TrinityStrong

The Gospel according to Twitter

2009-05-28T12:49:00.001-07:00

Amy Green

Religion News Service

May 26, 2009

ORLANDO, Fla. (RNS) -- Do you tweet during church? Isn't it rude?

David Loveless doesn't think so. Loveless is lead pastor of Discovery Church, a nondenominational congregation that draws some 4,000 on Sundays to three locations in Orlando. The congregation has always thrived on the cutting edge, becoming among the first to embrace contemporary music and remove its steeple from its building.

Now the congregation is tweeting -- using 21st-century technology to discuss the gospel in 140-character cell-phone text updates sent via Twitter.

The technology emerged naturally here, as something parishioners brought with them to Sundays from the rest of their week. Loveless recognized it as a new way to communicate, and he began posing questions during his sermons and asking parishioners to "tweet" back by texting their responses. Those responses were then woven into his sermons, creating an instantaneous dialogue between pulpit and pew.

"In John 1, when Jesus was referred to as `the Word that became flesh,' God knew exactly what was the most relevant form of communication for the first century," Loveless said. "It made people feel like, `My gosh, he talks my language.' That would be people's responses these days, in going, `My gosh, my pastor tweets.'"

It is the newest technology arriving in contemporary church services. In fact, it's so new, and growing so fast, that there's no data to say just how many churches have embraced it.

No longer is the cell phone such a pariah -- only ringing cell phones are. Instead, church leaders are inviting worshippers to tweet and text their way through services as a way to share their prayers and reflections with neighbors in the pews, or their family, friends and "followers" on Twitter.

"It's a hot-bed issue right now, and people are on two sides of the fence about it," said Matt Carlisle, a Nashville, Tenn.-based technology and new media consultant for faith-based groups and nonprofits.

"As Christians, we are to witness, we are to make disciples for Jesus Christ. And if we can embrace new technology to do that, I don't see any reason why we shouldn't embrace Twitter, why we shouldn't embrace Facebook."

Many church leaders embraced new media such as Twitter and Facebook long ago as a way to create an online gathering place and promote upcoming events. Now some are taking it further, encouraging tweeting and texting during services as a way to create dialogue and strengthen a sense of community.

Michael Campbell, the 30-year-old pastor of the 230-member Montrose Seventh-day Adventist Church in Montrose, Colo., poses questions during his sermons and asks worshippers to text their responses, which are displayed on a screen. Like Loveless, Campbell then discusses the responses.

In other congregations, Twitter has emerged quietly and organically, with parishioners tweeting their reflections during services in the same way they tweet their thoughts or activities throughout the week. The dialogue also allows real-time discussion and gives those who couldn't make it a chance to monitor services from afar.

"I'm a younger pastor," Campbell said. "You're just building that sense of community, and people are interested in that because now they are part of the sermon."

But isn't it distracting? Doesn't it detract from the contemplative and meditative nature of spirituality? Carlisle points out that parishioners long have been taking notes during services, and that never has been distracting to others.

"I don't think the etiquette has been established yet," he said.

"Literally, within a year's time, this thing has been happening at a handful of congregations."

At Mars Hill Church in Seattle, leaders never decided to add Twitter to services. It just happened, said Ian Sanderson, a church spokesman.

The nondenominational congregation draws some 8,000 worshippers at nine locations, including a new one in Albuquerque, N.M. Seattle is a tech-savvy place, and the average member at Mars Hill is in his or her 20s. Tweeting and texting encourages dialogue across the congregation's multiple locations, and it helps church staff keep up with what parishioners are thinking and feeling, Sanderson said.

"I would say probably 80 or 90 percent of the church staff is on Twitter," he said. "If the old rules aren't helping anyone in their walk and their relationship with Jesus, if you can pull out your iPhone and Twitter something about the sermon and that helps your whole group of friends, we're not going to frown on that at all."

Rick Ross on BET's Lift Every Voice???

2009-05-27T14:50:00.001-07:00

Check this out!...Rapper Rick Ross on BET's Lift Every Voice...talking about...?

12 protesters cite faith in Pa. gun shop arrests - The Phoenix News: Serving Phoenixville, PA

2009-05-27T14:43:00.001-07:00

12 protesters cite faith in Pa. gun shop arrests - The Phoenix News: Serving Phoenixville, PA

Posted using ShareThis

Jesus Film to Target More Sophisticated Countries

2009-05-27T14:38:00.000-07:00

Nearly 30 years after "The Jesus Film’s" debut, the ministry that created the most translated movie in history is working to develop more sophisticated tools to reach western and highly developed countries.

“We are going to make probably more effort because we don’t have the equipment, tools and resources that are really speaking well to the first world and the media sophisticated, the U.S. and Europe,” said Greg Gregoire, senior associate at The Jesus Film Project, to The Christian Post.

“So we are going to spend a little more focus on developing tools that work there,” he said, noting countries and cities such as Berlin, Singapore, and Los Angeles.

Since "The Jesus Film" debuted in English on Oct. 19, 1979, it has been translated into 1,055 languages and has been seen by more than 6 billion people from every country in the world. Out of the billions of people that have seen the film, there are a recorded 225 million that have indicated a decision for Christ.

The Jesus Film Project is a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, International, one of the world’s largest nonprofit, interdenominational organizations. Although the film began as a ministry tool for CCC, it has now been accepted by many groups in the body of Christ as their primary evangelistic tool, Gregoire pointed out. More than 1,500 Christian organizations are using the film to share the Gospel.

In addition to "The Jesus Film," the ministry in recent years has created derivative products from the film to respond to the need of churches. Some of the products include a film made for children that answers questions only kids would ask, and a movie about Jesus told through the eyes of Mary Magdalena.

The film "Magdalena: Released from Shame," released last year, has received strong positive support from women around the world. It has been shown in parts of the world where women face discrimination because of their gender to communicate to oppressed women that there is a man who cares for them and wants to extend dignity to them.

In the short time since it debuted, Magdalena has been translated into over 40 languages with another 50 translations in progress.

The ministry is also currently working with other groups to produce a new version of "The Jesus Film." Gregoire noted that the film is 30 years old and does not “compete” well in the market place.

Furthermore, the ministry has recently produced several short films to reach out to youths who are not interested in watching or talking about Jesus, but are typically interested in discussing films. The short six- to seven-minute films are meant to initiate conversations about spirituality.

There are also plans for an anime version of "The Jesus Film."

The ministry does not plan to hold any special events to mark the 30th anniversary of the film’s debut, according to Gregoire. Instead, staffs will gather for the biannual meeting this summer to pray and remember what God has used the ministry for over the years.

Michelle A. Vu
Christian Post Reporter

Encourage Yourself

2009-05-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

Sometimes there is no one around to give you a word! You need to call on God and encourage yourself!!

Encourage Yourself - Donald Lawrence/The Tri-City Singers

God is a Superfriend!

2009-04-28T21:43:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking a lot lately....of how the church is changing and how the younger generation is going to soon take over!...It is time to let the stereotypes go and accept the new.
This is a song that really blessed me!

Superfriend - ft. David Banner - Mary Mary

Welcome!!

2009-04-25T14:34:00.000-07:00

What's up everyone??....Just beginning this blog to bring everyone some daily encouragement!...Continue to follow, I will do my best to post current news in the church, videos, etc....God Bless

Here is a video that encourages me!