mightymix: Is the current trend of Willow Creek seeker-driven services have staying power or is it a one-time movement?

Brian: Great question, and one that is more theological than technical. However, I HONESTLY believe that there will always be seekers. That the MTV generation, the video game generation, the Ecstasy generation will wake up (as I did) and it may have to be a cutting-edge church like Willow Creek (and others that are more on the edge) to create that awareness. To communicate that Love and that Truth.

Wally: Are you related to Richie Blackmore?

Brian: I hope not. I heard he's a jerk. ;-)*

Wally: cool, thanks!

Gerald McWilliams: Care to share any future plans for your publication?

Brian: We're looking into at least half-dozen new projects. You will see a new website very soon. There's talk of increasing the frequency of the magazine to more than six issues per year. We're also talking about our own conference(s)/trade show and possibly a spin-off magazine or two. But nothing definite to announce at this time.

Jon: What are your views on the Internet as a systems technology education tool?

Brian: From personal experience, the Internet is an incredible tool for education. I took several online classes (University of Phoenix and University of Memphis) while I was working on my MBA. Some classes were very similar to this format we are using tonight, except, in one instance, one of the students was in Rome, Italy, the teacher was in the mountains of Colorado, etc.

Moderator: Final Question: Some say that the church market has reached a saturation point, where churches are technically "geared up" for contemporary worship. What do you think?

Brian: As I mentioned earlier, Gary had a good question about "mainline churches." The Evangelical churches have been using technology for decades. The traditional, liturgical churches are coming around - "gearing up" - and that trend will continue. Dealers, contractors and consultants will do well to educate themselves on cutting-edge stuff like web streaming. Then, as an outreach tool, the whole world is waiting.

Brian (continued): I talk to a lot of people with companies based in Europe and the Far East, and it's often difficult to get them to understand the opportunities that these tools provide for churches. In Europe, "church" means "300-year-old" cathedral. And as a result, the youth are not responding to the Message. A worldwide Revival, enabled in part by state-of-the-art technology, would be Way Cool!

Moderator: Brian - Thanks so much for sharing your time and acumen with us. A transcript of tonight's chat will be posted on PSW tomorrow. And remember, you can go to www.churchproduction.com to sign up for Church Production.

Brian: Thanks!

Moderator: Join us tomorrow night for live chat with ATI's Larry Droppa, and Chuck Walthall of technologycourse.com is slated for July 31. And feel free to continue the chat in PSW's various rooms, open 24-7 every day of the year. Good night everyone.