Nearly 50 Ideas for using digital technologies in your Christian education/faith formation ministries.

1. eSpirituality
How you can use blogs, ebooks, apps, social networking,
gaming & other technologies to encourage spiritual formation
Tim Gossett

2. eSpirituality
How you can use blogs, ebooks, apps, social networking,
gaming & other technologies to encourage spiritual formation
Welcome! Please find a neighbor you don’t know.
Work together to create a 1-sentence definition
of at least 2 of these:
• app • blog • ebook • email • gaming • podcast •
• social networking • Twitter •

3. About me
• Director of Discipleship, Collegiate
UMC/Wesley Foundation, Ames, IA
(cwames.org) • Email: tim@cwames.org
• Author/freelance writer • Facebook: gossett.tim
• Digital ministry project manager/ • Twitter: differentvoice
consultant
• Skype: gossett,tim
• A Creative
• IM: timgossett@mac.com
• Dad to Finn

4. Just a note...or three...
The notes are on Evernote (www.evernote.com) and will
be substantially updated before the end of the conference.
The slides will be available by the end of the conference at
www.slideshare.net/gossetttim
Facebook: search for eSpirituality

5. What to expect... Your ex
perienc
es
ractica l ideas
P
ediate ly try Q&A
to imm
A little th
eology & Continuing conversation
theory
Image: Tony Dowler, http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonydowler/51722696/in/m

6. A tech story

8. Our new small, flat world
DIVERSE
FLUID FLAT
BROAD

9. Our new small, flat world
Technology & Community:
from geographic isolation to global community
DIVERSE
FLUID FLAT
BROAD

10. Our new small, flat world
Technology & Community:
from geographic isolation to global community
DIVERSE
Structure &
Adaptability:
from a mindset of FLUID FLAT
methodology to
a spirit of
approach BROAD

11. Our new small, flat world
Technology & Community:
from geographic isolation to global community
DIVERSE
Structure & Interpretation &
Adaptability: T/truth:
from a mindset of from single
FLUID FLAT
methodology to source authority
a spirit of to open source
approach BROAD
discernment

12. Our new small, flat world
Technology & Community:
from geographic isolation to global community
DIVERSE
Structure & Interpretation &
Adaptability: T/truth:
from a mindset of from single
FLUID FLAT
methodology to source authority
a spirit of to open source
approach BROAD
discernment
Authority & Social Capital:
from a monolithic presence to a niche impact

13. Forms of tech integration

14. Forms of tech integration
Diversion 1.N

15. Forms of tech integration
Excursion
Diversion 1.N

16. Forms of tech integration
Excursion Immersion
Diversion 1.N

17. Forms of tech integration
Excursion Immersion
Diversion 1.N Myversion

18. Apps

19. Apps

20. Apps
• Review apps in church newsletter

21. Apps
• Review apps in church newsletter
• Develop an app for the church in a class

22. Apps
• Review apps in church newsletter
• Develop an app for the church in a class
• Use apps like YouVersion in class

23. Apps
• Review apps in church newsletter
• Develop an app for the church in a class
• Use apps like YouVersion in class
• Encourage people to use Evernote for note-taking

24. Apps

25. Apps
• Share Spotify playlists with others

26. Apps
• Share Spotify playlists with others
• Use apps for tracking spiritual growth goals, progress,
reflections

27. Apps

28. Apps
• Use themed lessons built around
popular apps (Angry Birds, Words with
Friends, Houzz, etc.).

29. Apps
• Use themed lessons built around
popular apps (Angry Birds, Words with
Friends, Houzz, etc.).
• Skype - have conversations with missionaries, authors,
experts, camp personnel, youth in college, etc.

31. Blogs

32. Blogs
• Class blog to share notes, handouts, reflections, further
discussion

33. Blogs
• Class blog to share notes, handouts, reflections, further
discussion
• Church shared blog with various contributors

34. Blogs
• Class blog to share notes, handouts, reflections, further
discussion
• Church shared blog with various contributors
• Sermon blog to generate ideas, share extra material

35. Blogs
• Class blog to share notes, handouts, reflections, further
discussion
• Church shared blog with various contributors
• Sermon blog to generate ideas, share extra material
• Blogging class - teach how, have people reflect on a
monthly theme

36. Ebooks

37. Ebooks

38. Ebooks
• Create an ebook of best sermons to give to newcomers
on a flash drive

39. Ebooks
• Create an ebook of best sermons to give to newcomers
on a flash drive
• Have persons write daily devotions; collect and create
an ebook for download

40. Ebooks
• Create an ebook of best sermons to give to newcomers
on a flash drive
• Have persons write daily devotions; collect and create
an ebook for download
• If you're offering a book study, be sure to let people
know if ebooks are available.

41. Ebooks

42. Ebooks
• When reading a book together, turn on social sharing
features so people can discuss favorite passages

43. Ebooks
• When reading a book together, turn on social sharing
features so people can discuss favorite passages
• Post links to free and heavily discounted religion books
on Amazon. Use ereaderiq.com/free to find them.

44. Email

45. Email

46. Email
• Have church members create daily devotions for Lent,
Advent, or even the whole year, then create an email
devotional series

47. Email
• Have church members create daily devotions for Lent,
Advent, or even the whole year, then create an email
devotional series
• Weekly email with topics, links to scriptures, sermon
links, news etc.

48. Email
• Have church members create daily devotions for Lent,
Advent, or even the whole year, then create an email
devotional series
• Weekly email with topics, links to scriptures, sermon
links, news etc.
• Use autoresponders to send out series of emails to new
members, new graduates, Confirmands, etc.

49. Gaming
Email

50. Gaming

51. Gaming
• Computer lab - use during SS

52. Gaming
• Computer lab - use during SS
• World of Warcraft and other online games

53. Gaming
• Computer lab - use during SS
• World of Warcraft and other online games
• 2nd Life

54. Gaming
• Computer lab - use during SS
• World of Warcraft and other online games
• 2nd Life
• Offer space for gaming groups - outreach to a new
audience

55. Gaming

56. Gaming
• Game creation

57. Gaming
• Game creation
• Encourage participation in "Serious Games" such as
poverty sim games like Spent. Used in an event like the
30 Hour Famine, these can really be powerful.

58. Gaming
• Game creation
• Encourage participation in "Serious Games" such as
poverty sim games like Spent. Used in an event like the
30 Hour Famine, these can really be powerful.
• Family gaming night

59. Gaming
• Game creation
• Encourage participation in "Serious Games" such as
poverty sim games like Spent. Used in an event like the
30 Hour Famine, these can really be powerful.
• Family gaming night
• Missional fantasy football league

60. Email
Podcasts

61. Podcasts

62. Podcasts
• Organize classes or discussion groups around podcasts
such as On Being (NPR)

63. Podcasts
• Organize classes or discussion groups around podcasts
such as On Being (NPR)
• Create podcasts for families to listen to and talk about
during commutes

64. Podcasts
• Organize classes or discussion groups around podcasts
such as On Being (NPR)
• Create podcasts for families to listen to and talk about
during commutes
• Create music podcast for Sunday School participants

65. Podcasts
• Organize classes or discussion groups around podcasts
such as On Being (NPR)
• Create podcasts for families to listen to and talk about
during commutes
• Create music podcast for Sunday School participants
• Put sermons on your website

66. Social Media Explained

67. Listening to a great speaker at #CEF2012
Loving the fall colors here at CEF in Green Lake!
Tim is now the Mayor at Green Lake Conference
Here's a retro photo of my CEF chapter
Check out this video of our latest CEF speaker
My skills include leading messy games with youth
Here are some CEF vendors I liked
Now listening to Deep, Deep, Deep
I'm a UMcom employee at CEF

69. Social Networking

70. Social Networking
• Link to articles about sermon topic

71. Social Networking
• Link to articles about sermon topic
• Share topics for classes and ask questions for people
to think about ahead of time

72. Social Networking
• Link to articles about sermon topic
• Share topics for classes and ask questions for people
to think about ahead of time
• Comment on postings of members

73. Social Networking

74. Social Networking
• Invite friends of the church to special events and ask
members to share with their friends

75. Social Networking
• Invite friends of the church to special events and ask
members to share with their friends
• Ask for photos to illustrate a topic for sermon. Post on
Flickr.

76. Twitter

77. Twitter

78. Twitter
• Twitter day in worship

79. Twitter
• Twitter day in worship
• Daily prayer, scripture

80. Twitter
• Twitter day in worship
• Daily prayer, scripture
• Thought-provoking quotes with links to books

81. Twitter
• Twitter day in worship
• Daily prayer, scripture
• Thought-provoking quotes with links to books
• Words of encouragement to followers via direct
message

82. Websites

83. Websites

84. Websites
• Online worship - darkwood brew

85. Websites
• Online worship - darkwood brew
• Utilize websites like signupgenius.com,
takethemameal.com, or volunteerspot.com to recruit, get
people active in ministries

86. Websites
• Online worship - darkwood brew
• Utilize websites like signupgenius.com,
takethemameal.com, or volunteerspot.com to recruit, get
people active in ministries
• Create individual websites for special purposes

87. Websites

88. Websites
• Workshops for parents on digital technology,
cyberbullying, connecting with kids

89. Websites
• Workshops for parents on digital technology,
cyberbullying, connecting with kids
• Workshops for congregants on digital ministry

90. Websites
• Workshops for parents on digital technology,
cyberbullying, connecting with kids
• Workshops for congregants on digital ministry
• QR codes on publicity

91. Websites
• Workshops for parents on digital technology,
cyberbullying, connecting with kids
• Workshops for congregants on digital ministry
• QR codes on publicity
• No tech rule at youth group...?

93. eSpirituality tips & guidelines for Christian educators

94. eSpirituality tips & guidelines for Christian educators
• Workshops for parents on digital technology,
cyberbullying, connecting with kids, Facebook, etc.

95. eSpirituality tips & guidelines for Christian educators
• Workshops for parents on digital technology,
cyberbullying, connecting with kids, Facebook, etc.
• Workshops for congregants on digital ministry

96. eSpirituality tips & guidelines for Christian educators
• Workshops for parents on digital technology,
cyberbullying, connecting with kids, Facebook, etc.
• Workshops for congregants on digital ministry
• QR codes on publicity, linking to articles or events,
providing quick access to online Bible, etc.

97. eSpirituality tips & guidelines for Christian educators
• Workshops for parents on digital technology,
cyberbullying, connecting with kids, Facebook, etc.
• Workshops for congregants on digital ministry
• QR codes on publicity, linking to articles or events,
providing quick access to online Bible, etc.
• No tech rule at youth group...?

98. eSpirituality tips & guidelines for Christian educators

99. eSpirituality tips & guidelines for Christian educators
• Proxemics has changed. We now have a new space to
contend with - whether or not we use digital tools in the
classroom.

100. eSpirituality tips & guidelines for Christian educators
• Proxemics has changed. We now have a new space to
contend with - whether or not we use digital tools in the
classroom.
• Seek to be interested above being interesting. Put another
way, it's all about relationships.

101. eSpirituality tips & guidelines for Christian educators
• Proxemics has changed. We now have a new space to
contend with - whether or not we use digital tools in the
classroom.
• Seek to be interested above being interesting. Put another
way, it's all about relationships.
• No one needs to be an expert at all things digital, but you do
need to understand how these tools function in people's lives.

102. eSpirituality tips & guidelines for Christian educators

103. eSpirituality tips & guidelines for Christian educators
• eSpirituality is not an add-on to life, but a shift in perspective,
focus, attention, and approach.

104. eSpirituality tips & guidelines for Christian educators
• eSpirituality is not an add-on to life, but a shift in perspective,
focus, attention, and approach.
• Clarity of intent is important. Still, expect things to sometimes
get messy.

105. eSpirituality tips & guidelines for Christian educators
• eSpirituality is not an add-on to life, but a shift in perspective,
focus, attention, and approach.
• Clarity of intent is important. Still, expect things to sometimes
get messy.
• Spirituality is one of the most searched for topics. Is your
congregation being found in local searches - or even by people
far away from your town?

106. eSpirituality tips & guidelines for Christian educators

107. eSpirituality tips & guidelines for Christian educators
• The Tech has enormous environmental costs, most of which
are hidden to US users. eSpirituality wrestles with this regularly
instead of hiding from it.

108. eSpirituality tips & guidelines for Christian educators
• The Tech has enormous environmental costs, most of which
are hidden to US users. eSpirituality wrestles with this regularly
instead of hiding from it.
• The world is hungry for a trailblazing, creative people of God.
What risks are you willing to take?

109. Digital Ministry Hallmarks
• Authentic • Frequent • Relevant
• Creative • Inviting • Daring
• Engaging • Giving • Pastoral
• Reciprocal • Action-oriented • Christian

110. Q&A

111. Closing Prayer

112. Closing Prayer
• Give me eyes to see your presence, Lord. (x3)

113. Closing Prayer
• Give me eyes to see your presence, Lord. (x3)
• Help me deepen our connection, Lord. (x3)

114. Closing Prayer
• Give me eyes to see your presence, Lord. (x3)
• Help me deepen our connection, Lord. (x3)
• Help me resist isolation, Lord. (x3)

115. Closing Prayer
• Give me eyes to see your presence, Lord. (x3)
• Help me deepen our connection, Lord. (x3)
• Help me resist isolation, Lord. (x3)
• Slow me down, Lord. (x3)

116. Closing Prayer
• Give me eyes to see your presence, Lord. (x3)
• Help me deepen our connection, Lord. (x3)
• Help me resist isolation, Lord. (x3)
• Slow me down, Lord. (x3)
(see the closing prayer in Digital Disciple by Adam Thomas)

117. Thanks for coming :)