Who has the time, right? By building an online community and interacting with other leaders for just thirty minutes a day, it is possible to learn what you need to know to move forward. You’ll be better equipped for making informed decisions regarding technology and New Media.

Here are six reasons leaders should engage online communities to stay on top of emerging technologies.

At the end of each section, I’ve provided a partial list of subject matter experts for you to check out. Bookmark their blogs and websites. Follow them on Twitter. Get acquainted with them. They help me keep up with New Media and technology. I believe they will add value to your learning experience as well.

Leaders should engage with online communities:

1. To monitor new developments

When it comes to technology, we’re living in a unique time. Rapid change will continue into the future.

The dust hasn’t even settled on the discussion of tools making it possible to do Church Online, multi-site or to Tweet during the sermon. Last week a debate started up over the holographic projection of pastors. Leading media channels covering church communication stay abreast of developments like this. These thought leaders start and moderate conversations. All you have to do is tune in.

Recommended leaders to follow: Tony Morgan, John Saddington, Drew Goodmanson

2. To consider theological implications

Supporters of online evangelism are seeing millions come to Christ and be discipled in the Word. Some ask questions about the feasibility for using online communication to help the newly saved experience spiritual growth or get into local churches. Questions abound. Are there biblical reasons for using or not using particular technologies? How does a technology change people? Change a church? What are the positives and negatives of a new technology?

A multiplicity of voices gather online to exchange theological positions, ideas and views. Listen in. Consider the implications for your ministry. For the global Church. Better yet, add your voice to the conversation.

Recommended leaders to follow: John Dyer, Tyler Braun, DJ Chuang

3. To take advantage of free resources

Sharing resources is an idea whose time has come. God is moving in the hearts of church leaders to develop new models of ministry that includes freely sharing the resources entrusted to them. Leaders with an Acts 4:32 mindset are giving churches and ministries access to their creative assets, work processes, tools, technology applications and even their people. These opportunities aren’t being advertised.  But they are being talked about online.

Even if you don’t use them, reviewing the resources of these ministries may spark ideas. Perhaps you will be the next to share.

Recommended leaders to follow: LifeChurch.tv Open, Inside Northpoint, United Methodist Church Knowledge Center

4. To gain knowledge and learn from the experiences of others

You may not personally manage the technology in your organization, but you are dealing with it every day. Church management systems, content management systems, IT infrastructure, hardware/software, website, Social Media. It surrounds you, your staff, your constituents or congregation. Leaders must stay current on these tools to be effective in ministry today.

The good news is, there are some excellent leaders that have traveled these roads before you. They want to help. These before and after graphics depicting the growth of a communication team for a large church illustrates the level of detail being shared today.

There is an expert talking online about nearly every conceivable subject related to the use of communication technology. They discuss what works and what doesn’t. They share their innovations too. Learning from the best practices of others can save you time and money down the road.

Recommended leaders to follow: Tim Schraeder, Kem Meyer, Michael Buckingham

5. To build relationships

Participating in online communities enables connections around the world, or in your own backyard, not previously possible. Over time, you can get to know key members of your online network. New working and ministry relationships can form. Opportunities for collaborating surface. In time, you can even meet members of your community in person. See God at work through these appointments.

Conferences are a good platform for turning online relationships into face to face meetings. The night before attending a convention, I was interacting online with a member of one of my communities on a subject of mutual interest. He mentioned that he was also attending the convention. We had lunch and a great conversation about kingdom work the next day.

Recommended leaders to follow: Ministry Internet & Technology Summit, National Outreach Convention, The AND Conference (formerly Innovate), The South by Southwest (SXSW) Conferences & Festivals.

6. To encourage other leaders

I’ve learned that people involved with media and technology in the church see it as a calling. These men and women are very likely to be engaged in an online community. If you have hiring authority, your participation in their network will encourage them. Leave a comment on their blog or send a tweet to let them know how much you appreciate their kingdom service.

Who knows? You may even find your next media, technology or communications team member online.

Recommended leaders to follow: Church Marketing Directory, Church IT RoundTable, Wired Churches

A year ago, I started blogging primarily to join the conversation about how God was working through technology in the church. Along the way, I began to participate in several communities that shared my interests. I made some new friends. Formed several partnerships.

An unexpected benefit of engaging through online communities was the discovery of digital technologies being used to spread the gospel. I’ve found that there’s no better way to learn about some of these tools than by using them. I’ve also learned that if I’m not keeping up through regular engagement, I’m falling behind.

See you online.

Question: What other ways do you recommend for keeping up with technology?

These are my sermon notes, live blogged from Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, KY. “Constant Watch” was the final message in the series “Early Warning System.” Teaching Pastor Kyle Idleman.

I met Jerry from Shelbyville, KY during the greeting time. We come from all over to hear the word of God preached.

So humbling to hear a pastor repent of his sins before he preaches. I love my church.

The Second Coming

The Second Coming was described for modern times … a growing rumble becomes a roar of sound drawing people out of their homes. They are staring up into the sky. The sky is so bright it is hard to see. Trumpets are blaring. The sky splits apart. People fall to their knees.

Jesus Christ is returning. He is wearing a crown, riding a white horse. He’s not coming this time as a baby, but as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Are you ready for that moment?

The Bible tells us again and again and again about the imminent return of Christ.

Jesus will return to say enough pain, enough suffering, enough dying … enough. For the Christian, this is a glorious moment. For the unsaved, this is frightening. At the end, heaven and hell will not be abstract concepts.

Are you ready?

This sermon is making some people uncomfortable. Some are annoyed by it. Some are ready to go home. People like to come to church and hear sermons about how to be a better parent or live a better life. It’s as if you were having a quiet, pleasant dinner and in comes Kyle. He pulls a fire alarm and disrupts the evening.

For some, if Jesus were to return tonight it would create a sense of panic because you’re not ready.

2 Peter 3:3-4 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.

Saying that because Jesus hasn’t returned it means that He’s not going to return is completely illogical.

Remember “stop, drop, roll” fire alarm drills in elementary school? You did what the teachers told you to do. By jr. high, when the drills ran, you shrugged it off, thinking there was no fire. Nothing bad was going to happen, so why bother.

Of course, fires still occur, whether we pay attention to the warning signs or not. Similarly, the Second Coming will occur, whether or not we heed the signs.

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

Let’s look at some of the warning signs. Jesus said, ”All these are the beginning of birth pains.” Never had a baby, but everyone, everywhere understands that labor pains indicate the delivery time is near. Please note, however, this isn’t a puzzle to put together. There’s no map to follow. There’s no “X” marks the spot. Jesus said no one knows the day or the hour.

Be careful when people point to specific events that have to happen before Jesus returns. Nothing has to happen for Jesus to return. Satan would love for us to be thinking that more needs to happen … on the last day.

Warning signs in nature. Referring to the time before His return, Jesus said, “There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” Luke 21:11

It’s not at all unnatural for God to use nature. God used nature in the time of Abraham, Moses & in the 1st century. And today, not to be an alarmist, but the latest 7.0+ earthquakes in Chili and Haiti have our attention.

Are they increasing in frequency?

By some estimates, there are more major earthquakes now, 7.0 & greater, and they are occurring with increasing frequency.

1863 to 1900 — 38 yrs — 12
1901 to 1938 —  38 yrs — 53
1939 to 1976 —  38 yrs — 71
1977 to 2014 —  38 yrs — 144 (to Sept. 2009) predict >180 in total.

www.earth.webecs.co.uk

Warning signs in the world. We’ve had the world wars of the 2oth century. Some people try to read meaning into every detail. Exercise caution. Maybe the locusts in Revelation 9 are Apache helicopters … but maybe they’re, well, locusts.

Warning signs in our culture. Isaiah says in the last days that people will call good evil and evil good. Culture will become increasingly intolerant of spiritual things and of Christians. We are certainly seeing this today.

200 million Christians are living in approximately 60 countries where they are in constant danger for their faith in Christ. Nearly 200,000 Christians were killed for their faith last year. www.persecution.net, www.persecution.com

Christian persecution begins with disinformation. Then discrimination. Persecution follows.

Warning signs in the Church. Teachers will be saying what tickles the ear. More and more people will go to false teachers because they are saying what people want to hear.

People will roll their eyes at the pastor that says, “the end is near.” Matthew 24:44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Bible prophecy allows us to live with a sense of urgency, a sense of readiness, that TODAY COULD BE THE DAY.

The Good News

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Revival will precede the end. Technology is making it possible to reach people all over the world in all languages.

There’s a reason Jesus hasn’t returned yet. 2 Peter 3:8-9 With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Jesus hasn’t returned because He’s waiting for the unsaved person to come to Him. But He IS coming and God is giving us warning signs. They’re everywhere.

For Christians, it’s a time to celebrate. For all others, it’s a time to get your house in order, to respond. Jesus is waiting.

Closing hymn

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Internet evangelism, or evangelism without borders, is gaining ground as strategy for building the Church globally. I have blogged about it, most recently, here.

Patty gave me the opportunity to experience online evangelism live for the first time.

We met in the cafe of a Marriott near the Astrodome. WiFi made it possible for Patty to log into her network. Four email contacts were waiting. GMO’s online missionaries may respond to as few as 1-2 emails per week or 1-2 per day.

Meet Ellie

One of Patty’s emails was from Ellie in Arlington, TX. After visiting a GMO website, Ellie was reaching out to ask this, “Are Jesus and God the same?” Right to the heart of it, I thought. Having been through GMO’s extensive online training process, Patty was ready. She responded to Ellie with a warm introduction and then answered her question with an elegantly simple metaphor.

Most exciting, was seeing Ellie’s indication that she had prayed to receive Christ. We paused and prayed for her. Patty will follow-up with Ellie again later.

Last year, 66 million people like Ellie visited GMO’s 100-plus Web sites to search for information online about Jesus and the hope He brings. Of these, more than 10 million indicated a decision to follow Christ.

In addition, nearly 2 million people initiated discipleship and requested more information about Jesus and Christianity through GMO’s 4,000 online missionaries.

World-wide response

Here are just a few of the riveting responses received by GMO from searching people from all over the world. Taken from the GMO book, “Where The Search Leads To Life, Jesus 2020.”

“I go round in circles with God because I have had severe rejection from people and Christians, and felt traumatized with my Dad coming and going over the years. I find it hard to know deep in my spirit that Father God sincerely truly loves me unconditionally, and will never leave me or forsake me. Please help me and love me, and e-mail me.” Joanna, Cornwall, UK

“I am surrounded by Muslims who will kill me if they find out that I pray prayers on your website and ask Jesus into my life. Please pray for me. I do not know a single Christian. You are my only contact.” Male, Afghanistan

“I am a disabled Marine, wounded in Iraq, and I want to get right with God. Can you send me anything that will help me get to know Jesus? I would be thankful.” U.S. Military Veteran

The Opportunity

Building off of the 2009 momentum, GMO is poised to touch even more people’s lives throughout 2010.

“The fields are indeed white to harvest, yet the laborers are few,” said Walt Wilson, GMO founder and chair. “We need more online missionary partners.”

On March 4 & 5, GMO is hosting two events in Houston, TX. Wilson and other GMO leaders and supporters will be on hand to provide an in-depth look at how millions of people from every part of the world are hearing the gospel and coming to Christ every month.

Your Invitation

GMO Jesus2020 Pastors Lunch March 4th, The Omni Houston Galleria Houston, TX, 11:30am-1:30pm

GMO Jesus2020 Conference March 5th, The Omni Houston Galleria Houston, TX, 3:00pm-9:30pm

These are free events, but RSVP’s are requested. If you’re anywhere near Houston during those days, I would recommend that you attend for five reasons.

1. GMO believes the Great Commission can be fulfilled by 2020 and that it can happen in this generation through the use of emerging communication technologies. Getting the details on how this mission can be accomplished is worth the investment of time, in my view.

2. It’s going to take thousands of churches, online missionaries and ministry supporters working together to accomplish this goal. God may be calling you to get involved.

3. The cost of the program is minimal. For only ten cents, the gospel can be shared online to each person. Each dollar presents the gospel to 10 more seekers. Your church determines the size and extent of your involvement in this Great Commission effort.

4. GMO can help you encourage, train and equip your congregation to share Jesus with others online and more consistently in your own communities.

5. I’ve been thinking about Ellie and my new missionary friend Patty, ever since taking that first trip to the online mission field. The experience was transformative. I’ve decided to do what I can to help GMO as they stay on the cutting edge of emerging technologies, using them to reach the world for Christ. It would be great to partner with you.

Question: What do you think of the idea of an online missions program?

The Primary Objective: To define Vision Proper, explain how to cast vision and discuss how to use the Vision Frame in ongoing visioning and planning work.

Vision Proper defined

Vision Proper is the living language that anticipates and illustrates God’s better intermediate future.

The importance of living language is that the vision is always a developing Polaroid picture. Never static. Always evolving.

Vision Proper is not a vision statement. It is a new dynamic vocabulary. It anticipates and illustrates your future.

We listened to Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream.” The full text here.

Casting vision

Vision is not to be confused with mission. Mission gives direction and integrates activity. Vision inspires sacrifice and creates energy.

There are two types of vision. Qualitative and Quantitative.

Qualitative vision comes first to the leader. God reveals a picture of the future that captures the leaders imagination and affects his heart. The leader can’t contain it and shares it with others.

Quantitative vision expresses milestones used by the leader to focus the people on measurable checkpoints. Benchmarks set to inform the people of their progress toward reaching the mountaintop.

Metaphors are used to connect people to the vision. Vision ought to be like a conk shell at the beach. When you’re not there, it can be picked up and heard.

Jesus used metaphors to communicate. As one co::Lab participant pointed out, “The language of everyday images and stories used by Jesus would have been perfectly understood by His disciples and the people around Him.”

There are six essentials to casting vision effectively.

1. Common Denominator – An emotional connection based on shared history.

2. Burning Platform – People will not be emotionally connected to your vision unless they have been previously connected to the problem the vision is addressing.

3. Golden Tomorrow – The promise of a better world in which people will want to live. How will the vision sound to people that get great satisfaction from spending Sunday’s sleeping in, reading the paper, enjoying relationships with others, having brunch and resting?

4. Wake-up Call – Creating urgency and inducing action. In contemporary terms, The Jack Bauer Factor of articulating Vision Proper. The “NOW!”

5. Mind Stretch – Find an idea, a cross functional initiative, that everyone joins together to accomplish at the same time. “I would throw away a notebook full of plans, objectives and strategies any day, in exchange for one milestone that everyone buys into.” Will Mancini

6. God Smile – Clarifying the biblical basis of the vision and showing how God’s heart is pleased.

Using the Vision Frame for ongoing visioning

Vision Proper lives within the Vision Frame – mission, values, strategy, measures. The Vision Frame provides boundaries for what will be an unpredictable journey. Changes are going to occur.

With the Vision Frame in place, team members will be able to contribute ideas and insights of their own that will complement the actions of the leader. There is room for all the leadership roles of Ephesians 4:11. The entire team has a common starting point and vocabulary adaptable to their individual gifts.

Every day brings vision-casting opportunities. In regular patterns for church at large. Every time leaders meet. When making changes such as multiplying a small group. Every time people are considering membership. Every time you introduce change. Every time you recruit a volunteer.

Leaders must help their teams to live vision daily. This one of the seven things I learned about casting vision during co::Lab, shared in my previous post. A transforming insight.

Thanks Will, Cheryl and Jessica for a great co::Lab. Enjoyed being with everyone and tracking together on vision clarity. Blessings on next steps!!

Andy Sytsma, New Life Church

In the final hours before our last session (that will be live blogged), I have been reflecting on what I’ve learned about casting vision.

Vision-casting was not new to me prior to co::Lab. Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” I’ve participated in vision planning retreats many times.

I was fairly comfortable with the process. Where have we been? Where do we want to go? What will the future look like when we get there? Creating vision statements. Writing a strategic plan.

co::Lab reminded me that we should always leave room for continuing education on any subject. This is especially true when God gives a leader new insights on that subject. During co::Lab, Will Mancini shared with us his original approach for discovering and articulating vision.

Here are seven things that I learned about casting vision during co::Lab.

1. God is the source of all true vision for the local church (and for individuals).

2. God’s vision is unique.

3. Activities, programs and personalities do not equal vision.

4. Discovering uniqueness requires a systematic process.

5. Preparation – praying, learning and discerning what God is doing – is more important than planning.

6. Clarity and simplicity are new imperatives for the Digital Age.

7. God’s unique vision is a lifestyle to be lived daily.

During session five of co::Lab, I journaled in real time for the first time using ScribbleLive.

The last entry from the live blog that day was “Wherever there is great ministry results you will find that people have been intentional in how they work and think.”

co::Lab gave me the opportunity to observe this principle in action.

The intentionality of the Coach and his team. Will and his Auxano team are spearheading a movement for radically changing how the church identifies and expresses God’s unique plan. This is a unified team. They love Christ. It has been a privilege to spend these months together. Participating in co::Lab was a great opportunity. I am grateful.

The intentionality of the Leaders. My fellow co::Laborers were some of the most humble, interesting, on fire pastors and leaders anywhere. It was energizing to watch these men and women focus on discovering God’s unique plan for their churches, their congregations and their own individual lives. I will continue to pray for them.

The co::Lab sessions and collaboration with church leaders provided me with an excellent education about daily church leadership. I’ve learned a lot about the importance of vision integration, particularly as it relates to my own area of focus with New Media and communication technologies.

I knew the co::Lab sessions would come to an end. Though, as I’ve learned, living a lifestyle of visionary leadership is a daily journey that is just beginning.

Postscript: God is using co::Lab and Church Unique to redefine vision with catalytic clarity. I highly recommend Will Mancini as a leader and Auxano as an organization.