It’s a well known fact that my 3 favorite church info websites this year are:

1) Church Relevance

2) Church Marketing Sucks

3) Your site (obviously)

which is why I’ve had a keen interest in the recent developments within the LifeChurch.tv volunteer staff.  Kent Shaffer, long-time blogger/developer and the well-respected author of Church Relevance, is joining forces with LifeChurch.tv.

I got to interview Kent a couple of weeks ago and probe around about his transition, plans, and goals for the future.

First of all, Church Relevance will still be hosted by Kent as will Bombay Creative,  AcreScout & the other projects Kent develops.

And here’s what he told me about his transition:

His move was precipitated by a two year interaction with the LC Digerati Team as he supported their ongoing online efforts.  In Jan’08 he began attending the Tulsa campus.  As LC continues to expand on a global level, Kent found that he really enjoyed the challenges of thinking strategically about serving the Kingdom on a world-wide level.  Not to mention, serving with a team of experts.

“The breadth and scope of  mega-church ministry often produces congregations with significant impact but what usually comes with that are more pitfalls, red tape and the slowing down of ministry efficiency,” Kent says.

“LifeChurch.tv offers the ability to work on a global level but still move around with agility.  I’m attracted to it’s core components, namely highly evangelistic outreach strategies employed by little monies that are stretched a long way.”

“In fact, it not just the technology that I’m attracted to, it’s the financial responsibility that I see demonstrated by LC that I can align myself with.  LifeChurch.tv operates with a spirit of generosity that I want to support. I will continue to operate the companies I’ve started so that the income from those services will provide me the opportunity to volunteer more fully in ministry.”

One of the things that I told Kent at a conference we spoke at last year, the Internet Ministry Conference, was the fact that I feel LifeChurch.tv is acting in a serious U.S. leadership role with online ministry exploration & experimentation, in an apostolic way, if you will.  The opportuinity to “go and plant” where few have gone before really appeals to me.  And Kent.

More developments for LC right up ahead as they interview candidates for new online staff this week.

In terms of leadership combining a scholarly approach to the evaluation of new media and the church, Dr. (to be) Mark Brown stands out.  His personal website, Brownblog, provides fresh thinking about Christian ministry.

Mark, who was the National Director of the Scripture Union in New Zealand for three years, is now the CEO of The Bible Society in New Zealand.

He is an Anglican Priest and holds the role of Priest Assistant at the Cathedral of St. Paul in Wellington.

I first became aware of Mark’s ministry in mid-2007, when he founded an Anglican Church in the virtual world of Second Life.  Since only a handful of people have accomplished Second Life congregations, Mark’s ministry caught my attention.

His innovative approach to ministry has also included many Facebook experiments including the Status Bar Sermonette Movement.  His articles, like The Digital Revolution and the Church, can be downloaded as pdf’s here: Dr. Mark Brown’s Downloads.

There are growing numbers of people taking a scholarly approach to studying ministry & technology.  I have a larger and larger list of scholars appearing on my reader these days.

So I’ve decided that over the next few weeks, you’re gonna meet some of my brainest friends and check out what they’re studying, evaluating, testing, hypothesizing, and just, well, all that kind of stuff.

Kicking off this “blog of the weekend” series, let me introduce you to Dr. Dave, as he’s called around here, aka Dr. David Bourgeois, a prof. at Biola University who blogs at Lessons from Babel.  I’ve observed Dave’s work for a long time, had the privilege of hearing him speak and even shared a meal with him.  He is an absolute pioneer when it comes to studying online ministry data.

His newest course involving Internet ministry launches next semester and in preparation, Dave recently contacted me asking if I had access to any online ministries who are pioneering corporate prayer on the internet.  Specifically, he’s looking for people praying together online, via text or voice.  In exchange for the info, the good Dr. is allowing me to audit (I mean crash) his course, so I responded.

Do I?   How about this example from the LifeShare online challenge hosted by LifeChurch.tv where I got to pray with people from all over the world.  Unfortunately, although you can get the live mogulus stream you won’t get to see the saved chat with visitors from across the globe.

You’ll be hearing more about Dr. Dave’s upcoming class here soon.  In the meantime, he’s also asking for other examples so if you’ve got links, post ‘em here.  He’s looking for options where there are interactive prayers going on (i.e. not like great services like Kindle where you can post a prayer.)

Who do you know who’s pioneering the work of online interactive prayer?    And while you’re thinking, add a feed from Lessons from Babel.

There’s a good new example of experimental, online ministry launching at the site I am Second.com.

I am Second is designed to provide 24/7 connection points for those looking for meaning in life, rescue from addictions, hopelessness, etc.  Since one of the most popular uses of the Internet is search this just seems like a great idea – prepare a place for those who are searching.

Sometimes innovation in ministry is driven by logic.

Wish I had time to post all that is happening here at the Internet Ministry Conference.  I’m hoping to get some of my notes uploaded in the next few days.

I don’t know how you view conferences but sometimes I question the affordability of such events and wonder about long term gains for any one ministry.  But this gathering has some unique elements that give it some distinctives.  Several things that seem ouside the norm include:

• attendance by women (of course there could always be more)
• a measure of diversity (scholars, geeks, ministers, professionals)
• a representation of Non-American ministries (Canada, France, England, Netherlands, etc.)
• good equipment / access / accomodations / atmosphere

There are a lot of really smart people here.  And I mean those who are reflecting deeply and profoundly on why we are using the internet, what for, directed at who and with what success.  There is a broad sweep of people who would argue that that online communication and real world communication are co-mingling in such a way that there are few distinctions between them.  There are equally scholarly people saying these communication experiences are totally different due to the fact that any form of communication with a technological element included differs dramatically from a real world face to face communication.  There’s also an apparent (and not surprising) distinction between generational perceptions on this topic. (Gotta remember my grad thesis was built around diffusion of innovation theory so I love that stuff!)

I enjoyed dinner last night with good conversation between a table of tweeters plus Peter Green of Agathon Group and Dr. Dave Bourgeois.

You can check out the Internet Ministry Conference blog for more.

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.

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.

I finally finished the outline for my breakout session at the Dynamic Church Conference in Dallas which is now just a little over 3 weeks away.  In another week, I'll give it some final updating.  My session is Ten New Media Values Impacting Ministry. 

Because digital media operate differently than traditional media, they change what we value.  For example, the first characteristic I've listed in my outline is Interactivity.  We now value that which we can actively participate in, that which we can interact with.

I wonder if you can identify some of the other values that digital media embody?   What would be on your list?