In an increasingy digitized society we need to hold dear the authentic in person meanginful opportunities for community and relationship.  But we also need to speak in a language that Gen Alpha (kids born 2010-2024) understand.  Having grown up as the most digitized generation ever – these kids could use thecnology and tablets almost from birth.  For most of them they were used to swiping on touch screens before they learned what a book was and there are gen alpha kids starting school who don’t know how to use books!  The Key question is, how we utilise the digitised space to help us with discipleship and connection as well as balancing this with the all important inperson stuff.

Todays recomended resource is Mad4apps.  ‘MadApps’ is a Social Enterprise supporting the work of Summer Madness a christian youth charity.  This app tool can be fully customised for your group and help you to organise, communicate and coordinate more easily. It is free to use, or you can make a one off or monthly donation to them for using it. (As a charity ourselves – we reccommend you do!). We heard about this resource last year at the National Youth Ministry Weekend by Youthscape in Birmingham.

Here’s what they say about it…

• The App is for youth groups and organisations that understand the value of digital tools and communication to achieve their aims in today’s culture.  It provides a range of  features to stay in touch with young people, leaders and parents and  aims to make the business of organising, communicating and co-ordinating your mission and outreach more efficient and effective.

• This is a highly customizable tool to help with everything involved in reaching young people in the digital age and managing the ever growing weight of compliance and administration issues involved in modern youth work. You can also easily link many of the App functions to your Facebook, Youtube, Instagram or website pages as you wish – so you can integrate the App into whatever tools you are currently using. 

Leaders, in a nutshell:

• It will help you  with all of the Youth Work Admin, management & compliance stuff

• It allows you to easily share/curate content & programme resources with the other leaders and young people

• It provides a great platform / portal for co-ordinating team training &  parental engagement and communication

 

For  young people it’s value is even simpler:

• it keeps them up to date with what’s on and stay connected with the group, their friends & the programme

• it can prompt them to tackle issues and offers resources to help  think things through for themselves

• it can provide new challenges and opportunities for service and growth

 

Parents can: 

• use it to stay abreast of the youth programme and activities

• find immediate clarity around policies and expectations

• review opportunities to connect and volunteer

The App allows you to be strategic in your communication and provides a bespoke ‘user interface’ for all of  your young people, parents, and your volunteer leaders who wish to connect more effectively with your ministry. The App can be fully shaped by you to provide different content to the different sub-groups within your wider constituency (leaders, parents, young people). 

You can jump straight to this ‘worked example’ page to see how this might apply in practice.

https://sites.google.com/summermadness.co.uk/madappsyouth/home 

 

Note:
You are provided with a basic set of pages and tools on the initial App – but you have complete FREEDOM TO SHAPE the entire App in both SUBSTANCE AND STYLE. We are giving you the tools to create YOUR OWN UNIQUE APP and become part of a wider community of users that can support and share their work and ideas.

“If you are looking to take your youth communication to the next level, then Madapps is you first port of call.  John and Stephen have created an app that will help you manage your youth group, allowing you to bespoke to your own needs.  They are easy to work with, fantastic customer support and will help you even if you’re not computer savvy.” – Paul Brown Director of Youth Ministries Knock Presbyterian Youth.   

“The App developed by Summer Madness gives a great range of functionality which is accessible and can be adapted by individual groups and churches. The app is really easy to use and provides a great way for groups to share information with young people and parents. There is such a wealth of opportunity to further support and disciple young people through a digitally resourced approach and this app could be a key piece of the picture.”   – Christina Baillie (Diocesan Youth Officer for Connor C of I)

“This has been a huge help for our youth club!! I was worried initially because I’m not very technical but it was made very straightforward using this app and the helpful videos that talk you through step by step also knowing extra support is only an email away.  It’s been fantastic for our youth club and wider organisation have everything in one place for leaders, youth and parents. Alot of the administration has been removed or reduced on the team. Also supporting us ensure GDPR compliance without the need for paper records etc. “- Clare Groves, Youth Ministry Lead for Brookevale, PCI

We’ve been using the app for around 6 months and it has really helped streamline how we do things. The young people have found the various options useful for keeping up to date with what is happening and we have been able to use the password function to have a ‘hidden’ area for young people attending specific programmes. Our leaders have also found the password feature really useful as we have been able to set up a leaders only area.  – Andrew Norrie – Ballygowan PCI