We are less than five years from the next decade and everything that could be posed for technology's influence on the 2020s is fair game to be pitched. From driver-less automobiles, to Artificial Intelligence (AI) as school teachers, we tend to dream a lot bigger than what actually happens - while also underestimating what impacts smaller ripples might incur (this is similar to a Bill Gates quote).
It has been just about a month, and the fervor of Pokemon Go seems to have not slowed down any. And it is pretty easy to see why: nostalgia, marketing, mobiles, and a healthy dose of a summertime. A captive audience has made this the app of the season. As with most trends, churches have found themselves in the crosshairs. However, churches are finding Pokemon Go opening former discussions about using tools and behaviors in the Christian space which had been designed for secular perspectives. Is there a perspective where Pokemon Go passes the muster as church-aiding technology?
Planting a church is hard work. In the early stages, a small group of people handles the brunt of the workload. Sunday set-up, child care, budgets, communications, you name it. Resources may be low, but solutions are still necessary. Thankfully, technology can help ease some of the burdens.
Today’s church member is more engaged than ever through the help of modern technology. Why wouldn’t they be? They’re constantly connected, spending a whopping eight hours and 41 minutes every day on media devices—over three hours of which are one mobile phones.
There's no doubt that mobile is important in the life of the Church. If your church is struggling to know how to communicate well, what to do about the bulletin, or what technology might perhaps be vital in the years to come, it's a fact that mobile devices and communication will be at the forefront.
Marketing has changed dramatically in the past few years. Gone are the days of seeing an ad, locating the product online and making a purchase without doing further research. Tech savvy buyers go online to read, review and ask others about products that interest them.
The mobile device industry has touched nearly everyone in ministry in one way or another. Mobile use is now nearly ubiquitous, as well as incredibly diverse and accessible.
So what does mobile look like for folks who work in ministry but do not have pastoral roles? Ministries such as children's and youth ministry, church communication and marketing, and welcome teams and facilities management face some of the most changes in terms of mobile. With accessible mobile devices and services, what does the future for interactions look like for these ministries?