It is time to write the proposal I have in mind. Of course, this proposal is addressed not to request a fund from DHF but to NCR South Metro Presbytery. 😄 After publishing this article, I am thinking of sharing it with my fellow ministers to assess its content's soundness.
I talked about this proposal in my post two days ago. The idea is to utilize blockchain technology for missions and ministries of the presbytery. I asked ChatGPT about this, and the response is that through Hive's blockchain technology, we can leverage the distinctive qualities of the network, such as decentralization, transparency, and community support. Practical steps are also given. However, before I proceed to what I call the mission plan, I want to share first what I shared at the presbytery meeting last February 1.
Introduction
I introduced my short talk as a kind of brainstorming for the members to reflect on afterward. I mentioned that I already suggested this two years ago. The idea is how the NCRSM presbytery can utilize blockchain technology for missions and ministries. I made use of the condition of one of our fellow ministers as a way to show the importance of having access to an international community, especially in times of need and emergency. I saw it happen on Hive on several occasions where Hivians generously give support to a community project, victims of war, and hospital bills.
I observe that every time we talk about a specific project and touch on the issue of funds, it appears to me that scarcity of resources is the primary obstacle. I reminded my colleagues that my proposal was not for a quick fix but a long-term solution.
Moreover, I also mentioned that this idea dawned on me out of necessity. It was because my postgraduate studies are forcing me to think hard given the complexity of my current situation. I tried for two to three years to do both a ministry in a local church and a ministry in a theological institution. However, because of a lack of focus, there is no way a pastoral ministry can become fruitful. Not only that, my work in the seminary, not to mention my health, is also suffering because I am spreading myself too thin. And so I decided to choose one, which is theological education.
The idea of business as a mission (BAM) is already well-established in Christian literature. Likewise, the concept of Hive as a business is now evolving and under an experimental period. Many on Hive are taking their accounts as serious business, and it is evident in the size of their stakes. And so I would like to combine these two ideas: business as a mission and Hive as a mission platform.
After giving this brief introduction, I told my colleagues that my talk will be about homo digitalis and a mission plan.
Introducing Homo Digitalis
Last June 7, 2024, I published an article about this topic. I started with a quote from Joubert that talks about the limitations of geographical, political, and physical space. Cyber reality is an inescapable future with the advent of digital technologies.
I mentioned how our seminary president encouraged our faculty during the last orientation on January 31 to integrate AI into our teaching methodologies. To my mind, even though I recognize the importance of AI in education, my current concern is more on the utility of blockchain technology.
Moreover, I also referred to Verbum Et Ecclesia as the academic website where I found 8 articles related to homo digitalis. The key concepts in this new term include the following:
Integration with digital devices and platforms
Global connectivity
Online identity
Emergence of digital nations and tribes, and
The rise of technological elites
The above concepts are mentioned by Wim A. Dreyer in his research, Being Church in the Era of 'Homo Digitalis'.
The key insights I got from reading Dreyer's research are that reality in the 21st century can no longer be limited by physical space or geographical boundaries, such as countries and cities no longer dictate what is acceptable and what is not. With this change, the power of political entities and structures attached to physical reality is also undergoing extensive change.
The history of the evolution of human civilization informs us about far-reaching change. From potamic to thalassic and oceanic, now we are entering a civilization based on cyberspace. The 4th industrial revolution, shaped by digitalization and networking, is changing "our habits, identity, sense of privacy, idea of ownership, careers, skills, and the time we devote to work and leisure." Facebook alone, according to Dreyer, "has more citizens than any physical country on earth, including China, and a larger annual budget than most countries." Even though I failed to mention Dreyer's questions during my report, I want to repeat them here:
Does the arrival of the digital era and homo digitalis signal the demise of the church?
Or will it open new opportunities for mission and ministry?
Having a firm belief that the Creator of heaven and earth is also the Lord of history, I believe that instead of demise, the advent of the digital era and homo digitalis open new windows of opportunities for mission and ministry. Hence the reason for my proposal is to utilize blockchain technology.
Mission Plan
In presenting my tentative plan, I started with the end in view. The expected outcomes include church workers earning supplementary income through digital content creation and church members gaining financial empowerment through web3 knowledge and micro-earnings. Furthermore, through the transparent character of the Hive blockchain, accountability in funding and mission reports can be implemented. Finally, social and financial engagement in blockchain creates a self-sustaining digital faith economy.
After highlighting the end product in mind, I emphasized that NCRSM Presbytery can utilize the Hive blockchain for micro-earnings and income generation to support its ministries. What follows are the objectives:
To provide sustainable supplementary income for pastors and church staff
To equip church members with web3 skills for financial empowerment
To utilize Hive's decentralized ecosystem to fund ministries transparently and engage the global Christian community
Achieving the goals requires time. Education and onboarding would take 1 to 3 months; content creation and engagement another 3 months; income diversification around 6 months; and sustainable growth after a year or two.
All in all, the above mission plan aims to enable the NCRSM Presbytery to utilize the Hive blockchain technology for financial resilience, mission funding, and digital evangelism. This plan is provisional. Further refinements can be made based on experience and feedback.
Grace and peace!
References:
Blockchain, Liquidity, and Mission Work: A Sunday Reflection
Navigating the Digital Frontier: Exploring 'Homo Digitalis' and the Cyber Faith Community
Harnessing Hive for Global Missions: A Comprehensive Blueprint for Real-Time Impact and Empowerment
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Very well written, indeed hive can be good, think at all the charity that could be made with posts rewards, like food for poor... It also can help spread the word on other communities in the world
Yeah, that's what I told them. We have one pastor who has been paralyzed for years but recently showed great improvement. The physician advised him to use a foot brace, and the presbytery was able to raise 25,000.00 PHP for him.
I really love the mission goals you presented. It actually opened our eyes to see more full potential in the hive technology
Thank you!