What I’ve Learned About Creative Arts Ministry By Being an Admin Assistant .2

2008 August 27

by Tyler

Part Two: Voicemail is outdated…each generation communicates in different ways.

I have a huge confession…I’ve been an admin assistant all summer and I have not checked my voicemail for work all summer long (my boss is going to talk to me today about this). In fact I don’t think I’ve made a single phone call from my work phone. To me, land line phones, voicemail, etc, are all outdated.

One huge part of creative arts ministry is communicating with all the volunteers that help make weekend gatherings a success. At Sunset we use email primarily. But it is interesting to me to see how younger people communicate differently. They either don’t use email at all or they hardly use it. They would rather use Facebook, Myspace, or text messaging. It has to be interactive and it has to be instant for most young people. I’ll admit that I use email a lot, so seeing this communication change take place has made me feel old for the first time.

There is a constant process of finding ways to communicate to an entire team of people (over 20 in the band alone). Some people on the team hardly check their email, others check is constantly throughout the day.

I find it incredibly difficult to find one way to communicate to everyone that I help lead. In fact, it is impossible. I have to use various communication avenues to stay in touch with everyone.

What is the best way to communicate something to a large group of people?

Filed under: the rest...

http://janetfraser.blogspot.com/ Janet Fraser

Hey Tyler, been meaning to ask you if you check your voicemail?
Yonas

I still have my landline. Purpose: To have something to fill in on various public forms. I give out my cell number to people I want to be contacted from.

99% of the people I know are constantly on email. So I’m puzzled sometime when somebody approachs and gives you their email and say “please email, ok? Would love to get an invite from you” and then two weeks later that same person told you “Oh sorry I didn’t return your email, I don’t check my email that often” Uhhm….been passive agressive much lately?

Sorry I digress, what was the question again? Oh yeah…reaching 20+ people….email wins hands down. No twitter *gasp*, no nothing like that.
rossgale

I think a long piece of string and two tin cans are the best way to communicate.
http://www.vimeo.com/jayfriesen JR

Funny, I actually put on my VM on my cellphone, “if you want to get a hold of me almost immediately, please do NOT leave me a VM, but send me a text message.” I’ve actually had my message light flashing on my phone here for about three days now…
http://manofdepravity.com Tyler

Janet- Good thing I know you don’t check yours either.

Yonas- Yeah a lot of people say they use email a lot but only check a few times a week. That isn’t a lot me.

Gale- I have no words…
http://brentinworship.com/blog brent(inWorship)

Agreed!

I check my landline in the office once a week. Sometimes once every two. I have never missed anything important and I have never had someone upset about it.

But I have worked very hard to establish me email and online presence which turn out to be much better for communications sake for me and my team.
http://manofdepravity.com Tyler

Yeah I’ve done similar things Brent. It seems to have worked I think.
http://janetfraser.blogspot.com/ Janet Fraser

Tyler- cruel.
JR- thanks for the idea for my voicemail message, and hello??? aren’t you getting married this week or something? Say hi to that cute raspberry headed sister of yours.

I did feel convicted, ever so briefly today, that the annoyance I feel with people who don’t read/reply to email… is probably exactly how those few who are still leaving me voicemails feel. Proof, I’m aging… and they’re pretty normal.