Christian Missionaries Convert to New Media

No doubt you've spent enough time online to have discovered some of the great examples of missionaries who are using the new media for ministry purposes.  In fact, as globalization crosses the digital divide, more and more missionaries will migrate online.

Today's missionaries are using blogs, facebook, shutterfly and other social media to extend their connectedness, reward their supporters and create archived memories of their unique adventures.   Whether missionaries are serving on short term teams or serving in long term posts, they need no longer be disconnected from their points of origin, hometowns, partners, sending churches, extended families, etc.  In fact, if they have internet access, there's virtually (no pun intended) no reason they can't be very connected.

 

Although there are many well-known examples I could point you to, I'd like to submit a personal favorite here: The Vernon Journal.   Authored by Paul and Lori Vernon, one of the most genuine and authentic young couples I've encountered through Foursquare Missions International, The Vernon Journal is used to detail Paul, Lori & baby Abi Vernon's service to an Akha hilltribe in Northern Thailand.   (We got the priviledge of holding baby Abi on their last US visit).

  Their blog is colorful and informative, well-laid out and quite 
  personal.

  In their Media section you will find photo albums, podcasts,
  and more.
 

  Pictures = The Vernon Shutter 

  Videos = The Vernon Cinema

  Audio = The Vernon Journal Podcast

  Newsletters = The Vernon Quarterly

  The Vernon Journal is just a great representation of what 
  missionaries can provide while on the mission field.

  Additionally, Items they are in need of can also be found on the site. 

(We gave them E-mergency vitamin packs and bandaids.)  By the way, their great photos are taken with a camera that was gifted to them for such purposes.       

If you have an interest in investing time on a mission team, you can use technology to search within your local church congregation, your denomination, at Ask a Missionary.com or at YWAM.com. 

 

And if you already are serving in missions, check out the Mission:Equip blog HT Frank Johnson of Strategic Digital Outreach.  I've known Frank for years and recommend his materials wholeheartedly.  Mission:Equip hosts a network of 228 country-specific blogs and 228 country-specific wikis, and have established a venue where long-term missionaries, short-term missions teams, missions agencies, missions pastors, and believers with a heart for world missions can gather and discuss God's plan and desires for the peoples of the world, encourage one another, share stories and prayer requests, etc.

 

If you want to go really deep into the history of technology and missions you can do in depth research at this wiki. 

 

On the other hand, if you want to get a glimpse of what mission trips might do in the future, check out this team of Compassion International short term missionaries (including Anne Jackson plus Joe Carter of Evangelical Outpost) who will be blogging their Uganda trip live:

 

  And yes, I got the widget for my facebook page. 

 

  What examples of missionaries using media can you recommend?

  Posted by Cynthia Ware.

Comments

[Malcolm Lanham]

Great article... I am a missionary, serving with the poor in West Virginia. Check out our website at www.completinggodsmission.com.

We are using much of the same technology that you mentioned in your article. In addition, we have a Facebook group & cause... as well as YouTube and Google video for video distribution.

Most of our technology is done through our MacBook and we are using everything from iWeb, iPhoto, iMovie, Final Cut Express... and will soon be putting out new interactive DVD and Quicktime files with Keynote. We also use Google docs for file sharing within those in our office.

Another technology that all of our organization's [Global Outreach, www.wegoglobal.com] missionaries are using is Skype. For phone calls, video conferencing and chat. This is great because it is a secure platform for us to communicate.

Thanks.

[Cynthia]

Malcolm - I, too, use almost exclusively Mac technology including iWeb, iPhoto, iMovie, and Final Cut Express just because it makes everything so easy. Now, with Leopard I can screen share with others in other locations, too.

Skype is another great mention and I've been happy with it for the last 2 years - often talking from the US to Europe - free.

Here's another beautiful new missions link I just received today on my facebook page -
http://www.gointernational.tv/home/
and thanks for adding yours.

[Chris Giovagnoni]

Joe Carter was going to participate in the Compassion Uganda trip, but he's not now. This is the link for those who will be going.

http://www.compassion.com/share/uganda-blog.htm

[Cynthia]

Chris - thanks for the correction and link.

[Dave]

I think this is awesome for missionaries or other groups. Two examples:

1) When I traveled to Russia, Moldova, and Czech Republic last year, I kept a blog or travel journal which allowed people to subscribe and stay up-to-date with my traveling, prayer requests, etc. My supporters loved the stories and pics as well as being able to leave comments.

2) The youth choir I work with has a blog that we use for PR/Mktg as well as updates. We update it about once a month, you can subscribe over email or blog reader, but when we head out on the road, we blog our journey - its a great way to keep parents and interested parties informed. We will be folding it into our site redesigned so that it fits under the umbrella, but check it out to see what we've done - http://daveanthold.typepad.com/agape_singers. Enjoy.