In a post today, Wes Woodell, on his blog West Coast Witness, asked the question(s) "Is Social Media Just a Fad? Will Facebook Fade Like Vanilla Ice?" Included in that post was a YouTube video from Socialnomics (Watch Below). Both reaffirm the reality that social media has parked its massive rear end in our culture/world and isn't getting up in the foreseeable future. The question for the church is: WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? Several lectures and conversations I have heard recently have been quick to demonize social media. A substantial number of professors I have encountered in a college that trains/prepares ministers, are outwardly opposed to it. Likewise, there is no curriculum to train ministers to use it. Regardless of your opinion on the dangers of texting in traffic or the deficits of grammar in today's youth, it is negligent to conclude that the form of communication among the world's population is going to miraculously digress to 20th century practices. Communication will continue to evolve, but it is apparent that social media is going to be part of the method. If we cannot embrace social media sufficiently to deliver the message of Christ in a way that a significant portion of the population communicates, we do nothing more than do evangelism on OUR TERMS rather than following the pattern of the Bible.
Comment by Ryan Parsons on October 3, 2009 at 10:51am
Sorry I couldn't make it to the webinar. We had lectureship here this past week. Unfortunately there wasn't anything related to using SM in ministry.
I wholeheartedly agree in the approach you described for using social media in ministry. While it is positive that the message will become "broadcast medium" as a byproduct, it shouldn't be the focus. I was impressed that the business world recognizes this. The Social Media Bible says one of the most important facets of SM is developing trust within the relationship. I pray more people in the church will use it with that focus in their individual relationships.
Did the webinar get recorded? I would love to hear the discussion.
Comment by James Nored on October 3, 2009 at 10:25am
Ryan, great points, post, and video. We do indeed need to raise awareness in churches and colleges about the importance of social media for ministry and outreach.
We had a great webinar fthis week on MON for using Twitter to reach the unchurched. @MarketerMikeE shared some great thoughts with us about people he and others had reached. Their approach? Using social media as social media--interacting with people, befriending them, caring about them, and inviting them. Not as a broadcast medium.
What are your thoughts on this? Hope you can join us at the next Twitter webinar. We would benefit from your presence.
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