Apple. When you hear the word it may conjure up a number of different thoughts; expensive computers, expensive software, expensive phones…android public enemy number one, fruit. Apple is a brand name. It doesn’t really denote an individual product. Our desire is for WAYMAKER to become a household brand name as well!
There’s no question that the digital media world is where most of our young people have taken up residence when it comes to communication and information sharing. Our young people consume a huge amount of content online each day.
In a recent report Dr Tracey Sletten of Monash University had this to say about screen time and young adults, “More than one-third of each day, 9.4 hours, is being spent in front of computer, mobile phone and television screens, which equates to about 143 days every year. This is more than the amount of time spent asleep – 7.3 hours each day, on average.”1
The Lonergan Research data shows that Australian Millennials (usually considered to apply to individuals who reached adulthood around the turn of the 21st century), “…spend more time glued to electronic devices than they do eating, commuting, working and exercising combined and on average.”2
Millennials spend 3 hours a day just looking at their phone alone! That amount to 1 day out of every week!
Clearly, for young people, the most popular and familiar way of consuming content is by online delivery, specifically video-on-demand (VOD) and Livestream. In other words, young adults want the control what they watch and when they want to watch it!
So what exactly is WAYMAKER?
It’s a media ministry environment – a digital discipling ecosystem – a Christ connecting community. WAYMAKER is the brand name that encompasses all that will become a digital space for relevant, young-adult focussed Christian-living content pointed specifically at our church Millennials and their friends. WAYMAKER will become the environment where young adults may network and connect with other young adults, sharing information, inspiration, ideas and resources.
WAYMAKER is not just another Australian Union Conference (AUC) media initiative – it is the media initiative. It is the method by which we will do much of our communication and information sharing as a church here in Australia.
The Spiritual Perspective of WAYMAKER.
WAYmaker
Jesus reminds us in John 14:6, “I am the Way the Truth and the Life.” Simply put, Jesus is the Way.
wayMAKER
John writes, “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”4 Simply put, Jesus is our Maker.
The Media Perspective of WAYMAKER.
WAYmaker
Waymaker is the way in which we can firstly, empower young people to be involved in creating and curating media content, and secondly, taking that content and using it in such a way as to minister to our church Millennials and their friends.
wayMAKER
As Christ-followers we are to play a role inviting and nurturing others to engage with their Maker, using media.
Those involved in building the WAYMAKER ecosystem are looking for WAYMAKER ambassadors, content creators and content curators! If you are a young person who would love to be part of the WAYMAKER journey we’d really love to give you the chance to take the reins of this ministry and help drive it forward with us.
If you know a young person who you think would love to be involved with WAYMAKER, please advise them to get in touch with us here at the Australian Union Conference;
Online you can find us;
WAYMAKER FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/waymakerministry
WAYMAKER YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/way.makerministry
WAYMAKER INSTAGRAM: @way.maker
WAYMAKER EMAIL: [email protected]
WAYMAKER TV: www.waymaker.tv
WAYMAKER WEBSITE: www.waymaker.com.au
Murray Hunter
(Media Officer: Australian Union Conference)
APPENDIX
newdaily.com.au/life/wellbeing/2017/04/19/australians-screen-sleep-blue-light/ 2 https://1v1d1e1lmiki1lgcvx32p49h8fe-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/1366-Screen-Time-OPSM-FINAL-Report-31-03-2017.pdf 3 John 1:3