Logo

 

Banner Image:   Baptist-Times-banner-2000x370-
Template Mode:   About Us
Icon
    Post     Tweet

LandingPage-Banner

Autumn 2023 edition: Digital Revolution


When Baptist Union Council identified the digital revolution as a key priority area back in 2018, there wasn’t too much material on which to base an edition of this magazine. Clearly there have been huge developments in digital technology and our use of it since then, notably how Covid and its accompanying lockdowns catapulted us into running online church. But of course, as Lynn Green states, hosting such services is only ‘the tip of a very big iceberg… Grappling with issues about developing digital mission and the massive theological issues of what it means to be human in a world of AI all lie before us.’

The pages that follow represent a snapshot of some of the thinking and stories of churches engaged in digital mission across the denomination.  

It’s a fast-moving world and there is lots to ponder. Questions explored in this edition include:
  • How do we reach the 53m people in the UK who have social media with the gospel of Jesus? What does it look like to collaborate with Jesus on social media?
  • How can we be more connected beyond Sunday - both informally, face-to-face, and on Zoom?
  • Is intelligence only the property of humans? Can an intelligent machine be in a relationship?
  • Can AI sin - and what would that look like?  
We hope the articles and stories in this edition provide much food for thought, and help deepen your understanding of the digital revolution and its possibilities.

As one of our writers states: ‘It’s easy to think the Bible might not have much to say about 21st century technology, but of course it does. We’ve been creating tools and technology for the whole of human history. The Bible does not condemn tools or technology as inherently evil. It shows how they can be employed for both good and evil purposes.’

What does it mean to effectively harness the digital revolution for the sake of the Kingdom?

The main articles in the magazine are featured below:
 
Baptists and the Digital Revol
Baptists and the Digital Revolution
It was 2018 when we identified the ‘digital revolution’ as a priority area across Baptists Together, writes General Secretary Lynn Green More ...
Responding faithfully to AI Ca
Responding faithfully to AI
Sally Nelson highlights questions and ideas for Christians to ponder in the face of advances in AI More ...
From one degree Card
From one degree of imperfection to another
This conversation between Baptist ministers Ruth Gouldbourne and Steve Holmes focuses on issues raised following the pandemic More ...
Time For a Defrag Card
Time for a defrag?
Simon Goddard and Nathan McGuire are helping to shape an online Baptist missional community called transform.church – and want to ask deeper questions about what it means to be a church in the digital sphere More ...
Change Makers Card
The Church making change digitally
What would it look like to be an online presence for the gospel? Introducing the Change Makers Media project, a new digital Baptist missional resource to empower the wider Baptist family to be a part of the digital revolution More ...
Artificial Card
Artificial
Exploring AI in art and the questions it raises through a Christian lens. By Mike Lowe More ...
Whole Truth
The whole truth and nothing but the truth? 
AI, and how it relates to the gospel, was the focus of a guest service at Kendal Road Baptist Church in Gloucester earlier this year. Minister Steve Ayers explains why. More ...
A hybrid church
A hybrid church community 
Week by week we gather ‘onsite and online’ at Hillhead Baptist Church, a hybrid community of all ages and stages, yet one congregation doing our best to be one community. By Catriona Gorton More ...
Technology gamechanger
‘Technology has been a game-changer in enabling my connection with the church’
How digital technology has blessed the life and ministry of Derby Urban Church in many unexpected and positive ways, with Chandra Morbey and Graham Watkins More ...
If others are blessed
‘If others are blessed by it, then good’
Much to his surprise, Baptist minister-in-training Simon Clay has developed a following on TikTok More ...
Sharing Jesus
Sharing Jesus through my Facebook page 
Baptist church member Paul James created an evangelistic Facebook page that initially saw many turn to Christ, and which is now developing in new ways. More ...
Social Media Collaborating Car
Social media is a way of collaborating with him
Femi Onanuga is a youth pastor, minister-in-training and former London Baptists intern – and he has a passion to see people use their social media for evangelism. More ...
GodSquad
Welcome to Godsquad
A church for video gamers has existed since 2016 – and Alice Cheeseman is a volunteer there. More ...
Most effective digital evangel
‘The most effective digital evangelism platform in the UK’
Around 1500 people visit the website Christianity.org.uk each day - and more than a quarter of new enquirers are people looking to become Christians. It’s easy and free to link from your own church website, writes Cherry Hamilton Bond More ...
Parenting in a Digital Age Car
Parenting in a Digital Age
During lockdown, many of us threw the rulebook in the air as regards boundaries for technology in the home in order to survive. Now is a brilliant time to reset those guidelines, writes Katharine Hill More ...
Gen Z Living ina digital Age C
Gen Z: The art of living in a digital age
Jane Shaw introduces a multi-authored book which offers insights into Gen Z More ...
Internet Cafes to Zoom Coffee
From internet cafes to international Zoom coffee
As technology has evolved, so it has impacted the lives of mission workers. Megan and Alan Barker, who have served long-term in Nepal with BMS, and the Chad-based Claire Bedford share their experiences More ...
Prayers Card
Prayers
Prayers written in response to the themes of this edition More ...
The Consultation Process Card
The Consultation process - an update
By Jonny Hirst, on behalf of the Consultation Steering Group More ...
WhatHaveTheyDone Card
What have they done?
A poem by Tim Presswood - Baptist Union President 2023-24 More ...
Mission in the Metaverse800
Mission in the Metaverse 
What is the Metaverse? In what ways is Christ incarnate within this new world? Peter Phillips highlights these and other questions as we explore how we do mission in the digital age More ...

A printed copy of the magazine is being sent to each minister, church secretary and church treasurer and additional copies are available to purchase from our online shop.
    Post     Tweet
Mission in the Metaverse 
What is the Metaverse? In what ways is Christ incarnate within this new world? Peter Phillips highlights these and other questions as we explore how we do mission in the digital age
togaut23
What have they done?
A poem by Tim Presswood - Baptist Union President 2023-24
togaut23
The Consultation process - an update
By Jonny Hirst, on behalf of the Consultation Steering Group
togaut23
Prayers
Prayers written in response to the themes of this edition
togaut23
From internet cafes to international Zoom coffee
As technology has evolved, so it has impacted the lives of mission workers. Megan and Alan Barker, who have served long-term in Nepal with BMS, and the Chad-based Claire Bedford share their experiences
togaut23
Gen Z: The art of living in a digital age
Jane Shaw introduces a multi-authored book which offers insights into Gen Z
togaut23