New Media
People need to engage with God’s Word in order to have their lives changed. What if they could engage with without picking up a Bible? What if it could be delivered in a new way? One that is always with them? 411God delivers God’s Word to users’ cell phones in either SMS, voice or e-mail format at a convenient time they choose each day. It helps engage people who may not otherwise take the time to read from the Bible regularly. [more...]
Two entire generations have been born in a digital world who favor digital media over any other... But there's very little that is good interactive media that connects them with the Bible, that is designed for them. We really felt that the time was right to create a digital Bible that would connect with this generation, as an alternative to paper for them, because they don't use it.
Releasing in late 2009, Glo is a digital edition of the Bible with thousands of articles, photos, animations, videos and maps. Interactive features allow users to customize reading plans and journal, with access available from a computer or smart phones.
Next year the publishers hope to add an audio Bible and social components to allow users to interact with friends and encourage each other in Bible reading. [more...]
The Logoscom association trains pastors in preaching with visual aids and encourages systematic Bible meditation using audio and video. They seek to create relevant visual tools for our modern world of communication.
Take a look at these websites for Scripture Engagement resources in French:
- www.logoscom.org (resources for churches)
- www.allobible.org (video and audio Bible downloads, teaching on personal Bible meditation, ideas for leading groups)
- www.allobible.mobi (website for mobile phones).
Henri Bacher is a creative Bible engager and used to work with Scripture Union in Peru. See for example, the video Bible Stop. [more...]
"Bible students, pastors, missionaries and professors are finding this convenient and easy way to read and study the Bible wherever they live, work or travel."
Olive Tree Bible Software provides solutions for people wanting to use their Bible on their PDA, smartphone, Blackberry, iPhone, etc.
Bibles and other Biblical reference materials are available in an increasing number of languages.
"There is clear confusion among Christians about why they should read the Bible. For many, who have lived a Christian life without much engagement with the Bible, there is no perceived need to engage with it."
This paper, fruit of the recent WWSE Think Tank, seeks to engage with the 'Bible Engagement Crisis' in contexts where Bible availability is high but Bible use is relatively low. The focus is on the emerging generation who are less likely to use the Bible than the generations before them, especially using traditional methods.
After presenting the challenge, Stephen Opie outlines some of the strategic themes emerging, such as:
- establishing relevance by listening first;
- embracing technology, especially the Internet;
- identifying grassroots movements and helping them to grow.
The choice of medium can make a difference, and better artistic quality enhances any communication. However, the most important quality is how relevant the message seems to be to the lives of its hearers. If a hearer (or reader or viewer) thinks the message can make an important difference in his life, he will make an effort to listen, even if the quality is poor. Conversely, if he thinks it says nothing personally relevant, he will ignore even the best presented message. This principle of personal relevance is critical to communication.
Wayne Dye expands upon his third condition for Scripture Engagement:
Accessible forms: People are able to read the Scriptures or hear them from others or by listening to electronic media.
The article describes different ways of making the Scriptures more accessible: storying, literacy, local performing and visual arts, audio recordings, cell phones and video. [more...]
So I offer the challenge: that we inhabit this digital space, become part of the culture and learn the language of what Marc Prensky calls the, 'Digital Natives'. Those of us who have adopted technology later in life he describes as, 'Digital Immigrants' and like anyone immigrating to a new country, there is a need to learn.
Mark Brown, CEO of Bible Society New Zealand, outlines some of the cultural shifts that need to be understood in order to encourage Scripture engagement among 'digital natives'.
At Bible Society New Zealand in response to the appalling Bible engagement rates amongst Christians we wanted to find out, 'Why don’t people read there Bible more often?' The overwhelming reason is that people are distracted, their attention drawn to other things as they scan their environment.
To stimulate conversation, the author presents some provocative predictions of how the web might influence the production, understanding and appreciation of the Bible.
The paper was presented at the symposium: Christianity in the Digital Space, at St. John's College, Durham, UK, July 2009. Notes on the subsequent discussion can be found here. [more...]
"My daily appointment with my Bible has come alive since I discovered this video Bible. God not only speaks to me as I see the words of scripture but hearing them read keeps me concentrating."
The WatchWORD Bible is an example of a video-text Bible product, where you hear can the Bible read and see the text on the screen against the background of quality video photography.
The combination of seeing and hearing aids concentration and memory. [more...]
 | JAARS, Waxhaw, NC, USA Sponsor: JAARS VMS |
Courses offered include:
1. Vernacular Media Specialist Training
This training gives instruction and hands-on experience in all aspects of vernacular media work in Wycliffe. Concepts covered range from strategizing for use of appropriate media, communication principles, evaluating media, designing programs, choosing an appropriate recording platform, and instruction in various recording platforms.
2. Program and Curriculum Design [more...]
WordLive is for people who want to meet with God in fresh ways and to engage with the Bible. WordLive is created and maintained by Scripture Union. At the heart of what we do is to try to present the Bible in inspiring and accessible ways.
WordLive is a daily multimedia Bible experience with both audio and text of the passage, meditations, worship songs and prayer.
It is available online, by email, RSS feed, podcast or on your mobile phone. [more...]
