Unleashing the Internet Generation!
http://www.southasianconnection.com/articles/490/1/Unleashing-the-Internet-Generation-/Page1.html
Rev Juliette Arulrajah
Rev Juliette Arulrajah is the National Director of Singapore Centre for Global Missions. With a family heritage of generations of Christians, Juliette received her call to fulltime ministry during the National Institute of Education [Singapore] orientation camp in July 1985, after graduation from National University of Singapore with B.Sc [Hons]. After serving as a secondary school science teacher for 7 years, she answered the call by enrolling in Trinity Theological College [Singapore] and graduated with a Masters in Divinity in 1996. Besides her varied general pastoral duties of regularly preaching, teaching, counseling, visitation, etc whilst serving as pastor of Wesley, Barker Road, Faith & Christ Methodist Churches of the Trinity Annual Conference of The Methodist Church In Singapore spanning a period of 12.5 years till December 2008, Juliette was also specifically tasked to oversee contemporary, prayer & praise & charismatic worship services as well as head the departments of outreach & missions, growth & discipleship, cell group ministry, youth & young adult ministries, chaplaincy of schools, hostel and kindergarten. She also served in the Methodist Missions Society in various capacities over a period of 11 years from 1997 [ EXCO member – 8 years, Home Director – 4 years, Vietnam Country Coordinator – 2 years & Vietnam Home Support Coordinator – 2.5 years] whilst being in the TRAC Board of Missions for 16 years from 1992 and leading it as the Chairperson for the last 8 years till Dec 2008. Together with a committed team, Juliette pioneered the birthing of the TRAC Crisis Relief in 2001, leading and coordinating its efforts over 8 years to bring help, hope and healing to those affected by disasters in Gujerat, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia, China, Myanmar, etc. through provision of manpower [inclusive of expertise], material and monetary resources during natural calamities in more recent times such as the AsianTsunami, Myanmar & Bangladesh Cyclones as well as Pakistan, Jogjakarta & Sichuan Earthquakes, etc Moreover, she has been involved in varied aspects of prayer mobilization within TRAC from 1998 – 2004 and was the organising Chairperson of the annual Young Methodist Leaders Conference from 2001 - 2004. In addition, Juliette has also served on the Exco of the Singapore Centre for Evangelism & Missions from 2000 – 2004, was the Organising Chairman of the first Go Forth National Missions Conference in 2002 and the organising committee of the Go Forth National Missions Conference 2005.By Rev Juliette Arulrajah
Published on 02/10/2010
Called the “Internet Generation” because the Net is their primary influencer, the 4/14ers (& their older siblings) are digitally native whilst their parents are digital immigrants. The world‘s children and young people between the ages of 4 and 14, the demographic group that has the potential to transform the world for Jesus are defined more by technology. It is true that due to lack of accessibility there are still parts of the world where the Internet does not yet have a major culture-shaping role. However, with the shrinking of the “global village”, more and more young people in remote areas will become connected as underscored by Luis Bush in the ‘Modern Context of the 4/14ers’.
Called the “Internet Generation” because the Net is their primary influencer, the 4/14ers (& their older siblings) are digitally native whilst their parents are digital immigrants. The world‘s children and young people between the ages of 4 and 14, the demographic group that has the potential to transform the world for Jesus are defined more by technology. It is true that due to lack of accessibility there are still parts of the world where the Internet does not yet have a major culture-shaping role. However, with the shrinking of the “global village”, more and more young people in remote areas will become connected as underscored by Luis Bush in the ‘Modern Context of the 4/14ers’.
The 4/14ers are riding a technological wave into the future. “Digital kids”, “Millennials”, “Facebookers” and “YouTubers”, they do not think twice about sharing their opinions online with strangers whom they call “friends” and are plugged in all the time with a world of communication and information at their fingertips. This creative generation wants to be heard and make a difference. Technology gives them a powerful weapon to do so!
YouTube "History of the Internet" is an animated documentary explaining the inventions from time-sharing to filesharing, from Arpanet to Internet. The history is told using the PICOL icons, which are available on picol.org. You can get news about this project on blog.picol.org .
Moreover, traditional values face unprecedented challenges in the digital world. India exemplifies the global youth culture phenomenon where the revolutionary information age is widening social distances, weakening family ties and changing the child-parent relationship. Hence, the older generation who seek to reach, parent, mould and raise the 4/14 generation must understand and accept this interconnected multicultural aspects of today‘s youth and children. We then can love, communicate, nurture and minister to them in a relevant way, helping them discover, embrace and espouse godly values even as they surf the internet. This in turn would be very significant in unleashing a revolutionary missionary and evangelistic force with far reaching impact across time and geographical boundaries.
Singapore is amongst the top few nations worldwide with large numbers of internet users - more than 70% of Singaporeans are internet savvy! Nearly half of these are below 30 years of age. According to the Singapore Government Statistics as of Sept 2009, more than one third [34%] of Singapore‘s resident population is under 30 years of age with 13.4 % in the 4-14 age group and 20.6 % between 15 and 29 years. Coupled with the fact that there are approximately 100,000 international students of diverse ethnicity in our nation, there is much to do to reach, raise and release the Internet generation like polished arrows that make a mark for eternity as they see, take hold of and share the fullness of the eternal and abundant life found only in Jesus with their friends across cultural and geographical boundaries.
Do you see the wonderful opportunity in your own home, own family, own neighborhood, own environment to reach the internet generation? Do you grasp the tremendous legacy you could leave for God’s kingdom as you unleash the great potential of each of these younger ones? Are you and your church equipped and poised to do so?
Are you willing to be God’s champion of the internet generation?
Called the “Internet Generation” because the Net is their primary influencer, the 4/14ers (& their older siblings) are digitally native whilst their parents are digital immigrants. The world‘s children and young people between the ages of 4 and 14, the demographic group that has the potential to transform the world for Jesus are defined more by technology. It is true that due to lack of accessibility there are still parts of the world where the Internet does not yet have a major culture-shaping role. However, with the shrinking of the “global village”, more and more young people in remote areas will become connected as underscored by Luis Bush in the ‘Modern Context of the 4/14ers’. Are You Willing To Be God’s Champion Of The Internet Generation?
Called the “Internet Generation” because the Net is their primary influencer, the 4/14ers (& their older siblings) are digitally native whilst their parents are digital immigrants. The world‘s children and young people between the ages of 4 and 14, the demographic group that has the potential to transform the world for Jesus are defined more by technology. It is true that due to lack of accessibility there are still parts of the world where the Internet does not yet have a major culture-shaping role. However, with the shrinking of the “global village”, more and more young people in remote areas will become connected as underscored by Luis Bush in the ‘Modern Context of the 4/14ers’. The 4/14ers are riding a technological wave into the future. “Digital kids”, “Millennials”, “Facebookers” and “YouTubers”, they do not think twice about sharing their opinions online with strangers whom they call “friends” and are plugged in all the time with a world of communication and information at their fingertips. This creative generation wants to be heard and make a difference. Technology gives them a powerful weapon to do so!
YouTube "History of the Internet" is an animated documentary explaining the inventions from time-sharing to filesharing, from Arpanet to Internet. The history is told using the PICOL icons, which are available on picol.org. You can get news about this project on blog.picol.org .
Moreover, traditional values face unprecedented challenges in the digital world. India exemplifies the global youth culture phenomenon where the revolutionary information age is widening social distances, weakening family ties and changing the child-parent relationship. Hence, the older generation who seek to reach, parent, mould and raise the 4/14 generation must understand and accept this interconnected multicultural aspects of today‘s youth and children. We then can love, communicate, nurture and minister to them in a relevant way, helping them discover, embrace and espouse godly values even as they surf the internet. This in turn would be very significant in unleashing a revolutionary missionary and evangelistic force with far reaching impact across time and geographical boundaries. Singapore is amongst the top few nations worldwide with large numbers of internet users - more than 70% of Singaporeans are internet savvy! Nearly half of these are below 30 years of age. According to the Singapore Government Statistics as of Sept 2009, more than one third [34%] of Singapore‘s resident population is under 30 years of age with 13.4 % in the 4-14 age group and 20.6 % between 15 and 29 years. Coupled with the fact that there are approximately 100,000 international students of diverse ethnicity in our nation, there is much to do to reach, raise and release the Internet generation like polished arrows that make a mark for eternity as they see, take hold of and share the fullness of the eternal and abundant life found only in Jesus with their friends across cultural and geographical boundaries.
Do you see the wonderful opportunity in your own home, own family, own neighborhood, own environment to reach the internet generation? Do you grasp the tremendous legacy you could leave for God’s kingdom as you unleash the great potential of each of these younger ones? Are you and your church equipped and poised to do so?
Are you willing to be God’s champion of the internet generation?