tech correctly, they miss the point of the benefits. Misuse almost always turns into someone speaking against proper use because of that misunderstanding.

The same thing has happened to Christianity on several levels since Jesus (one can even argue since Adam). There's a responsibility to wield this faith in a manner that represents the breadth of God's love. Whether that is speaking against inappropriate use, or just teaching someone how to study the Bible, the responsibility is clear...

...go to the ends of the earth and teach people about Jesus. Not just with a Bible and a few nice words, but with the power of the Holy Spirit.

When you think about it like that, mobile tech could really be on to something, couldn't it ;)

Labels: accessiblity, Bible, community, devotion, education, gospel, mission, mobility, stewardship, tech

I am one part a member of Nokia's Blogger Relations team, and have recently been invited to be an S60 Ambassador. Essentially, I speak about Nokia's products to people when I see that there's a need for them. In some cases, I'll get devices or services to try out and then report those findings back to Nokia. For them, it's an effort to see how people are using their devices and services. For me, it's a chance to see how mobile technology can enrich and empower lives.

The better part is that there are relationships that happen. Being able to live in Christ around them makes having opportunities like these presented by Nokia and other companies kinda neat. Here are a few of the recent reports that I filed to Nokia's S60 Ambassador's program. For those of you looking at ways to see how mobile tech fits, this is how I go about learning and applying.

Episode 1: The Young Mother

I went to visit a friend of mine on the other side of Charlotte as she has a 1yr old kid who has provided for several great photo opportunities. She and I talked about her e-learning class that she is taking and some directions that she could go with content for her blog. I recommended the idea of the phone as the literal center of the Internet for the school by using the Mobile Web Server.

First, I had to explain to her what the Mobile Web Server is and what kind of functionality that it opens up. Then, I told her that I could show her what it would look like. So I pulled out my N75 and turned on the Mobile Web Server. We navigated through each of the pages on her laptop that was in front of us, and I showed her how such a setup would make for a different take on distance learning ventures.

She was amazed that my phone could do that and asked why it was that her 3555 was not able to do the same things even though it was a Nokia phone as well. I explained to her that while they were from the same company, that they used different operating systems. One of the applications that she'd become a bit intrigued about is Jaiku; especially its ability to link with the address book for presence notification. That was something that she wanted for her phone. I led her to Yahoo, and there she learned about Yahoo's oneConnect service. Unfortunately, she does not have a mobile [data] plan, and does not see getting one; so downloading that was out of the question.

he problem that she posed to me was how to get more out of a phone like mine without being online. Considering that I do so much online via my N75, that really left me without many words. Other than the Bible, voice, and SMS, the rest really is the Internet. Making my phone compelling towards those who don't need that functionality will have to become another search of mine.

Episode 2: The Church Admin

Monday night is usually bible study at It's a Grind Coffeehouse and that is where I was again this Monday. Having had a successful demonstration of the Mobile Web Server running on my N75 earlier Monday, I decided to pique the interest of one of the administrative workers of my church and get her idea on such a solution.

First, I gave her a small demonstration of the software on my device, and then used my N800 Internet Tablet to show what the site actually works like in a web browser. At that she was impressed, but I could see not convinced at its usefulness. I then changed modes to talking about how there is always some information that one wants to keep personal, but other things, like pictures and availability that would come in handy for some people to know.

I then set my Gallery to show the pictures from my memory card and showed her how that page could be set with permissions. I then showed the Contact, Presence, and Calendar screens and showed that these can be controlled with a simple group that is created on the phone.

She looked at the phone and said "that's interesting. Your phone is a powerful little thing." Powerful indeed, but as a device that connects, its hard to beat.

Related Items:

• Nokia's S60 Ambassador Program
• Nokia's Mobile Web Server
• N75 Live-in Review Update
• MMM's N95 (via Nokia Blogger Relations) Review
• Yahoo's oneConnect service

Labels: Bible, church, community, device, family, Jaiku, mission, mobile, mobile accessories, Mobile Web Server, mobility, N75, Nokia, phone, software, tech, urban, usablity, Yahoo

The last two posts, we've talked about extending your mobile office to help mangage the tasks of doing ministry easier. But there's nothing like real world examples.

So what do you do to extend your office capabilities? And what hurdles have you encountered either personally or with your team?

(Lord willing, a question like this in the future can be met with some kind of giveaway to help some of you on who are doing this already)

Labels: church, community, mission, mobile accessories, mobility, tech, urban, usablity

Image from Wikipedia

For many of you, its not an issue of "if" to extend your offices, by using web and mobile technology, its a matter of "how."

To answer the "how" we are going to look at a few areas: engaging people to use the tools and selecting what works best with your budget.

Engaging the Team

A major hurdle to using anything new is getting people sold on the idea that it would work best for them. Unfortunately, we are creatures of habit. Doing something different, especially when it comes to utilizing mobile devices, services, or applications can be a bear.

One thing you want to have in place before you roll out a solution is some type of easy to access help system. This should be in two layers (simple): knowledge base and people (in that order). The first questions people ask are the "how do I do this" ones, so making sure that this is populated, and constantly maintained, is of great importance. This resources should be emphasized during any training, and a part of a weekly routine of checking on the progress of implementing a solution.

What this looks like to the minister's on-the-go-office could be a wiki that is saved on the mobile device with common topics. It could be a contact entry that is constantly synced with a note detailing how to do immediate problem solving.

The people resource should be the second and final one. This is where one asks for assistance in doing a feature, or needs a refresher in what was taught originally. Everyone needs a point of contact, and assuring them that there is a person that can be contacted makes it easier for people to accept that there's a change in the workflow in the mist.

Actually getting the team to use those new tools might be less difficult if it could be implemented into the normal routine. For example, in one SharePoint installation I was a part of, instead of making the entire enterprise use it all at once, we made the departments use it only for announcements. We left it open for individuals to play with, but made them know that the only way to know about what was going on was to visit the SharePoint website. Over time, we rolled out more and more SharePoint-only features, backed up with training key users on more features so they would talk about it, getting others involved into using it on a more consistent basis. Basically speaking, giving it to them in small bits is better than force-feeding.

Budget Concerns

One of the questions that is always asked when talking about extending one's office using mobile tech is the cost. Cost doesn't just include the money, its also inclusive of the time, the administration, and any thing else that is not actively using the tech. Balancing cost versus use is hard, but here are some things to think about when evaluating cost:

• Are those providing support or those building the system a volunteer who may leave at any given time?
• Does using a mobile device require additional learning outside of just using office tools, such as user interface and system maintenance issues?
• What is the backup plan? Will implementing a backup plan cost as much as implementing the primary plan? Can using the backup be easier for users than using the primary?
• What are the cost savings/expenses of an entire ministry team being online? Are subsidies or grants available to offset the costs of running/not running a physical office?
• In extending the office, what are the costs to family, friends, and ministry endeavors? Can appropriate boundaries be kept?

Addressing Smaller Offices

Some of you reading this might see these as all well and good, but you are part of a 5-man or smaller team. Things just aren't that deep (in scope or budget). So what can you do?

Take advantage of web suites like Google Apps or Zoho Office. While providing a centralized interface for work, it will also keep things manageable in one area. Using smartphones, Internet Tablets, and UMPC devices are a good means to take light work on the go. Remember though that more devices are more things to manage. Choose the device carefully, basing the costs and engagement on what you already do and what you need to do better.

Labels: browser, community, device, email, family, Google, mission, mobile accessories, mobility, networking, SharePoint, stewardship, study, tech

Let's take yesterday's post a bit further. When aspects of mobile technology are a lifestyle, and not just a tool, what does this begin to look like to the Body and the world being ministered to at large? How does this change the work of Christ from an institutional one to a spirit-lead one?

There's a simple answer to this to some degree; but we should first make the question a bit simpler so that we grab a better impact:

If Paul had a blog, what would he have done more of or more effectively?

I've explored this question here many times (the original thought, part 2 of this thought, part 7 of this thought, part 9 - eh, I think you get the picture). Each time I come to the conclusion that [aspects of] mobile technology is/are taking us to the definition where people will want to define church not as what happens or is confined by the four walls and a monologue service, but what happens in the context of connecting to other people that leads them to repent to God, and be a life in Christ that speaks to that worship He spoke of to the Samaritan woman (John 4).

A Church Beyond the Walls
The idealism though of a church without walls where leadership is moreso grooming people for missional teaching rather than internal community engagement isn't something new. I just wager that its more possible now than ever. Multi-campus churches are pulling this off to a degree. Cell groups to another. But those are the exceptions. Engaging Christ is still done in smaller more personal levels, then shared moment by moment as or after it happens. If you will, much like Paul went from place to place and documented how the Body engaged the world around it; the church today is largely doing the same thing.

So don't you think that if Paul had a blog, it would look more like this: CNN and National Geographic Put a New Twist to Journalism

I've been banging my head left and right trying to figure out what kind of career works best for my kind of mind. As soon as I read this posting about what CNN and NG are doing it hit me; I've been saying this all along with MMM but haven't really ran out to do it in bunches. Tools needed: Nokia's Sports Tracker application, a capable mobile phone (not necessarily a smartphone), and the willingness to go out and engage the world to share it with others. Nokia, CNN, Reuters, and National Geographic are transforming the news reporting culture. We should be doing the same in the Christ-connecting one.

The enablement of mobile technology allows us to connect with people and directly share Christ in Matthew 5 type ways. And at the same time we are moving from one connection to another, tracking and messaging those places that we've been (letters to Timothy, Philemon, Titus, etc. type stuff), encouraging and equipping those who are in those areas, and providing a dynamic (and digital) witness to what is being done in the kingdom of God so that the emphasis remains on God's glory in the world around us - not on the shiny.

The fun part is, I think some of us do this naturally and don't even know it. We go places with mobile tech and then it opens doors towards speaking about our lives in Christ and all of a sudden we have just encouraged someone, or even better, picked up a disciple. I can probably even guess that given how some of us are in social networks that this same thing happens in the various online communities that we visit. Neat ain't it.

A Piece of the Puzzle to Understand
But like Paul, I realize that this kind of thinking and action is not something that everyone can do (1 Corinthians 12-14). And, at least in the Western church, a church that does not have defined walls or order as we are accustomed to can make people uncomfortable. Like I wrote some time ago, the Internet is not just for those type-A (or type-C) personalities. We all have our place where we excel in bringing Christ's passions and love into the hearts of those around us. As a church, we should be cultivating that so that the Body doesn't just grow in number, but grows in quality-of-representation-of-our-Father.

The Challenge Looms
On a website that I visited recently (The Theos Project), the blogger stated that he was going on a church fast. The culture and conditions of the church caused him more grief than he cared to have as a part of. I responded in a comment that he shouldn't leave if the church he was a part of did not equip him with the tools to relate to the world outside of the church. He should stay there until they do give him the tools and wisdom to make Christ-living a lifestyle that is not marred by the culture we call church.

Hence my view on mobile technology and the Christian faith. In coming to grips with the fact that mobile technology is less a tool and more of a lifestyle, we have to equip those who engage this technology with the wisdom that what they do here has effects that are eternal (not just saved in the Wayback Machine in bits and bytes). It is this type of equipping that will enable us as a Body to reach beyond ourselves and engage towards that Great Commission with great success. Propagating old paradigms with new tech doesn't change anything.

This then becomes the challenge of the next generation of church leaders: teach mobile and technological responsibility while allowing the use of the technology to enhance our abilities to reach, teach, and build foundations and lives in Jesus Christ. Its something I am more than ready to do, and offer this challenge to you as something to take on in whatsoever way the Spirit leads.

My Personal Convictions, and Request
This has been the crux of my frustration with MMM. I've wanted this to be the launching point for teaching people how a church without walls can exist. I totally think its possible - even without the mobile tech that is presented here. However, getting people to see and support that has been utterly harder than I want to say in such a public arena. Its one thing to cast vision, its another totally to get people/companies to buy into it to the point of changing the world around you. This is not a knock on anyone, just how much I see, and how easy it is for me to see, but not translate that to you.

Having written all of that, I'm more ready to ask for sponsors towards living a lifestyle that meets this lofty goal (the how to ask is the part I don't know), rather than sitting on my arse waiting for Jesus to come back. To those who have asked me recently in what ways they can help me, this would be it: prayer and a push. I know we can be more than just an intersection of faith and technology. Using this tech effectively casts a light towards what can happen when Christ is in front of us lighting the way (Colossians 2:6 - 3:4). Doing it, well, that's just bigger than me but more than capable enough for Him (Isaiah 49:13).

Labels: Bible, community, mission, mobility, tech, urban, worship

Ricky Cadden of SMSTextNews and Symbian Guru has reported that "Abilene Christian University has officially become the first university in the U.S. to provide an iPhone or iPod Touch to all incoming freshmen."

According to the Abilene Christian University mobile learning website, this is a part of their Connected initative. Programs and the campus has been designed to facilitate mobile learning and mobile lifestyle engagement.

I wonder how the religious/spiritual organizations on Abilene's campus address this shift in mobile tech? We talked before about how a program of churches partnering with communties towards tech education would be something that current technology makes possible. I wonder if there are any initatives on college campuses that are similar, or even further reaching than what Abilene is doing?

If anyone reading has info towards this end of the tech engagement, please comment here towards how the adoption happens there.

Labels: community, education, iPhone, mission, tech

As more people are using mobile devices of all types as parts of their world, we are engaging one another in ways that are not dissimilar to being a new kid on a large campus. There are plenty of things to do and places to explore, but like all things, life without measuring these connections to the truths of the Gospel can cause undo suffering. How then do we balance this connectivity to the fact that the world has changed around us? And what is our responsiblity towards those who've not yet entered this "connected campus?"

Connected Campus

One of the myths of computing is that it is like other media. If you will, that like TV and radio before it, it is a self contained silo of information where connections are passively created by those with more capital or power. What has quickly become the truth though is that because of the "web" nature of the Internet and its associated technologies, the power is actually in the information, rather than in those who dissemate it. Because the reader, or connected participant, can decide to accept and continue to read, or move onto something else, the power of information is now in the hands of those who are willing to go out and get it, rather than those who are more apt to go out and serve it.

The Gospel Balance

This sounds a lot like that switch that Jesus aspoused the disciples to when he told them to "go out to all the world and make disciples." In effect, he was saying that in no way is this information good enough for just you to have and no one else. If you will, secret knowledge has no place. They were encouraged, and afterwards empowered to go to as many places as physically possible and spread the Good News. So in effect, by spreading the Gospel, people were to make connections that made for community, and overall a better quality of life for all.

Today's Connectivty

We have multiple means of connecting to the world around us. We can go TV, radio, Internet on a desktop, tablet, phone. We can set up concerts and other events as points of engagement. And then we can mash all of these things together to create something a bit more "community-ish." This is great, but like in all things, if we lose the point of making community, then we become more driven by statistcs and numbers, rather than that commission we are all encouraged to meet (go out and make disciples, teaching them to observe all that the Father as commanded).

Balancing Connectivity with Commission

Therein lies the fun part: balancing connectivity and its ever-changing ways with the commission and its ever-present consistancy. Some have taken the road to meter thier use of modern connectivity options because they have seen that it has taken them away from interacting with the people they were called to disciple. Some have increased their ability to connect with people because while the commission has not changed, the amount of sheep in the pasture has - considerably. In all cases, one has to take a survey of the commission (that doesn't change) and how they are following through with completing the vision as it was given. When there is more of an emphasis on the tool than the mission, then reevaluations should lead to repentance and reordering of connectivity.

And What About Those Not Connected

Instead of casting a net towards all of those possiblites of those who are not connected, I'd like to just concetrate on those whom are closer to our immediate spheres.

Those who might benefit from the digital aspects of connectivity should be not only trained on how to handle the Word and technology, but also learn by lesson and example what it means to do "responsible use." This means teaching things like how to evaluate what technology is best, how to choose the right option for email, and how to discern truth on the Internet. To teach these people how to understand technology we are taking that motto of teaching them how to fish literally; we are giving them the ability to discern and grow with the technology so that they can teach others.

Then there are those who have technology but are abusing it. To these people we also want to teach them how to evaluate technology. But, we want to teach them the dangers of pride and disallusion that comes from absuing connectivity. For example, as pastor once wrote here that he was happy that his computer was sent off for repair because he had not realized (even with others in his ear) that it had become and idol and instead of sheparding God's people, he was sheparding a computer. As I've learned so much in the past, just because you can do it does not mean that its good for you to do.

Graduating From Campus

Well, not exactly. This isn't college where you get a degree and then there's the real world. For many of us, some type of interaction with computers and the Internet is the real world. And like in college, you have to learn how to navigate the surroundings so that you can get through, but also so that others might be able to grab a hold of God's enabling (grace) so that they too can see that life is more than just trying to keep up with the Jonses.

Labels: accessiblity, Bible, community, mission, mobile, tech

Cynthia Ware has taken a look look at how Christian missionaries are using new media as parts of their efforts to connect and share news of their connections when away from their "roots." Here's a snippet:

...Today's missionaries are using blogs, facebook, shutterfly and other social media to extend their connectedness, reward their supporters and create archived memories of their unique adventures. Whether missionaries are serving on short term teams or serving in long term posts, they need no longer be disconnected from their points of origin, hometowns, partners, sending churches, extended families, etc. In fact, if they have internet access, there's virtually (no pun intended) no reason they can't be very connected...

Labels: accessiblity, Bible, church, community, email, gospel, mission, mobile, mobile accessories, mobiles, networking, phone, podcast, software, tech, usablity, worship

Just read a really good article where CBS Mobile chief Cyriac Roeding said something really important that not only speaks to the area he was speaking, mobile advertisiting and how to maximize it, but to the Body and how our endavors need to be shaped around the fact that the medium is different. This is a snippet of that piece:

The CBS executive had led off the discussion by saying that advertisers have to understand why they need to be on mobile phones. "If you can't answer that question in 10 seconds, you're out of the game," he said. The answer should be, he went on, that mobile is the only medium that people carry with them 18 hours a day.

Mobile is also starting to provide reach to advertisers as sites gain larger audiences. Roeding noted that during the last quarter, CBS Mobile's sports section drew 75 million mobile page views and 5 million unique visitors during the fourth quarter.

But he warned against trying to promote mobile as a smaller version of the computer or TV screen. "If you are trying to make this the next online page, you will fail...because this is a new medium in its own right. "

I've touched on this in a previous article in saying that mobile is something more than just the sum of previous media endavors; to use it well requires that we not just be innovative, but relevant.

As part of a growing number of believers who understand what roles being mobile plays, its key that we understand what mobile is not. It's not a computer, though accessiblity and usability are there. Its not radio and TV, though video and audio are parts of the experience that should not be overlooked. Its not print either, though the effects are just as long lasting, inside and outside of the box o'bits and bytes. Being mobile is a case of a totally different paradigm, and something that the church is well past the potin were we need to embrace it.

I'd be one to make the argument that being effective in the Body with mobile tech is a matter of getting to the roots of what it means to be effective in the Body - "be distinct and bring fame to God not [ourselves]". I am pretty sure that we are able to do that if we pool our knowledge and gifts together and then step out and do something a bit different. The key is just not trying to be what we used to be in tech, and take things at that intersection of faith and tech, and make a noticable sign to the heart of God for all people.

Labels: church, community, gifts, gospel, mission, mobile, tech

Want to keep up with MMM and several other sites via one page (or RSS feed)? Check out the MMM Jaiku channel. Several sites and discussions going on there currently. Here are a few notables.

- Would anyone be interested in a MMM meetup in Charlotte in February?

- I'm sure this is a well known bible study site but I thought I'd share it just in case

- Palmsolo's coverage of BibleTech 2008.

- Pirating of Logos, Wordpress, and other resources.

Some of the websites that have RSS feeds on the MMM channel include:
- Church Tech Matters
- Christian Computing Magazine
- The Digital Sanctuary
- Bible Software Review Weblog
- ESV Bible Blog
- and more

Jump on over or subscribe to the RSS/Atom feed for the MMM Jaiku channel and engage folks with a bit of social networking.

Labels: Bible, BibleTech, community, Jaiku, meetup, mission, mobile, tech

As many of you know, there has been a very serious outbreak of violence in Kenya over the past many weeks. The brother whom we blessed with a Treo 650 a few summers ago is one of many who is effected by the violence that is happening there. Here is the text of one of the emails that he has been able to send:

It good to get another opportunity to write you. It is long since I communicated to you. We are here trying to survive by God's grace. The situation in Kenya is on and off so is still unpredictable about when we will have stability in this nation. My city was brought down and it is going to take several years and great financial investment to bring Kisumu city where it is supposed to be.

A week or two ago I got $130 from brother Paul $70 for me and my family and 60 for the children's Home. I was able to just give in some down payment for the last months rent since the landlord wanted money and bought some food for my family and the part for the children I gave it out to brother Peter that buy some school stationary for the children in preparation for school and to feed them. School situation though is still a problem because of chaos everywhere in Kenya.

Now brother we remained with nothing again. since I our business was brought down by looters, we have been actually starving. Since Thursday till Sunday lunch time we have been feeding on unripened mangoes and water. It is was fortunate that we have a mango tree in our property so we our able to have something to eat. In all these God agave us peace regardless of a much that is going on here and there.

On Sunday afternoon, I thought about to borrow 2kilograms of corn floor to make some food and we realized that we did not have vegetable to eat our Ugali with. Then around 3.30pm my son Brian remember his tortoise and he and his cousin Samuel butchered and we eat tortoise meat with Ugali (staff made out maize or corn floor). Friend, right as I write you this email, it is miracle 20 Kenya shillings from a friend that has enabled me to write. I have not had anything since morning and it is now 1.55pm and my family is in the house getting a mango again with water.

Please pray dear friends that God provides for us and that we get money to start this business again. Please pray we are starving and suffering. We do not have anything. I have walked to town and I am walking back again it is hard friend.

Thank you so much for hearing from me and for your prayers. You may not send us [money] bacause you are not able but send your prayers and words of encouragement will help us. Please pray.

Labels: community, Kenya, mission, Treo 650

Sitting at a coffeehouse while typing this on an N800 Internet Tablet is pretty neat. But in doing so, I have this idea that this should be only a part of what I do to engage the tech.

I was asked last night about some of my goals, and one of them is to make a full transistion from one who acquires tech knowledge and is known for doing so, to a person who is empowering others through technology, whether they are mobile, technological, or something else entirely. I look at what Bill Gates is doing in his stepping down from Microsoft to work for his foundation that will be seeking to educate and find cures for those diseases that sap the life from developing communities. This is the kind of transistion that I want to make, and I am finally feeling like this is possible.

As a ministry, MMM is a resource that aims to educate Christians on ways of using mobile technology as parts of their own ministry endavors. We've transistioned the content though from being so instructional though to purpose and effectiveness driven. Where we speak on those issues that relate to life and faith at the intersection of technology, and then what are our responses - whether that is is educating, empowering, or warning. As a user and analyist of this stuff, I feel like taking it to that step further. That step where the mobile tech is an agent of the change that brings all that Christ is to those around me.

As a user, this excites me. As a Christian though, this sparks me.

Labels: community, internet tablet, mission, mobile, N800, tech

One of the hardest things to do these days it seems is to keep up with the amount and breadth of what's going on in technology now. It gets a bit easier when you can focus on one or two specific areas, but even then it can be a bit much to keep up with what is going on.

A few news items I've read recently gave me two different, yet appropriate viewpoints on technology and our response to it. The first item was found at a site that I visit pretty regularly, GigaOm. The question being would less frequent posting and more thought-provoking posting lead to "more chances for interesting ideas and useful analysis to emerge."

Considering the stance that I've taken here at MMM towards posting less frequently, this would seem to be correct. I've found that posting less has enabled me to think more on the ramifications of various aspects of technology. And at the same time, address specific issues that would require some measure of analysis, not just consumption.

That being said, would you prefer to hear news and thought faster here, or is the pace of things just right for you?

The second item comes from another news/blog site, Techcrunch. It was at this site that I learned that News Corp/Fox (Twentieth Century Fox, MySpace, The Wall Street Journal, Fox Network, Zondervan, HarperOne, Harper Collins, Fox Faith, and the National Geographic Channel among many of their assests) has acquired the faith-based site Beliefnet.

In reading the comments of those responding in their community towards the news, I have mixed reactions. On one end, I totally agree with some of them that association with such a volitile company such as News Corp can call a few things into question. At the same time, it could be part of Beliefnet's mission to getting into major media and allowing for those resources and influence to push them into a better position of leadership and focus.

As the acquisition is new there is going to be a interesting time of change. But for many, this acquisition was just a sign of the times. The speed and amount of change that happens is something kinda fierce. And at the same time, we were not called to touch a world that would remain the same. At the intersection of faith and technology there might also be a new speed limit sign, as well as the stop and yield signs. Whatsoever that speed though, we should carefully consider where we are going next.

Labels: community, mission, reading, tech

This is from a post on my personal site, however the content and subject relevant enough to be shared here as well. Here's a snippet:

... As I spend time here in Charlotte, I can see that there is a need for this kind of techie engagement to happen a bit more often. I've come across those who have smartphones, but all they use the the voice and occasionally the calendar features. I've come across those looking for work, but have very little working knowledge of MS Word and other programs. The way I see it, they have the tech, but not much of a knowledge on how to do anything with it. I have these skills and want/need to share them. Somehow, I need to help people to understand that if they are not more technologically savvy, that this world (the Americanized, computer-driven side of it) will run them over...

Labels: mission, OLPC, tech

I was forwarded a link to this post at the Lampmode Records blog and just wanted to share it here. While the context of this is towards those doing holy-hip-hop (HHH), the principals spoken here are vital and sound for nearly anyone in any field where they are calling themselves doing a ministry. Reading it has me doing several inward looks and will cause some more changes on my end. I hope it too is edifying for you as well. Here's a snippet:

...This is by far the most important distinction in the phrase Aspiring Christian Artist. If you need to focus on one of the three, let it be this one. Many aspiring artists end up in hell. Does your Christianity scream as loudly if not louder than your aspirations and your artistry? Can Christians who know nothing about your hip-hop music easily identify you as belonging to the household of faith? Before anything else, we are Christians. That is, we have been born again into a new relationship with God through faith in the life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (Titus 3:4-6, 1 Peter 1:3). As a result of this new relationship, we have turned from our old life of sin and embraced a new life characterized by increasing holiness and love for the people of God, or the church (Romans 6:17-18, 1 John 3:10). This may seem obvious to some, but it must be said...

Labels: devotion, Devotions, mission, reading, worship

Via Church Relevance:

OneMillionWitnesses.com "is a website looking for one million witnesses (Christians) to share their testimony while helping fund non-profits like Living Water International.

For a minimum donation of $10, you can create a block featuring your testimony. The first 100,000 blocks go to helping Living Water International build about 100 wells."

This is a great project, and a notable way to not just give a gift, but display an aspect of the legacy that we are to leave as followers of Christ. Visit OneMillionWitnesses.com and leave your testimony and gift for certainely a worthy casue.

Labels: mission, tech

We posted a few times on the OLPC and made a case on how it would make for a great means to jumpstart tech-based missions efforts via the Give One Get One program. Well, it seems that the program has been extended to Dec 31, according to Ars Technica.

From the Give One Get One Website:

Since November 12th, OLPC has been offering a limited-time Give One Get One program in the United States and Canada. During Give One Get One, you can donate the revolutionary XO laptop to a child in a developing nation, and also receive one for the child in your life in recognition of your contribution. Thanks to a growing interest in the program, we are extending Give One Get One until the end of the year. Through this extension, and the increasing public interest in OLPC, we hope to give many more children the opportunity to grow, explore, learn and express themselves.

Labels: mission, OLPC, tech

I am sitting on a few issues right now, but really had the thought in my head of asking us to conduct a multifaceted discussion on "the intersetion of faith and mobile technology."

The first part comes from a question that is placed at the MMM channel at Jaiku:

How can mobile technology be improved for your faith endavors?

I really like the idea of using technology as a means to open the door of education to developing and developed nations alike. I've personally been pushing for churches and missions organizations to get behind the idea of the Give One Get One project because it takes the idea of missions from being an aspect of "just sharing faith" to "sharing faith in word, but also giving an action to associate with it."

The key thing is that one must realize that there is no "one stop" solution to mitigating the issues that plague developing and developed nations. As long as there is ego, there will always be a case of the lower class having to fight for the same opportunities that upper class peoples and nations get. The question lies though of us that have: do we really beleive that we are better without making someone else's life better, or is humanity at its best when we give a part of ourselves to help those that have no voice of their own.

Labels: Jaiku, mission, OLPC, tech

I am having a hard time titling this post. Mainly because it is a public writ of some personal thoughts that I have had for some time.

I have been on the road since Tuesday of last week. Between a new laptop and my Treo (and mainly the Treo), I have been able to stay up to date with various news and notes from around the web and with people around me. Because of the accessiblity I have with this tech, I was able to reconnnect with a lot of people in the DC, Annapolis, and Phila. areas. From phone calls to text messages, it sure seemed that for all the mobile that I was doing by driving, that my tech was doing a lot of the same, just stretching the ability to connect a bit further than I was driving.

This morning, I got into Charlotte after driving the entire night from Philly and went straight to church. I am one of the persons who helps to set up for service and this was my week to be there early. After we finished setting up, I pulled out my laptop to email one of the guys some notes from my trip that I had taken. Another member stopped me and began asking questions about mobile tech (that I use) and RSS. He expressed at one point that he felt he was being a bother, but he wasn't. I was happy to share what I know with him. It was there that it hit me (again): does mobile ministry really matter if the things that I take as being simple are not yet understood by the many.

In the conversation I had with Mobile Cowboy this past week, we talked about really getting out there and challenging the way that churches respond and use tech. And we both have a great idea as to how to do it. The question stopped at the "how and where's the relevance" end of things. Sure, we are passionate about it, but without sounding geeky, how do we translate this appropriate use of technology into something that can viably be called a ministry.

I am thinking about this past week and what I was able to do personally, but how little of it had relevance to anyone else until I was able to sit down with them. Mobile tech is shaped like that; its personal by design and has to have personal relevance before it can become even a blip on the radar. I've been at this blog/magazine for sometime now and feel like I fall short in encouraging/teaching where tech becomes a personal enough matter to enable the right kinds of change when it intersects with our fatih.

Now, this is the right kind of change. Its the kind of effect that I wish that MMM had/has (changing a paradigm of use, as well as galvanizing communities whom otherwise would be left out of those things tech). I am not sure that it does, and therefore I question its relevance and effectiveness. Sure, expressing God's heart for tech and and innovations of what is here is great, but to date, I just haven't been able to turn that corner to where all those things typed get practiced more often than sometimes.

I hope that by going to BibleTech 2008 that I'd find what I am looking for in terms of that further kick, motivation, or something. I just don't know if mobile ministry will be relevant enough as a pursuant in my own life for me to take the best advantage of it. Unless a personal connection is made with the people who would most benefit by it, mobile ministry is more talk than action, and in effect missing the point of doing all things to the glory of God.

Labels: BibleTech, mission, mobile, tech