One thing that I do not hear discussed is the reasons why you even need a website. In my consulting work, I will frequently ask if the client is sure that they need a website.
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Worship Goes Big-Screen and Hi-Fi
written by Ben Dubow
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
There was an interesting article in today’s Washington Post about churches and the use of technology, especially in worship. I thought it was a good article and well-balanced, though was certainly breaking no new ground on the issue. I liked it because St. Paul’s Collegiate Church was mentioned and small church plants from Connecticut don’t get on the front page of the Washington Post very often. We were cited for the “text messaging” thing we did which I talked about in more detail here on BetaChurch.
Even more interesting (to me) then the article are the comments — almost 90% negative about the use of new technology in the church. You can read the article and comments here.
What do you make of it?
Wow, I’m surprised at how resistant church people can be! I’m a Christian and love the fact that some sectors of the Church are embracing new technology…especially text messaging. Did you know that the CTIA Wireless Association estimates that there are 241 million U.S. wireless subscribers? There are more cell phone users in the U.S. than there are computers!! Why shouldn’t churches reach out to people via their cell phone? Remember, when email was a stretch for churches…ha! I work at MobileCause, a mobile marketing firm in Southern California. We’re all Christians here and we have a passion to see churches everwhere have the same opportunity to utilize text messaging to reach the vast amounts of wireless subscribers that big-time shows like American Idol & Deal or No Deal have! We’ve released a product called Turn2Mobile which enables churches to have cross-carrier text messaging access the same way that these shows have but at only $99 per month! I’d love to talk with more churches about how to integrate this and make that connection with their people! Talk to me…george@mobilecause.com
George Morales September 28th, 2007 at 12:14 pmBoy do I have an opinion…
I think technology is great. In fact I write a blog that talks completely about how the church can use web technologies, which serve to connect people.
The kind of technology they are talking about in the article is AV… I completely agree with the negative opinion of the over use of AV and lighting equipment in churches.
If the technology helps connect people to Jesus then I give it 2 thumbs up, but if it is merely to entertain or lure people in then I think something is missing from the core value of the church. There is a distortion of the gospel happening.
Just my 3 cents… I could be very off.
Aaron Marshall December 9th, 2007 at 9:49 pmChurches and Ministries are involved in a spiritual business and they can use the tools of traditional business marketing to meet their goals. I agree that growth is a primary goal of many Churches and Ministries and an often overlooked marketing method to help with growth is direct mail.
We are a Christian greeting card publisher, designing and publishing cards that help Churches and Ministries keep in touch with their members and reach out to their communities. We offer some retro-style, contemporary and mod style cards that appeal to an audience that is discerning in the marketing methods that catch their attention.
Greg Harrison January 11th, 2008 at 3:26 amWe believe that the personal effect of a mailed greeting card can have a very positive impact in this digital age. It’s an often overlooked means of communication for Churches and Ministries. Direct marketing is a valuable and effective partner to digital communication and we’ve been helping Churches and Ministries grow through this marketing medium for over 30 years. Thanks….Greg Harrison www.ministrygreetings.com