connect: using technology for faith formation
DESCRIPTION
If you want to learn how social media, texting, and the internet can be tools you can use instead of things to avoid, this is the workshop for you! This basic introduction to some emerging tools and technologies will show how they can help enhance the ministries of the local church.TRANSCRIPT
Connect: Using Technology for
Faith Formation
Beth Lewis, President & CEO
Augsburg FortressAugust 2010
All Rights Reserved © 2010 Augsburg Fortress
Why do we care?
The world has changed….
Faith Formation
168 hours- 1 hour167 hours
A Week in the Life Weekly Time Spent in Hours:Minutes
By Age Demographic 4Q 2009
K2-11T12-
17 A18-24A25-
34A35-49 A50-64 A65+
On Traditional TV25:17 23:24 26:14 31:58 35:40 42:38 47:21
Watching Timeshifted TV1:33 1:15 1:28 2:58 2:44 2:22 1:10
Using the Internet0:24 1:21 3:45 5:20 6:35 4:53 2:17
Watching Video on Internet
0:04 0:15 0:39 0:35 0:33 0:17 0:06
Mobile Subscribers Watching Video on a Mobile Phone
n/a 0:21 0:08 0:06 0:01 <0:01 n/a
Source: Nielsenwire, March 2010
Source: Nielsenwire May 2010
But, let’s step back to the new “open door”…. your website
Calvary LC-Minneapolis, MNwww.clchurch.org
Holy Spirit LC, Las Vegas, NV www.holyspiritlc.org
Various groups to reach various interests
Trinity United Methodist ChurchHomewood, AL
www.trinitybirmingham.com
Kids blogLinks to Sunday School,
Kids Bible Study, Kids
Choir, etc.
Invitation to Starbucks Bible StudyTrinity LC
Lansdale, PAwww.trinitylansdale.com
Phinney Ridge LC, Seattle, WA Uses their site to educate on the seasons of the church year
www.prlc.org
Link to an external photo site Emmaus LC- Racine, WI
www.emmaus-racine.org
Free RSS feeds including Lectionary Readings list
www.augsburgfortress.org
Forms, policies, etc.
Newsletter sign-up House for All Sinners & Saints
Denver, COwww.houseforall.org
Web based time & talent inventoryGloria Dei LCOlympia, WA
www.gloriadayolympia.org
Privacy policyBethlehem LC
Encinitas, CA http://www.blcenc.org
Social Networking
Social Networking Sites
• Using an existing site– Facebook.com– Facebook.com/sparksundayschool – Twitter– Bookoffaith.ning.com– Creativeworshiptour.com
• Congregation-specific• Specific interest areas
– Parents of preschool children– Families with teenagers– Small group members– Prospective students– Current participants
Interesting blog post re: successfully using Facebook ads to invite people to Christmas performances
http://blog.ourchurch.com
My Twitter feeds my Facebook page…one stop communication
New England Synod Group page
Faith LC, Chico, CA group page
http://bookoffaith.ning.com
www.bookoffaith.org www.bookoffaith.ning.com
Blogs• Personality-driven, not like other
organizational communications• More like a personal letter• Keep it current• Links to your site and others’• Choose your blogger(s) carefully• Authenticity is essential• Invite & encourage, but moderate comments
Blogs invite participationBook discussion group at Halfway Creek LC
Holmen, WIwww.halfwaycreek.org
http://sarcasticlutheran.typepad.com/sarcastic_lutheran
Or, you can have a video blogTrinity Episcopal, Sacramento, CA
www.trinitycathedral.org
“For those of you who don’t have a blog yet, think of one as a large yellow Labrador: friendly, fun, not all that bright, but constantly
demanding your attention.”…..David Carr
New York Times columnist
So, you want to reach high school & college students?
Young adults?
Texting: the communications tool of choice for high school & college students and young adultsA possible solution for group text messaging: http://www.tatango.com
Help! I can’t do all of this!• Volunteers & student interns• Youth service projects• Class projects• Free help:
– www.augsburgfortress.org/rss/ – www.elca.org/webministry/ – http://www.lutherlink.org – www.creativeworshiptour.com – Synod communicators
Technology enhanced faith formation resources
Here We Stand Confirmation 2.0 launched June 2010www.augsburgfortress.org/herewestand
Video instruction for HWS 2.0 & moreSubscribe to the Augsburg Fortress channel on YouTube
www.youtube.com/user/augsburgfortress
Subscribe to the sparkhouse channel on You Tubewww.youtube.com/user/wearesparkhouse
Communion Preparation Resourceswww.fedandforgiven.com
• Leader Guide • DVD • Learner resource Pre K-K • Learner resource Grades 1-3 • Learner resource Grades 4-6 • Learner resource Adult • Communion Certificate • Resource kit : DVD, Leader Guide, 1 copy of each
of the other items.
Coming soon….“The Greatest Story”
Worship & the Web
Free downloadable lectionary dates
www.augsburgfortress.org/redbook
My favorite tech-tools
Amazon KindleFlip Video
Smart phone
Wireless access card
One mission. One future. Together.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if we may assist you!
Beth [email protected]
http://twitter.com/bethalewis www.augsburgfortress.org/blog