social media and #ChurchOnline - Daniel S.

Right now I am most excited about the "horizontal skills" that many organizations are using in the "flat" world of outsourcing, supply chaining, insourcing, and the social environments - and seeing how we can incorporate those into the Church culture both in America and around the world! - Tony

Daniel: I love that - and specifically the more general definition of church online, not specifically lifechurch.tv - but how there could emerge a united "team" and environment where churches that are online band together to really be about the work of the church instead the work of a specific ministry - make sense? - Tony

OnePrayer, different churches working together for a common purpose... - Daniel S.

Leveling the playing field. Truly making the church universal and global, as she should be. - Justin Wise

like: how technology is becoming a language. it is transitioning from being a place or space dominated by a few to a language the can be carried into multiple arenas by anyone/everyone - Marc

Justin: what do you think will be some of the essential events or skills necessary to start that transiation? - Tony

The MONUMENTAL task I see right now is bridging the gap between the digital "natives" (usually younger) to the digitally illiterate (usually older). That is going to take a lot of work and education in the next 15-20 years. - Justin Wise

Marc: I like that as well, the commonality that technology (or flattening) continues to make possible. But until we establish habits and processes aroundit, and then use it beyond "conversation" and into "collaboration" it will still stay as a great idea or a thing to "get" but not "do". And I only mention that because I easily get stuck in the ideas and want to move into the "action" of working untied with others. - Tony

Justin: I would say at most 5 for that. the social interaction through technology is going to continue to get more and more less a hurdle - and get more "invisible" to the point where it just works and we don't notice it until its not there. - Tony

Tony: tell me more about 'supply chaining' part of your comment above. I'm a Product Manager for one of the Supply Chain solutions at HP, so I'm curious. - Aaron

T: I hope so. I hope you are right! I like Marc's idea of technology as a "language" though. - Justin Wise

Justin - I think that we just need to use technology that appeals to both age groups. For instance, web based tech for the younger and maybe cell phone tech for the older... The use of text messages by some churches has been great, and many older members have cell phones even if they are not social media savvy...thoughts? - Robert

Robert: Perhaps a common medium can help establish a "common ground". Texting, for example, may be the pinnacle of technology for some and a starting place for others... But at least the conversation can begin there! - Justin Wise

Aaron: in just way that Walmart has innovated to connect suppliers to the information directly in stores - so when somone buys and even a trend of buying is detected they can react to meed demand. As the church, if we can connect through online hubs, to see trneds in needs that need met, and then react to that demand through our "hubs" or local churches around the world - then we can see a major increase in our ability to fulfill the commands Jesus left us with for the poor, the widow - the major crisis, and then spread of the gospel in ways that are contextually relevant. Make sense? - Tony

Robet & Justin: or with apps like twitter the option to interact is both through web, third party and sms. I think we will see more social services build themselves out in a similar way that can easily integrate into the users choice of tool. - Tony

Justin - right... Many of the members at our church do not have twitter, but they all have cell phones... - Robert

I'm not so sure age matters as much as it once did with regard who is digitally "illiterate." I know people in their 70's who are up to speed on all of the latest stuff and people in their 20's who have never heard of Twitter or Friendfeed. It's a matter of getting people on board the digital train. Period. - Jay Caruso

Tony - Even though many services interact with text, the question is how to get those users to sign up for the service in the first place... - Robert

Jay: You bet. I hesitated to put an age on there (that's why I put "usually" older) because you're right–age is mattering less and less when it comes to technology... Good call. - Justin Wise

Jay: I agree, I am less inclined anymore to just think of technology as young. For instance, on the LifeChurch.tv Fan Page 60% of our fans are 25-44. Meaning teenagers and college kids are in actrually in the 3rd and 5th spots. - Tony

Robert: very true - i really think that the way we are socially interacting online will just become more "natural" and less of a hurdle taking effort in the future - how that happens and what people connect to, I think, looms largest on how the mobile platform is innovated upon. - Tony

Justin - I do wholeheartedly agree with what you said about getting people to start somewhere. - Jay Caruso

Aaron: would love your thoughts on that response & what you have learned from your experiences at HP. - Tony

if the culture of sharing (educating) becomes part of the fabric of how learning occurs more will be apt to adopt the new - Marc

Tony: yeah, that makes sense. thanks for elaborating. saw a similar concept this morning at donorschoose.org. Teachers publish their needs and donors can browse the needs and meet the needs with donations. Technology and the web can definitely help match up the person in need with a person, group, or church who is willing and able to meet that need. The church should definitely be leading in the business of meeting people's needs. - Aaron

Tony - I think the mobile phone can change everything. I think it is less about the computer, and more about a device that people have with them all the time. The phone is that device! Netbooks, are helping some... - Robert

Robert: Do you think the iPhone has that capability? I find myself wanting something of an "in-between"... iPhone is a bit too small... But a handheld device does have the ability to change it all. I think of Sam is Quantum Leap with that device he used to teleport the main guy around... - Justin Wise

Aaron: Agreed, but I see a need for churches to stretch themselves into the horizontal skills, of finding what they really do best, and then learning to work with others as one "body." But so many places are trying to be all encompassing and be good at everything - and that sort of vertical structure will keep the sort of supply chaining that I mentioned from being established because the workflows and processes will never happen to leverage the tech. (I have obviously been reading "The World is Flat" by Thomas Friendman, lol) - Tony

Justin & Robert: iPhone is my netbook - and I think it is an idea device to dream about. Think of all the "meta" data it captures about an individuals actions through out the day (location, and even which way you are facing, friends, messageing, pics, video, etc.) and how that can add to the human experience. Not just computing, but social, geo, local, media- puting. - Tony

iPhone and Blackberry is a start. My wife finally got a BB and she's thrilled with the YouVersion app as she doesn't have to carry her Bible with her on Sunday. I am seeing more and more people using their handhelds as means of staying connected. The technology is there. - Jay Caruso

Justin - I think the iphone is almost there... in many ways I think the ipod touch could do it better because there is no monthly fee to scare adopters away, but that is a device that people do not talk about as much... I wish the screen was a little larger. I have a blackberry storm, and I have had an iphone, they could both be my netbook. - Robert

Tony - I am with you on that! I took some pics today on my storm, sent an email with those pics to ourdoings.com and it was posted to FF with a map of where I was at...very cool indeed and the tech is there. For many, adoptions is about monthly cost and not initial cost of the device. That is why I think the touch has a great chance if it was pushed more... - Robert

I agree that cell phones are a good place to start. I rarely use my cell phone to actually talk, it's more for texting, emailing and being able to access certain applications anywhere and I know quite a few other people young and old who are the same way. - Kimberly Thompson

Robert: I just can't wait until the iPhone helps me socially interact. I am still intrigued by Seth Godin's idea, mention in his Web 4.0 post) about when you set the location for a meeting invite with friends.. that your phones gps know your location, it can see traffic, and know if you are going to be late and automatically send them an update of your new arrival time - and then how that can be applied exponentially to other social interactions. - Tony

Kimberly - what device do you have? - Robert

Robert: I don't have the iPhone, but do have the iPod Touch and also MiFi. I could see the potential 'always on' refeshed touch. - Marc

Tony - how did I miss that post, can you put a link in this conversation... I normally read his stuff daily... - Robert

for sure - going to search now robert, be right back - Tony

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_b... - Tony

I said it once, but the iPhone is literally changing the way we live. I am so excited to see where it takes us in 5-10 years and on down the road.... - Justin Wise

Tony: im sure you read it... its an old post - Marc

Marc - I did not think about using the touch with the MiFi... Now that is a great idea! Add skype to that, and you almost have a iphone... on Verizon...hmmm - Robert

Tony - Thanks! - Robert

Robert: yep! I have skype and have used the touch with mifi for a call (just to try it out). Actually, was perfect when my blackberry battery died on the road and need to make a call. :) - Marc

hey guys - be back in 5-10 minutes. - Tony

Hopefully eLearning -- lots of church people home school their kids. It'd open up a ton of opportunity for kids and parents alike. - Patricia

Another thing I love about the technological advances we've made is that, we aren't limited to the people in our local churches to be in community with. We can find other people of faith who like the same things we like and form a community through technology. That's awesome. - Kimberly Thompson

hey everyone thanks for the twitter invite - givelovecoffee

Any thoughts on how to save tweets apart from Twitter. I'd like to use as a Journal or sorts...not sure what would be best - givelovecoffee

This week it's www.babelwith.me - This opens the doors for more global communication (international lifegroups, training, collaborating, etc) - Amanda Sims

givelovecoffee: http://twistory.net is pretty cool // i also tried to use backupmytweets, but that didnt work - Marc

I'm excited that I am seeing more and more people interested in and participating in more "team" stuff between churches, instead of seeing the church down the road as the competition, this is super exciting to me! - Luke DeMoss

Tony: interesting comments on 'horizontal' vs. 'vertical'. i will have to check out that book. my company is still very vertical and we don't use technology to collaborate as much as we should. keep an eye on Cisco. they have purposely flattened their organization and are actively using social business technology, video conferencing, and other technologies to collaborate more effectively. also check out the writings of Gary Hamel. he has lots of good insight on how organizations need structure themselves and operate differently in this flat, connected world we now live in - Aaron

I’m using an app called Twinbox <http://www.techhit.com/TwInbox...> . It’s an Outlook plug-in that let’s me collect my tweets in my inbox and review later w/o being on the web. Also allows me to update, retweet and respond to others. Pretty neat and thus far no issues (on Vista using Outlook 2007) DAC - Donna A Cole from email

Integrating Local worship experiences and technology, and leveraging technology as a medium that over-comes our divided and segmented spirituality with utilizing mobile devices in lieu of communication cards on paper, stream announcements throughout the week, deliver messages (like church online etc.) to house churches for neighborhood experiences. At the end of the next evolution technology will erase the functionality of a church "building" and bring more organic interaction to the church body (irony). - Ryan Smith

Robert: I've been using my blackberry, but I'm switching to the iphone soon. - Kimberly Thompson

I think what's most exciting to me is the fact that now, more than ever it seems, is a willingness for the Church to lead using the latest, greatest tools and not shy away from the world, but to actively seek to engage. In the past, the Church was always a few years, maybe more, behind as far as being hip to the culture and being able to converse with the current generation. We're actually seeing innovation and creativity in the Church that is on par or surpassing that of some of the top tech companies in the world. I think that's truly exciting. - Kevin Gilbert

Just the fact that older, conservative church groups are moving toward technology is exciting. - Jim Gray