Technology Requires Changes in Communication Methods

Those of you who are regular readers of my blog know that I enjoy encouraging churches and ministry leaders to be more effective in reaching the next generation for Christ. A couple of weeks ago Baptist Press picked up on one of my blogs and published it. It was then re-published by various Baptist newspapers, church newsletters and websites of all sorts. The same week Associated Baptist Press (the competition!) picked up on a second blog and quoted a significant portion of it in an article that eventually found its way into a newspaper in Dallas, Texas.

When I consider that a missionary in a relatively small out of the way corner of the Kingdom of God, such as Vermont, is impacting people across our denomination through something he wrote on a blog, I am reminded of just how powerful technology can be in our ministry. Technology is no longer just a "convenient" tool for communication, it is fast becoming one of the "primary" tools through which we communicate. 

Emails, text messages, web sites, Facebook pages, and blogs have now become regular ministry tools for many pastors and missionaries, especially those serving the next generation. Pastors and churches that fail to grasp the power of such technology will quickly find themselves outside the loop. Though using such technologies can sometimes be frustrating, we must overcome our frustration and learn to use them. They are no longer optional. 

Recently I was teaching these concepts to a group of leaders in New Mexico and a number expressed appreciation to me for pointing out what they already knew deep inside but had not found a way to vocalize. Effective communication in our culture is changing, and we must change with it if we want to continue to share the Gospel with the next generation.