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Remember way back when, when we all voted on panels for SxSW?

Videos of today’s SxSW gathering are already hitting YouTube.  Thanks Tony Steward for streaming live on your iPhone.

Technology For Results, Not Profits featured a couple of the LifeChurch.tv digerati, Terry Storch & Bobby Grunewald, engaging audience members on ways nonprofits can maintain and even grow their support base.

“Profit isn’t a bad thing. When you incorporate free tools to engage your users (like LifeChurch.tv’s youversion), you are funded from a philanthropic perspective – people donate to support the cause,” Grunewald said.

Churches – quantify your results.
“It can be even more important for nonprofits to use online analytic services to stay in touch with their communities. Because many nonprofits are local, it’s important for members to feel connected and to know that their organization is in touch with them. As a nonprofit, it’s important to see your measurable results compared to how your community is actually doing. Crunch the numbers. See if you’re making an impact.” (via http://sxtxstate.com/)

Is your church measuring their results overall and in every department at every level?  If so how?  What metrics do you use and what do you measure?

Zappos is a growing company with a unique culture, an innovative marketing style, and a brilliant reputation.  Compared to most young upstart companies, it’s pretty amazing what they’ve accomplished.

In 10 years Zappos has grown from “nothing” into a billion dollar industry leader, no small feat if you’re just selling shoes!  When this happens in business, it’s no accident.  When a company is doing this well following their launch they’re worth studying.

Given, the Church is obviously not a “business” that can be governed by “best” practices.   But that being said, can your church learn anything from Zappos?  In fact, is it possible that Zappos may be activating spiritual principles and successful because of it? And if more churches were doing the same we could see greater things accomplished? Zappos has been fruitful, and multiplied.  How’d they do that?

According to the company, it’s pretty simple.  They’re able to define their core values in 10 sentences.  See the following….

Zappos Core Values

As we grow as a company, it has become more and more important to explicitly define the Zappos core values from which we develop our culture, our brand, and our business strategies. These are the ten core values that we live by:

1. Deliver WOW Through Service
2. Embrace and Drive Change
3. Create Fun and A Little Weirdness
4. Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded
5. Pursue Growth and Learning
6. Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication
7. Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit
8. Do More With Less
9. Be Passionate and Determined
10. Be Humble

I don’t know about you but I can think of scriptures that most of these values reflect.  Do you see any scriptural foundations in Zappos core values?

It’s likely that having a clear vision, mission & set of core values might be what sets your church apart…. or not.  Clear definition creates intense focus, momentum & effectiveness.  Think of ambient lighting versus a laser beam.

Can your church state it’s core values?

As we continue our march into the future, Christians are continually challenged by the global reality of the Digital Age.  Online technologies are creating an immersive culture of connectivity.  What was formerly known as back channel communication (and considered a niche stream of information) is now in the forefront of our communication preferences.

As we grapple together about the impacts that technology may have on the practice of our faith, some Pastors are writing about it (SimChurch – Douglas Estes, Flickering Pixels – Shane Hipps), some Communication specialists are making predictions about it (Ministry in a Post-Christian Digital Society – Part 1 – Jake Johnson), some University professors (Lessons from Babel – Dr. Dave Bourgeois) are studying it, some theological seminary graduates are cautioning us about it (Don’t Eat the Fruit – John Dyer) and some developers are forging ahead with new amazing new applications (YouVersionLive – Terry Storch) for harnessing it’s potential.

I’ve taken a full 10 days off blogging about technology & the church, something I haven’t done in 5 years.  I’m still pondering the polarizing and controversial conversations that surfaced at  the Christian Web Conference at Biola University.  No easy answers but lots of questions.  What are you thinking about when it comes to online church?

I’m just guessing you may not know who this is.   Let me introduce you to Peter Thourson, the guy who’s just basically responsible for streaming live church services on the iPhone.   You heard me right.    Peter works at New Hope in Hawaii along side the church’s Technology and Innovations Director, Michael Sharpe.   In case you’re unfamiliar with New Hope, maybe you’re heard of Pastor Wayne Cordeiro, the congregation’s Lead Pastor.  I’ve blogged my church attendance at New Hope before because they’re in my Foursquare family.

I interviewed Peter recently since they’re a good 6 weeks into mobile streaming their services.  Here’s Peter’s take on a couple of the questions Christian leaders find themselves wrestling with these days:

So here’s the deal, about a month ago, on July 4th, New Hope Christian Fellowship, a large Foursquare Church in Hawaii, launched the first iPhone church services.   DJ Chuang did a great job of covering the story at Digital (Leadership Network’s “tech for laypeople” blog).  The last time I was at New Hope I blogged it here.

Here’s what the press release, looked like – Hawaii Church Becomes First to Stream Live Video to iPhone:

Less than two weeks after the release of Apple’s iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3.0 update, Honolulu-based New Hope Christian Fellowship (http://www.enewhope.org) has announced that it will begin streaming its weekend worship services live to iPhone and iPod touch users.

Live streaming to the iPhone was one of the most requested features from church attendees, and is now possible with the inclusion of HTTP live streaming in Apple’s iPhone 3.0 software. New Hope’s addition of live streaming to the iPhone is significant in that it is the first non-profit organization to offer this type of service. “Typically, churches are years behind other organizations when it comes to technology and innovation. We have tried to reverse that trend and pioneer new ways to spread the Gospel using the most current tools available,” explains New Hope’s Technology and Innovations Director, Michael Sharpe. “We don’t mind the long hours and stress that comes with innovating because we know that if we can come up with something useful, it can be used by other churches around the world.”

Leveraging standards-based HTTP streaming technology, New Hope will deliver high quality video over either a Wi-Fi connection or other carrier network, providing for a truly portable experience.

After successfully testing the service this past weekend with hundreds of users, the church is now planning to offer the live streaming video of its services to all iPhone and iPod Touch users starting July 4th.

The church currently streams all five weekend services live on its website for computer users and created the streaming for the iPhone as a free service for those who may not have access to a computer.

“We are always looking for ways that we can leverage technology to reach people where they are at,” said New Hope’s Interactive Developer Peter Thourson, “through live streaming video on iPhone and iPod touch, users across the globe will be able to continue to attend church regardless of where they are.”

New Hope Christian Fellowship on Oahu is one of the fastest-growing churches in the nation according to “Outreach Magazine,” with over 12,000 people in regular attendance at 6 locations. “Outreach Magazine” also named New Hope as one of the most influential and innovative churches in the United States.  New Hope also has an internet campus with streaming video and an interactive online community.

But here’s the important thing, on that same weekend Northland Church, (home-based in Longwood, Florida) also launched.  Additionally, LifeChurch.tv has an iPhone mobile option… and there’s more……. so all this week, I’m celebrating iPhone church services.  Tomorrow, I’ll post an interview with Peter Thourson, New Hope’s Interactive Developer.   In the meantime here’s a list with the first 3 innovators of iPhone services.

Can you give me the names of more?

• New Hope Christian Fellowship
• Northland Church
• LifeChurch.tv

Today is a “Mass Blogging Day” for those of us who are meeting in Los Angeles at Biola University on September 11 – 12 for the Christian Web Conference. If you have any interest in the dialog about online faith communities (can digital be incarnational?), this will be the place to have your questions explored.

One of the highlights of the conference is a debate on the virtual church taking place between Andrew Jones (Tall Skinny Kiwi) and Matthew Anderson of  Mere Orthodoxy.

Since I’m never one for debate, thank you Andrew for representing the affirmative argument.

But The Great Debate is only the beginning….  check out this who’s who of a speaker list and their topics!  It’s gonna be incredible:

• Tim Challies: Tweeting the Truth with Love
• John Mark Reynolds: Christian Ideas in a Hostile Environment
• Jon Acuff: Three Ways Satire is Changing We Talk About Faith Online
• Charles Lee: New Media and the Development of Compassionate Justice
• Joe Carter: Medium-Sizing the Message
• Abraham Piper: Serving Your Audience by Getting Out of Your Own Ideas
• Mel McGowan’s walking tour: Walking in Walt’s Footsteps
• Drew Goodmanson: Internet Strategy: What does the gospel have to do with Social Media?
• Anne Jackson: Changing the World One Blog at a Time
• Marcus Goodyear: New Ways to Listen?
• Rhett Smith: Twitter: Collaborate, Connect, and Resource via Your Story
• Paul Watson: What will it take to plant the Gospel in every population segment represented online?
• Dr. Dave Bourgeois: Developing a Philosophy for New Media Ministry
• John Carley: Seven Successful Strategies for Web 3.0
• Yours Truly: Envisioning the Future of Faith Online

And here’s a partial sponsor list:

• Torrey Honors Institute
• High Calling
• Desiring God
• VOXBIBLIA
• Monk Development
• Internet Evangelism Day

Here’s an excerpt from the Echo Conference blog to celebrate Echo Conference ‘09….

One of the things we’re most excited about for this year’s Echo experience is our panel discussion featuring Bobby Gruenewald, Carlos Whittaker, Conway Edwards, Cynthia Ware, and Scott Hodge.  The panel will be a free-flowing conversation that covers current and future trends in the intersection of media, technology, and the Church.  Each of these leaders has a unique and valuable perspective to share, and we’re looking forward to hearing what they have to say.  The panel will be moderated by Scott McClellan from COLLIDE Magazine (but he promises to stay out of the way and let the panel do most of the talking).

If you have questions for our panel, you can dm me by adding me on twitter @ http://twitter.com/cynthiaware.

Friend & long time colleague Reverend Mark Brown (New Zealand) just emailed me with the reminder that the Christianity in the Digital Space Symposium included the presentation of his paper The Bible in the Digital Space.

The symposium is sponsored by St. John’s College and works in partnership with Churches Media Council & The Bible Society.  It’s purpose is to explore:

• Biblical Literacy
• Preaching and Communication
• Theology & Cultural Engagement

According to Mark, it was an it was an impressive event bringing together church tech pioneers from around Europe.

You can access the Symposium on their UStream feed or on You Tube at Digital Symposium.

Furthermore, if you are more interested in Mark’s work, you can download some of his other popular articles:

• The Digital Revolution and the Church
  
• Christian Ministry in a Technological Age
  
• Christian Mission to a Virtual World

PS – Mark, thanks for your friendship during this time of exciting change for our family.

Brilliant overview of the future evolution of the Social Web by Forrester Reseacher, Jeremiah Owyang (@jowyang) plus John McCrea & Joseph Smarr.

Every church leader can easily understand the future of social communities and their potential value by investing in this in depth analysis of where we are in the evolution of the Social Web.  Understanding participatory media, albeit currently in it’s infancy, is a critical skill in future communication strategies for faith based communities.

LifeChurch.tv has done it again.  They have pioneered a new iteration of convergence by getting the Facebook team to allow LifeChurch.tv to integrate status updates into their online church Easter experiences and into Facebook itself.   You heard me right.   This is what happens when the Digerati Team eats their vegetables.

Here’s a detailed email I received from Pastor Craig Groeschel:

Easter is coming this weekend and I couldn’t be more excited about what God is going to do at each of our campuses. Let me share a few things I’d love to get your help with this Easter:

This weekend kicks off our new series, Can You See Him? This is a great series to bring along people you know! In the few minutes it takes to invite a friend, you could play a role in changing someone’s eternity.

Church Online (previously known as the Internet Campus) is exploding and we’ve got a really cool feature lined up for the Easter experiences.  Facebook has allowed us to integrate Facebook status updates into our online church Easter experiences and into Facebook itself. It’s an amazing opportunity to share the Easter message with a huge audience. You can get the full details here, but the best way to understand it would be to come to one of the 14 Church Online Easter experiences starting this Saturday night. And bring your friends on Facebook with you!

We’re adding experiences at many of our campuses and preparing for lots of new visitors everywhere. It would be great if you could serve for an extra experience, attend one of the less crowded experiences, and make an extra effort to give a warm welcome to the people you meet.

Thanks for being a part of what God is doing at LifeChurch.tv. It’s a privilege to partner with you!

Craig

Thank you Tony Steward for tipping me off early in the week about this opportunity.  And here is the LifeChurch.tv Easter link.