Rewired:  Youth Ministry in an Age of IM and MySpace
by Peggy Kendall with a foreward by Duffy Robbins.  Judson Press, 2007.

This book is a good summary of the current social networking technology used by youth, with practical tips for youth workers around its use.  Kendall covers the basics of IM and sites like MySpace.  She then spends several chapters discussing the pitfalls, in some depth, of technology such as creating false relationships, privacy issues, miscommunication and the junk that is available in cyberspace through advertisements (just as there is junk on TV or in our snail mail boxes).

The benefits to using technology in ministry, according to Dr. Kendall are the ability to give youth a glimpse into faith and Christianity, through a MySpace page for example, before they even walk through the door of a church.  Social networking sites also allow congregations and youth ministers to be in ministry 24/7.  No matter when youth log on, your site can have prayer, encouragement and scripture available to them.  Thirdly, technology also gives youth workers the ability to be in almost immediate contact with youth.  For example, if a youth has had a difficult exam, a youth worker can text a prayer to the student the moment the class is starting. 

Rewired also contains a postscript on YouTube which talks about its increasing popularity among youth.  According to Kendall, American young people today are drawn to YouTube for entertainment, self-expression and to help them keep a finger on the pulse of their ever-changing culture.

In conclusion, Kendall offers several pieces of wisdom:

• Don’t use technology just to use technology.  Use it to share the gospel message of love, healing, justice and wholeness. 
• “Be in the world, but not of it.”  Don’t let the consumer world overpower real ministry.
• Remember technology is a tool to be used wisely for the benefit of the students.

“… just as no tool is designed to work on every problem, technology should not be used to meet every need.  Most important, technology can never replace real-live human connection.”  (p. 114)