My Experiences of the Christian New Media Conference 2012

Picture by Matt McChlery (Creative Commons Copyright, Non-Commercial)

The Journey

Waking up at 5:30am on a chilly and foggy Autumn morning is not usually my idea of fun. But yesterday I was on a digital mission! I was on my way to the Christian New Media Conference 2012 - my first time!

Having begun writing this blog with a little more intent earlier this year, as well as running my own website for my songwriting and music, and also my church's site, I thought it was about time I sought out some teaching from like-minded people to check I'm on the right track, or not!

Picture by Matt McChlery (Creative Commons Copyright, Non-Commercial)

So with meatloaf sandwiches and my smartphone packed, I set off to Peterborough station. I just made it onto the train with only three minutes to spare so was unable to get that Starbucks on platform 2 that had been on my mind during the drive. I fell asleep on the train a few times but eventually arrived at King's Cross Station in London. Thirty minutes on the underground later as I was there - King's College, London.

The Arrival

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The venue was packed. The atmosphere was buzzing and the majority were all tap-tapping away on laptops, ipads and smartphones! (I would have been too, but my phone had decided not to co-operate with the in-house wifi).

The Teaching & Things I Took Away With Me 

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Sheridan Voysey kicked off the first key note address - it was brilliant! He spoke about 'The Power of Story in a Digital Age' which was a theme that ran through the rest of the day. He encouraged us to be vulnerable and authentic as we share the story of our lives online. To include the good and the bad. To weave God's story within it, mentioning it naturally as  a part of who we are, as part-and-parcel of the lives we live in relationship with Jesus. He encouraged us to write about the deep longings in our lives, those things we are passionate about. This is what people want to read and engage with - story that reonates with them on an emotional level.

Picture by Matt McChlery (Creative Commons Copyright, Non-Commercial)

The other topic that really made me sit up and think was mentioned by both James Poulter (YouVersion Bible App) and the Digital Nun: We must learn how to retreat and disconnect. We are the last generation in history to remember a time and way of life before the internet. It is our massive responsibility to teach the next generation how to live well with new technology, by learning how to unplug! One very important part of telling our story is remembering the importance of pauses within it. These are moments where we can stop and reflect. Times when we cut out the digital noise and take time to simply be silent. To simply be with God and with our families.

You may recall I wrote a blog about the importance of silence in worship a few months back http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4626755125560202409#editor/target=post;postID=4928374691508282029 

The topic has seemed to have resurfaced again here, albeit within a different context, but I think those ideas and thoughts still apply within this discussion - do you think God is trying to tell me something? 



 A Brilliant Resource

Picture by Matt McChlery (Creative Commons Copyright, Non-Commercial)

One fantastic resource I can across in the exhibition area was www.freebibleimages.org . It basically does what it says in the URL: It provides pictures and illustrations of Bible stories. A sequential visual journey through Bible stories that will be extremely useful to aid preaching at church, Bible teaching in schools, free and copyright free images to use on your blog and so much more! They are also looking for artists and illustrators to contribute their talents to this new opensource resource so if you are interested do get in touch!

In Conclusion

I'm glad I went to CNMAC2012 http://www.newmediacentreofexcellence.org.uk/cnmac/ . It was a new and different kind of conference for me (not a guitar in sight) but I am glad to be part of the digital Christian voice and am excited and honoured to be able to tell my part of God's story online.