Using the Internet to Gather, Connect and as a place of Mission

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Apr 29, 2007 in Church, Church Planting, Church Technology, Ekklesia, Ministry Design, Monk Dev | 4 comments

Breakout session 6   Thursday 845 to 945am

Today is Internet Evangelism Day. More and more we need to see the internet as a mission field.  As our culture moves increasingly online, this presentation discusses how churches can be missionaries to unbelievers, gather the unchurched and connect with their community.  This is a session I did last week at the National New Church Conference.  The session wasn't recorded but a lot of Q&A occurred as much of the information was new for the audience.  Feel free to post if you have questions.

Session PDF: Using the Internet to Gather, Connect and as a place of Mission  

The Forgotten Ways

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Apr 27, 2007 in Church, Church Planting, Culture, Ministry Design | 4 comments

I had a chance to hear Alan Hirsch and ask him a few questions at a dinner at the NNCC.  On the plane ride back (with layovers) I'm reading through his book, The Forgotten Ways.  If you blog, I'm sure you have seen a lot of conversation about it.  I recommend you pick up a copy of the book, it is a very important voice in the conversation of the Western church.

Scot McKnight comments (Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)or Jordan Cooper review here. (HT: Reformissionary ) Others sources: TallSkinnyKiwi & the Official Forgotten Ways site.

The Arminianism Acts 29 Equivalent

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Apr 27, 2007 in Church | 7 comments

During the National New Church Conference, I was able to be part of a 'bloggers round table' with Shawn Lovejoy, Ben Arment, Tadd Grandstaff and Mark Batterson.  It was clear when we met for the first time, that we didn't know much of each other (Derek Brown was the one guy I knew), but at the round table, these bloggers were the influencers that many people read.  I had the chance to connect and after the session speak more with Ben Arment.  One comment that I enjoyed from him, when he was explaining more about who they were was:

We are the Arminianism Acts 29 equivalent.  Where you are reformed, we believe in evangelism by any means necessary.  We will try whatever works.

Ben is serious about reaching all people with the message of Jesus Christ.  It's good to see a Kingdom that includes people with various passions, convictions and talents seeking to spread this message.  

NNCC Reflections

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Apr 25, 2007 in Church, Church Planting, Ministry Design | 2 comments

This week has been a whirlwind tour at the National New Church Conference.  I've had a great time seeing friends, sharing meals and listening to others I respect and learn from.  I could list a lot of others who I enjoyed seeing & hearing from, such as Ed Stetzer, Darrin Patrick, both of whom took people to the cross and made much of Jesus Christ.  I'll have to digest a bit and post later on many of these thoughts. 

Tonight, speakers & leaders were treated to a dinner and a session with Alan Hirsch who presented his ideas on the future of the church in a western context.  I'm going to have to digest that for a while too.  Dustin & I also had the chance to drive around town with Andrew Jones (Tall Skinny Kiwi) and I enjoyed those conversations a great deal.  It's remarkable to meet bloggers after you've 'known' about them for years.  All in all, a few days that were well worth the trip to Orlando.

Church Cloud

Posted by D. Goodmanson on Apr 24, 2007 in Church, Church Technology, Ekklesia, General Technology, Monk Dev | 1 comment

We've learned a lot about using technology to connect people to the local church.  With that said, we've launched Church Cloud.  Church Cloud is a FREE web-based tool for churches who want to do ministry online. Churches are able to upload mp3’s, post events, stream audio, podcast, and gather additional visitors using our online network and directory listings.  (If you signed-up for Sermon Cloud, you already are part of this but make sure your information is current.)  

We will be launching many more of these sites as part of The Cloud Network.  Our goal is to influence or connect 1,000,000 people a year to local churches using the internet.