Rich DuBose, Director of Church Support Services for the Pacific Union Conference.
Thanks to YouTube, video content can now be broadcast over the internet to large audiences with very little expense or effort. By converting its videos to the "flash" format, YouTube demonstrated that people with any broadband, or "high speed," connection can upload and view videos online.
As YouTube continues to refine its product, other industries are beginning to realize how this medium can be used for non-entertainment purposes. For example, news commentators are predicting YouTube will play a large role in the 2008 presidential election process.
After studying the YouTube concept, Adventist leaders in the Pacific Union began asking why this same technology couldn't be used to help network members with one another, especially for sharing ministry ideas. Union President Tom Mostert says, "The idea seemed so obvious, I was amazed that someone was not already doing it."
After two months of prayerful planning and site building, SpiritFlash.org went live in July 2007.
You Are Invited
To make it fly, SpiritFlash needs local church and member participation. If you know about a ministry that is meeting a need within your church, or is being used to share God's message of hope in your community, SpiritFlash hopes you will grab a video camera and create a short, home-spun video that describes what you are doing. You may have some youth in your church who already know how to handle the technology. Of course, the more creativity you put into it the better. Videos should not be very long—maybe 3 min at the most.
As reports and ideas are shared, members will be stimulated by the exchange of what's being tried. Plus, we can all benefit from seeing how God is inspiring members to become involved in projects that build up His kingdom.
Currently there are four categories or "channels" that define video subject matter on the SpiritFlash site:
1. Evangelism Outreach
2. Church Nurture
3. Unique Support Ministries
4. Mission Projects
Sign up today at: www.spiritflash.org
SpiritFlash Guidelines: www.spiritflash.org/terms.php
