Tonight I was using StumbleUpon which is a program that helps you surf the web. It is a free tool which lets you literally stumble upon random web sites. Well this evening I found this website called 24-7 Prayer. 24-7prayer started by accident in September 1999, with a bunch of young people in England who got the crazy idea of trying to pray non-stop for a month. As they say God turned up and they couldn't stop till Christmas! From there the prayer meeting has spread into many nations, denominations and age-groups. Hundreds of non-stop prayer meetings now link up here on the web to form a unique chain of prayer. This web site reminds me of the power of prayer. It also reminds me of the prayers being lifted throughout the world every single moment of every single day.
24-7 Prayer, Prayer Across The Nations...
N-Spire, Youth Ministry Database Software
A few years ago I was checking out a friend of mines brand new palm pilot. I was curious when I saw a link to some program called N-Spire. I asked him about it and he told me it was this youth ministry database program that he had been using at the church. After returning home I did some research on my own. I contacted the company and requested a demo version to check out. I was immediately very impressed. This is a little bit of how the company explains itself. N·Spire is a database written by experienced programmers with the assistance of seasoned ministers. The basic concept behind the development of N·Spire is to provide a tool to enhance relationships. When ministers cultivate better relationships between themselves and their congregation, and better relationships between individuals, visitors, and volunteers, their ministries can begin to address the higher purpose they have been charged with.
I've been very impressed over the years to see how they have evolved and upgraded their software to meet new needs. If you have a chance check them out at N-Spire Software
Highway Video makes media and ministry collide
I was introduced to the Highway video series through a friend of mine who uses them with his church. These are great for prompting dialog with participants. From what we know about learning styles we need as many teaching tools as possible. Visual ministry tools like these are vital to reaching all of your young people. Check out Highway Video
Text messaging at upoc.com
Text messaging has been around for a while. Over the last year or so its become much more accessible now that it comes with almost all cell phones. Its become so popular that schools and businesses have created rules against using them. We all have kids during youth group or on retreats pulling them out and connecting with friends or even parents. I believe the church can use this technology for ministry. Upoc.com Lets you send text messages to all your youth group kids and start mobile groups, so you can send one message that everyone gets. You can start a group for your junior highs and another for your senior highs -- as many as you need to stay connected with your young people. Some suggestions for how you might use this service are...Prayer Requests, Upcoming Events, Announcement and also just taking the time to ask your young people how they are. This is a great way to extend your presence in the lives of your young people throughout the week. Check it out at http://www.upoc.com
MethodX (the way of Christ)
MethodX is an amazing web site of Upper Room Ministries®, an interdenominational, global Christian ministry. Methodx was the first of its kind in my opinion. It is the first ministry related web site that is more than just words. It provides a online community of faith for Young Adults. Its interactive and very well done. I would strongly recommend sharing this site with your young adults. Check it out at MethodX
We must use the web to stay connected with youth
This is not just a discussion about web pages anymore. Hundreds of thousands of churches decided in the late nineties that in order to stay connected with their young people they needed to have a web site. Most churches didn't really approach that project with any sort of plan or objective. Well, maybe there was an objective, to simply just have a web site. I recall overhearing conversations in youth ministry circles about what unique things they were doing to stay connected with young people. So many of them would list having a web site as one of those. I was always curious as to what the big deal was. What makes your web site so cool or cutting edge?
Here we are 5 years later, most churches still have that same web site with bad clip art and lots of words. What good is that space doing? Are we really taking full advantage of the web as a ministry tool?
I'm not starting this blog to point fingers at who is right and wrong, or who is cutting edge and who is cutting nothing. I'm starting this blog to begin a real conversation about the possibilities. The possibilities of where the web can take us in ministry.
I'd like to offer Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church's Youth Ministry website as an example of where we can go. Check it out when you have a chance.