Yesterday, I explored the ever changing social network map. Today, I want to explore the meaning of the map as a whole: to consider what social networking means to you based on your own experiences. Spence Smith was the drummer for Big Tent Revival in the 1990s and has become a social networking guru in the 2000s. He currently works in artist relations for Compassion International and thinks of himself as "a connector, influencer, and thinker in the worlds of Read More …
Trends
Managing the Social Network Map (#0176)
Two maps offer a compelling visual case for the changing geography of social networking. The first map was created for XKCD in 2007. The second map was created by Ethan Bloch, Co-Founder and CEO of Flowtown. So What? Christian community has always been about helping people become and remain connected. Most local churches tend toward the extremes of being incredibly savvy or only marginally interested in social Read More …
How Ideas Spread (#0175)
Seth Godin is the author of twelve books that have been bestsellers around the world and changed the way people think about marketing, change, and work. He earned his MBA from Stanford, and was called "the Ultimate Entrepreneur for the Information Age" by Business Week. For more information visit his website or read his blog. He recently listed 20 reasons why people choose to spread ideas: I spread your idea because it makes me feel generous. ...because I feel smart Read More …
Common Strategic and Pastoral Myths (#0174)
Will Mancini is the founder of Auxano - a church consulting group with a unique approach to developing a church's vision frame before providing traditional consulting services. Mancini's pastoral experience includes helping lead two congregations to grow to over 3,000 in weekend attendance: Clear Creek Community Church and FaithBridge UMC. He is the author of Church Unique: How Mission Leaders Cast Vision, Capture Culture, and Create Movement. To connect with Read More …
Inviting Ellen – A Lesson in Silly Creativity (#0173)
The United Church of Christ, a progressive mainline denomination with 1.1 million members, recently launched a creative campaign designed to land Ellen DeGeneres as a keynote speaker at their General Synod, which will be held from July 1-5 in Tampa, Florida. Geoffrey A. Black, the UCC's General Minister and President, wrote a letter explaining why and how the denomination is pursuing Ellen: Your life, values and humor represent the best of what our church hopes to embody Read More …
Learning from Starbucks (#0170)
Waited the full 30 mins and went in RR to checksmall leakage on pantyremoved - all about 1/2 to 2/3peed and didn't have muchencouraged her to try again and be sure bladder fully emptypassed just a little moreMom on her way back - so she's planning to just wait and try OB in a couple of mins Leonard Sweet's The Gospel According to Starbucks: Living with a Grande Passion has helped many people give greater consideration to lessons the church can learn from Starbucks. In an interview about Read More …
National Porn Sunday (#0166)
In 2005 Craig Gross and Mike Foster debuted their documentary, "Missionary Positions," and began talking in local churches about pornography and the problems they believe it creates in people's lives. These experiences were marketed as "Porn Sundays" and later became the foundation for an annual National Porn Sunday. To date, over 300 congregations have participated in this event. In 2011, National Porn Sunday has been moved to February 6 to coincide with the Read More …
5 Ways to Use Social Media (#0164)
Scott McClellan is the editor of Collide: a magazine for church leaders who use media and technology to communicate Truth. Additionally, he is the director of Echo: a media and tech conference for creative church leaders. To learn more about McClellan visit his website, friend him on facebook, or follow him on twitter. Earlier this week he wrote about five ways your organization can and should use social media: Listen: follow thought leaders, culture Read More …
Handling the Issue of Homosexuality (#0162)
Research conducted earlier this month by Public Religion Research Institute in partnership with Religion News Service provides a unique look into an important topic. The second survey question asked, "If you had to grade America's places of worship on how they are handling the issue of homosexuality - would you give them an A, a B, a C, a D, or an F? A: 5% B: 11% C: 30% D: 18 % F: 24% Don't Know: 12% The third survey question asked, "If you had to grade your own place Read More …
Controversial Marketing (#0161)
Recently, Christ Covenant Church in Beaumont, Texas launched a controversial billboard campaign carrying the message that Christians are jerks. According to an article by Kate Shellnutt, the church's billboard (pictured at right) has "confused and surprised drivers along I-10 near College--is meant to direct people to the Christ Covenant website and their new sermon series: What a Bunch of Jerks: Teachings of Jesus too Often Ignored by the Church." A page on the church's website explains Read More …