Greetings,
My name is Don Parris, and I hail from Charlotte, NC, where I'm planting a church. We're presently just a house church, but have had a global impact for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Aside from collecting clothes for villagers in Liberia and a vision for a strong educational minsitry in the future, we have a tremendous computer ministry that has excited many Christians in the Information Technology industry.
Two important articles appeared on IT media websites last week, which has brought nearly 2000 visitors to our site and that of The Freely Project. Our site offers free information about IT as ministry, and I am interested in engaging fellow believers in dialogue regarding the theological implications of information technology, especially as it relates to the software that runs many of our ministries.
Based on what I've learned from believing IT pros who've responded to the articles, the Church needs to look more closely at IT as ministry. Below are a few points that I think are relevant and important:
<>The Church is largely an end-user of information technology, but has general failed to grasp the significance of IT as a ministry in and of itself. At one point in time, the Church was at the cutting edge of knowledge and education. It is time to reclaim our heritage.
<>IT professionals often work in an atmosphere of folks who are atheistic, and sometimes even hostile toward believers. These folks need encouragement, prayer, and to be affirmed in their ministries.
<>Churches often fail to find professionals experiences with a broad range of operating systems and applications, and thus miss out on the natural blessings of good stewardship, and the ability to help others.
So I guess one might say that our IT ministry is somewhat focused on IT Pros and church leaders. Let the dialogue begin!
God bless,
Don
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