Embrace the Culture

Only a long-time Adventist would get this website. And only one with a sense of humor (not an automatic given within the culture) would find these remotely humorous. I personally want the “I <heart> Haystacks” shirt for myself.

Filed under Adventism | Comment (0)

Spectrum Interview Now Live

Woohoo! The interview I recently did for Spectrum Magazine is now live on their blog. The focus of the interview was on how the Forest Lake Church is using technology to further it’s mission. Doing the interview reminded me yet again how much I am a part of a team of dedicated paid and volunteer people who want to expand the mission and reach of a local congregation using the available technology.

What I like about the Spectrum blog is that after the article or interview is posted you get to continue having a dialog with whoever posts a comment rather than it being a one-sided conversation (I talk-you listen). What a great use of blogging technology (built on Drupal no less–see the unchanged favicon) and a way to build a community of discussion online. They are even so brave as to allow unmoderated posting–got to give them credit for that experiment in civilized discourse. I wouldn’t mind seeing that kind of attitude in other sectors of Adventism as well.

Filed under Adventism, Church Tech | Comments (3)

GiEN 08-Sabbath Morning

First Session (Sabbath School)

Adventist Web Presence Around the World (various presenters)

Germany-DVD on the construction and ministry of the German Media Center. Develop content such as Bible Studies and evangelistic crusade materials and provide technical support for countries throughout Europe. The name of the studio: Stimme dur Hoffnum

USA-Discover Bible School (part of Voice of Prophecy). Went online in 1996 and worked with WWC to develop an interactive website. www.biblestudy.com. 850 churches that are branch Bible Schools for VoP. 50 languages. Separate section for kids (Kid’s Zone)-which is self-graded (no adult interaction). HopeTalk.org is a portal with content (unclear what sort of content it is) from each Division. New technology: mobile based content without graphics, answers are all T/F and then submit answers via cell phone. Next version will be more graphically based.

Poland-eBible-Bible software, in Polish, endorsed by Catholic Church, includes EGW as well. Nadzieja.pl-Polish for “hope”. Self-supporting ministry, affiliated with the church but not financially linked. Stream two internet radio channels.

South Pacific Division-David Price. A DVD on materials available to those in the South Pacific such as Discovery Bible studies and their Bible Study Centre.

USA-Someone from SoCal. Stories of people who join the church via online adventures.

USA-PatmosChapel.org. Robert Helmsley-Technology guy from Southeastern Conference (regional conference in Florida). Told a story about the Whitney Phipps video on YouTube. Also told a story about someone who attended Patmos online and left her life of prostitution and came back to church.

Philippines-Advent SIM Presentation. A partnership with the largest Telecom in the Philippines to provide SIM cards with value-added services. Can text each person who has one or people within a certain regions. Additional information can be pulled down included church and pastor locations. Can make donations via the SIM code.

South America-Hope Impact. Major marketing effort focusing on the Second Coming series of meetings in Porteguese and Spanish. Various other websites in a region that has over 21% Internet usage and huge Internet useage growth. Those studying online has grown exponentially.

China-John Ash. Very large Internet audience in country and around the world. Hopenet.tv in conjunction with Adventist World Radio. Creating Bible stories in Mandarin with Flash animation.

InterAmerica-Project with Montemorelos University. Using UStream.tv and YouTube to stream content. Using netAdventist 3.0 and training everyone to use it. Example: recording presentations and campaigns and posting them to YouTube.

The rest of the meeting was a Sabbath School discussion with Gary Gibbs, HopeTV, Gary Krause (who wrote this quarter’s SS lesson) and Homer somebody.

Filed under Adventism, Church Tech, Resources | Comment (0)

GiEN 08-Friday Afternoon Sessions

Session #3-Free content resources for churches

GraceNotes–content for websites, sort of Bible-study-ish in nature

Center for Creative Ministry–series of podcasts on the SS lesson and other content

Adventist Giving–online giving site for Adventists

Circle–free SDA educational resources

The Adventist Channel–current site loads very slowly in Firefox/Safari and appears to be Flash-based(?), presenter quite excited about it, but site is dog slow over wireless.

Digital Vault or The Ministries Tab–something available for those on netAdventist, I guess. Apparently some sort of link to Adventist digital media that will be available on the in-house SDA websites.

SDAPlus–a North American Adventist-centric search engine that allows for self-submission.

Filed under Adventism, Resources | Comment (0)

GiEN 08-Friday Morning Presentations

Presentation #4-Ron Vyhmeister

“Media, Morality and Mission”

Started with definitions of the terms being used. Media has changed in terms of presentation, terms and content. From local to global, customized to individual, print to audio to visual to immersive, from public to private, from passive and interactive, shorter time blocks.

Content has changed to be more violent, sexual, spiritual-ish. Context has changed in terms of culture and what is consumed is time-shifted. Peer pressure has changed, meaning is more important than form.

Does media affect morality? “…by beholding we become changed…”

Other questions? To what extent are the gospel and culture linked? What about intellectual property rights? Should we link “service” and “gospel”?

Impact of these changes. Religion is private not public, the need to conform is no longer paramount.

Implications. Can our content be found quickly? Are corporate activities should you have in a world of private religion? How do we express belief and still show tolerance? How much do I invest in “form”? To what extent do we customize our message? How do we create and nurture an online community? Can we facilitate moving to in-person activities? Can we present our message in various contexts and remain meaningful? How do contextualize our message if we aren’t familiar with the context?

rvyhmeister@aiias.edu

Filed under Adventism | Comment (0)

Global internet Evangelism Network 08-Thursday Morning

Worship-Gary Krause (from Australia)

Christianity is focused on removing the walls, the barriers between people and God. Those of us who are “far, become close”. Paul: “Christ came and removed the wall of hostility”.

Removing the obstacles for people to attend church, ie., a Sabbath School class for smokers, another for kids who have never been to Sabbath School, setting up your office in the coffee shop at Barnes and Nobles, etc.

Acts 15.19: …we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.

Are we there to make it as easy as possible or are we there to make it hard?

Presentation One–Streams of Light: The Progressive, Expansive Vision of Historic Adventism

Julius Nam–Professor of Religion, LLU

James and Ellen White–started with a small paper, which would go clear around the world. Not even a denomination or hardly a movement. Shut Door Theology was the norm. But didn’t have the money to publish, let alone buy food/clothing. Present Truth first published in 1849. The focus was on the Sabbath, hand folded and hand carried to the Post Office. Money came in at first, but then dwindled, so James stopped. Bates thought using this “new media” was a waste of time, but Ellen disagreed. A second paper, Advent Herald, was started and later merged with Present Truth.

Edson White–a challenging son of James and Ellen. Started his own publishing company. Later, when in his 40s, bought a steamboat and traveled the Mississippi conducting meetings. Then later created stereo-optic slides for missionaries. Another innovative approach.

Stephan Haskell–at 70 years of age, moved to New York City to start evangelistic efforts, despite the bias against cities in Adventism. Finds that personal evangelism is better than public evangelism. Also focuses more on health and wellness than end-time events due to the stress of living in the city. Developed various ministries targeting various ethnic groups.

HMS Richards–started using radio ministry and developed it for 10 years before formally launching it in LA. Converted a chicken coop in his backyard into a radio studio. In 1937 changed name to Voice of Prophecy and went coast-to-coast in 1942. Used a conversational style rather than preaching.

William Fagel–started in 1950, with 6 weeks notice. A 31 year-old pastor in New York City, with no TV experience, but did have a radio program. The first national religious program in the US. Dramatized stories, parables, targeted to the non-believer.

Lessons/Observations

1. Innovation/progess have always been at the initiative of individuals, not organizations. The organization will follow the path set by individuals.

2. Innovation is not the exclusive domain of the young.

3. Do not take a propriety view of their ministry, but share it with others. Turn it over to others as needed. Collaboration.

4. Boldly redefines present truth for a new audience. Present truth for a present time.

We need to continue this legacy of innovation and creativity. How about internships for arts, media and technology? (ala, Taskforce/Student Missionaries) How about conferences focusing on the creation of content (besides delivery of content)?

“Historic Adventism”–engaged with society and culture with a modern and post-modern worldview.

Filed under Adventism | Comment (0)