In the ongoing development of one of the most technologically innovative ministries in the United States, LifeChurch.tv, is on the cusp of another set of developmental staff changes within the Digerati Team.  Recently, Sam Soffes, an Apple prodigy who speaks in unknown tongues that can sometimes sound like this “the CSS Meta-Framework provides ports of the best of breed CSS frameworks to Sass and ready to use in your ruby-based web application or stand-alone via a simple command-line interface” has departed LC for new opportunities.

Check out Sam’s blog for a post on the transition.

Sam is brimming with things to do including running his company, Trimonix, plus he’s also in a band as well as develops his own iPhone apps.  Everyone is looking forward to seeing how God will use him next.   If you’d like to contact Sam to work on a free lance project, here’s his card: Sam Soffes.

On another note, well-known developer, blogger & human wikipediaologist, Kent Shaffer, of Church Relevance & AcreScout, is leaving Tulsa for the higher calling.  Yep, the Global Operations Center has a new volunteer as Kent relocates to the Edmond, Oklahoma area to support the efforts of LifeChurch.tv more fully.

Kent, a profound asset to the Body of Christ-at-large, allowed me to interview him on a few of the reasons for making the transition to LifeChurch.tv, Edmond.   Portions of that interview, including the specifics about why Kent chose LifeChurch.tv, will appear here later this week, but in the meantime, I’m reminded of Psalm 110:3 – Your people shall be volunteers in the day of Your power.

Additionally, LifeChurch.tv has narrowed down their search for an Online Connections Pastor to 5 candidates and will fly them in soon for final interviews.  I know some of the candidates and it’s gonna be amazing.

You got any LifeChurch.tv tech news?

Addendum:  Terry Storch has implemented his “Taking Twitter Back” gameplan this week.  Tony Steward has also done a purge. Now what else?

Rev. Mark Brown always provides fresh insights for Christian leaders and his blog is read worldwide.   Mark is currently, among other things, the CEO of The Bible Society in New Zealand.  Prior to that he was the National Director of Scripture Union in New Zealand.  He is an Anglican Priest.

A current entry from Brown Blog includes the table above & describes the effects of cultural shifts (ie, postmodernization, globalization, technological innovation, etc.) on organizations particularly the Church…..

As society changes so to do church orgs. need to shift so as to remain relevant and effective. And culture shift is key.  It isn’t just about changing a few programmes or getting rid of ties, but quite often it involves fundamentally addressing the personality of the organization: the culture.  Culture is the orgs. DNA, the unspoken rules and expectations of how to behave.

Mark will continue to explore the dynamic tension between churches & postmodern culture over the coming weeks so add his blog to your reader.

What would you say, does culture change the Church or does the Church change culture?

Kent Shaffer, known around our house as the human encyclopedia of all things “church statistics” related, and known to the blogosphere as Church Relevance, has compiled a substantial research list of the Top 60 Church Blogs.

Likely you can guess what my favorite thing about this list is.   And no, it’s not the fact that I appear on it.

It’s that I love seeing the uniqueness of the body represented in the blogosphere.  This list displays diversities of giftings… Pyromaniacs side by side with The Ooze, The Resurgence along with three female bloggers (Anne Jackson, Kem Meyer & myself), Ragamuffin Soul & Desiring God all on one list, each of us standing side by side serving God.  The list reminds me how particularly individual the gifts, assignments and callings of of God are in each of us.

Thank you, Kent, for serving the global body of Christ by painstakingly compiling the data and producing the work that saves so many of us research time.

Who would you add to this list, especially if it were Top 100?

It’s time to register for the Internet Ministry Conference in October.  You won’t want to miss this opportunity to absorb all there is to learn about ministry online if you’re anywhere near Grand Rapids, Michigan.  The speakers are amazing and literally I wish I could hear them all.

Some highlights will include:

Dr. Quentin Schultze (who I recommend here often) will present the devotional and David Russell of NCC will talk about websites.

Kent Shaffer of Church Relevance & Bombay Creative will speak about Internet Ministry Marketing and Tailored Internet Ministry.

Brad Abare of Church Marketing Sucks & the Center for Church Communication will help us define our Personality and, shall we say, frustrate, educate and motivate us towards better online endeavor.

I could talk about more speakers but the important thing is to register now if you’re looking to get educated about serious online ministry.

I’ll speak on Thursday about Your Spiritual Gift Mix Online so make sure and let me know you’ll be there so we can connect.

ROOV.com Stories from Trey Tucker on Vimeo.

Thanks to Kent Shaffer at Church Relevance we’re reminded about Roov.com.

Kent posted Roov.com:: A Christian Social Network for Causes and Common Interests that should give us all a taste of the value of connecting individuals in the evolving relationship economy.  Roov is simple to join (although you must wait while they check out your church before accepting you).

It’s a great opportunity to celebrate Church Relevance since it just won the best blog of the year award from Prodigal Son Magazine. 

Congratulations Kent – well deserved!