(Jan. 13, 2012 - by Harold Goerzen) Keeping up with changing technologies and what this could mean in evangelizing the world will be a key focus as information technology (IT) staff from mission agencies meet in Europe for a training conference next month.

Mick Leggett

"The explosion of smart mobile devices in the past couple of years means the face of mission technology is changing," says Mick Leggett, regional IT manager for HCJB Global-UK. "We need to know how to set email up on them, how to use them, how to secure them, and we need to support those who want to use them-quite rightly-as a gospel delivery platform."

"He compares these digital-era opportunities for evangelism to the New Testament era when roads of the Roman Empire facilitated the spread of the gospel. "New and integrated media with the concept of everything, everywhere gives a platform that means we can reach more people, more personally, and they can respond more easily and more personally," Leggett said.

Representatives from about a dozen ministries are expected to attend the International Conference on Computing and Mission (ICCM) in De Betteld, Netherlands, Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 8-11. This year's theme is "Mobilizing Your Mission," and the event will be hosted by Hands to Serve.

Conference keynote speaker, David Housholder, directs ethnic ministries and IT at Interserve USA. Additionally, 12 workshops will focus on four tracks: management and leadership; web/mobile technology; advanced technology and basic technology; and a flexible track with topics of interest to attendees.

"ICCM-Europe-and ICCM in general-is important as it brings together those working in technology and mission for networking, problem solving, learning, fellowship, prayer and teaching ... and a bit of fun," explained Leggett who has played a key role on the conference's organizing team since European version of the event launched in 2009.

"It's a great personal support to many individually, and really helps those working in small, medium and larger mission agencies to leverage and where possible share their expertise," he added. "I think it is a model which other conferences could really learn from. We class it as a training event because it's that."

Former HCJB Global IT senior management have chaired and organized ICCM-US at Taylor University since the late 1980s. These include Juan Cabrera who will chair ICCM-US in his home city of Colorado Springs, Colo., this July and attend the event in Holland along with Leggett and Josh Gee of HCJB Global-UK.

Leggett believes embracing new technologies can ultimately save both time and money. "As one example, we became aware of the Bomgar technology through ICCM," he explained. "Bomgar allows us to access and support people's computers remotely from the desk, saving us lots of time and dollars. Specifically, a number of years ago it saved me from having to travel to Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) when [our radio partner] had a major failure on his Internet connection. I was able to get them dialed into the Internet and set up a Bomgar session on a local computer to allow me to sort out the broadband firewall. It took a couple of hours, but it saved thousands of dollars in airfare and travel time!"

Leggett said it's important that mission organizations keep up with changing technologies despite the many challenges. "If we don't overcome the challenges, gospel opportunities will be missed-and that is a key part of our calling," he related.

He added that ICCM is not a "closed shop…. If anyone who works in, or has an interest in technology and mission, wants to attend can do so. Some Christians have technological skills in specific areas that would be a real help to some mission agencies. Some technical folks think their skills aren't usable in missions, but if they attend ICCM they'll never be able to hold to that view!"

Sources: HCJB Global-UK, www.iccm-europe.org