atechagoraphobia – the fear of being without technology
Six years ago I tried to get a word in the dictionary and I want to continue to use it, as I see it as more and more a part of our future. In an always-on culture with technology a part of our every moment the idea of atechagoraphobia (at one point I had termed it Technagoraphobia) is more evident. Atechagoraphobia exists as the ‘cloud’ of online services continues to grow and the persistence of online becomes the norm, people will suffer from the fear of being in “open places w/o technology”. (Example: John never would go camping with us because he was afraid of being offline from his iPhone.)
A-tech-agor-aphobia
1. A morbid fear of being in open spaces without technology.
How do we live more intentionally in the hyper-connected reality we are in? What is a counter culture look like that is present in the moment.
Another word will need to be created to describe people who only feel ‘real life’ events are valid when they are posted online. Do you ever feel the urge to post something in Facebook as it’s happening rather than just experiencing the moment with those present? Yesterday I watched a football game and 5 guys (myself included) brought out our phones at times to take pictures, tweet, status update, etc. What boundaries and intentional habits do we need to create?
Here is a list of questions as a Christian I have to ask myself:
1. Why are you using your phone? Is it a form of escape or distraction? Are you using it for a purpose or to pass time? If so, what does that reveal about your heart?
2. Is technology and media stealing attention from your family or community? Do they get second-best treatment as you work on ‘one last update’?
3. Are you more enamored with progress and the next iPhone app? Are you astonished with the gospel?
I’ve reflected a bit on these ideas as I spoke about The World: Media & Consumerism.
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The World: Media & Culture
My latest sermon at Kaleo Church, The World: Media & Culture
C.J. Mahaney writes in the book Worldliness Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World.
Today, the greatest challenge facing American evangelicals is not persecution from the world, but seduction by the world.
One of the dominant shapers of what we believe is the continuous seduction of the media. From the moment we wake up to the radio, to spending our day online and ending it in front of the TV, our affections are being shaped. In our world, 100Äôs of billions of dollars have been spent on media infrastructure. We are bombarded with thousands of ads daily. Can we honestly say that our affection is not being drawn to the world by the influence of media?
Read/Listen to the sermon at Kaleo’s website.
State of Ministry Online
The State of Ministry Online has launched a website. State of Ministry Online is a collection of studies, surveys and research to benefit how ministries do ministry online. These studies involve surveys, interviews, web analytics and other research methods. Learn best practices for ministries online. (Note: This site will be more geared toward ‘ministries’ rather than ‘church web strategies‘. ) Also of note:
- Gathering of CIO’s & Strategic Web Ministry Leaders – State of Ministry Online is partnering with CIO of Salvation Army and previous CIO of World Vision to engage in a strategic conversation about the future of web and how it will impact ministries. (Limited spots)
- Releasing Best Practices & Case Studies - Join us at the CLA Ministry Internet & Technology Summit where we will release valuable information help your ministry online. Gather with ministry leaders from around the world.
- Join us on Facebook – Become a Facebook fan and track news releases, online ministry articles and more.
Website Wisdom
Your Church magazine, part of Christianity Today published an article I wrote, Website Wisdom – New research, cooperative reveal best practices for churches in the Nov/Dec 2009 issue. The article begins:
Research conducted earlier this year, which surveyed hundreds of churches representing more than 70,000 members combined, attempted to drill deeper into two fundamental questions as the internet grows in its influence and importance in our culture and beyond:
1) Do church websites strategically help attract new visitors, connect people, and equip leaders?
2) And if so, what are the best practices for a churchÄôs web strategy?
Three significant discoveries, as well as several best practices, emerged from this work. This information can help large churches (congregations such as Willow Creek Community Church participated in the research) as well as small ones (church plants with fewer than 50 people also participated). These practices also are useful for most any situation, regardless of whether a church is using a volunteer, a church website design firm, or a staff member to design its site.
Article pdf (6mb) Website Wisdom – New research, cooperative reveal best practices for churches
Read the whole magazine in their digital version: Your Church Nov/Dec 2009 issue
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Story – Churches and Social Media breakout
Tim Schraeder did an excellent job capturing Cynthia Ware (http://thedigitalsanctuary.org/) and my session at the Story Chicago conference.
Social Media Pulse
What are churches current social media patterns?
- We are living in a world people dreamed of.
- There used to only be a computer at work… then it went home… then to your lap… now to your hand.
- Mobile ubiquity, where everyone has a phone, presents challenges and opportunities for the church.
- There’s an embedded value system in social media [public/participatory, new media].
- There’s value in it that it’s instant.
- Everyone is an equal creator… it’s user-generated content.
- We’d rather buy something someone tells us about than what we are told by businesses or corporations.
- Users have a voice and are able to generate content.
- In a relationship economy, what people say matters deeply.
- We now have greater accessibility to information.
- Churches need to move from having “please have your phone off” signs to “please have your phone on” signs.
- The media is affecting our small group communities and the way that they interact.
- We’ve torn down the boundaries of distance; there’s now a worldwide conversation going on that anyone can participate in.
- The definition of “presence” is changing.
- We HAVE to think through these things theologically.
- Is physical presence necessary for you to be a part of and “be” the church.
- Social media allows customization [personalization].
- One size does not fit all … [MySpace, my reviews, my favorites, etc.]
- My can be consumer oriented, but it reflects the fact that media is in the hands of every person and every person has the ability to create media.
- Everyone is a content producer.
- We now watch TV on our own terms [TiVo].
- New generations are being raised with these new ideas embedded in their everyday interactions.
- As technology becomes cheaper and more effective, the Church is confronted with one of the greatest opportunities along with one of the greatest challenges of how to steward it.
- The Men of Issachar were able to see the times and were able to know what to do.
- Let’s go to the next level… let’s find out what we are capable of doing and how are we able to frame it in a Biblical context?
- The word of our testimony is the critical story we have that’s a powerful conduit [Christianity is viral] to reach someone we may have not been able to reach any other way.
- We’ve moved to a digital age.
- It will be normal for us to connect online, first and then meet in person.
- 43% of churches say social media is one of the most effective ways for them to communicate and engage with people.
- Church websites are the front doors to churches.
- 77% of people say the church website was an important part of why they chose to go to church.
- If people can’t connect to your website they may not go to your church.
- People make judgements about a church based on what the church communicates across their website.
- It’s a missiological issue.
- John 17:18
- Facebook is the 4th largest nation in the world if you look at the number of people that are on it.
- Non-Christians do not go to your website.
- Your website is primarily visited by believers looking for information about churches.
- 20% of all data people are accessing on church websites is information for new visitors… that’s a significant portion where you should invest your time.
- Use the web to help people new into the church to get deeper into community.
- Your web strategy should be looked at as an Internet Presence Management.
- What are you communicating online?
- How are you connecting to where people are talking and engaging?
- Where are you present? Where are you absent?
- Who is responsible for your church’s online presence?
- What does it mean to be the Church online?
- How do you define presence? What’s your theology of presence?
- We need to recognize that participatory media is decentralized.
- It’s unregulated.
- We have a lack of control.
- We have to look deeper at our theology.
- A mobile, extended presence can be used missionally.
- Is virtual community real community?
- What is Biblical community?
- We need to define Biblical community before we define online community and if it’s possible to have church online
- We need to ask if we can use an online presence to build real life community?
- We need to intently be on the internet, it’s a mission field.
- We, the Church, are called to be counter-culture… what does that mean at this technological crossroads?
- We are willing to be transparent online, but vulnerability is not often seen online.
Top Social Media Sites
- Private Member Portals [ MemberHub, Monk, Tangle, Unifyer, etc ]
- GoogleGroups
- MySpace
- Greatest needs online: events, post prayer requests, get connected, finding small groups and ways to connect throughout the week, integration with their church website and resource sharing.
- Churches are wrestling with how to use participatory technologies.
- The Cobblestone Community Network is a tool that’s been developed to help churches have private communication that’s integrated into social media channels.
- If you don’t set a strategy you’re going to have a difficult time pulling it together later.
- What is your strategy for the community online?
- Pick a horse.
- If you don’t lead your people, they will find their own way and go their own direction.
- This is something we need to pay attention to but we don’t need to know the mechanics of it; you can find volunteers or someone on staff to help manage this.
- Things are easier than they were before.
- There are challenges and effort required but it’s more centered on your strategy.
- Let people tell you how they want to be contacted… be platform neutral.
- Let people choose how the content gets to them.
Drew Goodmanson
CEO of Monk Development creators of Ekklesia 360. Co-Founder of Kaleo Church where I served as Pastor for 8+ years and helped coach several church plants in San Diego. Co-Founder of the GCM Collective, President of the Board at the Center for Church Communication, Board Member of the Entrepreneurship Organization, Internet/Technology Advisory Chair at the Christian Leadership Alliance. Connect
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