Mobile Ministry Magazine (MMM)

Here’s part two of one user’s experience with mobile devices and its intersection with their life. Check out Part One of this story and then submit yours.

Then I heard about the upcoming [Nokia] N95. And I wanted it. That wasn’t ideal as I found that Orange had sneakily locked me in for an extra 6 months (actually, they’ve gone and done that again this time, now I think about it, by a different method). I bought out of the contract and got me a new Nokia N95 on the day of release. Some people had all sorts of problems with the device, but mine has been going strong with regular daily use for over two and a half years. There’s no silver left on some of the buttons (and hasn’t been for a long time). But it’s still up and running.

The N95 uses the Symbian operating system, which brought me back into the realm of available software: Olive Tree Bible means I can always turn up a reference when requested. E-Reader saves me taking a case full of books when I travel (or it did – these days everything I want seems to require a US credit card). A card full of MP3 files means I am never without a range of music (and I have a cable to connect it to the car radio). I don’t carry files – data protection is a hot topic within my circles.

Then last autumn, I invested in a netbook. In conjunction with a phone dongle, I now have the full internet anywhere there’s a signal. I chose the netbook with windows on because of the dongle plug and play, and it has given me access to anything I can possibly need: Open Office, Firefox browser, email, and I can run the Methodist liturgy programme and such things. I even use it as a music player for dance practice. On holiday, I carry a camera cable, and turn my blog into a travelogue. The netbook nicely fits into my handbag.

And these days my primary phone is a c905. (The N95 has my work sim-card). I have to say I am not impressed. It has all the limitations of the k750i but has none of the advantages: the build quality extremely poor, and the camera, while boasting a wealth of megapixels lacks either the excellent software of the k750i or the optical lens of the N95.

Which brings me to where I am now… looking for something to replace the c905 as my primary phone (because the case it broken, the earpiece doesn’t work and it’s now having problems charging). I’ve looked at the Sony Ericsson Satio (but I’m wary of SE after the c905), I’ve looked at the HTC HD2 (But I actively dislike the capacitive screen, and the camera is weak). So I’ve almost settled on a Nokia N900. If I could just get the nerve up to click that ‘buy now’ button.

As for using devices for ‘my ministry’, I suppose I’m not sure how that works for two reasons. Firstly because I’m nervous of pretending that my history of gadgets is anything other than a closet materialism that just enjoys toys. It can be easy to make ‘holy’ noises to cover up the bits of our humanity we’re less proud of, and I wouldn’t want to do that. And secondly, I’m not sure I make a distinction between my ‘ministry’ and other aspects of my life. If I support someone who’s having a tough time over Twitter or Skype, is that ‘ministry’?

If my teddy bear chats to children struggling with understanding a death in the family, or offers his stories free for worship leaders and teachers on his website, is that ministry? Is my presence in various communities ‘ministry’? To me, it’s all just me, being the person I am called to be wherever I am, online or off. Loving people and God to the best of my (limited) ability in whatever environment. And enjoying playing with the tools God has blessed me with.