Developing Adventism
In and Through Social Net works
Bryan L. Collick
Global Internet Evangelism Net work 2007

What is a social net work?

A connecting point

Built around a theme

Community-driven

Examples of Online SNSs
(Social Net working Systems)

Orkut

Cyworld

43 Things

Offline Similitude

Playground

Town Square/ Marketplace

Early Christian
Church

Adventist Presence
& Potential

SNSs help us tell
our story

SNSs shape our way of thinking

SNSs go where we go

SNSs put the member first

Potential Gains:
opportunities for insight
insight through user opinions
insight through user suggestion
insight through obser vation of usage,
your site & elsewhere

Potential Gains:
opportunity for credibility
by giving voice, power to the individual
by being perceived as a listener

Potential Gains:
opportunity for awareness
seeing how the church operates
\"buying stock\" in the organization
knowledgeable, involved people = leaders

Potential Losses:
perceived loss of authority
not congruent with \"megaphone
dissemination\"
what happens when the narrative
chosen differs from the administrators
wishes?
community leaders can be as vital as
creators/admins

Potential Losses:
loss of opacity
ideas submitted, response expected
indirect responses imply a greater
allegiance to another community

Potential Losses:
ramification of proprietary SNSs
pitting yourself against the already-
established, well-funded defaults (why
adventist?)
perceived as exclusive, unwilling to
support existing net works
suceptible to anti-sites, isolated
spamming

Discussion