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    Christian Web Trends Blog: Church Websites, Design, SEO
    Home»misc»What is MySpace – the Series?

    What is MySpace – the Series?

    Paul SteinbrueckBy Paul SteinbrueckAug 8, 2006Updated:Aug 8, 200649 Comments4 Mins Read

    In July MySpace became the most visited website in the U.S.  Earlier this month, we at OurChurch.Com began surveying our 8,000+ webmasters about MySpace.  Preliminary results show almost half our webmasters don’t know what MySpace is.  So, I decided it was time for me to take the plunge, create a MySpace profile, and start writing about it.

    I’m going to do a series of blog articles about MySpace as it relates to Christian communication.  I don’t have the whole series planned out yet, because a lot of it will depend on my experiences and interactions with other people, but some of the questions/topics I’m already tossing around in my mind include:

    • Is MySpace safe?
    • Is MySpace a passing trend or here to stay?
    • Does MySpace enrich your life by allowing you to interact with people you otherwise never would have met?
    • Is MySpace a mission field for online evangelism?
    • Should your church/ministry have a MySpace profile?
    • Are there any tips or warnings concerning MySpace?

    But before I get to all that, here are some of the basics…

    What is MySpace?

    MySpace was founded just 3 years ago by current president Tom Anderson, current CEO Chris DeWolfe, and a small team of programmers.  Last July it was purchased by Newscorp for $580 million, and today it boasts over 99 million members with 500,000 new members each week.

    Not bad for 3 years.

    Wikipedia describes MySpace as “a free service that uses the Internet for online communication through an interactive network of photos, weblogs, user profiles, e-mail, web forums, and groups, as well as other media formats. This all-inclusive service is sometimes called a social networking interface.”

    In other words, it’s a place where you post information and pictures about yourself, find other people, and interact with them. As you probably know, it’s all the rage among teenagers.

    Taking the Plunge

    I filled out the form to create my profile and the next page asked me to upload a picture of myself.  I searched around my hard drive for a picture of myself that with enough editing could make me look cool.  A tough task, no doubt, but just when I was about to conclude some things are still impossible even with Photoshop, I found a shot of me fixing a hurricane shelter with a power drill (add your best Tim Allen grunt).

    I took a break for lunch and when I got back I already had two “friends.”  Wow, I didn’t know making friends could be so easy.  One of them is Tom, who happens to have 99,747,096 other friends.  Call me cynical if you like, but I have doubts about Tom’s sincerity.  Anyways, I’m looking forward to seeing who I meet at MySpace and I’ll delve into more serious issues next time.

    If you like you can check out my profile and even invite me to be your friend. (Can’t you just feel the love?)

    What are other saying about MySpace?

    I took a few moments to ask people online how they would describe MySpace and here are some of the responses I received:

    “A friend of mine moved to Cali and suggested I make one as a cheap way for us to keep in touch.  Next thing you know, I’m talking to folks I went to elementary/middle/high school with whom I haven’t spoken to in years, nor would I have ever come in contact with them again if not for the site.”

    “It’s a place where pedofiles can find suitable victims.”

    “myspace is fantastic. i can sport pictures of myself in a tasteless manner, and i do”

    “MySpace, to me, is a passing fad where juveniles ‘hang out’ and spew nonsense.”

    “Myspace is just like any other online application. It has good uses, it has bad uses. It have people that will use it ‘responsibly’ and people that will try and take advantage of other people.”

    What does MySpace mean to you?  Why do you hang out there? (or why not?)

    Paul Steinbrueck

    Co-founder & CEO, OurChurch.Com

    Paul has been the CEO of OurChurch.Com since its founding in 1996, combining his passion for faith and technology to lead the organization.

    An accomplished writer, Paul has authored over 2,000 articles on faith and technology, featured on platforms like ChurchLeaders.com, The JoyFM, and his personal blog, LiveIntentionally.org.

    Beyond his professional achievements, Paul serves as an elder at Journey Community Church and is deeply engaged in his community through his involvement with the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranch and the Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce. He is a contributing author of the book Outspoken! Conversations on Church Communication. 

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    Paul Steinbrueck
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    Co-founder & CEO, OurChurch.Com Paul has been the CEO of OurChurch.Com since its founding in 1996, combining his passion for faith and technology to lead the organization. An accomplished writer, Paul has authored over 2,000 articles on faith and technology, featured on platforms like ChurchLeaders.com, The JoyFM, and his personal blog, LiveIntentionally.org. Beyond his professional achievements, Paul serves as an elder at Journey Community Church and is deeply engaged in his community through his involvement with the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranch and the Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce. He is a contributing author of the book Outspoken! Conversations on Church Communication. 

    View 49 Comments

    49 Comments

    1. Beth kellam on Aug 8, 2006 2:00 pm

      Hello,

      I found this article very interesting. I am a 26 year old Co-Pastor in a small town in Virginia and I love my myspace. I orginally got it to keep in touch with the youth of our church outside of the walls of our church. It allows me to encourage them and help them if I “see” an issue that they are dealing with in their “myspace” lives…call me a snoop if ya wanna but it has been a help several times. As time passed, it allowed me to get in touch with my old friends from school as well as some new ones, and I use the majority of the time to chat with them and encourage them in their walks with the Lord. I guess some times it can be used for negative things, but I’ve found that the devil will use whatever he can to do evil…which is why we as Christians need to learn to stand up to him and allow the Lord to use us to turn what the devil meant for bad and be used for God’s good. Great blog!

      Beth

    2. Tikatia on Aug 8, 2006 2:06 pm

      My husband and I have a myspace, and post many evangelistic things on this site. Mostly though, we use it to connect with old friends from high school and college.
      there is a christian alternative to myspace called JCFaith.com
      there is no tastless clothing, and everyone is really friendly. Even the VIP’s with thousand’s of friends leave messages and seem to genuinly want to know you. good luck in the myspace world…but be careful about the bulletins you open, you can’t delete those and some people send very tastless things.

    3. Dennis Lombard on Aug 8, 2006 2:30 pm

      I’d love to see some of your articles on Myspace, to possibly publish in our Home Times Family Newspaper. Please give me a call at 888-439-3509.

      Thanks & God bless,
      Dennis Lombard, Editor & Publisher
      Home Times Family Newspaper (TM)
      and Sonlight Christian News (TM)
      PLEASE NOTE NEW ADDRESSES
      P.O. Box 22547
      West Palm Beach FL 33416
      (561) 439-3509; hometimes.org
      FOR A FREE SAMPLE ISSUE PLEASE CALL 1-888-439-3509

    4. Joel on Aug 8, 2006 2:32 pm

      I have to say I have found many uses to MySpace. I am a youth Pastor with a youth ministry in the Southern California area (Orange County). When the buzz first began at church about Myspace I didn’t understand why there would be so much talk about something I had only heard the negative about. One of my kids helped me open my profile and I was excited to see that my kids were into HTMl Coding and all other things that Myspace Allows you to do. I was also excited to see my kids sharing their faith with Christian music video and other comments on there pages. One of the main things I have used MySpace for is to incourage those which I have found are not that close to God to seek God. I have found 16 youth that drink beers and do drug which I have shifted my attention too. I encourage all to get a MySpace. It is helpful for those that have a ministry. You always have a chance to share a small word of God wheather it is thru a Blog or just a simple comment.

    5. ameg1973 on Aug 8, 2006 2:39 pm

      I think just as any communication device, some people will use it for the proper reasons and some will not. I love my space.. I keep in touch with all my friends and family and meet people i wouldnt just walk up to on the street and say hi.
      But on the other hand. There are some people sadly on myspace, that are out looking for trouble. and i just stay away from them. So I think over all myspace is a Great outlet. As long as you can handle the bad with the good

    6. John Shelton on Aug 8, 2006 3:13 pm

      I got on MySpace to see what all the fuss was about with teenagers. Even though as a parent you have to be political in how you address it, my daughter knows I don’t approve of a lot of the sexual content and portrayals on the sites. I also disagree with kids having camera phones and placing provocative pictures of themselves on there. Our society is in your face everywhere you look with sex anyway. But MySpace is constantly and flagrantly encouraging it with all of their scantily clad young girls in the pop up ads and banners. They could do themselves a service, and get more parents blessings if they would clean it up!

    7. Mike on Aug 8, 2006 3:23 pm

      I wandered into the My Space relm last winter as a way to stay in touch with the teens in my youth group. They all are so busy during the school year that I don’t get to see them as often as I would. However, most of them used My Space daily so I thought, “Why not give it a try?” I was nervous if they would accept the “old dude” in their territory but have to say that I met with lots of friends request. The teens really like having an easy way to get hold of me and I try to encourage them on as much as I can. It has really helped me stay dialed in with what is happening in their lives.

      My Space does have one major issue. I GREATLY dislike all of the suggestive dating service ads and yesterday they may have crossed the line to the point I may cancel my account. A popular dating service is now running ads promoting homosexual singles. As I left a message for one of my kids, I was greeted with an add showing two women embraced in a hug and a slogan promoting how you can meet your dream date.

    8. Paschal Eze on Aug 8, 2006 3:59 pm

      Since Jesus sought and found people in their places of need, why shouldn’t Christians use MySpace to find and touch people with the love of Christ?
      That’s why at Family Reading Ministries, Inc., http://www.readingspree.com, http://www.christian-book-fair.com, we make use of any available platform to spread the joy of book reading and the wonder of good books starting with the Bible. If you want to know how you can use avenues like MySpace to promote book reading in your Christian family or in your community, call Rev. Paschal Eze at 1-3193519695.

    9. Fred Hughes on Aug 8, 2006 6:34 pm

      I have just heard so much that is bad about MySpace that it’s good to know that there is or can be something good of it. I am looking to expand exposure of our website http://www.decision1.org – we take people on short-term mission trips and help local churches with outreach ideas. These are the last days and the gospel must be getting out like never before, and in ways like never before.
      Paul said ” I become all things to all men so that I can win some!” I say good hunting evangelist! “Do the work of the evangelist”
      Fred Hughes ~ Decision Ministries International

    10. Minister Provi on Aug 8, 2006 8:44 pm

      I checked out Pauls profile out of curiosity on my space, if anyone decides to use my space, use it for the good to share the gospel, but don’t get lost in the shuffle, as for Pauls profile I have a question about the addition of the zodiac sign? “Gemini” was that just a test? Astrology is sorcery, Isaiah 47:13, Deuteronomy 18:9-14. I’ll be praying for the youth, my 26 year old daughter and 20 year old daugher uses my space, they know the Lord but don’t have a relationship with Him, keep them in prayer as well. To God be the Glory. We are moving towards the last days.

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