The following videos have been stirring up conversation across the Church blog world for the past couple months, and I didn’t want to just jump on board and be unoriginal. But I specifically wanted to post them because I want to launch a discussion on this blog, with my own friends/readers.
Please watch the videos and comment on this post with an answer to the question, “What do you think this revolution means for how we do ministry, specifically on a college campus?” I’d love for this post to become a sort of idea generator for new modes of outreach. As my boy Andy Stanley says, the next generation idea has to come from the next generation. In case you missed it, that’s you guys.
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I think that these videos were very interesting to say the least. It kind of scares me at the same time, but I am a part of the social network for sure. I am 20 and a Junior in college. Social networking is a part of everyday life.
The question raised about ministry; specifically on a campus raises my eyebrows. How do you connect with students when they are constantly a part of this social network. When students would rather stay home on facebook, or watch videos on hulu or youtube than go out and form community with one another in Christ…it’s scary. How can a computer satisfy like people? I don’t think that it can. But what do you do about it.
-I think of my Dad in this situation. He doesn’t even know how to turn the computer on….let alone how to text or even know what Twitter is. I always tell him that he needs to have some knowledge of it or experience some of it. (sometimes it would be nice to just text my dad) but him not being a part of it basically at all kind of makes me smile. Because this social network craze is kind of scary… what if actually coming face to face with people is something that is a part of the past. What if it no longer happens? What if Community dies?
Thanks for your post!
In some ways, the social media fears parallel of the fears of tv, and prior to that radio. The thing is, some of the fears of old did come to light. The days of the old community theatre, or even small town movie house have long since passed away. Instead, starting in the late 50′s folks rather than gathering as a community, withdrew inward to their tv sets. About the same time, congregational participation morphed from more of a community thing to more of a Sunday only deal, and small groups started to shrink in a huge way. Instead peer groups became not so much church, or even neighborhood oriented, but more so work/career related if at all. How things will play out as social media continues to grow is a huge question for sure.
Additionally, I think the fear of the death of community is unfounded. No matter how much folks embrace social media, they will gather from time to time. Whether such gatherings are of a critical mass to sustain a model of ministry such as we have today is a huge question… but no question, gatherings of some type will occur.