In Depth:  technology

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When the phone comes to church

When the phone comes to church
Lizzie Harewood
Lizzie Harewood

We’ve been studying Romans 14 at church recently, and the teaching has covered "disputable matters" – issues where Christians, in good faith, may disagree.

Politics, preferred Bible translations, and permitted leisure activities on a Sunday are all examples of what might fall into this category nowadays. But one such "disputable matter" is rapidly moving up the agenda for many Christian families: just what should we do about smartphones and children in the church?

Is Artificial Intelligence a 'resounding gong'?

Is Artificial Intelligence a 'resounding gong'?
John-Edward Funnell
John-Edward Funnell

Some of my most precious times as a father are when I get to share cultural moments that shaped me, with my children – blasts from the past. For example, when the radio plays an Oasis song and, to my surprise, my teenagers sing along to every word with me.

In these moments of shared cultural experience, our generational divide vanishes. To them, the song is “retro” – to me it is “nostalgic”. But we are united in that moment.

Are Christian charities more at risk of hacking?
loving your digital neighbour

Are Christian charities more at risk of hacking?
Tristram Ridley-Jones
Tristram Ridley-Jones

Christian churches, organisations, and charities are entrusted with managing resources – donations, grants, and assets – to fulfil their missions. This stewardship now extends to the digital realm.

As financial operations increasingly rely on technology, cybersecurity is no longer only an IT issue but a fundamental aspect of financial integrity and missional continuity. For finance teams and treasurers, safeguarding digital assets is as crucial as maintaining physical security.

Why a good password is good stewarding
loving your digital neighbour

Why a good password is good stewarding
Tristram Ridley-Jones
Tristram Ridley-Jones

In the digital age, Christian organisations, charities, and ministries face unique challenges in protecting sensitive data from donor records, and financial information to confidential pastoral communications.

As stewards of resources and trust, securing digital assets is not just a technical necessity but a moral responsibility.

New Christian initiative will block 'harmful' content

New Christian initiative will block 'harmful' content
Emily Pollok
Emily Pollok

Radiant Mobile, self-described as “the first-ever Christian mobile carrier,” launched in the US this month, pioneering a new type of phone network that blocks certain content for its users.

Marketed specifically to Christians, Radiant offers age-based content filtering to block access to websites that could be deemed harmful.

Digital discipleship: Following Christ in an age of screens

Digital discipleship: Following Christ in an age of screens
Alistair Chalmers
Alistair Chalmers

We are the first generation in history to carry a portal to the world in our pockets at all times.

With a swipe, we can access news, entertainment, theological debate, and the curated lives of thousands. The digital age has not merely changed how we communicate – it has reshaped how we think, desire, worship, and relate.

How mission continues where missionaries are banned
updates from the mission field

How mission continues where missionaries are banned
Grace Baptist Mission

There are many places in the world where it is impossible to send missionaries.

The two most common barriers are where it is dangerous to be a follower of Jesus and where there are intransigent political systems who deny access.

Christians, cybersecurity is important
loving your digital neighbour

Christians, cybersecurity is important
Tristram Ridley-Jones
Tristram Ridley-Jones

In our previous article, Cybersecurity: Loving your (digital) neighbour, we established that protecting the personal data of our congregation is a modern act of stewardship, integrity, and pastoral care. Just as Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, we are called to post a guard at our digital gates.

However, a wall is only as strong as the watchman who stands upon it. The greatest risk to a church's security is often not a sophisticated external hacker, but a simple human error - a click on a malicious link. This is not a judgment on a lack of faith, but a call to practical wisdom and equipping our ministry teams with a "sound mind" (2 Timothy 1v7) to spot digital deception.

Bible app marks a billion downloads

Bible app marks a billion downloads
Luke Randall
Luke Randall

The founder and CEO of YouVersion has described the influence of their Bible app as “unimaginable” as it celebrates its billionth download less than 20 years since its inception.

The rapid development of AI has prompted questions around how far technology should go when it comes to matters of faith. However, Bobby Gruenewald believes the news that the world’s most popular Bible app is celebrating its billionth download worldwide shows the positive potential of modern technology for gospel opportunities.

How do we handle interruptions?

How do we handle interruptions?
Jonathan Thomas
Jonathan Thomas

“Was that the doorbell? Did you hear something?” One of my greatest frustrations is getting an email saying that a parcel is going to be delivered, waiting in all morning for it, and then going to the front door… only to discover a passive-aggressive card that claims “We tried to deliver”. Did you? Really?

Mind you, there have been times when the delivery person has rung the bell and knocked the door, but I have been too busy to answer, honestly thinking that what I was doing was far more important. Every time I see that little card I start to wonder – what have I missed?

Staying safe online

Staying safe online
Rebekah Brown

Book Review LEFT TO THEIR OWN DEVICES: Confident Parenting in a Digital World (4th edition with brand-new content on AI)

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When a church member falls in love with an AI: Preparing for new ministry realities

When a church member falls in love with an AI: Preparing for new ministry realities
Robin Barfield
Robin Barfield

A new world is bringing new opportunities.

With those new opportunities come new challenges: challenges to know what is good and right and true; and challenges to know what choices to make around our relationships, intimate and physical. With increasing possibilities come increasing risks.

Navigating our online life

Navigating our online life
Paul Jackson
Paul Jackson

Book Review SCROLLING OURSELVES TO DEATH:

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We’re almost ALL digital evangelists now
everyday evangelism

We’re almost ALL digital evangelists now
Glen Scrivener
Glen Scrivener

After this month I’m taking a break from writing this Everyday Evangelism column. It’s partly so I can focus more energy on reaching out online. This article explains a little of why.

There are 2.5 billion monthly users on YouTube. Three billion on Facebook. If these were countries, they would be easily the biggest countries on earth. How can we be missionaries to these lands?

Technoference: How screens are shaping our youth

Technoference: How screens are shaping our youth
Karen Soole
Karen Soole

Young parents seem to be constantly under attack by the media for their parenting failures, and it’s easy to see why.

There are significant concerns about the development of preschool children. The recent Kindred Squared School Readiness survey had some disturbing findings, including the number of children arriving in reception who are not toilet-trained, starkly contrasting to other parts of the world. Children come with poor motor skills, with some unable to use the stairs and many struggling with emotional dysregulation. There are various causes attributed to this, from Covid baby syndrome to parents working full-time or the pressures of social deprivation; however, one factor appears over and over again – the use of technology. School nurses report that these issues began emerging before Covid alongside the increased use of mobile phones.

Technology and the vision of a Christ-centred cosmos

Technology and the vision of a Christ-centred cosmos
Paul Blackham
Paul Blackham

A technological revolution is happening in the way information is handled. It has been happening for at least 20 years but has achieved a level of impact and accessibility to make everybody sit up and take notice.

The modern world could be defined not as the Bronze or Iron Age but as the Ink Age – because words were the most powerful resource, beginning with the Renaissance and Reformation, through the Enlightenment and into the era of mass media through radio, television and information technology. This trajectory already indicates that words have been turned into pictures and images as a primary form of communication.

Tech wise

Tech wise
Stephen Ayre

Book Review MADE IN OUR IMAGE: God, artificial intelligence and you

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Letter

Children & smartphones
Date posted: 17 Jul 2024

Dear Editor,

Thank you for Glyn Harrison’s wake-up call in the June issue of en, ‘Social media and our children’ on page 15. After clearly sounding the alarm, Glyn concludes by asking: ‘And what are we going to do about it now?’

New Egyptian app helps 120,000

New Egyptian app helps 120,000
Bible Society

With churches closed due to the Covid lockdown and large events prohibited, Bible work in Egypt fell significantly in 2020. But the digital world came to the rescue, with remarkable results.

In January 2020, before the pandemic struck, The Bible Society developed a new app guiding people to read though the whole Bible in a year. By December, 5.7 million chapters had been requested by 121,392 different users.

Do you FULLY know the dangers of digital?
imperfect parenting

Do you FULLY know the dangers of digital?
'Imperfect Mum'
'Imperfect Mum'

The purpose of writing anonymously is to enable me to be freer in how I write and what I write about. To be more honest about my parental failings and limitations and more open about the difficult topics facing parents.

Such as the dangers of children accessing pornography. We had a challenging Sunday recently (the evil one does tend to favour the Lord’s Day to test Christians, don’t you think?). It was a relatively short-lived incident but raised many issues for us as parents.

Prayer app sees record growth in Covid

Prayer app sees record growth in Covid
Prayermate.net

The PrayerMate app has seen growth during 2020 with record numbers of users in March and April.

Reaching a total of 444,000 downloads, there were 42,000 active users at the height of the UK lockdown. The PrayerMate community prayed for over 19 million prayer items in 2020 which is over 1.6 million items per month.

Do you need to develop better digital habits?
Technology

Do you need to develop better digital habits?

Pete Nicholas

A few years ago, I was asked to do a main stage seminar on digital technology at a large conference for ministers.

In the Q&A time I got a rather angular question from a minister who I think was feeling overwhelmed: ‘This is all very well for those who are young and trendy, ministering to hipsters, but what does it have to do with the rest of us?’

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