Comments on: [Technology] Justifiable Greed

By: Tony Myles

Tony Myles — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 10:23:04 +0000

In reply to tom.

I wonder if their chatter is the same thing as your visit with the 99-year old women, but only at a different “speed.” My wife and I once spent four hours with a woman in our church, from pre-dinner, to actual dinner, to post-dinner. We then had to leave for a youth event and she said, “Oh, bother… we didn’t really get the chance to visit with each other.” My wife and I didn’t know what to say, since we were spent after just the first two hours. 🙂

By: Tony Myles

Tony Myles — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 10:20:25 +0000

In reply to Anthony Lind. Nothing like having your spouse do a gut check like only they can. :) I hear that... thanks for the reminder.

By: Brian Seidel

Brian Seidel — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 18:09:40 +0000

I have seen a huge shift among the students in my years in the trenches. I used to have regular phone conversations with them, and now I see them literally avoiding it. If I call or leave a message, they will text back, or send a snapchat instead. If I do get a student on the phone the conversation is awkward and brief. You have to almost fight for a genuine relational connection, puts a whole new spin on relational youth ministry.

By: Anthony Lind

Anthony Lind — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 17:23:20 +0000

We recently did a media/tech survey for our church to see how our people engage our church using technology. I haven’t waded through all the data yet but I know it will be very helpful in choosing what mediums we choose to use for our church. Your insight that not everyone will use technology the way I insist they should was a hard lesson to learn for me!

The tech battle is always a struggle for me because I love new technology. Thankfully my wife balances me out and helps me understand what I really need and don’t need. Thanks for the challenge to consider being more personal (phone call or actually talking to a teen) instead of using technology to communicate.

By: tom

tom — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 14:51:32 +0000

First thing I have read addressing this issue. Spent Thanksgiving with four 20-something ministers at our house and the whole conversation revolved around phones and Black Friday sales. I had to excuse myself and go clean up the kitchen as I was torn between saying something and not trying to be judgemental. I am a dinosaur but my heart broke over the priority of that day! Spent the rest of the afternoon talking with our 99 year-old neighbor lady who came also, found her much more refreshing.