Comments on: Christian Web Trends 2007 Predictions

By: P.R.B.

P.R.B. — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:47:07 +0000

I think that the only way any “christian” could stay on tops on the internet if they compromise with things of these world, but hey don’t most christians when it comes to makes the big money? They will even sell the Name of Jesus to make it big in this world. Pretty sad but none the less it is true. What does it have to do with this article? Probably not much to those who are blind but those who can see and have not defiled themselves with the world will agree. When I hear someone claim to predict or prophesy I dont take it to heart, joke or no joke. People do many foolish things in the Name of God!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 02:51:22 +0000

Wasn’t Pat Robinson the same one who predicted that the world would end in the early 1980s. I remember that I was fairly young at the time and it scared me horribly. I think that people of faith, particularly in leadership positions, should be more responsible with “predictions”.
My son, now 8, was very worried about the terrorist attacks on 9/11…I thank God that he didn’t hear Pat Robinson’s words before I could change the channel.

By: Paul Steinbrueck

Paul Steinbrueck — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 18:56:32 +0000

Lisa – Thanks for your insightful comments. A few responses…

I’m not too concerned about churches who don’t utilize online video being left behind, at least not yet. At this point, video is not expected. It’s a bonus, an opportunity.

I agree completely that web 2.0/social networking is a great opportunity for sharing the gospel with others online.

Interesting point about setting up a second site or at least a second hosting account for media files.

By: Paul Steinbrueck

Paul Steinbrueck — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 18:40:09 +0000

Pastor Lynn – Great point. Sometimes people who are quick to embrace technology mistakenly assume everyone is using the same tools they are. You definitely have to know your audience.

By: » Informing People on Their Terms

» Informing People on Their Terms — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 18:12:24 +0000

[...] In our last blog article I posted some 2007 predictions, focusing on trends in communication technology and their impact on Christian ministry. The prediction that sparked the most comments and the one I’ve been thinking most about recently is, “Organizations will have to inform people on their terms.” [...]

By: David Hackett

David Hackett — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 16:32:31 +0000

I’d like to highlight, by way of a prediction for 2007, the rise of mobile-platform-based ministries. This aspect isn’t addressed in the writer’s predictions and I think it deserves a focus. Already, I’m told, more people in the US have their first experience of the Web through a phone than through a computer. Phones are nearly ubiquitous.

I am amazed at the diversity of mobile (cell phone) applications as ministries and businesses discover the audience that wants to access Christian information through their phones.

I invite you to visit a wiki I’ve created to list these: http://snipurl.com/Mobilev

The rapid growth of these ministries will flower in 2007 with the mainstreaming of mobile-accessible ministries – for evangelism purposes as well.

Dave Hackett

By: Lisa Johns

Lisa Johns — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 14:24:07 +0000

Paul,
I think for the most part you are accurate with your predictions of where the Web is headed and where the Church – in many parts of the country – should be if they want to reach non-Christians. I had a few comments about each of your predictions.

As online video goes mainstream, churches with small budgets could easily be left behind. This is the time for us to begin finding who in our congregations is into online video and whether they will help the church move in that direction. As technology spreads faster than churches can afford to purchase it, we need to be thinking about the early church concepts of sharing all that we have for the common good. This would include talent and skills along with spiritual gifts and things.

Web 2.0 – what an opportunity for online missions! Rather than being alarmed that the youth in our congregations are moving toward these technologies, we need to equip them to share the Gospel online. Audio, video, text – all can be used to spread the Gospel. If that’s where the non-Christians are, then that’s where we need to be.

CMS probably will increase rapidly, but we may see some backlash as webmasters lose some control while conforming to the CMS structure and realize the difficulty of moving larger sites from a more traditional host to a CMS. Before completely abandoning sites in favor of CMS, look into using both types at the same time. Traditional hosting is great for large amounts of data, and can be less expensive. While you may want a CMS to provide functionality, you may need a traditional host to hold all your audio, video and text files. The two can run seemlessly with multiple domain names. (I’m not an expert, but we’ve tried it with success at http://www.newlifexn.org – done in a CMS – and http://www.newlifexn.com – done in FrontPage.)

Most people I know are already searching online for everything, even if they don’t do much else on the Web.

Organizations will have to inform people on their terms. Yes, but first we need to determine the terms of our audiences. They might be using high-speed or dial-up, sitting on an airplane or walking miles to an Internet cafe. The audience is key, and defining it can be difficult. Sites definitely need to focus more on non-Christians; but they also need to determine the needs of local, regional, national and International visitors. The Web has far reaching implications, literally. We can’t assume that the only people using our site are from our congregation or even local or regional. We have the power to change lives all over the world, and we need to take that responsibility seriously. This may mean multiple sites, multiple versions of a single site and/or separate points of entry for different groups.

We’re coming to a day when the whole world could hear about a single event in a day. The Web will be the largest part of that, and then the other media will pick it up from there. We don’t know when Jesus is coming, but we’d best not waste the evangelistic and discipleship opportunities laid before us thinking we have time.

By: Reflections » Blog Archive » Web Trends for 2007, and what it means for ministry

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 02:31:59 +0000

[...] The Christian Web Trends Blog has published Christian Web Trends 2007 Predictions. In the article they list five trends for 2007 that have implications for the church: [...]

By: Pastor Lynn Walker

Pastor Lynn Walker — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 14:27:45 +0000

Howdy!
You are certainly right about one thing. Organizations are going to have to communicate and inform people on THEIR terms. Out here in rural Oklahoma, not everyone is able or willing to keep up with the outrageous speed of change in technology. My sister-in-law in Dallas sends me emails that take me forever to download on my old phone modem. Guess what?? Most of them just get deleted because I don’t have time to mess with it. I do love our new web site hosted by ourchurch.com, and it is a wonderful tool, but I still have to make phone calls, and go down to the local coffee shop to “inter-act” with my people. I get all excited about the possibilities of all this new technology and think about upgrading equipment and jumping right in the middle of all of it, then I think about who I am ministering to. A lot o fmy people are just now learning to use email and are struggling to download pictures of the grand kids!! I’m sure that your predictions about on line video will become reality in your neck of the woods, but you know….I still like goin’ down to that coffee shop!!!

Have a Blessed Day,
Pastor Lynn
http://www.cowboycountrychurch.com

By: Dr. Lawrence Ventline

Dr. Lawrence Ventline — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 12:57:49 +0000

Maybe you had too much eggnog. Unless believers reach out from a rather smug, inclusive and absolutist posture, in some denominations, walking is what I predict . . . to booming “private” spirituality without the organizational spin and twist.

Rev. Dr. Lawrence Ventline
http://www.creofthesoul.org