Technology in the church has an tortured history. I know the piano had a painful introduction to the church as a worship tool. The organ was just fine for most people.
I am not sure about the microphone, but I imagine the first pastor to use one got an amplified earful from the people in church who could hear just fine without one.
I remember when we first use I-Mag at Lakeside (that's "Image Magnification" for those, like me, who didn't know), many people thought it was just an arrogant desire on my part to be on a Jumbotron. That is, until I read the comment from an elderly Lakesider who thanked us for using it, because he could finally see the facial expressions of the preacher.
Now I'm using Twitter, Facebook and this tool called a blog. Most of these technologies don't come with instructions on how to use them effectively in the church. So I keep trying to learn. I never want to be content with the old ways when the whole culture is using news ways. The message does not change; the methods must change.
Today I spent some time signing up to follow on Twitter and befriend on Facebook the speakers for this year's Global Leadership Summit. One of my strategies for getting the most out of the Summit is to read one book from each author before the Summit. That way I sort of "know" them before they speak. It guarantees I will grasp better what they say at the Summit. (I know, reading books is sort of old-school technology. I don't have an iPad yet.) Now I'm following them on these social networking platforms. Hopefully that means, before the Summit begins, I'll be connected in my thinking to what these people are saying as they are saying it.
Maybe this would be a useful step for you. Go to the Global Summit website. Find the speakers list, then click the links to each speaker for Facebook and Twitter.
And if you haven't yet, follow me on Facebook and Twitter too.
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