Tech for the Local Church
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FtW with Mission Ministry Video-Conferencing: Six of One, Half-a-Dozen of the Other
Oct 7th
Thanks to the folks at the Career Couch section of The New York Times, here are 6 basic questions and 6 practical answers about how to make the most of real-time video-interaction. It’s offered here in hopes that subscribers and visitors will be encouraged to give serious consideration to bringing located missionaries right into the “living room” of their congregations for interviews, as prayer-leaders, as sermonizers and devotional messengers.
How many of our missionaries would be thrilled to know that they are considered living, sharp, active members of our local faith-community, even though they might be half-way ’round the world? How many of us can benefit from a greater sense of God’s church universal from His perspective– physically distinct but spiritually interconnected, joined and fitted together, growing up into the fullness of the stature of Christ as each part does its work?
While we consider how to give this idea a try, these guidelines can be useful in the effort “to make the most of the times.”
Staying Professional in Virtual Meetings By EILENE ZIMMERMAN Published: September 25, 2010 
Approaching Omnipresence: Video-Conferencing as Ministry & Mission
Oct 5th
We here at ‘House o’Vault’ see tremendous potential for increased mission awareness and support with the use of web-based video-conferencing (by Skype or similar cloud-platforms). The benefits seem obvious, practical, and dynamic (and also completely, repeatably scalable), but adoption-adaptation-implementation is not, as far as we know, widespread (or even trending, for that matter). That seems like an ongoing series of missed opportunities …
For the time being, let’s forego any wild-eyed, leisure-suited rants which amount to old-wineskin-new-wine adaptations of church attendance-contests gone-by– in the spirit of mid-20th century “programming” which involved Sunday School bus overloading and pine-stressing revival service pew-filling– to hold ”fill an iPad” services (w/guest visitors counting when Skyped in from all corners of the compass). Some by-gones are best gone bye-bye.
And there’s no need to add to the “can-God-make-a-rock-so-big-He-can’t-lift-it?” ruminations about how many angels could be dancing on the head of a pin if each had an iPhone 4 running face time with other angels on other pinheads …
Pinheads, indeed.
No, instead, let’s consider the real-life, real-world, frontline, gates-of-hell-shall-not-prevail work that missionary ministers are doing on our behalf and by means of our all-too-thinly-stretched church budgets.
Cloud-Computing: Eternal Security?
Oct 1st
No, not quite, but it IS about as close as we can get our data to it in this crazy, mixed-up, fallen, and virus-ridden world– both analog and digital …
“To cloud or not to cloud” is no longer the question. The plain truth is: the use of cloud-computing for every kind of data management, development, storage, access, sharing, back-ups and protection IS, and, while the experts are quick to say that it can still be improved, those who know best make audaciously bold– but verifiably-accurate– statements like this (courtesy of Neil MacDonald of Gartner by way of Scott Campbell at CRN.com):
Cloud Security Is Better Than What You Have Today
“Who Will We Send (Online), and Who Will Go (Do Tech) for Us?”
Sep 28th
While we are busy deciding what technologies to use as ministry tools, it’s important to remember that we need people (both staff and volunteers) to supervise, implement, and develop the technology to productive effect in the Kingdom.
We might have the best (or most expensive) programs and systems that money can “buy,” but they won’t work unless we have people to use them and make the most of them.
A recent listing for an online magazine position prompts another round of discussion in the Google-Apps-are-Church-Management-tools discussion which Brook Drumm (fearless leader here at M’Vault and at portablesermons.com) started.
It appears that, increasingly, the question of whether “to cloud or not to cloud” is already be a moot point. If the business world adapts (much of it already has) to web-based applications– leaving on-site network systems behind– then they will be seeking employees with cloud-based information management talents and training. Schools will meet that market demand by supplying a prospect-pool of graduates– adepts– comfortable and familiar with these tools as a matter of course. This is the new basic skill-set.
Not only are the tools of data management shifting to the cloud, the workforce must necessarily follow. This workforce includes the brothers and sisters in Christ who minister alongside us by means of technology. And Google Apps is the leaps-and-bounds-ahead leader in the field.
Are You Using Online Surveys?
Aug 17th
Feedback is critical to leadership and making sound decisions. But most leaders don’t have the time to poll more than a few individuals for their take on an event or new idea. Keep reading for some great online survey tools! More >
Make the Shift…
Sep 4th
The culture and industries are making the shift to social media.
Has your church?
TheCommon.org
Aug 13th
Looking for ways to serve your church community and even your city? Check out TheCommon.org
How awesome is that!
Online Meals Ministry!
May 17th
Food Tidings is a perfect website for your church’s food ministry. Set up a schedule for a new mother and let people sign up for the day they will cook for them. They can put what they are cooking that way people will not get the same meal twice.
Check it out!
Ministry Wrestling
Jan 14th
I wanted to know what you, your church, or your ministry are wrestling with in the New Year?
I hope to get some good dialogue going, so I can write on topics that are passionate to you and your context.
What do we need to rethink?
TokBox | Video Chat Room
Dec 16th
Need to get a bunch of people together in a video chat?
Check out TokBox. No Software to download, just have your webcam and microphone hooked up to your PC or Mac and wallah! Your in! And, it’s FREE!
iDEANATION
Nov 26th
Need help on your creative planning for ministry? Or do you have great ministry idea that needs to be shared with the nation?
Check out: www.goideanation.org
I’m so pumped that someone finally made a web2.0 do to this! Kudos iDEANATION
Have a great thanksgiving!
Creative Chaos
Aug 14th
Check out the creative synergy that is happening over on Carlos Whittaker’s blog.
Prayer 2.0
May 16th
More and more sites built on Web2.0 technology are popping up that focus on prayer. We have already highlighted MySecret, Kindle, Dear-God, and Other6.
Now check out WeTheChurch.org.
It’s a website to post prayer and praise reports.
Simple and to the point. It’s very cool! Take a minute and see what people are praising and praying about. Maybe add your prayers and praise to the mix.
Spotlight: Other6
May 5th
We often feel God’s presence at Church, but where do you find him the other 6 days of the week?
Other6 is a website where you can view and/or add where you find God in the other 6.
This could be a great place to start brainstorming what an externally focused church or ministry might look like in your community.
Different Kind of Blogs
Apr 12th
Aaron over at Digital Leadership Network wrote a great post on the different kinds of blogs and then gives some suggestions on why and how your church should blog. I’m summarize his comments below.
What Kinds Blogs Are on the Web?
1) Expert/Personality - an expert or big name giving you advice
2) Personal – someone sharing what they did that day [pictures, journaling, etc.]
3) News/Information – group of people who share information [ex- Church2.0]
4) Humor – just for fun
Suggestions for the Blogging Church:
The biggest keys to blogging is consistent updates. My suggestion would be to take the team blog approach, with different people taking on different roles. You can easily offer up separate RSS feeds or pages to break down the blogging into the three areas above:
The Expert Blog: The pastor, of course. If the community is interested in engaging in thinking about the message series throughout the week, the pastor could/should post ideas and thoughts that continue (or set up) Sunday’s message.
The Personal Blog: Other leaders in your church? Perhaps small group leaders can use a public church blog to toss information and thoughts around to their attendees. A small group can open up to any curious visitor to your church’s website using blogs.
The Information Blog: If a church’s blog was consistently updated with upcoming events, prayer needs, updates on church member issues (ex- announcements) it would be a great chance for church members to feel loved and want to interact with the site.
QuickLink: ONE Prayer
Mar 31st
LifeChurch.tv just announced an opportunity that I think every church should look into.
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