I wonder what response Johannes Gutenberg got from his friends when he told them he was going to develop a printing press…

"¢ “The oral tradition of communication works just as well. If it ain’t broke, don't fix it".

"¢ “That sounds far too complicated. I don’t have time to learn how to use one of those”.

"¢ "The devil is at work! Can you imagine the kind of evil that will be made available if people can print and distribute!"

"¢ “Books? They’ll never catch on”.

Of course, this is purely (creative!) speculation, and my intention isn’t to attract a surge of comments from people who can provide me with a detailed history of the printing press!

No, my point is to show that technological innovation is usually met by two opposite responses - enthusiasm and reluctance.

In the church, we major in reluctance.

I’ve got my theories on why churches are usually the last to step up to the plate, but rather than focusing on what we’ve been doing wrong, I want to lift our sights to the potential of technology for ministry.

In fact, that's what this weekly blog is all about - helping Christians to make the most of the opportunities the Internet and technology provide.

And there are numerous opportunities just waiting for you to grab a hold of them.

Here's just five ways technology can assist your ministry:

"¢ Collect, organise and then find sermon illustrations.

"¢ Make sermons available to people who couldn’t make it on Sunday (or would never come on a Sunday).

"¢ Have a video hook-up with missionaries on the other side of the world.

"¢ Connect with people who don't currently attend your church (or any church).

"¢ Study the Bible in multiple translations and languages - simultaneously.

Oh, and put away your credit card. That's right, none of these tools require anything more than a computer, an Internet connection and free software.

No one argues against the value of the printing press - the benefits are obvious.

Through it we've got the Bible, and as if that weren't enough we've got commentaries, books on every subject of theology, magazines, gospel tracts, songs we can read and sing in church, the prayer book - and the list goes on.

Technology presents the same long list of benefits.

Let me encourage you to join me each week as I seek to strip away your fears and aversions and help you make the most of what technology offers your ministry.

Have I converted you yet?

One of the benefits of the blog format (the way I'm communicating with you now) is the ability for us to interact - author to reader, and reader to reader. It's not one-way communication.

You may agree or disagree with what I've said, or have questions or cautions.

I'd love to hear from you - just add your comment in the space below.

Here's a question to get the ball rolling - what makes you reluctant to use the Internet and technology for ministry?

(I’ll try and persuade you otherwise over the coming weeks!)