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1. Integrating Computers and
Technology into Youth Ministry
Andrew Sears
Coordinator, PREP Community Computer Center, Bruce Wall Ministries
Director, Association of Christian Community Computer Centers
“Giving People Skills to Make a Living and a Spiritual Foundation to Make a Life”
Kingdomworks, 2001

2. Outline
 Why should we integrate technology
into youth ministry?
 Examples of technology and youth
ministry
 In After School Programs and with Teens
 From PREP and other centers
 How to get started
 Getting equipment and grants

3. Why Use Technology in
Youth Ministry?
 Computers and Technology are an
excuse to develop a relationship
 It’s not about the computers, it’s about the people
 There is a great social need
 The “digital divide” is the gap that separates
those with access and training on computers and
the Internet from those without.
 Our goal: “Providing skills to make a living
and the spiritual foundation to make a life.”

4. Digital Divide Across Income & Race

5. The New Economy
Jobs Down 55-65%*
* In a range of Northern cities between 1967-1987, When Work Disappears
** Statistics are for inner-city black men in Chicago
*** Other sources include Bureau of Labor Statistics and Department of Commerce
Once provided 52%
of jobs to some groups,
but now only 28%**
65% of all jobs use computers
90% of all jobs use computer-
related technologies
Jobs Grown to 7.4 million &
Increasing 6.5% per year
Manufacturing Computer Industry***

6. The New Economy
Manufacturing Computer Industry***
Jobs Down 55-65%*
* In a range of Northern cities between 1967-1987, When Work Disappears
** Statistics are for inner-city black men in Chicago
*** Other sources include Bureau of Labor Statistics and Department of Commerce
Once provided 52%
of jobs to some groups,
but now only 28%**
Average wage in IT-producing
industries was $58,000
346,000 IT jobs remain vacant
nationwide and 1.7 million
need to be filled by 2003

7. The Church and the Digital Divide
 The term “Sunday School” originated from a major literacy drive by
the church in the 1800’s; Christians can also lead the computer
literacy drive
Books Basic Literacy
Computers Computer Literacy
 This is one of the best funded areas for serving the community
 Schools and the government can only do so much

8. Christians and Technology
 Christian Community Computer Centers
 Defined as any ministry using computers as an
outreach to serve the community
 There are over 1,000 community computer centers in the
USA and it is likely that over 100 of these are Christian
centers
 Range from ministries with less than 5 computers to
ministries with over 50 computers
 Association of Christian Community Computer Centers helps
support these ministries

9. Different Levels of Tech Programs
 Level 1
 Provide “Tech Time” in an after school or teen program
 Need 5-10 computers and Internet access (modem)
 Level 2
 Provide limited classes or teen business or job placement
 Teens volunteer and/or work as tech staff
 Need 10-15 computers and Internet access (DSL or Cable)
 Level 3
 Provide full Community computer center which may include
walk-in access and advanced classes to local community and
adults
 Need full-time tech program staff

10. PREP Community Computer Center
 Joint Program of
 Bruce Wall Ministries
 Dorchester Temple Baptist Church
 Cambridge Vineyard Christian Fellowship
 www.preptraining.org
 PREP Activities
 15+ Computer Classes to 220 students each semester
 Walk-In Computer Center with 30 visits per day
 Youth Run Web Design Business
 After School Technology Curriculum
 Computer Club
 Mentoring: provides relational time with students
 Saturday Lunch: provides relational time with students

11. Sponsorship and Growth
 In first year, received over $300,000 in donations
from:
 Microsoft
 Adobe
 Filene Foundation
 PowerUP
 Gateway Computer
 Individuals
 Now have a staff of eleven and about 50 volunteers
 Have two computer rooms with a total of 50
computers

12. Integrating Tech with Other Programs
PREP Computer
Program Other Youth Programs
Project 21
After School Program
After School
Tech Curriculum
Teens
Pre-Teen
Camp Ozioma
Tech Time
at Camp
New Horizons
Teen Job Placement Program
Computer
Classes
Adults
Dorchester Temple
Youth Group
Youth Volunteers/
Youth Staff/
PREP Enterprises
Walk-In
Computer Center
Other
Youth
(not in
existing
programs)
Computer Club

13. Program Areas Goals
Eight Week Classes
(250 students)
• Build Skills Needed
for Employment
• Develop Initial Relationship
Youth
Staff &
Certifications (20)
•Provide Experience and
Credentials Needed for Jobs
•Provide discipleship
Two-Week Classes (250 students)
Walk-in Center (2,500 visits)
• Decrease Barriers to
Using Computers
• Establish contact
After School (30)
Get Mentored (50)
Volunteer/Assist with Classes
•Practice Material
and Advance Learning
•Develop deeper relationship
Student
Advancement
Spiritual and Skill Development Plan

14. After School Technology Time
 Integrate computers with other activities in
after school program
 Black History Month, Scan in Art, Themes
 Project based learning works best
 Teaching software does not work without a goal
 We split K-2nd grade and 3-7th grade
 We use Jumpstart software with kids
 Help share curriculum on AC4 E-mail list at:
 www.acccc.org/email.htm
 We will soon have detailed after-school curriculum
information at our web site at www.acccc.org

15. After School Tech Curriculum Ideas
 Greeting cards: we use Microsoft Publisher
 Research on the Internet:
 Searched for poets and their poetry
 History of Hip Hop on the Internet. Present findings using PowerPoint
 Poetry: taught formatting in Microsoft Word by having students write
their own poems and then type them into Word.
 Students often need to compose poems before coming to computer
 Encyclopedia Africana: do a Scavenger Hunt through the time line
portion
 Calendars: students scan in photos
 Newsletter: written, edited, and laid-out by the students
 E-mail accounts (filtered PowerUP accounts) and their own web
pages
 Lego Mindstorm: Robotics with programmable legos ($300 per set)
Suggestions and curriculum ideas provided by Mary Pavan and Chris Tsang from PREP

16. Computer Club
 Field trips once a month for middle school
youth to technology sites (businesses and
computer museum)
 Provides increased relational time for visitors
to our walk-in center
 Still in experimental stage

17. Teen Program: PREP Enterprises,
Youth Staff and Volunteers
 Youth Volunteers Duties
 Assist with classes
 Youth Staff Duties
 Supervise walk-in center and fix computers
 Assist with classes
 Work in PREP Enterprises
 Learn on the job and through self study
 Discipleship: all youth staff have regular time
of discipleship and leadership training

18. PREP Enterprises
 PREP Enterprises is youth-run, web design
business
 Employ six high school youth
 Develop web sites for businesses and non-profits
 For hire for your Web site at:
www.prepenterprises.net
 Other Good tech businesses for youth:
 T-Shirts: sell to college groups and non-profits
 Graphics Design
 Video Production: do weddings and other events
 Computer Refurbishing and tech support

19. Walk-In Center (teens)
 Anyone can come in off the street and use our
computers for free (30 visits per day from youth and
adults)
 Attractive to teens that would not go to after school
programs and provides a safe, educational environment
 Internet access and music mixing very popular (software:
HipHop eJay) and we have them write their own CD’s
 Adults use center for the Internet and to work on resumes,
other personal projects and to learn
 Provides good learning activity for youth staff
 Youth supervise computer room, answer any questions and
will help get computers working
 There is always an adult in our building (church) although
youth staff may be in computer room alone

20. Computer Classes (teens & adults)
 Two hour classes meeting once per week and
mostly on Saturdays
 Great opportunity for volunteers to get involved
 Limited relational time, but it gets people “in the
door” to start relationships
 We’ve found youth want the advanced and media
classes while adults want the basic classes more
 Mentoring at end of class provides
opportunity to deepen relationship
 Students returning to assist with a class is
key!

21. Ideas for Classes
 Make a major effort initially to let the community know
 This is needed to have many applicants at start of semester
 We handed out 3,000+ flyers & table-tents on street, in schools,
stores & restaurants
 Got mailing list of our community from Boston’s Voter Registration
Records and mailed to 10,000 residents
 Meals between classes can provide opportunities for relationship
building
 Project based classes work well
 Teens and adults can work in same classes, but adults taking
classes with younger children does not work
 See list of classes in Appendix

22. Ideas for Church Involvement
 Establish Computer Ministry within churches
 Great opportunity for teens and adults to volunteer
 Great partnership opportunity for suburban and
urban churches
 Many people in suburban churches will get involved in outreach ministries in
urban communities because of their interest in computers and provides
great opportunity for reconciliation and transformation
 Classes provide good opportunity for volunteers
 Have teaching assistants who train their first semester to
teach the class while helping with the class

23. Issues to Consider
 Computer ministry should be relational ministry
 “It’s not about the technology, it’s about the people.”
 Center needs to be in an organization that is
indigenous to community being served and raise up
indigenous leaders
 Web filtering software on all computers (see
appendix for list of filtering software)
 Some software programs do not filter Web based E-mail (i.e. Hotmail)
 We do not allow chat or non-educational games
 Security is a major issue:
 BWM has an alarm system and motion detectors and are installing a “panic” button for
lab monitors and video entry cameras
 Software licensing is an issue

24. Getting Started: Things You Need
 God’s support
 People: staff support/volunteers
 Technical support is a must
 Can get work-study students from colleges for tech support
 Space: to house computers
 Look for space in churches and Multiservice centers
 Equipment: computers, network, Internet connection
 Software
 Advertising/marketing (unless only serving existing
programs)
 Money: varies depending on your goals

25. Getting Equipment & Software
 Make announcements in churches that you are
looking for computer donations from individuals and
companies
 relational method works best
 Suburban churches may have many people in companies
with computers to donate
 Specify minimum requirements and types of computers
 Get 20 new Gateway computers by joining PowerUP
(see grants section)

26. Getting Equipment & Software through
Gifts-in-Kind & Compumentor
 Register with Gifts in Kind International
(www.giftsinkind.com)
 Cost $125 and must be Non profit 501(c)(3) and use
software for service to community
 Cost $225 for 5 used computers 486 & above
laptops/desktops
 Network hubs for $50
 Get copies of most major software for $30 (Windows, Office
2000, Adobe products, etc)
 Provide great discounts (90% off) on office products,
projectors, clothes, etc.
 Use Compumentor for software discounts
(www.compumentor.com)
 Most major software for only $30 and no registration fee

27. Getting Grants
 PowerUP (www.powerup.org)
 Get 20 new gateway computers with software
 Get $20-40k in funding over 3 years
 Looking to partner with faith-based groups with after-
school & teen programs (awarding thousands of grants
targeting youth)
 Deadlines: March 15, 2001 and August 15, 2001
 Requires that you have 2 full-time staff that can help with
lab (but do not have to spend all their time on the lab)
 Application at: www.powerup.org/program_application.pdf

28. Getting Grants
 CTCNET AmeriCorps/VISTA Grant
 Provides full time staff positions for a year for $2,000
 To apply must first pay $100 to join CTCNet (www.ctcnet.org)
 Have some restrictions on these staff “leading religious services”
during paid time, but one of the most open gov’t programs toward
faith-based groups, and you select the staff
 Should open application process around Feb, 2001
 Contact Peter Miller of CTCNet at peterm@igc.org or 617.287.7371
or visit www.cpcs.umb.edu/newvista/
 Get list of technology grants
 Directory of Computer and High Technology Grants ($53) from
Research Grant Guides, Inc. (order on Amazon.com)
 HUD Neighborhood Networks Initiative will fund centers in
housing projects (which Christian groups could run)

29. Association of Christian
Community Computer Centers
 Mission:
 To support and promote the use of computers and
technology in Christian outreach ministries
 To assist the 60+ identified existing Christian community
computer centers and help others get started
 To partner with national organizations to support CCCC’s
 Pursuing partnerships with CCDA, Mission Year and CTCNet
 Web: www.acccc.org or www.computerministry.org
 E-mail: info@acccc.org

30. Joining ACCCC
 Join for free now, but may have a fee in the
future
 Benefits
 Keep informed of events of interest to Community
Computer Centers, Grants, Computer Donations
 Share program information
 Participate in future joint programs
 Sign up on sheet or send E-mail to
info@acccc.org

31. For More Information
 Visit Association of Christian Community Computer Centers Web
site and join E-mail list
 Get information on grants, hardware donations, share ideas, etc
 Join for free now, but may have a fee to join in future
 Visit www.acccc.org or www.preptraining.org
 E-mail info@acccc.org
 Call Andrew Sears at 617-876-2981
 Join Community Technology Centers Network (www.ctcnet.org),
get on E-mail list and go to national conference each June
 Best information resource available
 Visit CTCNet at www.ctcnet.org
 Visit HUD’s Neighborhood Networks at
www.hud.gov/nnw/nnwindex.html

32. Appendix:
Office Track Classes
Intro to Computers Intro to the Internet
Basics
1. An arrow indicates a prerequisite of either taking the class or good
subject knowledge.
2. Students are encouraged to take other classes on this track in future semesters.
Establish Basic Computer Knowledge; highly employable
in office jobs, administrative assistant and temp work
Goals
Typing
Mentoring
Intro to Word Intro to Excel
Intermediate
Word MOUS
Test PREP
Excel MOUS
Test PREP
Advanced
Level
(or start Track
for Multimedia)
Databases

33. Multimedia Track Classes
Employment or Start New Businesses as as Web Designer, Graphic
Designer or in Video Production, Get FrontPage Certification
Goals
1. An arrow indicates a prerequisite of either taking the class or good
subject knowledge.
2. Students are encouraged to take other classes on this track in future semesters.
Web Design Graphics Design
Intermediate Video Production
Entrepreneurship
Basics Digital Music Studio
Advanced
Level
Youth Run Business Mentoring
FrontPage 2000
Certification
Databases

34. Web Site Filtering Software
 CleanWeb (www.cleanweb.net)
 CyberPatrol (www.microsys.com)
 Cybersitter (www.solidoak.com)
 CyberSnoop (www.pearlsw.com)
 Net Nanny (www.netnanny.com)
 Net Shepherd (www.netshepherd.com)
 Safesurf (www.safesurf.com)
 Watchdog (www.sarna.com)
 We Blocker (free at www.we-blocker.com)
 X-Stop (www.xstop.com)

35. Setting Up A Network &
Internet Connection Sharing
 Need the following
 Computers with one Ethernet card in each
 Ethernet cabling between computers and Ethernet hub (called RJ-
45 cable)
 Computer to serve as “firewall” to connect to network (with either
2 Ethernet cards or one Ethernet card and one modem)
 Proxy or Firewall Software
 An easy setup version comes with Windows Millennium Edition as
Internet connection sharing
 A good inexpensive package is Comsocks (www.linkbyte.com)
 Ethernet Hub
 Get 24 port hub from Gifts in Kind for $50
 Get 16 port hub from www.warehouse.com/datacom/ for about $200
 Get from local computer stores

36. Internet Connection Sharing
Ethernet Cable
Ethernet Cables
Ethernet Cable
Cable or DSL Modem
Regular Modem
Either/Or
Internet

37. Internet Connection Sharing
(Configuration)
 Do not need to do this if using Microsoft Internet Connection
Sharing
 Under TCP/IP Configuration
 Server: on card connecting to clients
 IP Address: 10.0.0.10
 Gateway: get from network provider
 DNS: get from network provider
 Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
 Other Card/Modem: get config from network provider
 Client Machines
 IP Address: 10.0.0.Anything from 0 to 255 but must be unique
 Gateway: 10.0.0.10
 DNS: 10.0.0.10
 Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
 Configure Options in Browser to Use Proxy at 10.0.0.10
 Call proxy/firewall software provider for help