First Symposium A Great Success

The April 6 symposium at CBS Studio Center was a great success.  Church leaders, ministry executives, foundation heads, and many other attended the event to obtain a deeper understanding of the affects of emerging technologies and globalization on the developing world.  The purpose of the symposium was to begin a dialogue among Christian leaders and influencers on how best to respond to the challenges of emerging media and communications technologies in the developing world.

The symposium's success was the presence and the level of dialogue along with the shared understanding that this Chrisitan community must commit to the idea of new media vs. old media.  New media is not just new technology, but rather a new way of thinking about the audiences to whom one communicates.  Old media is illustrated by a "push" only strategy, while new media is inclusive, user-controlled and interactive.

Conferences and workshops for churches, non-profit organizations and NGO's, addressing the practical applications of this "new media" reality, will be scheduled for the near future.  ICMS is planning a two-day workshop in Grand Rapids, Michigan in the fall of 2009 as well as a two-day symposium for churches and missions pastors at Biola University in the Spring of 2010.