This post actually started over here, where I addressed the dangers of geo-location. Please read that if you are an active user of Twitter or Facebook because there are actually some serious points to consider.
Now, let’s look at ways to use geo-location sites within your ministry in ways that benefit everyone. If you are a parent of a teen or even a pre-teen, it’s possible they have taken a trip with their youth group, whether it’s to camp or to an amusement park or on a mission trip. When your kids are on this trip, you tend to wonder how things are going, where they are and what they are doing and generally, you will hear all about their trip when they get home.
If your kids will use foursquare or gowal.la or brightkite to check in at various locations, then you can easily track the various stops they might be making. Since not all kids are not tech savvy or may not even care enough to keep their parents up to date on their movements, maybe you, as the youth leader can commit to tweeting your location as you make various stops.
It’s not a personal update, it’s not a phone call with details of exactly what you are doing or have done, it’s simply a location update. We are at McDonald’s. We are at World’s of Fun.
I would encourage you to work toward implementing a strategy for using geo-location in this way, especially as we are approaching summer and various ministry related trips, youth or otherwise.
What are some other ways you might use geo-location in your ministry?
Hmmm. I do see your point Jim but I just seee geo-location as yet one more way to “control” or “spy” on people.
Maybe I’m just getting old and remember the days of my youth fondly when restrictions weren’t so prevalant. Or at least didn’t appear to be.
As a parent to 3 I understand the worry they bring but part of teh deal with being a parent is that you need to let go. Youth events, etc are just one of those times in my book.
I'm 36 (not a kid). And I try to check in with Gowalla everywhere I go and swap items that have been at my church with ones I find onsite. I like it for brand recognition. It helps early adopters know that my church has at least one person like them that likes technology invented since the organ.
Paul
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