EP293 - Andy Mage & Building Deeper Relationships Embracing Asynchronous Community

In this episode, Jeff Reed and Andy Mage discuss the concept of asynchronous community and its potential for churches. They define an asynchronous community as communication that does not happen in real time, such as through text messages, social media, or online forums. They emphasize that asynchronous community goes beyond simple conversation and engagement, fostering deeper relationships, support networks, spiritual growth, and involvement in service. They share personal experiences, forming meaningful relationships through online gaming and message boards. They also address whether these relationships are real and argue they can lead to discipleship and authentic community. In this conversation, Andy and Jeff discuss the importance of building real relationships in the digital space and the role of asynchronous communication in creating community. They highlight the need for churches to embrace hybrid models that combine physical and digital interactions. They also emphasize the value of personality and humor in building community and the importance of listening and engaging with people in digital spaces. The conversation concludes with previewing upcoming events and initiatives in The Church Digital Discord server. QUOTES Paul was doing asynchronous community 2,000 years ago." "Asynchronous community is that thing that we try to derive from in all of our church engagements." "I had some of the most deep conversations that I've ever had in my entire life over a headset on my Xbox controller." "There is no barrier between digital and physical. What they see on their phone, what they grew up with, that's what they know." "The connections that we have should be led into community, and within that community is where we see discipleship happen." TIMELINE 00:00 Introduction and Overview 12:53 Defining Asynchronous Community 26:25 Are Online Relationships Real? 33:01 The Potential of Asynchronous Community for Discipleship 36:59 Building Real Relationships in the Digital Space 43:28 The Importance of Community and Discipleship 48:03 Finding Community Before Finding Christ 52:27 Taking the First Step in Building Community 01:03:56 Setting the Example for Asynchronous Communication 01:09:19 The Vision for The Church Digital Discord