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Global Technology Office
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The Role of Technology in Local Movements EverywhereBy Keith SeabournNOTE: This directional paper was written by the Chief Technology Office to provide technology direction for Campus Crusade for Christ as we move towards building local movements everywhere. Technology critically enables local movements everywhere. In 2002, 48% of the world’s population was concentrated in urban areas. 29% of the world’s population is less than 15 years old. [Source: United Nations World Population 2002, Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs]. Tending to appear first in urban areas, technology is quickly embraced by the youth. It is primarily available to universities, business leaders and government officials. Thus, an amazing overlap exists between changing population demographics, the use of technology, and its strategic impact on current and future leaders. Deploying technology to accelerate win-build-send will target leaders and youth in growing urban populations. This powerful convergence of two realities of our modern world indicate that the use of technology, and particularly internet technology, now offers a tremendous opportunity to the body of Christ to reach leadership in the urban centers in unprecedented ways. Movement Characteristics
A movement is a spiritual movement when:
Contrasting Technology Characteristics
ChallengesThe differences between movements and technology present an interesting puzzle. We know how technology solutions enable organizations to function better; we are still learning how to help movements function better. The challenge is to implement technologies enabling movements everywhere without hindering the movements through unnecessary structure and control. Movement-enabling technologies should allow members to:
Two Categories of TechnologiesWhile there are many ways to categorize technologies, two specifically relate to Campus Crusade:
Direct ministry technologies connect with lost people to win them for the Lord, build them in their faith and send them out as co-laborers and partners in the harvest. Catalytic ministry technologies enable and equip Christian laborers for effective winning, building and sending. Elements of Direct Internet Ministry
Direct internet ministry occurs when traditional ministry methods are enabled by innovative technologies. Core components of internet ministry include: marketing, delivery, and response. These same three core components are also involved in traditional ministry activity. For instance, consider a traditional campus meeting or a Jesus Film showing: Campus Team MeetingStudents display posters and use word-of-mouth advertising to market the Tuesday night meeting. The speaker uses effective delivery techniques to connect with the audience – relevant topic, interesting stories, humor, and good presentation skills. At the end of the delivery, comment cards capture responses from interested people for further contact and discussion. JESUS Film ShowingStaff members use posters and word-of-mouth to alert villagers to a Jesus Film showing. In the afternoon, the film team arrives to set up the screen, often attracting an interested group of onlookers. Near dusk, the first few minutes of the film is projected with loud volume to begin drawing people. All of these steps market the film. The Jesus film is the delivery tool, a high-quality presentation in the language of the people. At the close of the film, strings of lights are illuminated and counselors standing under each bulb inviting people to respond by “coming to the light.” Direct internet ministry uses these same principles. Marketing efforts attract people to web sites. Delivery methods move people through a website to a preferred decision or transaction. Response mechanisms allow people to connect with others to fulfill decisions or ask questions. Elements of Catalytic Internet Ministry
Movement-enabling technologies for catalytic ministry go one step further by connecting laborers with one another and empowering, enabling, and equipping them for the harvest. This increases laborers for the harvest by engaging volunteers and bringing them “on the inside” of CCCI with access to tools, strategies, resources, and experts via the web. Examples of Movement-Enabling Technologies
Standardizing Processes as a Movement BuilderAs we have begun implementing a catalytic ministry solution in Mexico, we found that the business analysis phase is already yielding a 3-4 hour per week savings of field staff time, even before a technology solution has been implemented. Simply collecting forms into one place, sorting through various versions of forms, and standardizing the workflow gains field staff nearly half a workday every week. In preparation for moving a standardized ministry process into a technology solution, several very important steps occur that have benefit even if there were no technology solution. This process is call business analysis.
Technology as a Movement BuilderAnalyses and standardization of ministry and administrative processes are the necessary precursors to technology implementation. Technology builds movements by:
Technology as a Movement Accelerator
In physics, acceleration is the result of increasing force or decreasing friction. In ministry terms: Increasing force is accomplished by helping laborers to become more effective. Decreasing friction is accomplished by helping laborers to become more efficient. A movement accelerator increases movement building by increasing the effectiveness or efficiency of laborers in the movement. Technology connects laborers to one another, to other ministry experts, and to current best practices, enabling partners to be more effective. Technology can simplify administrative processes, helping laborers be more efficient. Saving hours in administrative work or in searching for effective ministry tools, translates into adding more laborers to the harvest field. Local Movements EverywhereTechnology helps build local movements everywhere by:
The internet changes the meaning of local. Traditionally, local means “near” or “similar” and technology can accelerate the Great Commission by delivering evangelistic resources to people in a geographical location. This is especially helpful for remote or sensitive regions. But local is not limited to “geographically” near. Local can also mean “relationally” near. People can be relationally connected even though they are geographically separated. The telephone allows continued communication between family members separated by great distances. Recently, soldiers in remote locations of Iraq remained connected with their families through tremendous communication technology advances. One soldier even saw his newborn’s photo via email. Technology can place people with answers “near” to people with questions. These questions may be seekers asking about life’s problems. Staff in the NAMESTAN area have pioneered the effective use of communication centers to help people who have heard radio broadcasts. As internet technologies become available in their region, staff are adding major internet tools which greatly reduce the time between someone asking a question and receiving an answer. Seekers are not the only ones asking questions to staff members. Campus directors frequently share effective strategies with one another around the globe. Imagine a system where the Titanic and Beyond evangelistic strategy pioneered in India is quickly made available to campuses worldwide while the film is still an effective tool. Technologies enable ministryTechnologies enable us to do our ministries in the modern world. Consider air travel. We couldn’t do our jobs without it. Or consider electricity, especially small, lightweight, portable power plants. Without electricity, the 5.6 billion viewings of the Jesus Film would not have been possible. The 188,869,483 who have indicated decisions for Jesus Christ might still be facing eternal separation. Our complex world relies increasingly on technologies to allow us to work, play and live. Our ministry must rely on technologies to allow us to help fulfill the Great Commission in our generation. Key characteristics of movement technologiesMovement technologies exhibit the following characteristics:
ConclusionTechnology is an important enabler of building local movements everywhere. Technology is pervasive throughout our movement. It’s a part of everything. It is important in moving forward to identify and implement technologies which are driven by our purpose of establishing local movements everywhere. Because movements and technology solutions can have significantly differing characteristics, we have identified a number of key characteristics of movement technologies – those technologies that assist and enable movement building. Through these powerful technologies, we are even closer to the promise of Psalm 2:8: “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” Not only can we reach the ends of the earth, we can do it quickly and effectively. We can bring additional force to bear on the kingdom of darkness by increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of laborers in the harvest fields. Contact InformationFor further information, contact the Chief Technology Office. Keith Seabourn Doug Leppard |
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