Mobile Ministry Magazine

There's a lot of data consumed between the pages/posts of MMM. Much of this data is read, questioned, and then makes its way here as posts or tweets. Some of it takes longer than others. Here are some links to some pieces of research and reading that has contributed to MMM content this year:

• Mobile as 7th of the Mass Media (Tomi Ahonen)
• Mobile Almanac 2009 (Tomi Ahonen)
• Open Mobile (Ajit Jaokar, Anna Gatti)
• Don't Make Me Think (Steve Krug)
• Launching into Cyberspace: Internet Development and Politics in Five World Regions (Marcus Franda)
• Plugged In: The Generation Y Guide to Thriving at Work (Tamara Erickson)
• The Blogging Church (Brian Bailey)
• Smart Mobs (Howard Rheingold)

If you have any research or reading material that you'd think would be great content to contribute to the growing body of knowledge of those things mobile, web, culture, etc., feel free to drop a line - I only ask that it would be electronically available on more than one mobile platform ;)

Labels: mobility, research, resources

In the past months, I've been asked so many questions about mobile that I've simply wished and prayed for the time and resources to craft something like what Morgan Stanley has published in their release of The Mobile Internet Report.

This is an extremely long document - one, at the time of writing, I've not read and is still downloading to my mobile. However, to all of those persons who've asked questions about what mobile is and why should they care - especially use in the good ole USA - this is the report to read - or at least browse through.

If you are a technology, thought, or opinion leader in your ministry/organization, you need to read this report and the supporting materials. From simply a data/analytics point of view, there's not much else available for free like this.

As for me, I'm off to go read. I've got data to get updated and data models to better understand.

Labels: analytics, mobility, research, resources

For those looking for a great source of information pertaining to mobile evangelism tools, trends, and websites, be sure to checkout the Mobile Evangelism Wiki.

Suffice to say, there's a lot of information there, and a lot of information that's not yet there. If you have contributions, be sure to get in Dave and Ed to be sure that you can get in there and contribute to this very solid resource.

Labels: evangelism, mobiles, mobility, resources, wiki

Another great resource for web and mobile-based resources for evangelism and community buidling through the Gospel can be found at the Internet Evangelism Day website.

While IE Day doesn't happen until April, there are still tons of reasons to be involved and to note the tons of resources provided. Of note, IE Day exists to:

• Explain the strategies needed to use the web for evangelism, along with showcase examples, and demonstrate the many ways you could be involved. One surprising fact: you do not need to be technically gifted to do web evangelism.
• and, Enable you to communicate these truths to others, by providing free downloads: PowerPoint, video clips, drama scripts, handouts, etc. These enable churches and other groups to build a web evangelism focus program into a service or other activities.

Then again, you don't have to take my word for it, there's a YouTube video that explains more:

And an entire website of resources and media that you can use to help web/mobile enable your evangelistic efforts. Check out the Internet Evangelism Day website to learn more.

Labels: evangelism, internet evangelism day, resources

This past Saturday, I kept up with the Bible Software Shootout as many who were in attendance were tweeting about the happenings. One thing I can say about whatever that was happening there, it looks like a lot of the major software developers really got the point that the user interface of a Bible application means nothing if people cannot simply get in the Book.

This attetion to user interface design is totally a by produt of the impact that the iPhone has made on the entire computing industry. That's not to say that many software products and services don't suffer through feature-itis. Many do and will continue to. But, it is to say that there are some areas where people are getting it, and one of them just happens to be within the realm of mobile bible software.

So let me ask you this simple question: when you are ready to read a verse/passage in your Bible, how many steps does it take between you thinking about it and you getting there? How many steps after you've gotten to that verse/passage does it take for you to do the next thing (meditate, journal/bookmark, send it to a friend, etc.)? Its these kinds of questions that software developers think about often when they are developing the software that you like. And you know something, there are a lot of answers that they come up with. The simplest one though is always the hardest to pull off - keeping your eyes in the text.

This is something that paper books have a lock on. Its easy, you read, highlight, pull another book from the side to make a note, but the text is still there. No matter where you go, you must face the book in order to engage the text. The user interface is that simple.

And so here's my challenge and exortation to those who were at that challenge, and those who are developing other software Bible solutions: What can you do with your product to keep a person's eyes in the text of Scripture while still offering the featurs that enable you to differentitate from your competitors? Because if you can do that, then it won't matter what version(s) you offer, or even the cost of your product. People will be drawn to the text - and therefore to engaging with God. Drawing people to Him, will bring in the sales and solutions you seek.

Labels: Bible, innovation, reading, resources, software, UI

A study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project looked into how libraries will have to adjust given the rise of freely available digital resources. And while many cannot dispute that fact, it might be true that libraries would have another reason for existing besides just "holding old books" that should be explored.

One area that I can see libraries fostering is that aspect of community Internet. That is, becoming a place where people are necessarily needing to get the resources for connecting, and then becoming that place where those folks who are digital natives can learn about healthy computing.

I also see libraries as a place where the traditional "quiet time" could be passed for the occasional teaching on discourse towards technical matters. Making the library a place where one can talk and prove on the spot issues relating to net neutrality, digital convergence, economic and cultural gaps, etc. Basically, making the library more than a resource, but a jumping off point towards how we mold one another in these mobile communities.

Of course, I don't say all of this to mean that paper should go away. We should also utilize libraries as a place to teach literacy, first with paper and then with digital. Offering services so that no person is left in a situation where they cannot get at least the basic levels of literacy and knowledge for this changing world is kind of the role libraries have always had, and I think that just because we are more mobile with how we attain this information, we just need to adjust how we view libraries in light of this change. What are your thoughts?

Labels: community, education, information technology, resources

Was reading this over at TechnoGeekGuy and found it kinda neat and probably foretelling for many of you:

..We have just moved into a new house, which means means new utility providers. I decided to try something new. No phone lines and no TV/DishTV. The only thing I have is Internet. (Yes, I do also have a Blockbuster subscription).

And so, we are using Skype with unlimited calling to the US and Skype-In and Skype voice mail. All for about $5/mn. That’s a savings of $65/mn.

And so, we are using Hulu.com and other Internet video sites to provide our "entertainment". So far so good. One _bad_ thing is I had to install iTunes so I could purchase eposides of Stargate Atlantis. Shocking I know! The next I'll be doing is buying a Mac — I hope NOT! All for about $0/mn. That's a savings of $60/mn (DishTV)...

There's more to the post, but the one thing that I'd like to throw out there that its more possible now, than when MMM started (yikes), to go mobile and essentially live in the clouds.

Is this an option for you for home, work, or both? Why, or why not?

Labels: browser, mobile, networking, ownership, resources, wireless application

While its great to talk about recently announced products, its always better to get some impressions of actual use. And since I don't have an iPhone, hearing about how others are using Olive Tree's Bible Reader for iPhone will definitely have to do. Here is a snippet from a review at This Lamp

...Regardless of these early snags, Olive Tree’s venture into the iPhone platform looks very promising. I am hopeful I can eventually reproduce the same functionality with Bible texts on my iPhone that I had previously experienced on my Treo. Since useful iPhone Bible functionality is something I am genuinely seeking, expect to see more on This Lamp about the subject as new developments arise.

Read the rest of this very through review at This Lamp.

Thanks for the headsup on this one DB, The Foolish Galatian.

Labels: Apple, Bible, community, iPhone, iPod Touch, Olivetree, reading, resources, software

Cool post over at Palm Addict about how a person preached a sermon using the mobile device. Here's a snippet:

...After the service, we were discussing what kind of plant it was, so I pulled out my Treo, launched PalmBible+ and started a quick word search. I finally got the English name for the weed that was most likely the one Christ was talking about (the bearded darnell), and looked up pictures of it with Blazer on Google Images.I also was able to look up the Polish name using the Lingvosoft English-Polish dictionary, and everybody was able to see exactly what plant Christ meant, and everybody was amazed at how similar it looked to wheat on first glance, yet, at the same time, was quite different. ..

Read the rest at Palm Addcit.

Labels: Bible+, dictionary, Palm Addict, PDA, resources, software

One of the things that I've tried to do, even before starting Mobile Ministry Magazine, has been to reduce my computing needs to the bare essentials as much as possible. A big reason for doing so is because I've been one to travel a good bit and besides taking long trips, I tend to have taken many trips. Ironically, this weekend, I hit 100,000 miles in my 3yr old Civic.

Knowing what I can do with as few physical materials as possible is something that is a bit of an aim of being mobile. To skillfully and effective utilize the environment and services offered so that one can get a job done and connect. Andy Abramson, CEO of Comunicano, Inc. (an advertising, marketing and public relations agency based in Del Mar, CA), tends to do writes a blog called Working Anywhere and in a recent post talks about some of the tools that he uses as a global nomad.

...Basically, I've built the company (and am now rebuilding my house) by being the executive who works anywhere but the traditional office, allowing for a business lifestyle that is highly productive, and mostly more effortless than many people would ever imagine. For example right now I'm in Europe, floating between Lisbon, Portugal, Barcelona, Paris and London over a two-week period. After that I’ll be on the East Coast, the West Coast, back to the East Coast, into the Midwest, all before August 9, when I finally move back into my house. Along the way I’m staying in very business executive work-friendly and amazingly artistic, modern and well run hotels, all of which offer very high-quality Internet and many of the comforts and services a business traveler needs...

That's a good deal of traveling and the really good thing about this post is that while many of us might not have his resources, we can utilize some of the behaviors and services in our own capacities to make traveling less of an issue, or in the case of missions work, less a chore of logistics and more of just going and serving.

Check out the rest of the post The Tools of The Global Nomad at Working Everywhere and let's chat about some of the tools or behaviors that you have found sufficient in those times when you've been more nomad than settler.

Disclosure: Comunicano has worked with MMM in the past through the Nokia Blogger Relations program to provide devices and notification of services that may or may not be relevant to our community.

Labels: communication, community, computer, data, devices, environment, flexibility, mobile, mobile accessories, mobility, Nokia, resources, stewardship, sustainability, tools, usability

I've spent the better part of the last few weeks thinking about the idea of a Bible Notes application and have been drafting some ideas about how such an application can work out. However, I want to throw some questions out there as I am pretty sure that I am not considering everything when it comes to something like this. If you could be so kind as to respond to these quetsions in the comments to this post, it would be greatly appreciated - and possibly help any developers who are looking at doing something like this.

• Do you use a browser that has the ability to view/save/edit content when you are offline?
• Is tagging and searching of notes more important, as important, or less important than the notes content itself?
• How do you feel about being able to link to content from other websites easily (verses, commentaries, Wikipedia terms, etc.)? Would you prefer the application came with preset resources, or was a user-added feature?
• If you are a pastor, could you see an application like this assisting both in sermon preparation and study follow-up?
• How would you feel about using this kind of an application on a laptop, smartphone, tablet, etc. during services, studies? Would you encourage the use of mobile tech if such a program is used?

These are some of my thoughts, do you have any others?

Labels: Bible, browser, commentary, community, developer, notes, resources, software, tech, web application