eMinistry: Connecting with the Net Generation [Paperback]

Andrew Careaga (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2001

(Foreword by Leonard Sweet) An Internet savvy youth pastor and journalist advises church leaders on creative and effective use of leading-edge technology to reach the Net Generation. (20040603)

Editorial Reviews

Review

[Careaga has] put in his time, paid his dues, and knows his subject . . . He demonstrates an understanding of the language, culture, benefits and threats of the Internet, and points out the potential impact each of these has on ministry online. I recommend that this book be added to the bookshelf of any ministry which seeks to do ministry online. (Greg Slade )

. . . An excellent resource to bridge the generation gaps and learn to grow in faith together. (Church & Synagogue Libraries )

From the Back Cover

"If the church does not begin to encompass the online world in its ministry, it risks losing even more of its eroding influence in society."

With these words Andrew Careaga challenges believers to creatively and effectively use all leading-edge technology. Only by entering this new world can believers reach the "Net Generation," a complex mix of young people who will shape the world the church of the 21st century. This cyberspace generation is desperately searching for the supernatural and a personal touch. There is no area where the presence of Christians is more imperative. With the foundational information in the book, you can develop an on-line discipleship strategy to engage and capture this frontier generation.

“Careaga writes with wit and wisdom about the growing gulf between the church and contemporary, high-tech culture.”

—Quentin Schultze
Professor of Communication, Calvin College
co-author of Internet for Christians

"It's a www World. I know of no better guide to this new world than eMinistry."

—Leonard Sweet
Author of Aqua Church

"Andrew Careagas' book is a clear, careful analysis of the Net Generation, this complex mix of young people unlike any other in human history who for better or worse will inherit and shape the twenty-first Century. "

—Winkie Pratney
Author of Fire on the Horizon
Youth evangelist for Ministry of Helps

"A must read for anyone who cares about reaching our youth for Jesus."

—Mark M. Stephenson
Director of CyberMinistry
Ginghamsburg Church, Tipp City, Ohio

Surfing for interesting websites, playing chess online, and invading chat rooms to discuss postmodern philosophy—that’s all in a day’s ministry for volunteer youth pastor and journalist Andrew P. Careaga. He has written about the Internet and how to stay in touch with the Net Generation in such publications as Christian Computing Magazine Online, Ministries Today, and Charisma.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Kregel Academic & Professional (February 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825423708
• ISBN-13: 978-0825423703
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,438,832 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Very Good, But Laced with Post-Modern Paranoia, June 15, 2001

By 

"gam2saints" (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: eMinistry: Connecting with the Net Generation (Paperback)

Andrew Careaga has written a very good book about ministry in cyberspace and what he terms the N-geners.

This book is much more substantive and useful than his previous book on a related subject, E-vangelism. He has put a lot of work into this new work, and his argument is tight and focused. The ultimate point is to explore the nature of the newest generation (those following Generation-X). I found many of his insights to be very useful, especially as concerned distinctions between Gen-X and N-Geners. But a weakness is found in his rather two-dimensional analysis of 'Post-modernism.' His understanding of post-modernism seems incomplete, stressing the negatives while underplaying the strengths of this perspective on things. It becomes particularly annoying as he throws complaints about the pervasiveness of post-modernism within N-Gener thought. It reminds me of too much hollow sloganeering I have heard over the years -- 'Commies,' 'squares,' 'liberals,' and 'conservatives' -- these labels don't mean much when used sloppily. Nevertheless, the book makes a very important contribution that I think is worthy of notice.

The author has also prepared excellent resource references for the reader, and this deserves a great deal of praise.

This is a book that should be read by those who are interested in ministry, generational issues, and the Internet. I recommend it.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding the times - and changing them., February 24, 2001

By 

A. D. Whittaker (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: eMinistry: Connecting with the Net Generation (Paperback)

Andrew Careaga is uniquely placed to help us understand the times we live in, from a Christian and Internet viewpoint. He's a trained journalist, working in the academic and youth-oriented environment of a university public relations department, and is also a youth pastor. So his insights into postmodernism, youth culture and effective communication are informed by firsthand experience. This is not a theoretical abstract book in any way.

Neither is it about technical web issues or even primarily about what Christians are doing to use the Internet for evangelism (the subject of his previous book 'E-vangelism'). The main focus is the modern world and what he terms the 'N-generation' (web-savvy young people) and how we can effectively communicate with them online.

The quotations and footnotes display a wide breadth of research, understanding and insight. At the end of each chapter are topics for further investigation and questions to consider. Some are very appropriate for small group/seminar discussion.

This very readable book deserves the widest possible circulation. There is just no other book which even attempts to cover the same ground. It should be required course reading for Bible college and seminary students. For anyone who wishes to understand issues of relating to the modern world through the Web, it's essential.

It is still largely true that the church has yet to realize the significance of the Internet and how it is changing society. As Christians, we can so easily be 10-20 years behind in our understanding and methods. But "the past is a different country". We cannot engage with today's culture without understanding it. Unless we do, we may condemn ourselves to being only easily able to reach the 'once-churched' instead of the 'never-churched'.

Therefore we must all have an advocacy role in enlightening the wider church about the power and effectiveness of the Internet - something which this book can achieve. I would encourage us all to do everything we can to cause this book to be read as widely as possible:

- ask your local library and church bookstall to stock it - write a review of the book for Christian publications or on websites - publicize it any other way you can - create a link directly to this Amazon page

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beyond the paradigms of Christian Internet books, March 16, 2001

By 

avlight "avlight" (NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: eMinistry: Connecting with the Net Generation (Paperback)

What makes this book such interesting reading is that the author is a journalist, volunteer youth pastor, and a self-professed lover and user of the Internet from online chess to chatrooms. Many Christian Internet books in the past have either been written by either Christian sociologists or by divinity school college professors who were forced to use, but not necessarily embrace the Internet technology. It is this difference in mentality and background that easily allows Mr. Careaga to see outside the box of paradigms and show us how the latest toy, research tool, and communications media know as the Internet is the ripest harvest field for Christians to glean for souls in years. Answering the call of the postmodern generation's quest for spirituality, the author delves into the motivations, attention spans, actions, and feelings of the "N-Generation", the new generation of net-savvy people. In fact, the "N-generation" is actually the first generation of people to be exposed to the wonders (and in some cases, the darkness) of the Internet since their birth. This is a book that is needed now in order to understand postmodern culture and their fascination with the virtuality of the Internet. I recommend this book to those who desire to understand the need to effectively communicate the love of Jesus to the postmodern world. We clearly see how to fulfill the Great Commission online and fully see the mandate to take the 2000 year old message of Jesus Christ to the year 2000 generation using year 2000 technology.