“Are you looking for a guide to evangelism and faith formation in the 21st century (and who isn’t)? Julie Lytle is ready to help us navigate our new world with vision, approaches, and practices designed for a digital, interactive, connected world. Julie’s analysis of the evolution of faith formation (and communication) through history—from 1.0 (oral communication) to 4.0 (interactive media) is one of the unique contributions of this book. Let this book be your guide to this exciting new era for faith formation.”
– John Roberto, author of Faith Formation 2020: and Editor, Lifelong Faith Journal
“As faith communities become more comfortable using digital media and social networking to share news within and about their congregation, there’s an increasing openness to exploring technology as a way to reach beyond our church walls. In Faith Formation 4.0 author Julie Lytle connects two contemporary paradigm shifts: the rise of digital media and social networking and an increasingly diverse US population that no longer shares a common Christian narrative. Using scripture and contemporary stories as well as communications and education theory, Lytle offers faith leaders a roadmap for incorporating digital media and social networking into their strategy for ‘proclaiming the Gospel and making Christians’ using her easy-to-remember mantra ‘Message, Method, then Media.’”
– Nancy Davidge, Editor, ECF Vital Practices
In this insightful book, Julie Lytle highlights the most basic, and arguably most critical practice for churches committed to sharing the Gospel now and in the future: forming children and adults with robust, durable Christian identities that engage both the world as it is today and our participation in "God's Dream" for its transformation. Biblically, theologically, historically, and technologically grounded, Lytle's ecological, media-savvy perspective anchors an approach to Christian formation and discipleship in the Digital Age that is meaningful, relevant, and – most importantly – entirely doable.
– Elizabeth Drescher, author of Tweet If You [Heart] Jesus: Practicing Church in the Digital Reformation and co-author of Click 2 Save: The Digital Ministry Bible
“Julie brings her vast knowledge and experience in the areas of digital media and social networking to faith communities interested in addressing the challenge of faith formation and evangelization in the “post-everything” world in which we live. She covers the waterfront in a way that is useful both to the novice and those with more experience in this rapidly changing digital age. Her mantra of “message, method, and then media” keeps the discussion grounded in practical application as she explores how the “gifts” of digital media and social networking can help faith communities learn and tell the Christian story today.”
– The Rt. Rev. Thomas C. Ely, Episcopal Diocese of Vermont
Digital immigrant Julie Lytle has written an intimate travelogue demystifying the strange new cyber-world and presenting a living and habitable environment. Drawing parallels to oral, written, and mass media approaches to evangelization and faith formation, Lytle demonstrates that people can become good Christians when they encounter The Christian Story and our personal Christian stories through interactive media. That said, she cautions us to get clear on our message, and our method, before we rush into the latest new-media trend. Faith formation comes alive in Lytle's hands.
– Eileen M. Daily, JD, PhD, Asst. Professor of Pastoral Studies, Loyola University Chicago, Institute of Pastoral Studies
How do we become Christian in the 21st century? Dr. Lytle offers an ecology of faith in which everything – story, relationships, and context – work together. This model provides roots for church leaders born in the digital age, wings for digital skeptics and a much-needed bridge for ministers of Christian formation.
– Day Smith Pritchartt, Executive Director, the Evangelical Education Society of the Episcopal Church
This book is essential reading for contemporary church leadership. Much like a “build your own adventure” the content is organized to encourage readers concerned about evangelization and/or faith formation in a digital age, to enter the rich conversation through multiple doors. Grounded soundly in scripture, theology, history, sociology of religion, human development and learning theory, Julie describes the complex ecology of being church today.
– Lisa Kimball, Ph.D., Interim Associate Dean of Students, Director, Center for the Ministry of Teaching, and Professor of Christian Formation and Congregational Leadership, Virginia Theological Seminary
“Julie Lytle is ready to help us navigate our new world with vision, approaches, and practices designed for a digital, interactive, connected world. Her analysis of the evolution of faith formation (and communication) through history—from 1.0 (oral communication) to 4.0 (interactive media) is one of the unique contributions of this book. Let this book be your guide to this exciting new era for faith formation.”
– John Roberto, author of Faith Formation 2020: Designing the Future of Faith Formation and editor, Lifelong Faith Journal
