The Mobile Renaissance: How Mobile Technology is Changing the Way We Do Life

There's an app for that. Chances are you've heard this catchphrase, and chances are it won't be going away any time soon. Mobile technology and smartphones are here to stay. With 6.8 Billion people in the world, there are an astonishing 4.6 Billion mobile phones - that's almost as many phones as there are people! In fact, there are four times more smartphones activated daily than there are births! Mobile is blowing up, and we are too! Check out these recent mobile stats:

- 1.3 Million Android and iOS devices are activated daily.

- Predicted 2.5 Billion smartphones sold between 2010-2015.

- iPhone and Android app users spend 80 mins/day using apps.

- People on average spend 30 minutes per launch of a Subsplash App.

- Over 50% of video traffic is now on mobile.

- There are 91.4 Million smartphones in the United States alone.

- Smartphone sales are up 73% since the start of 2011.

- 9 out of 10 smartphone users use their phone on a daily basis.

- Estimated $15.9 Billion in expected end-user spending with smartphones in 2012. We're feeling pretty good about these stats here at Subsplash. Smart phones and tablets have slowly but surely edged out PC's with more sales and daily web consumption in 2011. It seems that we're right on the cusp of this mobile web explosion - making anywhere, anytime technology pocketable.

We feel incredibly blessed to be a part of the mobile movement with The Church App. Included in the uprise of mobile web use is the frequency of application use and downloads. Mobile applications are setting the bar for user experience, and staying innovative is essential to having a competitive edge. We are ecstatic to share that there are roughly 500,000 page views a day on The Church App platform! We can only anticipate these numbers growing significantly as we go live with new applications everyday. As we like to say, "When it comes to mobile, it's not if but when," and that "when" is now.

*Stats and estimates found at ITU-D Measuring the Information Society 2010, Flurry Analytics, The Coda Research Consultancy, and AdMob, Google.

WWJD – What Would Jesus Develop? Part 1: Interview with Mark Driscoll

At Mars Hill Church, it’s all about Jesus. From blog posts to sermons, the ministry is always working to be on mission for Christ. The Church App for iPhone began a little over a year ago as a dream to serve this Seattle-based, Bible-loving, culturally savvy church we call home. In April 2009, Subsplash teamed up with their tech team to create the Mars Hill Church iPhone app. At the time, we didn’t realize that it would change the way members listen to sermons and rock out to worship music. It’s been almost a year since the release of the Mars Hill Church iPhone app, and we’ve found ourselves wondering how the Church is using this technology to spread the Gospel. In this interview—first in a three part series—we spotlight Pastor Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church’s use of this new medium.

Subsplash: Mars Hill Church was among the first to publish a church iPhone app almost a year ago. You, Pastor Mark, have been one of the most downloaded podcasts on iTunes. Considering that Mars Hill Church is at the forefront of utilizing mobile technology, in what ways has mobile tech impacted your ministry?

Pastor Mark: Without the Internet, my ministry is completely different. In God’s providence we started our church about the same time that the Internet went public, near Microsoft, and have ridden that wave ever since.

Subsplash: Some churches might want to use new technology simply because it’s cutting-edge…how do think the church has embraced technology well? How do think it has embraced technology poorly?

Pastor Mark: The key is to have biblically rooted Jesus-centered content and lots of it. It’s great to speak to a wide audience, but only if the content advances the cause of Christ. Ministries fail both in having poor content that is widely delivered, and conversely good content that is not widely delivered.

Subsplash: What is the theological reasoning behind Mars Hill Church’s use of technology to forward the Gospel?

Pastor Mark: Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9 that he became all things to all men so that by “all means” he might save as many people as possible. It’s that simple. We use whatever we can to tell as many as we can about Jesus. Technology is simply a tool or an idol depending upon whether it helps or hinders the forward progress of the gospel.

Subsplash: Do you believe all churches are candidates for cutting-edge, technological advancements like podcasting or an iPhone app? Why or why not?

Pastor Mark: Any church that believes the Bible is taught well with Jesus as the hero should attempt to do all they can to get the word out more broadly. If we love Jesus and people, we want to get his truth and love to them as cheaply, effectively, and responsibly as we can.

Thanks Pastor Mark!  We are so thankful that God blessed us with the chance to work with your ministry.