by Nicole Symmonds, Urban Faith Contributing Writer | Jul 29, 2014 | Feature, Headline News |
At this point the conversation on technology in the church is almost as old as time, highly technological time that is. If you attend church with any frequency you’ve probably sat next to someone who was reading the Bible on an iPhone or Andriod or have seen your pastor scrolling through his or her sermon on an iPad or other tablet device. Long gone are the days when you were asked to turn off your cell phone before service begun. Nowadays you are strongly encouraged to keep them on and maybe even tweet something to the world outside of the church’s four walls. The latter is what Jason Caston and AT&T’s Inspired Mobility campaign are banking on.
Jason Caston
Caston, author of the “iChurch Method,” and manager of Digital Platforms and Innovation for T.D. Jakes Ministries is also a consultant for AT&T and a lead on Inspired Mobility, a national conversation that highlights how people use technology to find inspiration and connect with others in the faith. Through the use of the hashtag #inspiredmobility people can connect with one another and share their faith. Of this Caston says, “We are evolving from the typical ‘tell your neighbor’ on the left model to making that experience global. We believe that technology has a place inside of the worship experience.” Through the #inspiredmobility campaign Caston is hoping to educate church leadership on how to connect with the congregation and help them come to the realization that they need technology to connect and meet people where they are.
It should come as no surprise that the early launch stories on the campaign came from black media outlets and black churches given that the particular demographic are early adopters of technology, particularly smartphones. According to the 2013 Consumer Report, “African Americans outpace the population with smartphone ownership. Seventy-one perfect of African-Americans own smartphones, compared to 62% of the total population. Most African-Americans use Androids (73%) versus iPhones (27%).” But #inspiredmobility isn’t just about the black church it’s about the global church, and Caston suggests that churches must understand that as soon as they go online they become an international entity that impacts more than their local areas. “The content they [churches] have is life changing and all people are asking for is access to it. We, the people, want more access to what churches already know is life-changing content,” he says.
Concord Church–highlighted in the video below–is bringing Inspired Mobility to life through a number of methods such as streaming of services, mobile giving, Hot Spots around campus and even selfie encouragement–encouragement of taking selfies in church.
But there is something else to campaigns such as #inspiredmobility that we must pay attention to, the issue of quality of connection over quantity. Technology allows churches to increase their exposure to people and vice versa, but what of the quality of people’s connection to God? It is easy to encourage people to tweet during service–and for them to comply–but we must also encourage them to cultivate their soil so that the seed of the Word may fall upon it and grow. This is a challenging task in a world that is very reactive and, arguably, sometimes distracted by technology. To this Caston offers up an example of a church that is bridging the quality over quantity gap, the Potter’s House Internet Church Campus. The church boasts 20,000 e-members, a staff of over 20 people, and over 40 elders and ministers who connect with, disciple, and build relationships with people virtually. “We are taking everything we do offline and mimicking it online,” Caston says of the internet campus. This is all in the name of proving that technology not only has the capability to reach as many people as possible but it can also foster solid, life-giving relationships between people and God. The point is to work the technology instead of letting the technology work us, a delicate balance that Caston seems to be taking on in his work for the Potter’s House and AT&T.
Inspired Mobility is a continuous campaign that will grow as people’s participation in it grow, so share your stories using the #inspiredmobility hashtag and help this campaign reach true universal status.
by UrbanFaith Staff | Jul 24, 2014 | Feature, Headline News |
The Legacy conference is known as a safe-haven for like-minded Christian people to educate and learn from others who are accepting their call to “urban ministry” – whether it be through writing, spoken-word, or preaching.
A writer’s panel will take place today which includes well-known writers in the African-American faith community such as: Jemar Tisby, Trillia Newbell, and even Urban Faith’s very own John Richards.
During the conference, attendees have an opportunity to obtain spiritual growth through 20 workshop tracks that will include 2-hour workshops, entertainment through hip-hop concerts and spoken word events, and community service projects that will take place throughout Chicago. All activities are based on this year’s theme: Imago Dei (Image of God)
The conference lasts for three days, ending on Saturday July 26. If you are in the Chicago area this week, join the legacy and visit www.legacymovement.org to register.
by Nicole Symmonds, Urban Faith Contributing Writer | Jul 17, 2014 | Feature, Headline News |
Last night Stuart Scott became the eighth recipient of the Jimmy V Perseverance Award. Named after former North Carolina State University basketball coach, Jimmy Valvano who died of bone cancer in 1993, the award is given to members of the sports community who have “overcome great obstacles through physical perseverance and determination.” Valvano’s seven words during his 1993 ESPYs acceptance speech marked the creation of the V Foundation and, as Scott showed the sports community and the world last night, marked hearts. Scott invoked Valvano’s seven words, “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up,” and indicated that these words give him the strength to go on as he battles appendiceal cancer. “I know I have a responsibility to never give up,” said Scott. Moments later, before an already emotional audience–including cancer survivor Robin Roberts–Scott turned dozens of cancer cliches on their head with his own seven words, “You beat cancer by how you live.”
More often than not when someone dies from cancer the outcry is that they lost the battle or even more colorful language is used to give cancer the proverbial finger. But last night Stuart Scott reminded the world that cancer shouldn’t have the last word in death nor can we allow it to steal our joy in life. Scott gave many a new outlook on life with his words and his presence on stage last night and for that we are thankful.
Keep not giving up Stuart Scott, keep beating cancer by how you live.
by UrbanFaith.com | Jul 8, 2014 | Feature, Headline News |
More than 60 young girls and women have escaped their suspected captors in Northeast Nigeria and have arrived home safely. However, Nigerians are still on the lookout for the remaining missing girls–approximately 200. The escape was confirmed on Sunday by a highly-ranked security source that chooses to remain anonymous, according to MSN.
Some officials from Borno, where the girls were kidnapped, have worked with journalists to keep us informed of what is going on. Gava, one of the officials, said that these women took the courageous risk to escape while their captors were out fighting.
It has been 83 days since the girls were abducted on April 14, 2014. #BringBackOurGirls has been the cry of many on social media for many of those days. It may be time to launch #BringBacktheRestofOurGirls. However the campaign goes, let us remain vigilant in our prayers and committed to showing concern for the girls and their family until they are all safely returned to their homes.
by Maya J. Boddie | Jul 2, 2014 | Feature, Headline News |
Yesterday Christian hip-hop artist Lecrae caused a hashtag flood on Twitter with the release of his new single, “Nuthin.” In the song, the Grammy Award-winning Christian rapper simply states, “they aint talkin bout nothin,” referring to the current generation of rappers that seem to have nothing significant to discuss anymore. LeCrae’s lyrics reveal the undeniable truth: we’re losing substance in modern-day hip-hop music. He says, “And every song talking bout they selling work on every corner, don’t talk about the laws, taking kids away from mommas, don’t talk about your homie in the trauma cause he shot up, or what about your young boy messing up the product.” This song is what one might call “revolutionary” in today’s world of hip-hop.
How fitting for Lecrae to release his single shortly after the BET Awards, which aired live in Los Angeles this past Sunday. From Chris Brown’s performance of “These Girls Ain’t Loyal” to Nicki Minaj’s “Pills ‘n’ Potions” – where is the substance? Lecrae reminds us at the end of “Nuthin,’” that we are better than what we have been portraying ourselves to be. He says, “I know you gon’ label me a hater, but inside you are greater than the songs you created man.”
In an interview with VIBE Magazine, he stated that, “the world needs artists that are willing to provoke. Let’s talk about issues: education, racism, faith, fatherlessness.” Lecrae has spoken up and positioned himself to be a voice – a beacon of light for the future of hip-hop. His seventh album is expected to be released later this year.
Check out the song below:
by Maya J. Boddie | Jun 25, 2014 | Feature, Headline News |
Many have said this is long overdue. Arguably, the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, had not yet built a place to commemorate those who fought for equal rights of African Americans in this very city. The King Center, established by Mrs. Coretta Scott King in memory of her beloved husband, has been open for nearly 50 years, but the builders wanted to create a space that goes even beyond the King legacy, and a place that also honors many of the other leaders that marched the streets of Atlanta for our freedom.
National Center for Civil and Human Rights (Photo Credit: Newscom)
On Monday, The National Center for Civil and Human Rights opened to the public, in downtown Atlanta. The 42,000 square-foot building holds several sections devoted to the civil rights movement, as well as a closer look into the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr; which includes hundreds of his handwritten notes from his personal library.
Shirley Franklin, the chairwoman of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights suggests that Atlanta has claimed a history for itself as a place where people have encountered human issues, fairness issues, and justice issues, for years. She says that it took some time to get other civil rights activists and potential donors to understand that voting rights marches, sit-ins, and church bombings were linked to today’s global issue, such as slavery and immigrant rights. The museum’s galleries embody both of those issues.
Unlike other civil rights facilities around the country, this particular museum focuses on connecting the civil rights movement to other struggles for human rights world-wide, including gay, lesbian, and transgender issues, and even immigration – which still remains controversial. In an NBC News interview CEO of the facility, Doug Shipman, said “We want to have tough conversations but in a civil way.” Needless to say, the center is quite versatile.
The NCCHR is divided into three main exhibits: Rolls Down Like Water: The American Civil Rights Movement, Speak of Conviction: The Global Human Rights Movement, and Voice to the Voiceless: The Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection. Shipman also stated the museum is not just for those who remember the history but a younger generation, the “22-year-olds who can’t even imagine it.” The team desired to “bring the stories to people that might not fight them otherwise.”
So if you are looking for something to do this summer, plan a trip to Atlanta, and experience history through the eyes of those who fought, and are continuing to fight, for our rights.
