Search the Bible On Your Cell Phone with Zondervan’s .Mobi Website

Although I talk about using technology for ministry a lot here, I admit there are a lot of areas I’m still learning about and exploring … one of the latest is creating websites geared directly for mobile devices, like cell phone, PDAs, etc. And with the .mobi domain now available, I’m seeing more and more pop up.

Jonathan Petersen, Zondervan’s Director of Internet Marketing, was kind of enough to send me some information about a couple of their “.mobi” websites to review.

First, check out Zondervan’s Bible Search site for mobile devices, which — to explain the obvious — lets you search the Bible from those mobile devices. The site includes several Bible translations, most specifically the English Standard Version (ESV), New International Version (NIV) and New American Standard.

Second, check out Zondervan’s main mobile website at zvan.mobi.

Here are some of the features and background to the site as explained by Jonathan:

“We launched our mobile site in 2001 but have greatly enhanced it in the last month. We’ve designed the site to assist people in growing in their daily spirituality as well as being aware of important current events. That’s why we offer a daily Bible verse for inspiration, a daily church word for general ecclesiastical knowledge, a daily historical milestone for understanding Christianity’s context in history, a weekly book excerpt for motivation and reflection, a weekly author interview for broad perspective and insight, Christian and general news for cultural awareness, and links to more than 300 other mobile-friendly sites as a helpful service to mobile users. We believe we offer what no other publisher offers.”

Since I’m still new to mobile websites, I asked Jonathan to tell me how churches specifically could use this technology.

Here’s what he said:

“Technology can offer quantum benefits to churches by enhancing the 3 connection points that are the needs of every congregation: connecting to God, to each other, and to those outside the church.

Recent studies show that Americans are committed to using electronic media — it’s embedded in our everyday habits and natural way of thinking. So a church MUST use technology to demonstrate its relevancy to its members and to conduct ministry with efficiency and cost effectiveness that only technology can offer.

Of course, technology must never get in the way of the 3 ministry connections, which can happen when the use of technology is an obsessive end unto itself.

Thanks, Jonathan, for the introduction on mobile websites!