Technology always has changed the world. Ever since we discovered fire and then the wheel, and (more recently) the eight-track player and cell phone, new technology has been adjusting how we do life.
A little more than two years ago, I wrote about the question of whether youth pastors should join Facebook as a means of reaching out to students. It’s hard to believe that at the time there was some question about whether it was a good idea. Back then though, Facebook mostly was populated with college and high-school students. Facebook now has 250 million users worldwide, and more than two-thirds of all Facebook users are outside of college. Translation: It’s everywhere.
Two years ago, joining Facebook as a youth pastor seemed like a pretty good idea. Now, it’s a necessity; but not only for youth pastors. Anyone who communicates with young people must realize Facebook is where they are. Refusing to join is like saying you want to do youth ministry but don’t want to be around youth.
Yet, there are still some who are holding out, those who say they don’t have time to bother with that stuff. I disagree. We have to be willing to embrace what’s new if we want to reach students effectively. For instance, about 18 months ago I noticed the shift among young people toward communicating mostly through text messaging. If you wanted to get ahold of students quickly, it became clear that you needed to text them. However, my phone wasn’t equipped to send text messages. As much as I hated doing it (because I really loved my old phone!), I got a new phone so I could communicate more effectively with students, using the technology they’re using. If Paul became all things to all men for the sake of the Kingdom, it’s not too much of a stretch to say that as it relates to technology today, we have to do the same.
Having said that, technology doesn’t have to own our lives either. I don’t constantly update my Facebook status, and I intentionally limit the time I spend there because it quickly can become a huge time waster. I don’t have my work e-mail set up to transfer onto my Smartphone so it can’t follow me constantly. Plus, all cell phones have an off button; and for the sake of my sanity, mental health and ability to make space for other things, I need to know when to turn it off. (For me, that’s at the very least on Monday nights, which is “date night” with my wife. Whether we leave the house for an actual date or not, turning off my phone that night is hugely important.)
We also must help students control their obsessions with technology. The ubiquity not only of cell phones but also the ability of most of them to access the Web means students will walk into youth group meetings with something specifically designed to distract them from whatever you’re telling them. With understanding and grace, ask them to keep their phones turned off and in their pockets or purses for the duration of the evening.
One final note about Facebook: Especially if a student’s family attends your church, I think it’s reasonable to send students friend requests. You should be more careful with new or invited students so they don’t think you, an adult, are barging into their lives uninvited. Wait until it’s clear they’re regulars before you “friend” them.
Related links:
Facebook, Google to offer music
YouTube — Now Serving a Billion a Day!
Tech: Apple Strikes Again
U2 to stream concert live on YouTube
Tech: Verizon and Droid take on the iPhone
