BeDeviant.com Interviews Anne Jackson Pt. 2

This is the second post in our two-part interview with Anne Jackson of FlowerDust.net. You can read the first part here. Anne’s got a new book out, “Mad Church Disease“, which takes a look at church burn-out and the toll which ministry can take on individuals. Take a second and read from someone who gets the marriage of ministry and social media. Thanks for your words, Anne!

Be Deviant: What are the drawbacks of using social media and technology in ministry?

Anne Jackson: It’s addicting. For me, it’s easy to replace quiet and alone time with God with blogging about spiritual things or even counseling people online. It can be mentally and emotionally exhausting and I have nothing left to give God or my husband at the end of the day. So I’m trying build in more margin by leaving my laptop at the office some nights or leaving my phone home when we go out. It’s can be another distraction to our relationships and ministry rather than something that assists us.

BD: How can younger generations in church leadership who are “tech savvy” bridge the gap to older generations who may not be as digitally fluent? And conversely, how can older generations be open to the newer methods of ministry of a younger generation without sounding “cranky”?

AJ: I think it’s about keeping an open mind. I’ve seen a few people who are in older generations start using things like Facebook and Twitter and it’s been awesome, but it shouldn’t be an expectation those of us who are younger project on them. And in the same vein, older generations should be open to how younger generations are using and innovating in technology. We may have difficulty understanding why each generation is wired differently (no pun intended), but encouraging people to try new things without being forceful or rude would be a good way to begin discussions about technology and how it may help (or hurt) the church.

BD: It’s you and Larry King. You’re live. He asks, “Anne, what excites you most about the future of ministry and the integration of technology?” How do you answer?

I see technology as being the conduit between people who have resources and people who don’t. It is there to educate, to challenge, to call to action, and to support. In ten minutes, you can loan someone in India money to start a business or sponsor a child through Compassion International. You can purchase a pair of shoes for someone in Mexico. It makes generosity easy. Hopefully, it will also help challenge and educate people to be generous.

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