using technology to enhance ministry and mission

Using Technology to Enhance Ministry and Mission

Paul Hennings

Outline• The Case for Technology• Technology for:

• Image and Influence• Creating Community• Worship and Teaching• Evangelism and Stewardship• Staff Effectiveness

• Field-Tested Technology• “Church Tech” Now and Future =

Relationships• Q & A

• How many of you…?

Three Quick Stats• 77.4% of people in the US use the Internet• Over the last 20 years mobile phone

subscriptions grew from 12.4 million to over 4.6 billion

• Almost 50% of couples I marry meet online

The Case for Technology

Light-hearted Video

Image and Influence• How you use technology influences how

people view your relevance.• In particular, younger generations assess

churches through technology.• Today, your web presence is directly related to

your image.• Social media impacts your influence.

Technology For…

Creating CommunityCommunity is all about communication.

– Leaders need up-to-date communication from staff.

– Groups use technology to organize.– Technology helps the whole congregation (and

others) be informed.

Technology For…

Creating CommunityCommunity is all about relationships.

– Relationships are built with face time. Technology helps from scheduling to skypeing.

– Church and staff social media is used (and misused) to strengthen relationships.

Technology For…

Worship• Technology enhances the audio and visual

aspects of worship.• Technology helps to organize worship.• Technology improves the creativity of worship.• And, well… it can make sermons a lot better!

Technology For…

Teaching• Especially for visual learners, technology is a

vital part of teaching.• Teaching can be recorded, reproduced, and

disseminated effectively.• Technology allows teaching to be experienced

by multiple people in multiple locations.• Technology also allows for students to express

their faith in various ways.

Technology For…

Evangelism• The Internet allows you to reach beyond

geographical boundaries with the gospel.• It also allows you to target specific locations.• Technology opens up multiple mediums for

evangelism.

Technology For…

Stewardship• Technology allows your church to be

environmental stewards.• The Internet offers more options for financial

giving.• Stewardship of time is a welcomed aspect of

technology (especially for leadership).

Technology For…

Staff Effectiveness• Technology enhances inter-staff

communication and planning.• Technology helps staff manage time.• Technology improves staff productivity.• Mobile technology is a must.

Technology For…

Image and Influence• Clover Websites (www.cloversites.com)

• In-house/congregation Graphic Design (or find someone in your community)

Field-Tested Technology

http://www.cloversites.com/

Image and Influence• Facebook page (www.facebook.com)

• Blogs (side note on Google)

• Wireless access to Internet onsite – or/and terminals


http://www.facebook.com/

http://www.google.com/

Creating Community: Communication• The Basics – E-mail lists and on-line calendars• Constant Contact (www.constantcontact.com)

• The City by Zondervan (www.onthecity.org)

• Group texting (www.tatango.com, www.jarbyco.com)

• Video displays on location


http://www.constantcontact.com/

http://www.onthecity.org/

http://www.tatango.com/

http://www.jarbyco.com/

Creating Community: Relationships• The Basics – Outlook, Social media• Skype (www.skype.com)

• Instant Conference (www.instantconference.com)


http://www.skype.com/

http://www.instantconference.com/

Worship• The Basics – Screens, PowerPoint, Sound System• MediaShout (www.mediashout.com)

• Worship House Media (www.worshiphousemedia.com)

• CCLI “Song Select” (www.ccli.com)

• Worship Planning Software (www.planningcenteronline.com, www.worshipplanning.com)


http://www.mediashout.com/

http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/

http://www.ccli.com/

http://www.planningcenteronline.com/

http://www.worshipplanning.com/

Worship• Audacity (www.audacity.sourceforge.net)

• Video Recording (multiple possibilities)

• Worship Stream (www.worshipstream.com)


http://www.audacity.sourceforge.net/

http://www.worshipstream.com/

Teaching• TVs are the way to go…• Audio Recorders (multiple options)• Video Recorders (www.theflip.com)• Image + Audio/Video Software (www.adobe.com)


http://www.theflip.com/

http://www.adobe.com/

Example Video

Teaching• Podcast it… (iTunes, podcast.com)

• You can also webcast…


Evangelism• Digital Media (billboards, street signage)

• Google Adwords• TV Ads, Worship Broadcast• Online Demographic Studies (through your LCMS

district or www.perceptgroup.com)


http://www.google.com/

Stewardship• Being in two places at once (vids for devos)

• Less Meetings – More Doing! (e-mail groups, private webpages, online blogs/forums, conference calls)

• Financial Stewardship (www.paypal.com, online giving through thrivent, lcef, etc.)

• Less paper is just the beginning to a better Earth (www.webofcreation.org/Environmental%20Guide.pdf)


http://www.paypal.com/

http://www.webofcreation.org/Environmental%20Guide.pdf

Staff Effectiveness• Storage and Access (server, the cloud)

• Outlook Calendar and Scheduling • Laptops, Tablets, Cell Phones• Integrity (www.safeeyes.com, www.integrityonline.com)


http://www.safeeyes.com/

http://www.integrityonline.com/

• Mobilization of Christians.• Draw people together (community) and send

people on mission (empowering)• Sharing of God’s activity

• Ability for more cross-cultural engagement.• Decentralization of Christianity.• Not just a “younger person” issue, but must

be if you want to reach them.

“Church Tech” Now and Future

Using Technology to Enhance Ministry and Mission

Paul Hennings

using technology to enhance ministry and mission

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