Yesterday , I talked about this study as it was reported on by Zdnet. It seems to indicate that the numbers of those using full “web 2.0” services was rather small--though it excluded teens from its study and seems to only involve a snapshot of the present usage rather than a projection of the future.

Today, I want to point out that people easily get “web 2.0” backwards and thus make misjudgments about “church 2.0” applications. What is backwards is thinking that the reason for considering web 2.0 applications is whether or not they are popular rather than if they are useful. I love pointing out the popularity of web 2.0 solutions in the business world and in church life as well for personal use because I consider it a partial index of how useful people have found these services to be.

Of course, in some cases, Christians advocate advocate web 2.0 mostly for the sake of outreach, not so much as a useful tool for worship but as a “place” where people are. I guess this report might detract from this narrow argument (but, again, the study doesn’t cover the future--it also makes sense to be where the people are going to be).

But beyond that narrow reason there are many others, that all depend on the usefulness of web 2.0 applications. If they are useful, and people are shown that they are useful, then they will used them.

Thus, learning about the types shows us what some people now think are useful in being connected. The important things to remember are that 1) people can and do adopt new technologies when they are show that they are useful, and 2) Connect Our People’s community-building system is not dependent on previous internet use but can be easily taught to first-time users. I’ve suggested before that youth might be easier to get aboard than others, but that doesn’t mean it would be difficult to implement for anyone else. Far from it. Pastors and ministry leaders are in a position to show how these specific Web 2.) tools can help promote community.

Finally, while the report claims that only eight percent are now using every conceivable web 2.0 device, it also reports that fully eighty-three percent of those interviewed are ready to use Connect Our People’s system. That’s everyone except those the study labeled “indifferent” and “off the network.” Even the “mobile centric” folks usually have an internet connection, and that is all it takes.