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One minute of the Bible on your phone
Link: http://www.411god.net
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...]
Some implications of mobile phone technology for Scripture distribution
Author: Richard Margetts
"When it comes to audio and video products, the mobile phone can be an effective method of getting the Scriptures to people... who then pass them on to other people... who then pass them on to other people..."
This article discusses some of the implications of mobile phone technology for encouraging the sharing of audio/video Scripture products. Questions raised include:
- Who is your target audience?
- What are the best Scripture products for the phone?
- How will people get their first copy of the media files which they can then share with their friends?
- Are there any copyright issues involved?
- How could mobile phone technology become an obstacle to people engaging seriously with God’s Word?
- What are the most positive aspects of using mobile phones for Scripture distribution?
from Faith Comes By Hearing
Bible.is from Faith Comes By Hearing brings together Bible text and audio so you can read and listen to God's Word using a web browser, iPhone, iPad or Android smartphone apps. Verses can be shared via Facebook and Twitter.
You can select from over 96 languages and 160 Bible versions, and this continues to grow as part of FCBH's Digital Bible Project - an exciting venture to create "the world’s largest online library of Bible text & audio – all in a friendly, simple user interface." [more...]
Interactive Bible with a world of media resources and tools
Published by: Immersion Digital, Fall 2009
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...]
Links: Glo website | Buy on Amazon.com
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...]
Explore the Bible on your smartphone
Link: http://www.olivetree.com
"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.
Theories and themes emerging from the World Wide Scripture Engagement Consultation
Author: Stephen Opie
"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 Most Common Avenue to Increased Scripture Engagement
Author: T. Wayne Dye
Published by: International Journal of Frontier Missions (26.3 Fall 2009)
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...]
Link: Article on IJFM website
"The Bible" page on Facebook has nearly 2 million fans. The idea is simple: Scripture verses are posted every day and Facebook users have the opportunity to leave their comments - as they engage with God's Word and with each other. It is not unusual for posted verses to receive several hundred comments and to be 'liked' by several thousand users.
The Bible page was launched by Mark Brown, former CEO of the Bible Society New Zealand, as an experiment in presenting the Scriptures in the Digital Space. Mark's vision is to see God's Word all over Facebook! [more...]
Author: Rev Mark Brown
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...]
