There is an appointed time for everything. That has certainly been true with evangelism explosions that have always followed revolutionary upheavals caused by technology.

There was a time for the Romans to build a military road system that revolutionized transportation. The first disciples used the roads as a communications network for advancing the gospel throughout the Empire.

There was a time for Johannes Gutenberg to build a movable-type press, a revolution in printing and mass communication. The printing press allowed everyday people to possess their own Bibles in their own native languages.

There was a time for Guglielmo Marconi to prove the feasibility of radio waves to transmit sound that revolutionized international communications. Churches seized the opportunity to broadcast sermons live across long distances.

There was a time for a group of great minds to build a system for transmitting pictures that revolutionized the way information was shared around the world. Christian broadcasters harnessed the power of television to bring the gospel into the living rooms of billions of people.

There was a time for a global collaboration of builders to create a worldwide communications network, revolutionizing the way we communicate with each other, and just about everything else. Every Christian with a computer or mobile device can now use the Internet, and the most powerful technology tools ever created, to do “every good work” of the gospel.

What’s next?

In many cases, the Internet has made getting the gospel out the door via media far more efficient, and less costly.

That has not been true for streaming video technology, (Amazon Instant Video, Apple TV, Hulu, Netflix, MobiTV), that seems to be all the rage in delivering online content.

We are talking about streaming and online video networks, not video downloads.

Streaming video’s cost structure has kept all but a handful of mostly large organizations from developing new business or ministry models around the technology.

The costs of bandwidth, storage and transcoding (learned a new term) have been high. The costs have been variable, rising in proportion to usage. And the returns from investing in streaming video have been modest at best, when compared to text and graphics-based Internet media.

On the business side of things, that is all about to change. The costs of bandwidth, storage, and transcoding are falling rapidly. Like other tech revolutions, gospel communicators will again be in excellent position to benefit from this next wave of massive change in technology…for three reasons.

Churches have:

1) Scalability, the ability to add streaming media outreach and regional expansion of the gospel without an upheaval in operations.

2) Minimal production costs, as many are already producing countless hours of video content.

3) A platform not dependent on technology efficiency or performance, rather on the power of the Holy Spirit. Church communicators can easily integrate live streaming ministry with all their resources to impact a region for Christ and to help followers through discipleship.

A growing number of new video production ministries are also uniquely positioned to capitalize on these advances.

Funding video platforms

There is a time to tear down and a time to build. Ecclesiastes 3:3

Online video networks still have to be paid for. We are about to see an increase in marketing and advertising partnerships and creative donor development initiatives. Collectively these approaches will enable Christian organizations to generate resources to take advantage of live streaming’s capabilities.

Is the time approaching for another revolutionary change in communication technology? The infrastructure is there, the costs are dropping, and mass audiences are assembling around streamed events. The video delivery of worship and the gospel being preached needs to be in thick of it.

It is time to get ready for the surge in gospel proclamation that always follows great advances in technology. Another hundred-year wave approaches.

Digital technology has spread throughout every sector of society, creating a tsunami of change. There’s no end in sight. Church leaders are still grappling with how to to stay on top of it.

Engaging with online communities is one way of getting some help.

Participating in online community for just thirty minutes a day can help any leader get a better picture of the fast moving landscape of media and technology. It can equip you for making informed decisions about what media tools to use in your ministry.

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

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 settled on the discussion related to technologies making it possible to do Church Online, multi-site or to Tweet during the sermon. Are you ready for 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: Phil Cooke, Todd Rhoades, John Saddington

2. To learn how to use the Internet for outreach

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. 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 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: Dave Bourgeois, stickyJesus, Internet Evangelism Day

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. 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.

Reviewing these resources may spark ideas. Perhaps you will be the next to create and pass it on.

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. Learning from the best practices of others can save you time and money down the road.

Recommended leaders to follow: Chance Mason, Kem Meyer, M2Live

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.

Recommended leaders to follow: Church Conference 2011 Recommendations

6. To encourage other leaders

I’ve learned that people involved with media and technology in churches and Christian organizations see it as a calling. These men and women are often engaged in 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

Question: What other reasons should leaders be engaged in online community?

Churches often lag significantly behind other organizations in their use of technology. The time may have come for some to “catch up.” It could be one of the best investments made this year.

For the purposes of this discussion, “technology” refers to enterprise-level operational solutions and Internet-based outreach and communication technologies.

A lot of folks are talking these days about the role of technology in the church…

In Matt Harrell’s MemberHub post, “Would It Be Dangerous If the Church ‘Caught Up’ Technologically,” commenters offered their reasons as to why the church wasn’t keeping up with the marketplace.

Some suggested that going slow was a good strategy. Others said waiting was caused by a lack of vision. From these comments and other observations, I’ve listed what seem to be the seven most common reasons churches lag behind.

Seven reasons churches “lag behind” technologically

1. Lack of resources and staffing limitations.

2. Aging demographics of congregation and/or leadership.

3. Fear of change or assuming too much risk.

4. Complexity of the tools.

5. To avoid costly mistakes, i.e. adopting systems or tools that may radically change or fail.

6. A desire to resist the temptation of keeping up just to have the latest tools.

7. The priority of other ministry initiatives.

There are many factors that influence the decision-making process on whether any organization will adopt an innovation. Everett Rogers, in his textbook Diffusion of Innovations defined a number of these. Example…an innovation that has more visibility in the marketplace will drive communication among peer groups. Use drives talk. Talk drives use.

These influencing agents are also at work in churches looking at technologies, with some twists unique to a ministry context.

For example, an innovation that supports and creates outreach opportunities will be of greater interest to churches. Complexity becomes less of an issue for a church if a particular technology fits their culture and God-given unique DNA. As leaders consider bringing an advanced technology into the church, looking at how other ministries have integrated it into their core vision will be helpful.

So it seems to me that is perfectly normal for there to be varying rates of adoption among churches. Not unlike the marketplace. Some churches have already worked through a number of these factors. I’d like to turn my attention to them.

These churches have sensed God’s leading to go forward with a new technology. Everyone’s on board. The last remaining issue is “the timing.” I believe a good case can be made for accelerating the process.

Ten reasons churches should “catch up” technologically

1. To bring the gospel “to the ends of the earth.” This is the first generation to have that capability.

2. To make it possible for volunteers to present the gospel and disciple others from the convenience of their home or office.

3. To reach seekers, skeptics and people in crisis or needing support. 2 million people look for God each day – not in church but in an Internet search.

4. To reach more people with the gospel than ever thought possible. By 2013, the total number of devices accessing the Internet will increase to more than 2.7 billion.

5. To improve ROI for outreach, mission work and follow-up. It took just 7¢ a person for LifeChurch.tv to reach 1,008,567 people in July ’09. Global Media Outreach shares the gospel at a rate of 10 cents per contact in most parts of the world.

6. To open the door for participating in local outreach to people from all walks of life and various professions. People who otherwise might have never considered getting involved in outreach and missions.

7. To create ministry jobs for those God is calling to serve: innovators, content developers, IT professionals, audio/video producers, engineers, graphic designers, data managers and analysts.

8. To reach new generations. “The teenagers of today, even the twentysomethings, haven’t known a life without technology.”

9. To help develop opportunities for collaboration with other churches and organizations. Sharing technology knowledge and resources will enable churches to do more outreach, faster, and at less cost.

10. To be ready 24/7/365 for the Holy Spirit to lead people to the church’s front door.

When it comes to technology in the church, there will always be innovators. The first to adopt. Those most willing to take risks. There will always be laggards. Those committed to maintaining traditional approaches. The less inclined to change.

Through prayer, wisdom and unity among the leaders, God will reveal the “if and when” of technology adoption.

The churches that God leads to implement fully developed technology platforms may eventually number 200 or 2000. I don’t know if there’s a right number, though I favor the latter. It’s estimated that 50-100 churches are headed in that direction. A few are there now.

The goal of global leaders is to connect everyone in the world to the Internet. Some say by 2015!

This movement is creating a rapid pace of change. Faster flow of information and communication. Far reaching technological advances. And a sense of “missions urgency,” among some churches.

For them, the time to become aggressive participants in the change…to start the “catch up” process technologically…has probably arrived.

Question: Where do you stand on the use of technology by the Church?