M2LIVE is a grassroots effort allowing believers of all backgrounds to share and learn from one another.  As a series of web-based and live hands-on workshops, M2LIVE is designed for church leaders and volunteers interested in enhancing their ministry using the latest in web and social media technology.

The M2LIVE webinar showcases insights from many of today’s brightest church web evangelists. While presenters have opportunity to share their message, the format allows ample time for asking questions and interacting with the presenter. Today’s free M2LIVE webinar features a discussion of some of the values embedded in the new media and why some folks resist participation.

Join me for the discussion today. To access the webinar, visit http://www.M2LIVE.org/live at 11:30am EDT / 8:30am PST.

The SXSW Music and Media Conference (aka SXSW) is a set of interactive, film, and music festivals and conferences that take place every spring in Austin, Texas.   It was a SXSW that I first began to track the news of a little tiny newbie microblogging service called Twitter.  Well, after Austin began to tweet, the rest is history.   Now what would we ever do at large events without “tweet ups“?

SWSX first began in 1987 and is centered in downtown at the  Austin Convention Center and in surrounding areas.  SWSX showcases hundreds of musical acts from around the globe on over eighty stages, but it certainly doesn’t stop with music.  Conference registrants do business in the SXSW Trade Show in the Convention Center and partake of a full agenda of informative, provocative panel discussions featuring hundreds of speakers of international stature.

What does this have to do with The Digital Sanctuary?  Well, three different sources have now contacted me inviting me to participate in putting together a panel called  Church & Technology for SXSW 2010.  We’re brainstorming topics, trends, speakers and panel participants.   If you’re interested in access to the google doc where it all happens – comment @cynthiaware me on Twitter or gmail me.

Having just been in Austin for this year’s Q Conference, I can highly recommend it as a diverse, interesting and inspiring town with a ton of personality.

You can catch highlights from SXSW last year at the SXSW YouTube Channel.

Friday is the day I often point to scholars who specialize in the study of media & the church.  This series of Friday posts entitled, Blog of the Weekend, is designed to cover a broad spectrum of world class teachers, researchers & scholars who assess the impact and influence of technology/media on Christianity.

This week is no different.  Today I feature Anthony Coppedge, someone I respect as a friend, colleague and resource for all things media-related involving the Church.  I have used Anthony’s expertise as a church consultant and on complicated issues he has registered his professional opinion (See his comments on my post: Viva La Vida – Did Secular Music Get Saved?).  Additionally, following meeting him last year at the Echo Conference, I’ve more closely followed his blog and work.  However, I completely missed a key project Anthony has been developing and thankfully he’s brought it to my attention.

The Reason Your Church Must Twitter, first draft e-book is currently available online.  When Anthony sent me an advance copy for review, I was amazed at it’s depth, detail and exhaustive all around thoroughness.  E-books are fantastic, instant, cheap resources that can’t be beat (I’ve written for several) and The Reason Your Church Must Twitter is highly recommended for those interested in harnessing participatory media’s value in ministry.  Two of my personal friends have already reviewed it…. see Jim Walton’s blog review and also Mary Beth Stockdale’s blog review.

Also, later today is the launch of a new website called Twitter for Churches. com.  Anthony will spearhead the site and some of us who use microblogging regularly have been asked to guest author.  There’s a progression of adoption  that most most people go through (whether you’re a maven or a luddite!) when it comes to new media.  Anthony quotes Rohit Bhargava, Senior Vice President at Ogilvy, in describing this progression.

Denial
“I think Twitter sounds stupid. Why would anyone care what other people are doing right now?”

Presence
“OK, I don’t really get why people love it, but I guess I should at least create an account.”

Dumping
“I’m on Twitter and use it for pasting links to my blog posts and pointing people to my press releases (or stuff about me).”

Conversing
“I don’t always post useful stuff, but I do use Twitter to have authentic 1-on-1 conversations.”

Microblogging
“I’m using Twitter to publish useful information that people read AND I converse 1-on-1 authentically.”

Collaboration
“Actual, meaningful relationships and collaborations have occurred out of my usage of Twitter.”

Fellowship Technologies is hosting it's 2nd annual Dynamic Church Conference in about a month.  If you are a church leader who wants to know more about ChMS, learn more about leveraging the power of the internet, networking with partners, etc., please join us in Dallas, May 15 – 17. 

Because there are two Leadership Network Digital contributors on the speaker list, I thought you'd like to know we'll be at the Frisco Convention Center.  We'd love to meet you.  Here's more of what's offered:

    * An pre-conference called 'Power Start' with six different, personalized training classes 
    * 60% more sessions across six different tracks, both Beginner & Advanced user levels
    * Guest speakers include:

            Terry Storch, Digerati Pastor, LifeChurch.tv and YouVersion.com

            Joe Suh, Founder, MyChurch.org

            Cynthia Ware, Pastor, Writer, Blogger, The Digital Sanctuary

    * 50% more hands-on training labs, both Beginner & Advanced
    * Dedicated Q & A – 'Ask the Experts' with Fellowship Technologies staff
    * Free wireless Internet throughout the conference facilities   
    * Free 2 hour live worship concert featuring Lincoln Brewster   
    * And much, much more!