For whatever reason, lots of “good news” comes in on Friday.  

This has happened off and on for several weeks now.  Well, this past Friday was no different.

Well, this past Friday was no different.  Larry and Lee Ann came back from the road with some great news.  They have been traveling all across the state of Alabama making presentations about CharityTracker, our shared case management software.

Greg, who we consider to be the chaplain of Simon Solutions, got great news on Friday as well.  Alabama Baptists are catching the vision for CharityTracker.  We have been invited to speak at the annual state conference of the Alabama Baptist Convention in November.  We will have the  opportunity to address hundreds of pastors about the development of our new online “power tools” for prayer, missions, and evangelism.

I also got great news on Friday.  I talked with an old friend who I have not seen in many years.  Sandra Leatherwood helped me in youth ministry when I served at Saint James United Methodist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, back in the mid 80’s.

On Friday last week, I talked with Sandra over the phone.  What a reunion!  We both discovered that the Lord was setting the stage for our conversation.  

I had been thinking last week about how we could share “our story” with United Methodist ministry leaders and suddenly Sandra’s name came to mind.  I called her office, and she later got back with me on Friday.  She said that it was timely that I called.  She had recently dreamed about our family and was wondering how we were doing.

Sandra said that she would be happy to open doors for us to talk with United Methodist ministry leaders about our “power tools” for the Body of Christ.  We both agreed that God does orchestrate personal relationships for divine purposes.

Later on that day, I talked with Dean Gambill and Dana Simons from Harvest Prayer Ministry, of which Dave Butts is the President.  Dave is also the Chairman of America’s National Prayer Committee.  I had a great conversation with Dean and Dana.  We talked about the possibility of collaborating together on implementing a “global prayer network”, called PrayerPipeline.net.

Right now, we are building the network’s technological framework and user-friendly interface that’s simple to use.  We do not want to get too far into development without first talking with international prayer leaders.  We want to hear what they need and how to better serve their mission. 

For more information about the network, go to www.prayerpipeline.net/minister.

My conversation with Dean and Dana was incredibly hopeful.  We have the technology.  They have the intercessors.  I believe God is really up to something here.  The chance to connect and empower millions of intercessors all around the world in real-time, interactive prayer is now possible.  Think about what could happen!

What else can I say?  It’s quite obvious.  God is bringing people and technology together.  He is building relationships that will lead to the development of more coalition forces, mobilized for divine purposes.

I will keep you posted as more “good news” comes in on Fridays.

Our team is at the MinistryCom Conference in Franklin, Tennessee this week.  This is a national conference for church communication and marketing professionals.

The conference is being held at The People’s Church where Rick White is the Senior Pastor.  Thousands of participants are expected to attend.

We are one of many exhibitors who are at the conference.  We hope to learn much from others who share our same passion for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in new and effective ways.

We hope to make new friends and build working relationships with other ministries.  We expect to hear a great report from our team.

Helen Keller once wrote, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." 

These words resonate within my soul.  They have become my mission in life – to help people discover the benefits of working together for common purposes.

This is especially true for community service providers; those who help meet the needs of people during times of crisis and despair.  Every community is faced with this enormous challenge.  So, would it not make good sense to share the responsibility?

Just think what would happen if every community service provider suddenly began working together.  By this, I refer to churches, non-profit charities, and social service government agencies.  Suddenly, service providers would say, “Count on us to help.  We don’t care who gets the credit for acts of service.  We simply want to see all the people within our entire community benefit from our working together.”

If this was to truly happen within a community, no one would go hungry; no one would go without shelter and clothes.  No one would feel alone in their sorrow or desperate situation.

I believe this can happen in any community in America if we would follow Henry Ford’s simple formula for success.

"Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success." 
-Henry Ford

Service providers should start by “talking” with other service providers in their community.  Get to know each other; after all, service providers have the same passion and burden to help people.  This is true, regardless of what name appears on the organization’s letterhead.  They all have the same mission.

The second step is a little more difficult.  Service providers should make considerable effort to build relationships with each other.  This may mean cutting through all the busyness and noise in our own organizational environment; finding time to gather together with others from different organizations.  Luncheons, casual visits, telephone conversations, and roundtable discussions are all good ways to build friendships that lead to working relationships.

Another way to stay together is to find a "common tool” that helps facilitate an on-going working relationship.  One that helps all community service providers stay “connected” in communications, collaborate, and shared case management.  This progressive step with ultimately lead to a better understanding of needs and a focused approach to care.  This can happen through a web-based software solution that everyone has access to and really likes.

The third step in actually working together will provide a broad-based solution for care that covers the entire community.  Everyone benefits.  Service providers can now share responsibility. No one is overwhelmed.  More resources are identified for meeting needs.  Referrals are easily found.  Recipients are given proper care.  No one “falls through the cracks”.

This shared working environment will also cut back on duplication of services and combat benevolence fraud.  This saves organizations time and money. The right resources get into the right hands.

Another great benefit of a shared working environment is innovation.  Innovation happens as we capitalize on knowledge-sharing, which becomes a powerful asset.  I’ve come to realize that all of us are smarter than any one of us.  This then leads to a collective-knowing, which serves as a catalyst for community-driven solutions with creative applications for other areas of concerns.

By working together, community service providers can find hope in transforming their community from the inside out.  Instead of only seeing problems, needs, and deficiencies, the focus can shift to solutions and assets. 

This ignites progress and growth.

When people work together, great things happen!  

For years I have rallied the cause for relational synergism – people working together for greater purposes realized only through concerted efforts.  The results can be phenomenal.

When hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in August of 2005, the aftermath impacted my community in Northwest Alabama.  Over 330 displaced families from the Gulf Coast found refuge in our community.  Social service agencies, non-profit charities, and churches came to the rescue.

Many resources from different sources were allocated to Katrina victims, but a problem emerged.  Who was getting what and how much?  Were services being unnecessarily duplicated?  Were the right people getting the right resources?

This awareness sparked much dialog among community service providers, who realized that this problem was not an isolated incident, but a “big problem” that had been prevailing for years.  Something needed to be done to help service providers “get on the same page” in communications and collaboration.

Leaders from the United Way, Red Cross, Salvation Army, government agencies, and churches sat down together and talked.  This rare encounter paved the way for a collaborative solution for “shared case management”.

These leaders approached us at Simon Solutions in October of 2006.  Looking for a software solution, they handed us a single sheet of paper with only a few ideas.  They said, “Can you build us something that we all can use; something simple to understand and easy to use?”  We said “Yes, but only if we work together throughout the entire development process to see if this solution is something everyone will like and use.”  They agreed.

Combining our knowledge of software design with ideas from community service providers, we built CharityTracker (known as SEANTracker in our community).

Tina Scott, director of the United Way of Northwest Alabama, said “For the first time in our community’s history, churches, non-profit service providers, and government agencies have found a common way to work together; using a simple, easy, and affordable tool everyone can use.”

CharityTracker is a “shared community database”, a centralized hub for communication that is networked throughout the entire community.  All information is entered and edited by individual case workers with shared access.  And because CharityTracker is powered by internet technology, service providers have instant access to information 24/7, 365; whether at the office or in the field. 

CharityTracker works best when only one “community network administrator” is designated for the entire community.  This organization is usually the one who has built working relationships with other service providers.  As administrator, this organization maintains the integrity of the database by qualifying organizations that share access to confidential information.

All information in CharityTracker is safe and secure.  Only authorized users with a password have access to shared case files.  No IT department or webmaster is needed to host or maintain CharityTracker.  We (Simon Solutions) do it all.  We also upgrade the software; depending upon feedback from service providers and their needs.

CharityTracker has given our community a simple and easy solution for “shared case management”.  With better communications, service providers are seeing measurable results in reduction of fraud and duplication of services. 

Becky Daughtery of Woodmont Baptist Church says, “Just in the last few weeks, the software has proven itself more and more valuable; and we are really starting to see that the more benevolence organizations that use it; the more effective that it becomes.”

In less than one year of service within our community, CharityTracker has enabled over 74 agents (representing 33 agengies) to work together in shared management of over 4,000 cases.

CharityTrackers helps save time and money; enabling service providers to focus their resources on people with real needs.

Simply stated, it works!

Just as Katrina’s devastation swept across the Gulf Coast, a solution for helping victims more efficiently is sweeping all across the state of Alabama.  The word is getting out quickly.  Prior to our official nationwide launch on September 4th, ten networks of community service providers, scattered throughout Alabama, were already making plans to use CharityTracker to better serve their communities.

Our community’s synergism is a powerful testimony to other communities all across the United States.  If we can "get people on the same page" here in Northwest Alabama, you can do it also!

For more information, go to www.simonsolutions.com or www.charitytracker.net.

People are usually DOWN on things that they aren’t UP on.

This is especially true in presenting new ideas to people.  Many people are not comfortable outside their “comfort zone”.  They tend to baulk at making decisions about things outside their area of expertise, knowledge base, or experience.

This doesn’t mean people that people tend to be “against” anything new.  It means people are not usually “for” new things until they are brought up-to-speed in proper understanding.  This helps widen people’s comfort zones.

I can’t tell you how many times I faced this in church work.  Church committees can be a powerful force for implementing ministry, and they can be “the kiss of death” for change, progress, and growth.

People tend to feed off each other’s emotion in committee meetings.  If a positive response prevails, so does the outcome.  If a negative reaction rises up, “red flags” pop-up in everyone; even by those with marginal opinions.

I’ve discovered over the years that the following percentages hold true in most organizational environments where new ideas are presented.

• 20% people – Early adopters and change agents; eager for new ideas, progress, and growth.  “Let’s do it, right now!”
• 60% people – Spectators; “let’s wait and see what prevails” attitude; then we’ll gravitate to the winning side.
• 20% people – Laggards; seem to be against anything new.  “If it isn’t broke; then why fix it?”

How church leaders deal with this depends upon the value or weight of necessary solutions to complex challenges.  I had a person once tell me, “Choose your battles carefully.  Some battles are worth fighting for; while others are not.”

Presenting new ideas to people requires more than just powerful verbal affirmation and emotion.  Acceptance of new ideas will also require good communications; that is, facts, figures, and good reasons.  We must not be surprised by people asking questions.  This brings clarity to the table.  

You’d be surprised how far respect and value for other’s opinions and advice can go in winning comrades.  This builds friendships based upon trust and confidence in people’s knowledge and wisdom.

When presenting new ideas to people, make sure to have “all your ducks lined up in order.”  Come prepared to answer people’s questions; even important ones that may not be asked.  This will help you cover your bases and not get caught off guard.

And be prepared for possible hesitancy on people’s part.  This is normal and should not be considered a threat to your new idea.  People oftentimes need time and space to assimilate new ideas.  Rushing can be counterproductive.

If your new idea has great worth; then it’s worth waiting on approval of others, especially by those who will ultimately help you bring your new idea to fruition.

Last week I spent a much-needed vacation at the beach.  Armed with my fold-up chair and umbrella, I soaked-up some rays and lots of saltwater.  Most of my time was spent hanging out with my family and relaxing.

I was able to get in lots of reading and writing.  My main topics were “connecting” in relationships and online social networking for Christians.  I re-read Larry Crabb’s Connecting.  This is an excellent book on relationships and community development.  I highly recommend this book to church leaders.

I also re-read Heidi Campbell’s Exploring Religious Community Online.  Heidi’s book is a byproduct of her dissertation on internet technology and community development.  If you are interested in knowing more about how the internet has evolved from a place to gather information to a social sphere, this is a great book.

Well, vacation is nice, but it is always good to get back to my own bed and familiar surroundings.  Now that I’m back, I’m ready to hit the ground running.

Oh by the way, you might want to check out our new SSI newsletter.  It’s packed with interesting articles and videos.  Check it out:  http://www.simonsolutions.com/newsletter/

The Church must realize the importance of online social networking before it is too late.

Online social networking is not some fad that will run its course.  Its popularity is growing in leap and bounds.  According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, “More than half (55%) of all of online American youths ages 12-17 use an online social networking sites.”

If the Church is serious about reaching the next generation for Christ, then serious steps should be made in acquiring tools that bridge the gap between the traditional American Church and today’s young people.  I wonder if this is possible, given traditional models of local church?

If leadership within local churches is not “in-tune” with new technology, especially the internet, how will local churches successfully reach young people in their communities?

Many years ago I helped coordinate a youth retreat at a Methodist outreach center in rural Tennessee.  Over 100 young people attended.  One of the activities they were asked to do was write their names on a small paper bag.  These bags were then taped to a wall everyone passed by each day.

The youth were then encouraged to drop comments into the bags.  These could be words of encouragement, favorite scriptures; anything that was uplifting.  The goal was that everyone’s bag would have “good comments.”

The youth went way beyond the call of duty and made sure everyone, including new people, had new comments in their bags each day.  The youth used this as a form of ministry, and it worked extremely well.

I find similarities between this activity at the retreat and social networking sites.  Young people return regularly to their online profile pages to see if comments have been posted.  According to the Pew survey, “Almost half of social networking-using teens visit the sites either once a day (26%) or several times a day (22%)."

May I suggest that young people use social networking sites to invite “ministry” into their lives.  They want simple recognition and encouragement.  They want to know if anyone out there really cares about them– enough to make comments on their profile page.

Church leaders, I strongly encourage you to “bite the bullet” and spend some serious time exploring new technology, especially online social networking.  The internet can be a powerful tool for ministry in the hands of Christians.  Please seize the moment.

Visit the following research sites:

Pew Internet & American Life Project
www.pewinternet.org
Social Networking Websites and Teens
http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/198/report_display.asp

Barna Research Group

www.barna.org

Surveys about teens and the internet

The Center for the Digital Future (USC Annenberg School)

http://www.digitalcenter.org/

2007 Digital Future Report

http://www.digitalcenter.org/pdf/2007-Digital-Future-Report-Press-Release-112906.pdf

I once heard someone say, “Set your sights upon a vision that can only be accomplished by God’s divine intervention.” 

Well, that’s exactly what we have done.  We have built a ministry model that will not succeed except God makes it happen.

We have the mindset:  “Pray as if everything depends upon God; work as if everything depends on you.”  We have worked hard at developing “power tools” that help empower the Body of Christ.  We firmly believe that these tools are God-inspired. 

Our company, which we define as a marketplace ministry, crossed the threshold into a whole new realm of biblical dynamics a couple of weeks ago.  We came to a crossroads in our journey of faith and mission. 

Further discussions with the investor revealed that he wanted controlling interest in our company, and he wanted to bring another person in to oversee operations.  We also learned that all he wanted was our technology and big profits.  He did not share in our ministry purposes or mission.

Call us crazy, but we simply turned him down.  We did not want to “sell our souls” and sell-out our ministry passion for the sake of money.  We believe that you cannot buy God’s favor with man.

We believe God was testing us.  I believe we passed the test. 

A well-established and very influential Christian ministry called us wanting to partner with us in the future development of their ministry and ours. They also want to work together with us in building internet ministry tools that will soon impact the lives of millions of people, worldwide.  We will pool our resources and covenant to work together in creating synergistic solutions for building up the Body of Christ.

We will share more, as plans unfold.

Church websites that continue to look like “electronic brochures” will not reach the next generation for Christ.

Young people want more than just information about your church.  They want to engage and interact with your community from the comforts of their home, work, or school.

“The internet is the next generation;” this according to David Yonggi Cho, pastor of the largest church in the world in Seoul, Korea with 750,000 members.  Concerning the future growth of his church, Cho says, “Use the Internet - it is better…I have already announced to my people and ministers that the next step is to go into total cyberspace ministry.”

More and more young people are becoming disenfranchised with traditional Church.  According to Barna Research Group (www.barna.org), “61% of today’s young adults - had been churched at one point during their teen years but they are now spiritually disengaged (i.e., not actively attending church, reading the Bible, or praying)…For most adults, this pattern of disengagement is not merely a temporary phase in which they test the boundaries of independence, but is one that continues deeper into adulthood.”

Just because young people are disengaging from church activities, doesn’t mean they are not “spiritually hungry.”  They are now turning to the internet; looking for spiritual significance.  The internet is fast becoming the new “mission field.”

Another study by Barna Research Group shows that, “among the growing number of Americans who use the Internet, millions are turning to the digital dimension to get them in touch with God and others who pursue faith matters. The report projects that within this decade as many as 50 million individuals may rely solely upon the Internet to provide all of their faith-based experiences.”

So, how can the Church break the bonds of disengagement and “re-connect” with the next generation?  With millions of young people plugging into the internet each day, Web 2.0 websites can help.

Here are three “non-negotiables.”

1. Make sure your internet presence is not “cheesy.”  Today’s young are imagine or wow-driven.  If they like what they see, they will go deeper into your site.  Remember the old saying, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”  Don’t get a novice to do your website.  Get a professional.  Remember, you get what you pay for.  This will speak volumes to visitors.
   
   
2. Make sure your site has interactivity.  There must be way for young people to “virtually connect” with your community.  Web 2.0 technology makes this easy through forums, media sharing, IM, and more.  Not all web developers know how to make this happen.  Find the ones who do it well.  The investment is worth it.
   
   
3. Build an online community that is safe and easy to use.  Web developers who are experts in Flash development can create for you an “online gated community” experience that provides peace of mind.  Online community development capitalizes on the enormous popularity of online “social networking.”  Web developers can provide community-building tools that are simple to learn and easy to use.

The days of “electronic brochure” church websites are over! 

If we cannot speak the cultural language of their “online world,” how will we communicate the good news of Jesus Christ to the next generation?

Back in the late nineties a group of Christians wanted to build a dotcom company, exclusively for Christians.  They went out all across America and found people who were working in technology and business.  They formulated a viable business plan, cast their vision to investors, and began fund raising.

Their financial campaign yielded over 40 million dollars.  Needless to say, they had a “hallelujah party!”

They began operations – full speed ahead.  They worked hard, hoping to reach financial profitability soon.  They did “everything” right; or at least they thought they did.  After all, they were a Christian company, right?

Despite all their efforts, the company “bellied-up.”   As to what caused their demise, everyone had their opinions.  Whatever the case, this was a tragedy for all the people.  Disillusioned and disappointed, people scattered to the wind.  Other dotcoms came in and scraped up pieces of the company, including their technology.

I recently had a chance to talk with one of the leaders of that failed dotcom.  He is an extremely gifted person with great passion for God and his family.  Fortunately, he now works for a successful company that provides software for non-profit organizations involved in social services and ministry.  He told me that many lessons were learned from his previous dotcom experience.

Just recently we had a chance to learn a "big lesson!"  A wealthy investor, known throughout our community, approached us with an attractive offer.  He liked what we were doing and wanted to bring in other investors.  He offered us 5 million dollars.  We all had to take a moment, catch our breath, and think about the possibilities.