Greg Atkinson

Sorry to disappear on you. I’ve been in the bed with my back out. Please pray that my back pain will ease and my back will heal soon. More soon.

Over the next 4 weeks I’ll be speaking 4 times. Starting today at the BUG Conference in Birmingham (check Twitter @bugconference for info on a possible live webstream of the conf.). I arrived yesterday here in Birmingham and got to visit Church of the Highlands. I’ll be here through Tuesday night hanging out with Billy Hornsby and the ARC staff. Here’s what the next 4 weeks looks like for me:

1. July 13: BUG Conference
2. July 23: Church 2.0 Dallas
3. July 29-31: ECHO Church Media Conference
4. Aug. 6-8: South Carolina Worship Conference

Awhile back I blogged about my frustration with rockstar pastors – leaders that forget that ministry is about people. You can read it HERE. My friend, Phil Cooke, recently blogged about “Warning Signs of a Ministry Diva”. See below:

Today, we’re seeing a real rise in what I would call “ministry divas.” These are men and women who are pastors, or ministry or spiritual leaders who’s focus is more on themselves than the people they serve. As a public service to our readers, the global research team at Cooke Pictures has developed a list of warning signs that someone might be a ministry diva. The following warning signs can apply to either a man or a woman:

1. He doesn’t participate in worship. He only comes out to preach.
2. He’s escorted on and off the platform so he doesn’t actually have to mingle with people.
3. He has multiple assistants – or what some call “armor-bearers” to carry his cell phone, Bible, man-purse, etc.
4. He doesn’t travel that much, but needs a private jet when he does.
5. When he visits other churches, he naturally assumes he’ll get either a seat on the platform or a front row seat.
6. When he promotes his books, he always calls it a “best seller” even though it wasn’t.
7. He makes ever growing demands on the church for more free time, bigger perks, larger personal staff, etc.
8. He spends more on his wardrobe and cars than the church spends on the children’s program.
9. Divorce is OK for him, because of the ministry pressures he’s under. So when it happens, he doesn’t need to step down or submit to counseling – he doesn’t need it.
10. When he advertises a conference in magazines or other places, his picture is the biggest thing on the ad.

Have you noticed other warning signs we should be looking for?

Often when I’m asked to speak on Church 2.0 I compare the parallels between Web 2.0 and the Church. One thing that I usually point to is user-generated media (such as blogging, podcasting and uploading videos) and user-generated ministry – when people actually take ownership of a ministry, take the ball and run with it.

Over the last few weeks it’s been fascinating to watch the user-generated nature of how people are voicing and showing support for Iran on tools such as Twitter (in the picture seen above). Though the foreign press was kicked out of the country, the people have let their voice be heard via social media and social networking tools. Again, I’m amazed by it.

If you’re not familiar with it, as you can see above, many people have changed the color of their avatar or Twitter picture to one that is green in someway. Green shows support for a free Iran. Below is a blog post that documented the show of support as it started a while back. Click on the picture to read the blog.

Last night I followed the Texas Rangers baseball game via someone’s tweets. What a time to be alive. What are your thoughts on user-generated media?

Yesterday I heard a message on Jonah. I got to thinking how many think of the story of Jonah as a myth or a cute Sunday School story, but don’t really think Jonah was swallowed by a large fish.

The truth is the story of Jonah was written historically and referred to in both the Old Testament and New Testament (by Jesus Christ) as fact.

I love stories of old like Jonah, Noah and Elijah calling fire down. I believe them with all my heart and take them literally. They encourage me, guide and direct me as I study and reflect upon them.

Yes, I know there are parts of the Bible that are parables and several parts (such as in Daniel or Revelation) that are symbolic, but where the intent was to tell or share an historical event, I believe it.

I’ve blogged about our supernatural faith before HERE. We believe in a man (also fully God) Who was raised from the dead. If we can believe that Christ was raised from the dead, is it really so hard to believe other Bible stories like Jonah, Noah, Elijah and others? What do you believe?

Is this what the offering at your church is like? I’ve actually been to a church kind of like this before. Not as much individual dancing, but where you bring your offering forward and it’s a celebration. What do you think?

Below is a post from my friend, DJ Chuang and the Leadership Network Digital Blog that I thought was worth repeating:

This weekend marks the first weekend of church worship services that will be live-streamed onto iPhones. Assuming all 5 services would be live-streamed, services at New Hope Christian Fellowship will be live-streaming on Saturday 7/4 at 5 & 7pm and Sunday 7/5 at 7, 9 & 11am, Hawaii Time. Being translated, that would be in Pacific Time: Saturday 8pm + 10pm, Sunday 10am + 12pm + 2pm. New Hope also has an internet campus with streaming video and an interactive online community.

Here’s the press release, Hawaii Church Becomes First to Stream Live Video to iPhone:

Less than two weeks after the release of Apple’s iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3.0 update, Honolulu-based New Hope Christian Fellowship (http://www.enewhope.org) has announced that it will begin streaming its weekend worship services live to iPhone and iPod touch users.

Live streaming to the iPhone was one of the most requested features from church attendees, and is now possible with the inclusion of HTTP live streaming in Apple’s iPhone 3.0 software. New Hope’s addition of live streaming to the iPhone is significant in that it is the first non-profit organization to offer this type of service. “Typically, churches are years behind other organizations when it comes to technology and innovation. We have tried to reverse that trend and pioneer new ways to spread the Gospel using the most current tools available,” explains New Hope’s Technology and Innovations Director, Michael Sharpe. “We don’t mind the long hours and stress that comes with innovating because we know that if we can come up with something useful, it can be used by other churches around the world.”

Leveraging standards-based HTTP streaming technology, New Hope will deliver high quality video over either a Wi-Fi connection or other carrier network, providing for a truly portable experience.

After successfully testing the service this past weekend with hundreds of users, the church is now planning to offer the live streaming video of its services to all iPhone and iPod Touch users starting July 4th.

The church currently streams all five weekend services live on its website for computer users and created the streaming for the iPhone as a free service for those who may not have access to a computer.

“We are always looking for ways that we can leverage technology to reach people where they are at,” said New Hope’s Interactive Developer Peter Thourson, “through live streaming video on iPhone and iPod touch, users across the globe will be able to continue to attend church regardless of where they are.”

Availability

The live stream of New Hope’s Services will be available on their website at http://www.enewhope.org beginning July 4th. The live stream requires an iPhone or iPod touch with the 3.0 software update and an active Internet connection.

About New Hope Christian Fellowship

Started in 1995, New Hope Christian Fellowship Oahu is one of the fastest-growing churches in the nation according to “Outreach Magazine,” with over 12,000 people in regular attendance at 6 locations. “Outreach Magazine” also named New Hope as one of the most influential and innovative churches in the United States.

*** What do you think of this? Can you see your church ever streaming onto an iPhone?***