What is the objective of church communication? Of using story? What is the role of the church communicator? Last month I had the privilege of tackling these topics for a group of church communicators primarily from large churches in Southern California.

Often the larger the organization, the more dangerous the tendency to slip into pragmatism. All of us like to get things done, but it adds a layer of complexity when we seek to do this through others in a church setting. Over the years I’ve failed in this way in numerous ways, particularly when our church made a transition from being more traditional Sunday service oriented to becoming more based on people gathering throughout the week in missional communities across the city. My communication caused many to feel a burden of legalism because we often improperly communicated. Even in my role at MonkDev, where we are building web apps and online strategies for church that want to increase engagement such as small group participation or broaden exposure to attract new people, this tension is always there: How do you effectively communicate and get the results you want?

CMS: Moving Beyond Stories

Digital Ministry Hack-a-thon

The Digital Ministry Hack-a-thon is a two-day team competition designed to deepen your faith and give you an opportunity to use your skills for the kingdom of God. The competition will take place as part of the Biola Digital Ministry Conference on the campus of Biola University in Southern California from June 4 to June 7, 2012. Do you think you have what it takes? Are you ready to put your skills to the test?

I will be co-presenting the Keynote Session:

The State of Digital Ministry
Drew Goodmanson and David Bourgeois

In this session, Drew and Dave will examine the way ministries are using the Internet and other digital technologies. Using their own unique perspectives, they will start by talking about where we are today: what technologies we are using, how is technology being integrated into ministry, and offer opinions about its effectiveness. Then, they will review the trends in technology and make some predictions about the future. What will be doing in five years? What technologies should your ministry be investing in right now? This session will help your ministry understand where you fit today and how to plan for the future.

Find the church by going online — the 21st-century version of sighting a steeple on the horizon. Beyond their website, Christ Fellowship has a Facebook page to give it a friendly presence in social media.

You can download the worship program by scanning their customized-with-a-cross QR code. The worship services are streamed online from their Internet campus — with live chat running so you can share spiritual insights in real time.

Afterward, says senior Pastor Bruce Miller, “someone will ask you, ‘How did it go? Did God help you, today? How can we help you?’ Just like we do when people come to our building in McKinney. We are here to help people find and follow Christ, wherever they are starting out from.”

And wherever they are in the digital world.

Full Article:  More congregations turn to Facebook, Web, high-tech outreach

Build the Right Social Media Strategy for Your Ministry (ITI Full Day Intensive)

This session offers unprecedented access to social media experts that will help you determine how to craft a social media strategy for your organization. The session will include creating a one-page ministry strategic plan and learning from the best practices from 100+ ministries in the Excellence in Online Ministry research. After attending this session you will be able to: 1) Implement best practices to strengthen your ministry’s social media initiatives, 2) Craft an effective social media strategy for your target audience, and 3) Integrate innovative thinking into all the communications strategies for your ministry.

Drew Goodmanson, CEO, Monk Development; Brian Barela, Director of New Media, Campus Crusade for Christ; Chris Giovagnoni, Social Media Manager, Compassion International; and Justin Wise, Social Media Director, Monk Development<

CIO & IT Roundtable: Today’s Top Technology Topics!

You won’t want to miss this groundbreaking CIO & IT Roundtable community building session. During this session you will hear from innovative Internet and Technology experts, ministry Chief Information Officers, and other ministry leaders who will discuss today’s most critical online and tech ministry topics. This session provides ministry IT leaders a place to network with peers, learn about new technologies, find out about new solutions, and get advice from others. After completing this course you will be able to: 1) Discern the most pressing Internet and technology issues facing your ministry, 2) Draw upon the expertise of a network of outstanding ministry CIO’s, and 3) Develop strategies that put your ministry ahead of the exponential technological change curve.

Moderators: Jim Finwick, CIO, Compassion International and Drew Goodmanson, CEO, Monk Development

Your Ministry Needs Web and Mobile apps

Web and Mobile apps are your biggest cheerleaders in a world that is moving online in unprecedented numbers. This talk will cover the process of developing, building or buying your way into the online population with the best quality apps. When you leave this talk, you’ll know where and how to start your Web and Mobile app strategy. Topics will cover: “What is a Web app?”, “Do I build or buy?”, “Where do I find qualified people?”, “If I have a Web app, do I need a mobile app?” After attending this session you will be able to: 1) Decide whether it is better to build or buy a Web app, 2) Recognize where to find great developers, and 3) Understand how a Web and mobile app works.

Etienne de Bruin, CTO, Monk Development

Build the Right Ministry Web Strategy

How do you identify and execute Web strategies that are appropriate for your ministry? As a leader learn how to rally your team and Web engagement around a clear vision. Gain insights on building an online strategy for your ministry that you can execute and experience positive results to impact your ministry. Hear from other organizations successes and the challenges they faced in building a Web strategy. After completing this course you will be able to: 1) Build an effective and an appropriate online ministry plan, 2) Lead your team through building a Web strategy, and 3) Better steward your resources online.

Drew Goodmanson, CEO, Monk Development

How to Stop Wasting Your Time with Social Media

Go beyond what people are doing to what is driving real ministry impact for churches and ministries in their use of Facebook, Twitter and other social Web tactics and strategies. You will be presented with a follow-up research project to last year’s Excellence in Online Ministry research gathered from over 100 ministries. This year the research focuses specifically on ministry effectiveness in social media. After attending this session you will be able to: 1) Effectively engage your community online in practical, real-world ways, 2) Create a social media content calendar, and 3) Build a lasting and effective online community.

Justin Wise, Social Media Director, Monk Development

So, why should you come to the Biola Digital Ministry Conference?

1. You will receive practical solutions to your digital ministry problems. We will be holding several sessions from experts who are doing digital ministry and will provide you with the ideas and tools you need to improve your ministry.
2. We are committed to helping you use digital technologies. We are creating a technology “track” which will focus on the nuts and bolts of technologies. We will also be giving you insights into innovative applications that you can use in your ministry in our “app showcase” breakout sessions.
3. You will get to see new ministry technologies developed right before your eyes. The Digital Ministry “hack-a-thon” will be held in conjunction with the conference. At this event, developer teams will create new ministry applications over a 48-hour period and present them to the conference attendees on the final morning.
4. We will provide a good return on investment. We have worked hard this year to keep the cost of the conference down by providing an inexpensive housing solution. You can now stay on campus here at Biola for as little as $38/night, which includes all of your meals! If you take advantage of our early bird registration, this means you can attend the conference for as little as $245, including your housing and food.
5. There will be a conference lounge. Free coffee, cookies, and a place to connect with other conference attendees. Isn’t that why you go to conferences?

These are just some of the reasons to attend this year’s conference. Stay tuned to the conference blog and follow Biola Digital on Twitter to get updates about the conference as more details are added.

As we continue to plan this conference, our prayer for your ministry is that you will be blessed by this conference, whether or not you choose to come. I hope to see you here at Biola University this June!

You can register for the conference by going to the registration page. 

How can you help? If you know anyone in the US looking to buy or sell a home, we will connect them with a top agent (based on the agents past performance) in the area they live.

And with every lead you’ll be sent a $25 gift card to Starbucks just for your help! And..

One needy family will have a home built for every 10 homes sold.

This program will be run through YWAM’s Homes for Hope. They have been building homes in the Baja area of Mexico for almost 20 years now and have completed over 3000 houses. Target groups are the poorest of the poor – those in food poverty, that do not have shelter improvement as their first priority and those experiencing basic-needs poverty, who while they can feed themselves, have little left to improve their living conditions. It is recognized that given the right circumstances and assistance, both these groups will be able to change their circumstances and future productivity. In 1997, in recognition of the impact in the city of Tijuana, the Mayor awarded YWAM San Diego/Baja the Civic Merit Award from the City of Tijuana (the highest award given) for service to the community.

Participate in the Homes for Hope Real Estate Challenge.

This is a large book (368 pages) and it is also a book filled with a lot of complicated ideas that will take leaders a while to process. But, if you take the book on, I believe it will be one of the more revolutionary reads for the church if you understand the implications Hirsch and Catchim suggest.

Pick up a copy of the book today: The Permanent Revolution: Apostolic Imagination and Practice for the 21st Century Church

I recall sitting in a room years ago and first hearing from Hirsch at the National New Church conference in Orlando. His book, the Forgotten Ways had released and was causing a stir in the room. Fast forward several years and Hirsch continues to agitate the comforts of the North American Church. His influence is seen by many as the Church continues to adjust to the sociological shifts of the last couple decades. The Permanent Revolution: Apostolic Imagination and Practice for the 21st Century Church is another must read in this stream of conversation.

Pros – The authors leave few stones unturned as they discuss the necessary apostolic element in the church. If you come to agree with the arguments laid out, it can have serious impacts on the local church. I found several moments where I literally had to put the book down to process what was being said. Examples include:

Their use of APEST as a model for ministry and what this looks like worked out in a local church. (I’ve written on the Triperspectival model of ministry which, I think the authors wrongly characterize on p. 168 but that is another topic).
The contrast between Evangelistic and Apostolic leaders. The flow from Apostolic to Prophetic, Evangelistic, Pastor and then Teaching in a movement.
How the roles of Pioneers & Settlers are needed in the church. (Pioneers from my experience often leave the structures of the church to pioneer new works because churches don’t know what to do with them.)

Cons – This is not an easy read and may require time for you to process.

Overall though this is a necessary and recommended read for church leaders.

We discussed what activities, roles, and areas of focus a leader in each identity might have.

Family: encouragement, teaching, care (know needs!), hospitality, counseling, DNA brother to brother, children, admin, historian, pay bills
Missionary: faithful to living out the mission, evangelist, seek opportunities for mission and service, outward passion
Servants: empathy, intuitive, gifts of service, hospitality, deacon, serving community, Sunday gathering
Learners/Disciples: scriptures, DNA, teach MC members (know how to teach), godly example, equipping, facilitating gospel in all of life, storying, coaching

How do you share leadership? What are the obstacles to enacting a shared leadership model?

Concurrently, Caesar who met with the Missio guys and a church in Austin that spoke about how they share leadership based on GCM. One of the missional aspects they discussed was a ‘Community’ leader could even be a person who is not a believer.

Sales / Account Executive, Want to join a World Class Team?
Job Description: We are looking for a Sales Superstar to join our extraordinary team. The Sales position is a role that will be focused on generating new business and developing existing client relationships. Sales Specialists will set-up client appointments, make customer calls, work with engineering to complete proposals, and ultimately close business.

Specific Responsibilities:
- Develop strong relationships with partners, clients, and affiliates
- Articulate a comprehensive understanding of MonkDev’s products and services and their relationship to a client’s critical business issues
- Execute regular fast paced communications with prospects, customers, and partners
- Deliver and execute web-based demonstrations and in-person sales calls as appropriate.
- Prepare quotations, proposals, and presentations
- Develop and maintain a pipeline of 3x quota of new business opportunity
- Provide feedback and recommendations to marketing and product management based on direct experiences with customers and prospects for product improvements
- Provide accurate and timely reports and sales forecasts

Interested? Visit MonkDev for more information: http://www.monkdevelopment.com/company/jobs/