In an age of technology and ever growing opportunities through the social media world, we struggle with incorporating technology in our ministry, worship, and congregation. There's a line that we are afraid to cross because if we go too far one way we are catering to the younger generation, but, if we go too far the other way we feel like we aren't connecting with the younger adults and youth who are connected to technology. So, how do we reach that balance? How do we catch up with the digital age without offending someone or feeling like we have left someone behind? It's a question I have been pondering for quite sometime.
Let's talk about the areas we all agree on first.
I think it is safe to assume that most congregations have a website and use PowerPoint (or some form of program) for their song service. If we have those things we feel we are set! We are connecting with everyone. If that is the case, why do we still have songbooks in the pews and bulletins in paper form each week? One, there are some people who still prefer the songbook and two, there are some who still prefer their bulletin in paper form instead. Again, there is a balance. With our bulletins we tend to stuff them with information that is constantly being repeated, instead I believe we should make sure the repeating information is part of the electronic bulletin that we place on our website. Our bulletins need to be filled of current information, so our readers will want to read it each week. We have to start connecting technology within our congregation. We are still losing our younger generation. So, the question is how do we connect them with information?
For some people, a newsletter is sufficient. However, we live in a society where it's about the here and now. A generation that does not really plan ahead but goes off the cuff. So, how do we connect with this generation?
There are a number of ways. Let's think about all the avenues we have to put information out in a matter of seconds. Facebook (although this is a declining tool for the younger generation, while the older generation is beginning to jump on board at a higher rate), Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Vine, Snapchat... The list is really endless. Most of our students and young adults, are connected to something on that list. For my student ministry, it's instagram. In fact, I get made fun of because I still have and use Facebook. The majority of their time is spent on Instagram which is a photos app where you can take a picture, add a filter, and upload it for all your followers to see. So, I have created an instagram account for our ministry (@fusionnewsga) where I will find images relating to an upcoming event or I will take a picture of a note I have written to remind them of upcoming events, to share with them things that our other students are doing, etc.
You are not limited in the ways to get the younger generation connected with your congregation or ministry. The limitation is that you may not understand these social media apps, but it is up to us, those who are involved in church work and ministry, to figure it out and to stay on top of the social media trend. When someone talks about Kik, we need to know what that app is. When someone says, "Man you gotta see this video on vine", we need to understand what Vine is.
On the same token, if we are on top of the social media trend, we also understand the dangers that come with certain social media apps and websites. So, it is our responsibility to educate students, parents, young adults on how to be responsible within the realm of social media. It helps our parents to be aware of what their child is doing when they talk about Tumblr, snapchat, or other social media arenas.
Technology can be very beneficial to church work and ministry, if we know what we are doing, use it effectively, and understand our responsibility in finding ways to connect every member of our congregation.
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