THINK DIFFERENTLY

A Means to an End.

Social media is great. I love networking via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, GChat, and AIM as much as the next person. As I’ve moved deeper into the world of social networking, I’ve learned something: It is a means to an end, not an end in and of itself.

As much as possible, social media networking must always end in face-to-face contact. If you have the means to connect with someone in person via social media, you need to do so. Otherwise, it’s just voyeurism. There are, of course, geographical limitations that will never allow you to meet in person with someone you’ve connected with, which is both the beauty and the curse of social media. You can connect with people you never would have otherwise (@rhetter, @flowerdust, @tonysteward for me, for example), but your ability to meet with them on a tangible level is low.

Let me give you two examples of what I’m talking about:

• I found out about Andy Drish after he was in an article in Des Moines Juice. Then I visited his blog. I found something I really liked, so I re-posted it on BeDeviant.com. He commented on the post. Then I found him on Twitter via the “Meet Your Commenters” plug-in for WordPress. I followed him, he followed me, we exchanged tweets, and finally met for coffee yesterday in downtown Des Moines. All through social media. It served as a means to an end.
  
• I started following The Lutheran magazine on Twitter not too long ago. They posted a few tweets while they were were at a social media conference, I asked them some questions, they answered, it was a good time. A few weeks later, I got an email from Amber at The Lutheran asking me to reformat a post from this site for their e-newsletter in January. She had found my blog after following me on Twitter, read some posts, and thought that some of the content would fit well with what they’re doing. I sent the final article in yesterday and a connection between Amber and me was made.

I set out a challenge a few months back to have coffee with every Des Moines tweep (a “tweep” is a person on Twitter) that I’m following or who is following me. I want to use social media as a tool to connection much like a pencil is a tool for drawing.

Social media in and of itself is okay, just like a pencil in and of itself is okay: Yellow, long, sharp on one end and dull on the other. Not much to look at really. What really gets exciting is when you look at what a pencil can create: A sketch, a life story, a poem for your wife, etc. In the same way, what really gets exciting with social media is not what it is but what it can create: Relationships, connections, friendships, websites, business ideas, ministry opportunities, and on, and on.

So, if you use social media tools, what are you creating? What relationships are you building? What lives are you influencing and allowing to influence you?  

Technorati Tags: AIM, Des Moines, Des Moines Juice, Facebook, GChat, Relationship, Social Media, The Lutheran, Twitter

Careful, This May Blow Your Mind

Careful now … This one could give you whiplash. This completely blew my mind.

The following information has implications on how we do everything. Make no mistake about it.

Teachers: This is the world you’ll teach in.
Pastors: This is the world you’ll minister in.
Parents: This is the world you’ll parent in.
You: This is the world you will exist in.

Buckle up.

HT: Rhett Smith

Technorati Tags: Rhett Smith, Social Media, YouTube

Boomers v. Gen Yers

Ellie Behling makes a great point over at the BrazenCareerist.com on “6 Hurdles to An All-Digital Workforce“: “The clash is that Boomers and Gen Xers have spent their entire careers in extremely hierarchal structures where each step is defined and worked toward. Contrastingly, Gen Y has an attitude focused on group think, which is more suited for the online medium.” Boomers or Gen Yers, do you agree? Disagree? What’s keeping the U.S. from becoming an all-digital workplace?

Technorati Tags: Media, Social, Social Media

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.

Technorati Tags: Anne Jackson, FlowerDust.net, Social Media, Twitter