connecting means conversation, not just content

Thanks to Warren Bird for tipping me off to this insightful Ministry Today magazine article by Phil Cooke, The ‘Open Media’ Revolution: ... will change everything you know about reaching this generation . Here's an excerpt:

The digital media revolution is far more than just meeting new friends on social networks, watching comedy clips on mobile phones or text messaging multiple people. The fundamental transformation that will impact everything in the future revolves around the word open, and will have massive implications for culture, politics, education, business and religion. ...

... And if church and ministry leaders don't understand and respond to this change, our impact will eventually disappear.

... [here's some] difference between the closed media world of the past and the open media world of the future: ...

Closed: Programmers controlled the message

Open: The audience influences the message

...

Closed: A church controlled its membership

Open: "Church membership" means something completely different

... 

Closed: Christian leaders could control information

Open: In the digital age, information can't be controlled

... Are you getting the picture? The "open media" or "open source" world is one that involves a two-way conversation instead of the traditional one-way model. The next generation wants to communicate, and because of that they opt to use media that's "always on."

... Given the present digital-driven world we live in, here are some questions you need to be asking:

• How much do I know about how my congregation/donors/partners/audience interacts with our organization?
• Are you considered a truth-teller?
• Have you changed the culture at your organization to reflect a new paradigm? 
• Are you marketing or influencing?

Read the entire article to get the complete list of questions to conside and how your church (or ministry organization) can plan to make a better connection with the people you want to serve.

How is your church making the transition and opening things up? What are better ways to connect in conversation with regular attenders? What are better ways to connect in conversation with the people in your community, but not in your church?

// DJ Chuang, Director at Leadership Network