Today’s Friday 5 is about Ryan Burns.
Ryan blogs in a number of cool spots, one in which I’ve frequented a lot and was actually one of the first places I went when I first started Seminary oh-so-long ago.
What gets me the most is that Ryan’s managed to simply “cut the fat” off of blogging and get to the heart of what’s really effective and meaningful: serving worthwhile content for others to consume. And it doesn’t hurt to look good to.
That’s really one of the reasons I chose to start ChurchCrunch: to be more focused with my blogging, more purposeful, more missional.
I take a lot from examples like Ryan, and I’m glad he’s in my interwebs-network.
Name?
W. Ryan Burns (the “W” stands for William). You can just call me Ryan.
Blog/Websites?
I’ve been a freelance web developer and semi-pro blogger for several years. Probably my best known blog is Going to Seminary. It started as a simple blog to chronicle my journey through seminary. It kind of snowballed into the site it is today. Currently, I’ve got a team of writers who contribute to the site… which is good since I recently had to suspend my seminary ventures in order to work a job-e-job.
Besides GTS, I also recently launched a blog/website called Best Bible in order to help people understand the difference in Bible translations, as well as provide some helpful resources. I also occasionally blog on the site.
My far too neglected freelance site is Design Simple. Since taking my new job at Logos Bible Software I don’t really have time to freelance anymore.
Time Bandits or Favorite Websites?
Industry:
- ProBlogger
- Wordpress News
- Smashing Magazine
- Brian Gardner
- Mac info
- SEO Book
- SEO Blog
- John Dyer
- Logos Bible Software
People:
Church:
Whatcha Working On?
As a freelance I was primailry working with clients to build CMS sites and blogs using wordpress. I was doing this while trying to finish up an M.Div. at RTS Orlando. Sadly, the freelance gig was not covering our expenses so I posted my resume on my blog. Couple weeks later I got a call from the folks at Logos Bible Software.
A month later I packed up my belongings and moved my family 3,200 miles from Orlando to Bellingham. Now, most of my day is spent working at Logos (which is SWEET by the way) and I put my freelancing on hold.
I’ve also cut way back on my blogging ventures as working all day, then going home to a wife and 2 toddlers leaves very little room for “extra” activities. I hope to get back into it a bit more, but as it stands now I am planning on passing Going to Seminary off to a good friend who will take on the bulk of the oversight.
How do you see Web Technology impacting the Kingdom?
Wow! There is really no short answer to this question.
From social networking to accessible information, they Kingdom impact of web technology can be (and is) huge. Things as simple as well designed church websites play a role. I remember talking to a couple in one church who had recently become Christians. I was asking about how their journey started and the guy began to tell me how he was online and stumbled across the church’s website. He decided to visit the church and several months later he gave his life to Jesus.
It is so simple, but wow, what a testimony for the usefulness of the web. Really, I’m convinced that just as the printing press had a revolutionary impact on the church, I believe that web technologies provide the church with the same opportunity.
I mean, just look how easy it is to read the bible online. Access to the Bible from anywhere in the world is just a click away… tack on the all the commentaries, ancient writings, and apologetic sites and… sheesh… it is mind boggling… and really exciting.
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