Getting Access to MySpace at Your Church
Something I hear about quite often about youth pastors is their frustration with the list of sites that they aren’t allowed to access at their church. MySpace is often viewed as ‘evil’ and something that both youth and youth pastors should avoid. Until church leaders grasp the reality of the situation - that today’s youth aren’t avoiding MySpace - they will hinder you from being available in a network of millions of teenagers at the cost of their fear and misunderstanding. Yes, there is trash all over MySpace. Just as there is trash all over the internet. But churches have learned to embrace the internet and use it to it’s favor. So why can’t a youth pastor do the same with social networking? Frankly, fear makes the decisions.
So how do you approach church leadership when requesting access to MySpace or other blocked websites? Here are a few simple tips.
- Explain the benefits - If your church leadership isn’t as ‘with it’ as it should be, there may be some misunderstanding as to why you need access to a particular site. First, point out that it’s not for your own good - it’s for your students. Also, presenting some strong statistics about the MySpace demographic may open their eyes a bit. Don’t forget to explain how this opens a constant channel of communication between you and your students. It also benefits you by being able to see what youth are talking about, helping you plan how to minister to them the best.
- Don’t throw scripture at them - As most of us have experienced, using scripture to state our position on something sometimes causes people to get defensive. Though scripture may support your case, it’s likely they’ll just throw some back at you. Avoid this type of argument at all costs.
- Explain how easy it is - “Pastor Bob, we can reach millions of teenagers all over the world. They already have a network. Now all I have to do is step in and create a profile, giving me access to millions of teens in a matter of minutes.”
- Listen intently and respond carefully - Sometimes we let things build up so much inside of us that we think there is no way they can’t understand. However, it’s a given that whoever your are approaching will have an equally-well thought out response. If you are truly listening and soaking in what they have to say, they will notice.
- Use youth testimonials - Have a few members of your youth group write (or record) a brief message about their ability to reach their friends on MySpace. If church leadership can see how students are able to do this, they may realize the importance of having a leader such as yourself be available on the site as well.
- Explain why you can’t afford to not use this site - Again, focus on the potential missed opportunities to reach kids not only in your community but around the world by using demographics. Present that there is nothing that outweighs extending your reach this far.
- Communicate in a way that is familiar - Does the church leadership like PowerPoint presentations? Or outlines? Or videos? You’ve sat in on enough staff meetings to know what your team likes. Don’t stray from what they know.
I don’t recommend using proxy sites to connect to MySpace at your church. It’s best to be honest about your online activities while at your church. After all, getting caught on MySpace without permission could have some consequences.
Should my whole church embrace new technologies?
I read an interesting post today by Chris Ediger , director of Internet development and operations for GiANT Impact . He asks an interesting question regarding churches and technology.
Where should the line be drawn between seeking ways to use technology and muddying the waters too much as a consequence of trying to be relevant?
This is a question that churches everywhere should be asking. As a 20-something myself, I love technology. I have an iPhone. I have a Macbook Pro. I have an internet job. The majority of my life is in someway tangled in the web of technology, and I don’t mind it one bit. Most people in my generation would probably say the same thing. It’s for this very reason that churches are trying to embrace the latest innovations to reach their congregations and communities. However, are we losing sight of certain demographics in order to reach others? Probably so.
In his post, Chris specifically addresses the issue of reaching senior adults. He points out that churches are constantly asking how to get older generations to use new technologies that the church is embracing. But the question they should be asking is Should I encourage or expect my whole church embrace new technologies? While youth, young adults, and even middle-aged adults are likely to adjust to changes in the way a church delivers content and offers services, we cannot forget about senior adults, who are much less likely to grasp the new tools we are all so thrilled about using. Can you picture your grandmother listening to a podcast, reading a blog, or watching the latest sermon onine? Probably not.
I’m in no way suggesting we shouldn’t be using new tools to reach the church and the community. However, churches need to continue to deliver information to the apporpriate audience in the appropriate ways.
LifeWay Christian Resources Begins to Take Hold of Social Networking
The president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, Dr. Thom Rainer, started his own Twitter account yesterday . It’s always great to see a company of this size grasp the idea and importance of social networking - especially at the executive level.
At the time of this post, Dr. Rainer he has 117 followers. Not bad for having an account for less than 24 hours.
In my humble opinion, this is an extremely encouraging move that may be a sign of good things to come. Or maybe I’m just biased…
Youth Pastors: Do You Need an iPhone?
After seeing every (other) youth pastor at summer camp with an iPhone, it’s hard not to want. Is there a slight chance that as a youth pastor, you might actually need one? I don’t know if there is a definitive answer, but I can certainly give you some information to help you decide. Here are some features and applications that would benefit any youth pastor:
- GPS -Getting lost with a van full of junior high kids is less than ideal. Contrary to popular belief, the iPhone GPS works equally well on both the EDGE and 3G networks. Though it doesn’t speak turn-by-turn directions, it does show you exactly where you are.
- Syncing with MobileMe - MobileMe ($99/year) syncs your calendar, address book, mail and photos in three different places - your iPhone, computer and on the web. Update in any of these three places, and the other two will update automatically.
- Social networking applications -As I discussed in a previous post, it’s important to stay connected with your youth, their parents and other youth pastors or ministry contacts. An iPhone allows you to do this anywhere you go using the Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, and other social networking applications. As long as you have service to your phone or a wifi connection, you can connect to these popular sites.
- The Holy Bible application - Think of it like this: not only are you paying for phone service, but you’re paying to carry around 13 translations of the Bible in your pocket, which would not be possible otherwise. Oh, and did I mention that number doesn’t include the different language translations?
- Mobile Finder application - Rather than storing PowerPoint slides for your next youth retreat on a thumb drive, just put them on your phone. Study sermon notes anywhere you go. Review the camp schedule PDF. And the list goes on…
Okay - so all of this sounds great - but your spouse is hoarding the cash and there’s no way this is going to show up as a line item on your annual youth ministry budget. It’s time to give in and realize that some of those free iPhone sites are worth it after all.
I signed up on this site a few weeks ago. I completed the Bidz.com offer, spending less than $20 (including shipping) on a cheap watch. There is no subscription or long-term commitment for this specific offer, which I found very appealing. Now all I have to do is get some referrals, and I will receive my free iPhone. It’s totally legit and extremely easy.
So the need for an iPhone is debatable. The benefits, however, are clear. So what are you waiting for?
Five Facebook Groups Youth Pastors Should Join
Facebook groups are a great way to network with other youth pastors and gather ideas for your ministry. Here’s a list of several groups that every youth pastor should be a part of:
- Youth Pastors Only - “This facebook group was designed specifically for Youth Pastors. However we do recognize and welcome this group to the other ministry positions from within the church…”
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National Network of Youth Ministries - “Reaching youth together. That’s what we’re about. We want to see the body of Christ unified in exposing every teenager to the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
- Youth Pastor Central - ” Youth Pastor Central was founded as a hub for ministers of students to network and find encouragement from others in the grand field of reaching students.”
- Youth Specialties -”For over 30 years Youth Specialties has worked alongside Christian youth workers of just about every denomination and youth-serving organization. We’re here to help you, whether you’re brand new to youth ministry or a veteran, whether you’re a volunteer or a career youth pastor.”
- Center for Parent/Youth Understanding - “The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding is a nonprofit organization committed to building strong families by serving to bridge the cultural-generational gap between parents and teenagers.”
Feel free to add to this list in the comments!
Five Objectives For Your Online Youth Ministry Strategy
I dare assume that youth pastors everywhere know the importance of reaching students online. Whether it’s on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, or your youth ministry website, staying connected is crucial. While conflicting schedules may prevent you from having face time with students as often as you would like, the internet gives you the opportunity to maintain relationships on a daily basis.
The need for an online presence is obvious. However, there is a less obvious aspect that we fail to consider: what should youth pastors try to accomplish online? This post will answer that question, using some of the most popular social networking sites as examples. However, you should talk to your youth to see what sites they are most active on when deciding how you will create your online presence.
Here are five objectives that will help you maximize your online strategy:
1) Be accessible to students and parents - Having Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter accounts allow your students and their parents to find and contact you easily if they have questions. Being available will build rapport with your group. Stay signed on during regular business hours and check these accounts often during nights and weekends. Put links to your profiles in your email signature, in your weekly newsletter, and anywhere else you provide contact information. Also, don’t neglect any account you create - if people see stagnant content, they will lose interest. Update your statuses several times a day, letting everyone know that you are active.
2) Build community - Managing conflicting personalities in a youth group can be difficult. The internet will never fix this - but it can help. Create a Ning community for your group, where students can create profiles and access you and each other. Use Ning to post youth ministry news, events, pictures, and other youth group related content. Also, use MySpace groups and Facebook groups to reach your students in those networks. As with your personal profiles, keep them updated.
3) Inform your students and parents - Blogging is one of the most effective ways to keep your students and parents informed about the latest youth ministry news and events. Posting commentary on the upcoming Bible study lesson or ‘What Not To Forget’ for the upcoming ski trip are examples of topics to cover on your youth ministry blog. Use TwitterFeed to automatically update your Twitter status when you post to your blog, and add the Twitter application on your Facebook profile. This will streamline the flow of information, getting out to as many people as possible in the shortest amount of time. Don’t have a blog? Get on for free on Blogger, Wordpress, or TypePad. Ideally, you should have a student ministry website that hosts your blog.
4) Stay informed - As your students update their Facebook profiles, Myspace pages and Twitter statuses, you will learn what they are doing, what they are talking about, and what the current trends are for the youth in your area. In addition to staying informed about your youth, several organizations in youth ministry have profiles or groups on social networking sites, allowing you to stay up to date with what is going on.
5) Offer valuable resources - This is what will keep your students and parents coming back often. Whether you provide a medical release form to your parents for the next major youth event on your blog or a link to download a free TobyMac song for your students, the quality of your content will almost always determine how engaged your audience will be.
These objectives should give you a head start on ministering to your students online. For those of you who have already jumped into the fray, use this list to evaluate the current state of your online presence.