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?

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.

If your church is interested in the possibility of starting an Internet Campus for your congregation, Leadership Network is offering an hour long, informational webinar.

On Wednesday, November 12th from 10:00am to 11:00am CST you can get a closer look at two churches that are reaching thousands through their Internet Campuses.  The webinar will feature the Internet Campus pastors, Brandon Donaldson of LifeChurch.tv and Brian Vasil of Flamingo Road Church.  They will share how their online ministries got started, how they operate and most interestingly, they will answer your questions LIVE.

Here’s the link to register for the Internet Campus webinar.

Image: lifechurch.tv/myspace.com

As a service to the attenders of “Leveraging Technology to Support Community” I am linking to the Leadership Network’s Digital Blog (of which I am a contributor) which includes this list of early Internet Campus adopters.  These links offer a variety of options across multiple denominations for viewing the current exploration of virtual church campus extensions.

• Life Church (Oklahoma City) now has 12 campuses in 6 states, including its Internet campus (launched February 2006) and even a campus in Second Life. Live worship experiences are Saturdays @ 6:30pm and Sundays @ 9:00am (GMT+1) + 10:00am + 11:30am + 1:00pm (Central) and Tuesdays @ 12:00pm + 8:00pm (Central).
• Seacoast Church (Charleston, SC) now has 11 campuses in 3 states, including its Internet campus (launched January 2007). Live worship times are Sundays @ 9:30am + 11:15am (Eastern).
• Flamingo Road Church (Cooper City, FL) now has 6 campuses, including an international campus in Lima, Peru(!) and recently launched its Internet campus this month. Their Internet campus has its own blog too. Live worship times are Saturdays @ 5:00pm + 6:30pm and Sundays @ 9:30am + 11:00am + 12:30pm + 5:00pm (Eastern).
• McLean Bible Church (metro Washington DC) has begun launching multi-site campuses around the Capital Beltway, and also launched its Internet campus this month. Live worship times are Sundays @ 9:00am + 10:45am + 5:30pm (Eastern).
• New Hope Christian Fellowship’s internet campus is called an Online Community. Live worship times are Saturdays @ 5:00pm + 7:00pm and Sundays @ 7:00am, 9:00am, 11:00am (Hawaiian Time).
• Afterlife.tv launched its internet campus called Cyberchurch in October 2006. Live worship time is Saturdays @ 6:00pm (Mountain Time).
• Real Life Online is the internet campus of Real Life Fellowship (Corpus Christi, TX) has 5 sites in all. Live worship times are Saturdays @ 7:00pm and Sundays @ 11:00am (Central).
• The Church Group (Jacksonville FL) calls its internet campus called I-Church, with live worship times at Wednesday @ 7:00pm, Saturday @ 7:00pm, and Sunday @ 10:30am (Eastern).
• Living Hope Church (Vancouver WA) has live worship at its internet campus on Sundays @ 10:00am and 5:00pm (Pacific).
• Christ Fellowship (Palm Beach Gardens FL) has an Online Campus, Saturdays @ 6:00p and Sundays @ 9:00am + 11:00am (Eastern), having provided live-streaming of worship services since 2005.
• Richmond Community Church (Virginia) has an Internet Campus live on Sundays @ 10:45am (Eastern).
• Northland, A Church Distributed (Orlando FL) has live Webstream worship at 5 times: Saturdays @ 5:00pm, Sundays @ 9:00am + 11:00am + 6:00pm, Mondays 7:00pm (Eastern).
• Victory Life Family Worship Center (Durant, OK) has a Virtual Church where you can watch Duane Sheriff messages 24/7 and Live on Sundays @ 9:00am + 11:00am, Thursdays @ 7:00pm (Central).
• Gracepoint Church (Wichita, KS) has an Internet Campus Connect with live-streamed videos on Sundays 9:30am + 11:00am (Central). [ht: Terry Johnson]
• Brand New Church (Harrison, AR) has an iCampus with services on Sundays @ 11:00am + 5:00pm and Wednesdays 12:00 Noon (Central).
• Central Christian Church (Las Vegas) launched its Online Campus in September 2008. Service times on Sundays 4:30am + 7:00am + 9:00am + 10:20am + 11:45am + 4:30pm (Pacific) .
• Mecklenburg Community Church (Charlotte) has its Internet campus experiences on Sundays at 10:15am (Eastern).
• Pine Ridge Church (Graham, NC) has an Internet campus www.pineridgechurch.tv with live worship at 10:30am (Eastern).

Although very few churches can afford to have a digerati team support their internet presence, most all can put up and maintain a web site online.  With some direction, every church can develop an internet strategy for beginning web-based ministry.  Here's a book for newbies.

Web-Empower Your Church: Unleashing the Power of the Internet for Ministry

Author: Mark M. Stephenson, Director of The Web-Empowered Church

Publisher: Abingdon Press

Summary: Harness the power of the internet for Jesus.  The internet is opening up new possibilities for all aspects of church ministry, from daily administrative tasks to worldwide evangelism and discipleship.

This book is about web-empowering your church ministries.  Learn the practical steps, techniques, and ideas needed to develop an excellent and effective web ministry that increases your efficiency and effectiveness.

Mark Stephenson, Director of CyberMinistry and Technology at Ginghamsburg Church, shares his experiences with starting and now leading a large and active church web ministry.  Ginghamsburg's website is now over 4000 pages in size, and averages over one new visit every half minute, 24/7.

Whether your church has a website or not, this book will help you grow you internet ministry and take the next step to fully web-empower your church ministries.