Chromebook Hardware Now Runs Android Apps 21 for Mac If You Were Worried About “High Tech” Can Also Mean “High Touch”

TECHNOLOGY EMPOWERING MINISTRY www.ministrytech.com August 2016

How a rdr s HaiCreatede ser a Mobile Prayer App ------God used a man who hated technology and turned him into a tech entrepreneur.

>> BIBLE READING IS DOWN! >> SHOULD CHURCHES & MINISTRIES EMBRACE THE CLOUD? >> 6 REASONS YOU NEED OLIVE TREE BIBLE STUDY 6 FOR MAC CONTENTS 8

bible reading 8.16 is down! Technology is poised to make a difference in how we hear God’s word. 4 How a should churches Hairdresser and ministries created a mobile embrace prayer app the cloud? Mobile tAPPestry Some decisions are connects prayer warriors too important for IT with prayer needs. to make alone. 10 know 27 your church software provider Just because you have used the same system for the last 10 years doesn’t mean it’s still the right choice for your church today.

This Summer Give Your Website a Facelift ...... 12 HIGHER POWER 18 6 Reasons You Part 2 | Why Is “Growth” Such a Dirty Word Need Olive Tree in Some Churches? ...... 15 Bible Study 6 Chromebook Hardware Now Runs Android Apps 21 for Mac If you were worried about “High Tech” Can Also Mean “High Touch” ...... 24 Olive Tree after Harper Collins purchased it, you can relax.

2 | MinistryTech.com A Word from the editor Ray Hollenbach

Editor Ray Hollenbach [email protected] Wise and Creative Art Director Beth VanDyke ne of the great things about and support Bible reading using port- bethvandyke.com the world of technology is able devices to both read the Bible Contributing Editors O its openness: great ideas and and encourage others to do the same Yvon Prehn great inventions can come from (see Yvon Prehn and Kevin Purcell’s Nick Nicholaou the most unlikely sources. For contributions this month). Russ McGuire Jonathan Smith example, our cover story details As technology opens up new Steven Sundermeier how a hair stylist and salon avenues for serving the church, our Kevin Purcell owner connected prayer needs models of ministry will continue to Copy Editor to prayer warriors by helping grow and change: what used to be Rachael Mitchell develop a mobile app. the private work of a church staff It’s a real-life parable of God’s can become the joyful collaboration Publisher Kingdom. The Holy Spirit moves of crowd-sourcing within an entire through the church inspiring serv- congregation. Contact information is ice and comforting those in need— no longer the stuff of a once-a-year Outreach Inc. 5550 Tech Center Dr. and the Holy Spirit almost always church directory; church communi- Colorado Springs, CO 80919 uses people to do God’s work. John cation is going real-time and mobile, (800) 991-6011 Wimber, a church growth consult- enabling instant response to those ant (and founder of the Vineyard in need; the needs of the community Ministry Tech® is a registered trademark of Outreach, Inc. Church movement), used to tell need not wait until a Sunday morn- Written materials submitted people, “Everyone gets to play” when ing service, they can be shared—and to Ministry Tech® Magazine become the property of it comes to ministry. That’s certainly addressed—as a part of everyday life. Outreach, Inc. upon receipt the case when it comes to creative Church leaders have longed to and may not necessarily applications of technology among see the day of a fully mobilized be returned. Ministry Tech® Magazine reserves the right God’s people. congregation. Wise and creative uses to make any changes to Thanks to cloud-based comput- of technology can make the church materials submitted for publication that are deemed ing (see Jonathan Smith’s overview effective in ways we have never necessary for editorial in this edition) nearly any church imagined. What ideas can you imple- purposes. The content of this publication may not be member can contribute to the or- ment in your local church? Take a copied in any way, shape ganizational work of their church. peek at this month’s edition and find or form without the express Entire congregations can encourage something new to share! permission of Outreach, Inc. Views expressed in the articles and reviews printed within are not necessarily the views of the editor, publisher, or employees of Ministry Tech® Magazine, or Outreach, Inc. Ray Hollenbach is the Editor of Ministry Tech magazine. He has previously served as the © Copyright 2016 Outreach, Inc. editor of Outreach’s Better Preaching Update, and as the editor of the Pastor channel at All Rights Reserved Churchleaders.com. You can reach him at [email protected].

August 2016 | 3 COVER STORY How a rdress r HaiCreatede a Mobile Prayer App

------( STARTUP ) ------by Russ McGuire

4 | MinistryTech.com God used a man who hated technology and turned him into a tech entrepreneur. ------n this article series, we’ve defined a says that he was excited and shocked to get the clear Christian entrepreneur as a person driv- sense that God wanted him to start a website where en to glorify God in all he does, ruled people could request prayer and could leave audible byI the Word of God, who starts a new venture prayers for others. and is willing to risk a loss in order to achieve When he returned home, Josh started writ- the success of the venture. Each month I’ve ing out the vision for this new venture. He then been introducing you to specific Christian star- took it to Scott Seitz, a partner in a recent business tups and entrepreneurs, some of which may venture who is a talented software architect. Scott be helpful to your church, ministry, business, seized the vision and together they started putting or family, but my main intent is to encourage it together. Over the next few years, the team filled and inspire you to be entrepreneurial in your out with Dennis Clark and Mark Krienke joining ministry and career. the team, bringing their deep business and op- This month I’d like to introduce you to Josh erational experience to serve God’s kingdom. The Bellieu, who told me that his normal response to PrayOut website was built; people showed up; and technology is wanting to throw it out the window, prayers were being requested and prayed out loud. and yet God now has him as a co-founder of a technology startup that could revolutionize how mobile Necessity Drives Innovation apps are developed. How could this be? The team knew they really needed a mobile app with access to a smartphone’s microphone and the It Starts With Prayer ability to create push notifications if they were go- Josh spent nearly 20 years as a hair stylist and ing to serve people when they most needed prayer. salon owner. During that time, his prayer life They looked at outsourcing development of an app, matured and he developed the habit of asking his but they simply couldn’t afford it. They tried using customers if he could pray for them—and began existing tools for simplifying app development with praying publicly with them. So it wasn’t a big limited success, and kept looking. That’s when, in surprise when 19 years ago one of his clients called answer to prayer, Scott had a breakthrough. He and left a message with the receptionist asking for found a new and better way to leverage the basic prayer. Josh later called his customer, but just got tools available to any full-stack web developer to their voicemail. Despite Josh’s technology dis- create a fully functional mobile app. In September comfort, he felt led to leave a prayer as a message. 2014 the PrayOut mobile app was finally in the Many years later he heard from his customer that Apple App Store. they had planned to take their life, but God pow- Josh shared that he was at the State Fair the erfully used Josh’s prayer. Josh started regularly night the app was published in the App Store. His leaving prayers as voicemails and was amazed by adult daughter was also there with her family. the impact they had. Early in the evening, Josh got a text from Scott Much later, in November 2010, Josh was in the with the news about the app and he downloaded it midst of a career transition. He was driving between to his phone. By the end of the evening, he was one cities one day, praying, asking for God direction. Josh of the first to use it, as he requested (Cont. on page 6)

August 2016 | 5 mobile app and getting it into app stores. I asked Josh what his six-year journey has been like from technology skeptic to technology enabler. He said, “When our Father implants a dream or vision within the heart of an individual, we need to recognize that it is highly likely this will result in a great deal of discipline, transition, hardship, loss and discouragement. It will likely take a great deal longer to fulfill than initially imagined. I believe God intentionally leads us into these places so as to create a total dependency on Him in each moment. The resultant transformation is intimacy, broken- prayer for his daughter who had been rushed ness, trust and closeness with the Lord. And it’s to the hospital after a freak accident. The small not just me. The whole team has been through this PrayOut community ministered powerfully to together, giving us a greater depth of serving each Josh and his family, and they were blessed that his other and those the Father places in our path.” daughter was released with no injury. Over the years, the team has experienced many ups and downs. They have experienced God pro- Web Developers Are App Developers viding at just the right time. They have persevered. After solving their own mobile app challenge, the And now they are excited about how God has PrayOut team realized that they could help turn brought this new opportunity to them. As I’ve had the hundreds of thousands of web developers the chance to interact with them, I sense the same around the world into mobile app developers. They attitude expressed by David in 1 Chronicles 29: have created Mobile tAPPestry, LLC to provide “Both riches and honor come from you, and you web developers with a tool and mobile apps-as-a- rule over all. In your hand are power and might, service so that developers can offer mobile apps to and in your hand it is to make great and to give their existing web clients. Because Mobile tAPP- strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, estry requires no new coding languages to learn, and praise your glorious name. But who am I, and the web developer now has a rapid and familiar what is my people, that we should be able thus to path into the attractive mobile app market. (Full offer willingly? For all things come from you, and Disclosure: I have been interacting with the Mobile of your own have we given you.” tAPPistry team for a few months, and as our relation- May we each have that perspective, appreciat- ship has progressed, the team has asked me to serve as ing how God has blessed us, using what He has

a strategic advisor to their business.) given us to be a blessing to others. MT To see how this could work, they helped Origins Community Church integrate PrayOut into their Russ McGuire is a trusted advisor with proven website and use their patent-pending technology to strategic insights. He has been blessed by God develop a mobile app. They also helped mainStreet- in many ways including serving as a corporate Open.com develop the MinistryCOM mobile app. executive, co-founding technology startups, and writing a technology/business book. Most recently, they’ve launched a beta program and More importantly, he’s a husband and father who cares open source community around the technology. about people, and he’s a committed Christian who seeks Their full apps-as-a-service offer is now to honor God in all that he does. His newest venture is as available to remove the complexity of building a Entrepreneur in Residence at Oklahoma Christian University.

6 | MinistryTech.com 48% of pastors leave full-time ministry for this reason . . .

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Outreach_MinU_FullPgAd.indd 1 7/28/16 1:09 AM addition, a larger than ever percentage of the popu- lation has no interaction with the Bible at all. This is hardly a newsflash. After the requisite amount of hand-wringing, let’s set aside the bad news and evaluate how we got here—and how technology empowers us to re-engage people with the Bible today.

Evaluate and strategize We are in a war for the eternal souls of people. This means we need to constantly evaluate how we are doing and if we need to modify our strategy for reaching our world. Just as in an actual battle, if we sent troops to fight today with bows and arrows we couldn’t expect success against automatic weapons and attack helicopters, so too we need to look at how we are equipping our church members for spiritual warfare. The importance of the Bible will never change—it’s the Word of God—but how we receive it and how we commu- Bible nicate God’s Word is in flux today. If we loudly bemoan the lack of Bible reading in condemning and whining ways, or if our church looks with suspicion and ignorance on electronic devices for reading or studying the Bible, we Reading is are fighting with only bows and arrows. But if we look upon the rich arsenal of technological tools and tactics we have today with excitement and a spirit of adventure, and if we strategize wisely how we Down! can involve our church members in them, then we can go on the offensive with confidence.

Foundations: A brief history of Bible engagement (and why we need to keep it in mind) Before making specific suggestions on how we can en- How We Can gage with God’s Word, a brief history of how humanity has done so may be useful. This is important because it’s Respond Positively in easy to think that reading the Bible out of a big book is the only way, and will calm the concerns of many. Let’s a World of Declining look at the three methods of Bible interaction throughout Bible Engagement human history: listening, drama, reading.

Part one of a series | by Yvon Prehn LISTENING: When God created humanity he walked with them and talked to them. This was ecently the Barna organization, in conjunc- 1 God’s first and most intimate interaction with his tion with the American Bible Society, released a people. Listening to God’s Word has been the primary R study that reports among other conclusions that way of intake and interacting with it throughout though Americans still have a positive view of the human history. Only in modern times (since the inven- Bible, Bible engagement (reading or listening) con- tion of the printing press) could individuals have a Bible tinues to decline, particularly among Millennials. In of their own to read God’s Word silently and alone.

8 | MinistryTech.com In biblical times, people primarily listened to God’s Book, read for daily devotionals, followed along in a Word read to them in public assembly, either in large church service, and marked well from frequent study groups or later in the synagogues. The New Testament let- simply is not a Bible. But times have changed, and will ters were designed to be read in churches. The history of continue to change. church liturgy revolves around a public reading through Church leaders need to be OK with changes, but the Bible each year because for many centuries this was expanding our view of what we consider OK or not isn’t the only way people could take it in. enough. Allowing people to bring digital devices to church is an obvious start. Yes, some will text and play games DRAMA: The prophets did more than preach rather than following along with their online Bible, but or write God’s message—they were frequently that’s no different than the doodling on the bulletin and 2 called to act it out either in small dramas, such other actions of previous distracted generations. as when Ezekiel acted out the coming captivity of We have to do more. We have to communicate and Judah (Ezekiel 4), or in an all-encompassing picture demonstrate to our congregations how they can make of their lives—as when Hosea was called to marry the most of the digital resources available to them, and and love an unfaithful wife in order to show the way that’s what I’ll share with you in Part Two of this article

God loved Israel. Throughout human history, there series next month. MT have been creative types who wanted to see as well as hear God’s stories, and so Bible dramas and plays For more on topics related to church communications from came about. Yvon Prehn, please go to: http://www.effectivechurchcom.com. Medieval mystery plays portrayed the events of the Bible and were popular from the fifth to the 16th centuries (and are still performed in England today). They started as simple enactments of Bible stories and soon developed into elaborate cycles of plays (e.g., the Life of Christ) performed over several days. Performers used large and elaborately decorated wagons that served as traveling stages for their performances.

READING: Though reading God’s Word has been a way of taking it in from the earliest days 3 when Moses first wrote the Pentateuch, what has varied is the percentage of people able to access this method. As was stated earlier, throughout most of human history, only a very small percentage—the scribes, teachers, prophets, and preachers—actually had the opportunity to READ God’s Word.

We have all three methods available today The exciting news about Bible technology today is that we have all three methods, listening, drama, and reading, available today in ways that can increase our knowledge, understanding, and love for God’s Word, accessible 24/7. Helping our congregations engage in these ways will take some shifts in thinking and practical shifts in how we share the Bible. First of all we have to change our attitudes. For many leaders in the church, anything other than a well-worn

August 2016 | 9 Should Churches o embrace the cloud, or not and Ministries to embrace the cloud, that Tis the question. Pardon the Shakespearean paraphrase, but Embrace the Cloud? there are a lot of questions swirling around churches and ministries as ( . . . and Who Should Make the Call?) they consider using cloud services for everything from email and file | by Jonathan Smith services to Active Directory. There is also a disconnect between what the IT team says is best for the you have much more control over negatively impact your ministry. ministry and what church leader- downtime because you probably have One of the biggest benefits of using ship thinks in terms of utilizing physical access to the server and the cloud-based services is that they take cloud-based services. people running those servers. When a huge support load off the IT team. Cloud-based services offer you host in the cloud you may not have No longer are they responsible for many benefits over hosting your direct access to the servers so you are maintaining and patching servers. If own services, but you’ll want to dependent on your provider to resolve the servers are on your site then you make sure you are using a reputable any issues that create downtime. may also have cooling, power or data vender. It is important to look at the Using a reputable host like Micro- issues to consider as well. What hap- SLA, or Service Level Agreement, to soft or Google will ensure reliability, pens when the cooling units fail? Do ensure that your provider will keep but there are other companies that you have sufficient battery backup or their services running so your ministry provide cloud based services for just a generator for power outages? What effectiveness isn’t impacted. When you about everything, and you want to happens when your Internet connec- host your own email and/or file servers make sure a provider’s reliability won’t tivity goes down? Moving to the cloud

10 | MinistryTech.com avoids all these issues as cloud-based ministries are able to provide geo- it’s one of the many ways ministry IT services are hosted in large, com- graphic and hardware redundancy on varies from corporate IT. mercial data centers where power, air their own? And if they are able, is it As an IT staff member in a minis- conditioning, and data reliability are good stewardship of those funds? try I view my primary objective to be taken care of for you. By now you may be thinking to constantly working myself out of a Cloud services can also play yourself that the cloud sounds too job. My goal is to equip and empower a huge role in your disaster good to be true. “You mean I can those I support for greater ministry recovery and backup strategies. place my data, my email, my files, effectiveness. I have no desire to Remember that disaster recovery my ChMS, my whatever in the cloud attempt self-preservation by keeping and backups are not the same thing. and not have to worry about natu- data or services tightly locked up in Backups are for recovering data, ral disasters, power outages, cooling my control to ensure the long-term while disaster recovery refers to how equipment failures and maintenance, security of my job. That level of self- much time is necessary to get your internet outages, security patches, ishness only benefits the IT person, services (like email, files, ChMS, etc.) backups and disaster recovery all not the ministry. Most ministries run back into operation after a disaster. By while saving the IT team a lot of time, lean, so there is always plenty for the placing these services in the cloud you effort, and money? Sign me up!” Hold IT team to do. The more I empower can enhance these strategies. If a nat- on, not so fast. others and work myself out of some ural disaster wipes out your on-site Whether to move your ministry jobs, the more I can focus my time on datacenter what would you do? In the to the cloud may not be so obvious. other areas that may require a specific church world think of what happens While there are obvious benefits, technology skillset. if a significant tornado or hurricane there are also a few challenges. Many Every ministry has to decide Should Churches or earthquake (hopefully not all three in the IT profession believe it is their where to spend their money. at once!) hits your area on a Saturday job to protect the data and ensure it is I would much rather use technology— and Ministries night. Do you have a way to notify kept safe. This is why I do not believe including embracing the cloud—to your congregation about your plans this is an IT decision, but rather a save money so they can hire addition- for Sunday morning? How fast can church leadership decision. The IT al ministry staff as opposed to hiring Embrace the Cloud? you get your email and ChMS back up team should make recommendations additional technology staff to manage and running? based on their knowledge and expe- technology that could be moved to ( . . . and Who Should Make the Call?) By placing services like your email rience, but the data belongs to the the cloud. Again, these are leadership and ChMS in the cloud, the respon- church, and the church leadership decisions, but this is often where the | by Jonathan Smith sibility of keeping things running should decide how to keep that data IT team and church leadership may falls to your provider. A cloud-based safe, including how and where it is not see eye-to-eye. provider will more than likely have stored. For some that may mean mov- So, should your church or ministry your data spread out across servers ing to the cloud, for others, they may embrace the cloud? I think so—provid- and datacenters in multiple geo- feel more comfortable keeping their ed the IT team and church leadership graphic locations. The same is true data on-site and managing it locally. have worked together to understand for your backups: they are no longer There is also the challenge of the the issues and implement the cloud in located on your site and you no longer IT team. IT folks don’t like to give up a way that empowers the ministry for

have to relocate backup tapes to control, and moving data and services greater effectiveness. MT ensure your backups are spread out to the cloud means they will be giving geographically. Most cloud vendors up some control. I strongly believe can also provide more backup space the benefits to embracing the cloud Jonathan Smith is the then many churches or ministries far outweigh any negatives, including Director of Technology at Faith Ministries in would be able to afford on their own. any control IT might lose. For some Lafayette, Indiana. This means when the natural disaster IT professionals, especially those who You can reach Jonathan at jsmith@ hits your area, your services continue have come out of the corporate world, faithlafayette.org and also follow him to operate. How many churches or this can be particularly difficult, but on Twitter @JonathanESmith.

August 2016 | 11 This Summer, Give Your Website a Facelift

Summer’s Slow Time Is a Perfect Time for Tech Upgrades

ummer slows things down people see as they drive by your will often hurt more than it helps. in churches. Families take campus. Your website should seek to S vacations, programs dial Simply having a presence online appeal to two groups: down, and staff members prepare with a static website is no longer for the next season of ministry. sufficient. You must take a deeper n Current members—Those within Summertime is a perfect time to dive. The people who live in your your church body should be able invest in different areas of your community, whether they are to use your website to find updates church: too many pastors and church members or not, expect a about your church, its ministries, ministry leaders burn out down certain level of visual appeal and a comprehensive calendar with the road because they don’t take ease-of-use when it comes to the detailed event information, ways time to rest and refocus. Two websites they frequently visit, and to give online, and more. It should ways in particular are especially that bar is set pretty high. also provide current members with helpful to take care of during An appealing and well-organized a link to the church management the summer months: giving your website can be a high-value asset software you use so they can update church website a facelift and live to your church; an outdated or information as needed. streaming your Sunday services. cluttered website can be the cause Your church website probably of much heartburn and detriment. n Potential Members—For those isn’t the first thing that comes The latter can portray a lack of in your community who do not to your mind when you think of concern for your church or show attend your church, think of your maintenance at your church. But the that you don’t put much of a priority website as the face of your church. image you portray of your body of in staying with current technology First-time visitors should be able to believers to potential visitors is just trends. Keep your website simple and easily access contact information, as important as the material image clean. A disoriented or confusing site service times, a list of small groups,

12 | MinistryTech.com upcoming events, how to become actively involved in your church, and what you are all about.

When thinking about ways to make your existing church website better, or starting from scratch, you’ll need to consider a few steps:

Assess your current functionality. Is all of your information (service times, address, mission, vision, values) well organized and easy to find? Is all information accurate and up to date? Is your calendar synched to your church management software? It’s always best to evaluate your existing site from the shoes of someone who has very little technology experience. Your website should be relatively easy for even the most technologically challenged person.

Fix any problems you identify. Make sure you update out of date information. Fix any grammatical and spelling errors. If not already done, re-organize your home page and use a header, breaking down your church website into multiple areas, each with a clear focus.

Renovate the user experience on your site. This is key in terms of keeping people engaged on your site. Do you have pictures? If not, add some. Evaluate your color scheme and make sure it isn’t obnoxious. Use more modern fonts. (Yes, it’s time to do away with comic sans!) Consider adding links for online giving. Add pastor bios, pictures of the family and a way to get in touch with each staff member via (Cont. on page 14)

August 2016 | 13 email. Last, but not least, provide Live-streaming is an asset to your Ustream.tv and Google Hangouts, links to your social media channels. church no matter the season, but es- each with their own limitations. Many people will choose to engage pecially important during the summer — Good dedicated services include with you there on a daily basis. months when members are on the go. WorshipChannels.com, A fully functioning and engaging And it doesn’t take much to get this MediaFusion.com and church website brings your congrega- up and running. You already have the ChurchStreaming.tv—all of which charge a fee. n A Website or ChMS—which you Live-streaming is an asset probably already have. This will make it easy for members to find the live to your church no matter streaming straight from your church’s the season, but especially online home base. important during the summer months when Whatever you decide to use for your stream- members are on the go. ing service, keep in mind that giving people access to the media is im- tion and potential members together website to house it. In fact, you prob- portant. You’ll want to provide a link a in an organized fashion. There should ably already have most of what you few hours or even a day before the live be something for both groups of need on hand. All you need is: streaming begins. Using your ChMS people on your site. A great site makes n A Camera—It doesn’t have to be to send ongoing notifications and it easy on your members to become fancy (but hopefully something a step reminders of upcoming streams is a informed and stay involved. It also up from a smartphone). great way for people to stay connected. makes it easy for potential members n Decent Lights—For the picture to And what if they can’t watch it to get a sense of your church culture come in clear, people’s faces can’t be live but still want to see it? You should and access important information at too dark. host a library of past services on your the click of a button. n A Computer—Make sure you have Church Ministry Software or website the proper cables to hook it up to your so people can access service archives Is It Time for Stream- camera. whenever they want. ing? In addition to your church n A Tech-Savvy Volunteer— Don’t be daunted by the techno- website, here’s another way to think Someone’s gotta hold the camera (or logical hurdles and vague mysteries about updating your technology at least stand it up and turn it on) and of live-streaming. It’s really not that this summer. It’s summer time and make sure things are going smoothly. hard, once you sink your teeth into people are on the move. Families This person doesn’t need to be an it. Gather your resources, equip your are enjoying much-deserved family expert, but at least have the ability to people, and start streaming. vacations across the country. troubleshoot and learn best practices. Focusing your summer months Individuals and couples are sneaking n A Live-Streaming Service—This is on updating the face of your church away for relaxing weekend the service that takes your video and technology will help you increase experiences. And, some stay-cationers broadcasts it to whoever is watching. connections. It offers a great growth are simply sleeping in and taking You can use either a free social media tool to those inside and outside your it easy. And yet, many will miss platform for streaming, or a dedicated, church. Take your ministry beyond (and feel the loss of) your weekend paid service. Sunday by giving your members the services. In addition to updating your —Periscope and Facebook Live allow insight into your church they need website, this makes summer quite you to stream live video to your this summer through an updated possibly the best time to start live- followers and fans for free. church website and live-streaming

streaming your weekend service. — Other free options include services. MT

14 | MinistryTech.com growth is seen as a professional failure. Why Is “Growth” The constant struggle to grow creates a deep exhaustion and animosity to church-growth discussions. Such a Dirty Word in Gaining perspective: I have experienced this weariness myself Some Churches? Part 2 and in pastors I have served with. When I’m honest, I recognize New perspectives on a familiar dispute. that a lot of my antagonism with discussions about growth stemmed Our June issue highlighted two care nothing about the next generation. from a sour-grapes mentality: I sticking points about church growth. All you care about is you and your five wanted it, but when I couldn’t Now, continuing the conversation, is friends. You don’t care about your kids achieve it, I had to convince myself Part Two of this important discussion: [or] anybody else’s kids.’ . . . If you don’t that there was something flawed go to a church large enough where you about it. Is there a way we can can have enough middle schoolers and When people expect the church seriously address concerns high schoolers to separate them so they to grow and it’s not, I have one of about church growth, while can have small groups and grow up the three options: advocating for the value of offering local church, you are a selfish adult. Get n Throw in the towel. Some pastors growth advice? I think so. Let’s over it. Find yourself a big old church develop this deep sense of shame and continue to examine the objections where your kids can connect with a give up. They don’t stop pastoring, or to church growth, and perhaps bunch of people and grow up and love even wishing that the church would explore some new perspectives that the local church. Instead . . . you drag grow, they just stop pouring energy might help smooth the differences your kids to a church they hate, and into trying to make it happen. between us. then they grow up and hate the local n Make growth look less desirable. church. They go to college, and you This option is kind of strange. Some 3. “Discussions about pray that there will be a church in the pastors go out of their way to make church growth make me college town that they connect with. growth seem bad or even unbiblical. feel inadequate.” This frus- Guess what? All those churches are big.” They seem to make a virtue out of tration makes complete sense to me. This instantly caused some anger not growing. With huge churches being held up and hurt in the smaller church n Turn the ship around. Some as the standard, those who serve community. And, to Stanley’s church leadership teams will never faithfully in smaller churches feel credit, he immediately issued an give up, and they keep plugging away like complete failures—even though unequivocal apology: at it, rejoicing at every step forward. they might have incredible and “The negative reaction to the clip powerful ministries. from last weekend’s message is entirely 4. “Church growth is a It doesn’t help when celebrity justified. Heck, even I was offended by zero-sum game.” I live in a pastors of large churches say things what I said! I apologize.” smallish town with a lot of older, like Andy Stanley did in a recent Not only do small church pastors established churches. Many years message: frequently hear comments like this— ago a larger church planted a cam- “When I hear adults say, ‘Well I they sit through discussions about pus here and there was an exodus don’t like a big church, I like about 200, church growth as if it’s a process that of young people and families leaving I want to be able to know everybody,’ anyone can replicate. The inability of their old church families and flock- I say, ‘You are so stinking selfish. You small-church pastors to duplicate this ing to this vibrant new (Cont. on page 16)

August 2016 | 15 one. The animosity many churches The truth is a lot of the growth in But it doesn’t have to be that way. felt toward this interloper was al- larger churches comes from people I know of huge cell churches that most palpable. who are coming back to church after only meet as one large church once This is why a lot of churches feel an absence or people who are brand a month, and the rest of the time like church growth is a zero-sum new to Christianity. Large churches they meet in smaller gatherings of game. For someone to win, someone aren’t simply building congregations two to four cells in smaller venues. else has to lose. From the perspective out of disenfranchised people from Your church can grow to reflect of many smaller churches, big church- other churches. your values—you just have to be es are doing nothing but siphoning off Jesus reminds us that the fields intentional. believers from other congregations. are ripe for the harvest. Let’s not Gaining perspective: As a church Gaining perspective: I have lost allow ourselves to fall into the trap grows, it goes through various cycles. my share of congregants to larger of feeling like there are only so many Some of them are wonderful and churches, and have felt this way people to go around. It’s ridiculous. If some of them are extremely trying. If someone leaves your church, praise God that you now have an empty seat to fill with a new or growing believer.

myself. In fact, I once made a snarky someone leaves your church, praise Of course you look at the salad days remark about someone leaving my God that you have an empty seat to and think, “I wish it could be like this church to go to a megachurch, and fill with a new or growing believer. all the time.” But trying to hold onto the woman I was talking to said, “How those moments is a slow drift away come you never feel this indignant 5. “I don’t want to lose from maturity. when someone leaves another what makes our church Decide what healthy growth church to come to ours?” Ouch. unique.” Growth requires change. looks like for your community. And She was right. My frustration I find old photographs of my kids start aspiring to see that growth was because I felt like something as toddlers and it makes me incred- materialize. As you grow, it’s was being taken from me. But it ibly sad and nostalgic. As much as I important to pull off at some rest wasn’t. Maybe I could have made miss that time in their life, I would stops, relax, and enjoy the scenery. them happier and they would have have been more concerned if they But you can’t decide to live there. stayed. Perhaps they left and it was remained toddlers forever. Children an act of willful disobedience on are supposed to grow into adults and We still need to talk about their part. In the end, it might have hopefully churches grow too. growth. When Jesus gave us been the best thing for them—and There is a legitimate fear that as the great commission, it wasn’t “go us. I need to trust that God’s sees your church grows it will start to into the world and create a disciple.” these things more clearly than I do. resemble every other huge church. It was “go into the world and make

16 | MinistryTech.com disciples [plural] of all nations” (Matt. 28:18–20). A church’s work is never done. You want to grow FREE EBOOK: your church, not because everyone who comes to your church is going HOW TO ENGAGE to become a disciple, but because you have more of an opportunity to MILLENNIALS get involved with people’s lives and Bridging the gap to the fastest influence them in that direction. The growing segment of your church book of Acts, along with the epistles, tell the story of a tiny spark of a religious movement growing into a raging fire. Your church is part of a story about the ever-growing kingdom of God. That’s exciting right?

Growth affords you oppor- tunities. The 80/20 rule states that only 20 percent of any organization is doing 80 percent of the work. Obviously, if your church is 100 people, that’s only 20 people doing all the work. But if your church is 1,000 people—that’s 200 people doing work. Sure, it might still be 20 percent, but the amount of work getting done is growing exponentially. I believe every church has the capacity for growth on some level. There are things we can do to facilitate more growth, and there are attitudes and behaviors that can stunt our growth. While we can’t recreate the exact experience of large churches, there are definitely ways GET INSTANT ACCESS we can learn from them and adapt elements that have helped them grow. If you’re interested in learning more about church growth, check out 5 Proven Principles of Fast Church Growth. We interviewed the 100 fastest-growing churches and compiled the top five things they all have in common. MT

August 2016 | 17 HIGHER POWER 6 Reasons You Need Olive Tree

Bible Study 6 for Mac by Kevin Purcell

he new version of Olive Tree n Zondervan’s Visual Theology However, users can get to this content Bible Study 6 for Mac arrived (a personal favorite) with a single click, or two at the most. T this summer with a significant n BHS with Critical Apparatus To view the Resource Guide, click update that now makes it compat- n Reformation Study Bible on the button on the toolbar at the ible with the company’s new book n Tyndale Commentaries right end. It looks like an open book format. This process started awhile In addition to getting access to all with lines on the right page. This back with an update to the iPad, of your books, the new version will opens a new window to the right Android and Windows versions of hopefully come with some perform- of the Bible. It holds tabs for the Bible Study. The Mac finally joined ance improvements and better display Resource Guide, Notes, My Stuff, Search the party. The Mac App now has of visual information. and Library. Click on Resource Guide a new color scheme. It flattens the If a book includes a table, the table to see the content. Scroll down to see icons and looks more modern com- doesn’t present itself as a graphic. The all for the different entries related pared to the previous version. Let’s new modern display engine shows to your passage. What’s in the Olive look at six reasons you need to get things like tables with text. A Bible Tree Resource Guide? Olive Tree Bible Study 6 for Mac. reference in a table in earlier versions n Related Verses—gets content from The first couple of reasons have to didn’t have links, and didn’t display a cross references and study Bibles as do with the significant update. popup like other Bible reference links. well as translation notes like you’d see Now they do, thanks to the better in the margin of your paper Bible. 1. Olive Tree Bible Study 6 book format. n Commentaries—jumps to that Update Opens Up a Bigger reference in a Bible commentary and Library — Olive Tree Bible Study shows introductory material for a 6 gives users access to more books book or passage. than ever before. Users can down- n Bibles—open another translation to load every book they’ve used on that reference quickly. the other platforms and they don’t n People—shares library content about need to worry about buying new a person referred to in the passage. books that might not work on the n Topics—shares library content about Mac. Until now, many of the newer Olive Tree Bible Study 6 for Mac a topic referred to in the passage. Resource Guide books didn’t display properly on the n Maps—maps in any atlas or book Mac version (so Olive Tree didn’t let 2. The Awesome Resource that includes maps will show up here. users install them at all). That’s not Guide—The Resource Guide is like n Charts—find things like Timelines or the case now. Some of the new books a digital assistant that searches the other charts from books with them in you can use include: user’s library of books and finds all your library. n Harmony of the Gospels the content related to the text that’s n Outlines—gets outlines from any n Interlinear Bibles displayed in the Bible window. Olive book that includes one, like a study n Newer sets of Commentaries Tree’s not the only Bible study pro- Bible or commentary. n Some of the newer study Bibles gram that does something like this. n Introduction—most commentaries

18 | MinistryTech.com include a book introduction and this their titles and their subsidiary com- shows all of them in one place. panies. Go to http://www.olivetree. n My Notes—see notes you’ve already com to find new books. recorded about a given passage. n Get More—links to content in the Olive 5. Quick and Simple User Kevin Purcell by Kevin Purcell Tree store related to that passage. Interface — One of my favorite A news and reviews tech writer for The Passage Guide alone makes reasons for using Olive Tree is the gottabemobile.com, Kevin brings Olive Tree useful, but take note: It will user interface. It’s quick and simple. more than five years of mobile only return quality content if you add New users can open Olive Tree Bible technology experience to MinistryTech magazine. You can email Kevin at books to your library. Study 6 on their Mac and quickly get [email protected] or connect Users can customize the Resource to work without learning a lot of in- with him on Twitter @kapurcell. Guide to include what they want tricate features or arcane search tools. and in the order they want. Open It’s all right there and easy to find. Preferences from the Olive Tree n Click the drop down arrow in the up- menu and choose the Resource Guide per right corner and open the book in tab. Uncheck the items you don’t a new window want to see in the list on the right. n Click on the Search for button that Drag and drop the items on the left to searches for that Strong’s number place them in the order you prefer. n Click on the Lookup button which looks up the Greek or Hebrew word 3. Version 6 Runs Faster — Users in a mini Resource Guide window will get a faster version of the Mac listing articles from your dictionar- app thanks to performance improve- ies, notes you’ve created on a word ments. This affects scrolling and the or links to the store with content you speed of the Resource Guide. can buy related to the word. Jump to a new passage in the Bible and the resource guide repopulates with new content for the new verse almost immediately (at least it does Single Click Strongs Tagged Words in on my MacBook Pro, which is pretty Olive Tree fast). This used to take up to half a minute depending on the speed of At the same time, the program your computer. offers some advance features. The Olive Tree Right Click Menu program includes interlinear Bibles. 4. A Rich Library of Books — You can easily right-click on a verse If you right-click the word instead There are some awesome Bible study or word and get at some great original of doing a normal left-click, a popup programs that get handcuffed by language features. Use the regular menu offers a number of powerful a limited digital library. That’s not left-click on a word including Strong’s tools: you can highlight the word, add a problem with Olive Tree. Many Numbers tagging, like the ESV, KJV, notes, search for it in different ways feared that when Harper Collins NIV or my favorite, the HCSB. It pops and even post to Twitter or Facebook. bought the company last year, they’d up with a short definition entry from The last two would be more useful limit the library to their titles. That the Olive Tree Enhanced Strong’s after selecting a verse or passage. hasn’t happened. Instead it’s opened Dictionary. You can: Here’s a cool right-click tip: Select up a larger library of content from n Read it in the pop up window a word or verse and (Cont. on page 20)

August 2016 | 19 then right-click it. At the bottom of n Notes n Highlights your iPad or phone and any tags or the menu that pops up you’ll see the n Book Ribbons n Saved Passages book ribbons (bookmarks) will sync to Services menu that we see on a lot of n Reading Plans n Tags your computer. All of this saved data Mac apps. A fly-out menu will then These will all sync across multiple de- shows up so long as you don’t delete let you do a few different things. For vices and even multiple platforms. If it and use the same account. Some example, it lets you search for the you won a Mac laptop and a Windows people might fear saving their data on selected text on Google. This opens up desktop and an Android phone plus a third-party site. You can back it up a whole world of research for topics an iPad, then all your information on your computer, but I’ve never had or verses. syncs between these four platforms a problem with Olive Tree failing to Another Services menu item lets and devices. Your notes will show properly sync data. you, at the selected text, create a up on every device and so will your That’s it—six excellent reasons to

spoken track to iTunes. A dialog box highlights. Study out and about using check out Olive Tree’s Version 6. MT pops up asking you which voice from the Mac you want to use. You can test the voice by clicking on Play. Then give it a title (like the verse reference) You want the and tell it where to put the resulting file. Click on Continue and it adds this freedom to to iTunes. (The services menu in the … reach out right-click menu is a Mac thing, not just something you find in Olive Tree … minister to people Bible Study 6 for Mac.) … create fellowship Hovering over a word also shows … contribute to information in the Quick Details your community window in the lower left. Resize this window by dragging the separator PowerChurch Plus was between the Quick Details window created for just that! and the library book list above it. Dragging handles won’t show up, but it still works. Click and hold the Membership mouse button to drag it up or down. We provide you with the tools to The Resource Guide, the new increase administrative efﬁ ciency Interlinear Bibles, the Strong’s Accounting and streamline accounting tasks, tagging and popup window, and the freeing you up to perform the work that matters. Quick Details helps Olive Tree users Contributions quickly and simply find original language information on words and Install on your PC or network, or access online. Events passages even if they don’t know Calendar Choose which ﬁ ts your needs. Greek or Hebrew. If you do, you can still open those Bibles and work directly in them. Check In

6. Personal Information Syncs Completely Across Multiple Devices/ Integrated We provide software tools, Platforms — Olive Tree Bible freeing you up to fulﬁ ll your mission. Study 6 for Mac lets users add some www.PowerChurch.com • 800.486.1800 personal study content like:

20 | MinistryTech.com PCS-11301-ChurchExecutive_4.75x7.25.indd 1 7/14/11 10:23 AM Chromebook Hardware Now Runs Android Apps

Google Play Store Migrates to the Chromebook | by Kevin Purcell

oogle recently announced Linux operating system. A lot of People pick Chromebooks over Mac that they would add the schools invested in Chromebooks or Windows notebooks because: G Google Play Store, which because they’re simple, easy-to-use n They’re cheaper with the average normally runs only on Android notebook computers often costing Chromebook: about $300. phones, tablets and Android TV less than half the price of the iPad. n They’re simpler with few settings devices, to the Chromebook. By Chromebooks boot to a familiar to configure and with an operating the end of the year most recent looking desktop with a row of system the user can erase and Chromebooks will include the app icons along the bottom of the reload with all of their web apps Google Play Store and the great screen. These apps run mostly on in place in under 20 minutes. Android Bible study apps. As a the web, but many of them now can n Most Chromebooks boot in seconds result of this change, Chromebook run without an Internet connection. and run quickly on low-end systems. users can finally study the Bible The core display engine uses the n Not a single virus has ever in-depth using advanced language Chrome browser to show us these infected a Chromebook! study tools and great search web apps. A Chromebook eventually n A user can log into a borrowed features. needs to connect to the Internet to Chromebook and get all their The Chromebook is a low cost sync the data stored locally with the settings and apps in place within computer that runs a version of the data online. minutes and then erase them as quickly.

Putting the Google Play Store on a Chromebook means the user can install some of the great Bible study apps that run on Android. The five best Android Bible study apps include: n Olive Tree’s Bible Study app — https://play.google.com/store/apps/ developer?id=HarperCollins+Chris tian+Publishing n Logos Bible Software’s apps — https://play.google.com/store/apps/ developer?id=Faithlife n Tecarta’s Bible apps — https:// play.google.com/store/apps/

Logos Bible on Chromebook dev?id=6127710176424954328 (Cont. on page 22)

August 2016 | 21 n Laridian Pocket Bible — https:// n The 2015 Google Pixel is the play.google.com/store/apps/ Cadillac of Chromebooks. details?id=com.laridian.pocketbible However, it costs way too much n WORDsearch Bible — https:// (up to $2,000 depending on the play.google.com/store/apps/ model you buy). details?id=com.lifeway. n The newest HP Chromebooks wordsearchreader 11 and 13 are great. They’re not as cheap as some systems (about Chrome OS Settings $500-$800). It’s like getting Pixel Which Chromebook Is Best quality for half the price. By the 1. Open Settings by clicking on your for Running Android Apps? time you read this they should be user icon in the lower right corner Not every Chromebook will support readily available or coming soon. of the screen along the right end Android apps. Check if yours will n You can’t go wrong with the of the Shelf (Windows calls this get it here. (If you’re even thinking Lenovo ThinkPad models. the Taskbar and Macs call it the about buying a Chromebook to run Dock). Android Bible apps, be sure check Want just one recommendation? 2. Click on Settings from the pop up that list first!) Get the newest HP Chromebook 13. window. It costs more than most, but it’s also 3. Click on the About ChromeOS Here are a few Chromebooks I’d the best quality system and will last link at the top of the page. recommend: forever. 4. In the middle of the box that n The ASUS Chromebook Flip is a opens up there’s a button that cheap system with nice hardware, reads Check for and apply a decent quality touch screen. It updates. Click on it. flips the screen back to form a 5. Reboot the computer when it tablet, and it also works in tent finishes downloading the update. mode with the screen pointing towards the user and the keyboard on the back serving as a kickstand. The keyboard’s good enough to type on for short stints, but I Chrome OS Settings Menu wouldn’t want to type on it for hours a day. How to Install Android Bible n The most recent versions of the Apps on a Chromebook

Acer Chromebook 11, 14 or 15 First, check the latest news about About Chrome OS Screen all work well. I also own an Acer the Google Play Store on the Chromebook 15. It’s plastic, but it’s Chromebook. By the time most of Your Chromebook will download sturdy with a great keyboard and you read this article the Google the latest version of ChromeOS. (If an acceptable trackpad. It’s not Play Store will likely run on more it’s already installed you’ll see “Your a touchscreen, though. You can Chromebooks and it could come on Chromebook is up to date” just above type on it all day thanks to the the stable version of ChromeOS. the box.) great keyboard and excellent You can also test to see if the Play You should see the Google Play battery life. Store’s already available on your Store icon on the Shelf. If you don’t n Dell makes great Chromebooks Chromebook. Get the latest version see it on the Shelf, click the search most buyers love. (Again, get a of the operating system using the icon in the lower left corner of the recent model.) steps below. screen on the left end of the Shelf to make sure it’s not hiding in the app

22 | MinistryTech.com launcher instead of the Shelf. Click it. Mine shows “Version 53.0.2768.0 as you would on an Android phone. on All Apps and scroll through the dev.” Your version number might (If you’ve never owned an Android app icons to see if you can find the include beta at the end of that phone, then follow the steps to Play Store icon. (What if you don’t number if you’re on the beta install Android apps at the following find the Play Store and you know it’s channel. link: http://cnet.co/28SvTpQ.) available on your model? That likely To change to the Developer build, means you need to install either click on the More Info link on that the Beta version or the Developer page. Then click on the Change version of ChromeOS. As of the channel box. The next box that pops writing of this article you have to up offers three options—stable, beta install the Developer version.) or developer. Change to developer The Developer version of unless you know it’s available on ChromeOS is cutting edge software the beta build already, which might that’s intended for ChromeOS happen by the time you read this developers only. It might include article. serious bugs that could cause significant problems, although I’ve been running it for a week on my How Well Do Bible Apps Run Chromebook Flip and only had one on a Chromebook? significant problem: One night all the The apps I’ve loaded all ran fairly Android apps I installed went away well. However, the Shelf covers up and the Play Store wouldn’t launch. I the bottom section of the screen. had to erase the computer and start The splitscreen controls on the Logos over to fix it. I haven’t experienced Chrome OS Change Channel Bible app were hidden under the a serious problem since. This could ChromeOS Shelf. You can right click cause problems if you’re not patient The Chromebook will begin to on the Shelf and choose Auto Hide enough to deal with these kinds of download the new version of the to make it disappear and make these bugs; you can always wait patiently operating system. When it finishes controls visible. for Google to release the Play Store to downloading the update, you’ll see Some Android apps let the user the stable version. Relaunch on the button. You’ll also share pictures or text to places like see an upward facing arrow in the Facebook from within the app. I lower right corner of the screen. couldn’t do this because that sharing Backup any files you want to save feature is part of the Android and then click on the button to operating system. Google hasn’t restart. The computer restarts and built that into ChromeOS yet. Also, erases the drive. When the computer I couldn’t share Bible verses or finishes, it will relaunch. Make sure images from my Bible app. you log into the Google account that Other than these two issues

Chrome OS Settings More Info you use to download content from and the sudden disappearance of the Google Play Store. all my Android apps, it works well. Let’s check to see what version of When you open the Google I’ve enjoyed working with the ChromeOS you’re running. Go into Play Store you need to accept an Android apps. I use most on my Settings the same way you did above agreement, sign into your Google ASUS Chromebook Flip, but I can’t and click on About ChromeOS from account and then accept another wait till it also works on my Acer the top of the Settings box. You’ll see license agreement. Then search for Chromebook 15 and its excellent a Version with a long number after your favorite Bible app and install it keyboard. MT

August 2016 | 23 “High Tech” Can Also Mean “High Touch” by Jazmin Laskowski

Communication Putting communication systems would give you the ability to schedule is the key to any in place to ensure that your people messages to be sent out as much as don’t ever feel forgotten or insignifi- you would like, as far in advance as growing, thriving cant will help your congregation feel you wished. This feature would also relationship. We individually important. Communica- be great for reminders for upcoming know how crucial it tion with your members and visitors events, projects, or volunteer commit- is as human beings via email and text should be seamless ments, making it easy for you to con- to feel important, and convenient. Never want to nect to your people without taking too forget or miss anyone’s birthday or much of your time or resources. remembered, anniversary again? Find a program You might ask, ‘What if I want thought of, loved that will keep track of whose birth- to send a message to a specific group and cared for. days and anniversaries are upcoming of people in my church, like the single When people in every month, one that allows you to moms with young children, or young our lives take the personally congratulate them on males between 18 and 24 years old?’ their special day with a simple email It would take too much time to go time to make us feel or text message. It requires only through your entire member list in special, it creates moments of your time. If you are a the database and search for every an opportunity for larger church and you don’t typically person who falls into the specific a stronger, deeper send out individual emails and texts category you want to communicate connection with to your congregation, no worries. Let with. Find a church management your database do the work for you. program that helps you filter through that person. How productive would it be to write your database to find the specific peo- one email for every birthday or ple you want to communicate with. f you’re a Pastor, your commit- anniversary each month, then let For example, let’s say the first filter ment to creating secure, long- your database automatically populate you choose shows you how many I lasting relationships between the first names of everyone on the ‘Active Members’ you have in your your church leaders and members email/text list? Each member would church and that number is 500. The is probably a top priority. Some- feel cherished and appreciated. second filter you choose is ‘Female’ times it can be quite challenging. What about taking it a step fur- and that number goes down to 300. Sometimes a tech tool can help. ther? What if you could write your Then add the ‘Member in ministry’ You may want to consider looking emails or texts months in advance filter for the ‘Women’s Ministry.’ The for a database that can facilitate and choose the exact date you wanted total number drops to 200 members. this goal. them to be sent out on your behalf? It Now you are able to communicate

24 | MinistryTech.com Churches that make it their priority to successfully communicate to their members their individual significance are the churches that stand head and shoulders above the rest.

with your female members who are and management of your members entered into the system with a ‘New actively involved in your Women’s automatic. An area of your database Visitor’ status, they instantly receive Ministry. You can save your filters so dedicated to personalized automatic a ‘Welcome to Our Church’ email, you can continue to communicate to communication is a must. An Assimi- maybe three days later they receive those specific groups of people when- lations module is especially useful a text about upcoming Home Life ever you need to. as it helps establish efficient and Groups, and a week later a welcome As a Pastor, you may have a core proper follow-up with your people. letter is generated for them. All of group of people you communicate This feature allows you to create these emails/texts/letters would be with on a regular basis and you don’t Campaigns that will be triggered pre-written and only sent out when want to filter through your database by either a Member Status, such as triggered within a Campaign. Again, to find them. It should be just as easy ‘First Time Visitor,’ a Service/Event, you do the easy part, and let the to create a hand-selected group of or Ministry. Anyone who has the database do the work for you. Assim- people, searching by name, and add- criteria you’ve selected will receive ilations are great for not only first- ing them into one group. Don’t forget the communication that is associated time visitors, but also new members, to decorate each email with your per- to that Campaign. new Christians, people attending a sonalized email signature and church For example, if you created a New specific service or event, or people logo to give every message warmth Visitor Campaign, whenever a per- within a chosen ministry. The gener- and human connection. son was entered into the system with ated, personalized, automated emails, When talking about church a ‘New Visitor’ status, they would texts and letters that are triggered by management software it’s highly receive the follow up Connection specific criteria you chose is vital to valuable and effective to have a Points you set up within the New keeping a healthy church connected system that allows you to make the Visitor Campaign. You may have it and thriving. majority of your communication set up so that the same day they are (Cont. on page 26)

August 2016 | 25 Whether you’re referring to politics, sports, or business, the best leaders are the best communi- cators. In the wise words of James Humes, “The art of communication is the language of leadership.” If you can communicate well, you can lead well. We also know that one of the strongest human needs is to feel valued and important. Churches that make it their priority to successfully communicate to their members their individual significance are the churches that stand head and shoulders above the rest. No one wants to feel like a blur in a sea of faces. Ask yourself, “Is my church missing the

Personal Touch?” MT

WCC-Lite is intentionally designed to help you build and sustain strong, long-lasting relationships with each visitor, member, and family in your congregation while making each person feel valued and important. Visit the website at www.wcclite.com and sign up for a free 30-day trial to see how to have to have personal and meaningful communication with your people.

26 | MinistryTech.com Know Your Church Software Provider

Practical Tips for Any Church Management Software Upgrade

he week starts again, a cup technology you are using. You If you’re consider- of coffee, small chat with a use this software every day, but ing a ChMS evalua- T few co-workers, and then do you really know your church you head to your desk to get the management software provider? tion and a possible day going. There is a good chance When was the last time you change, here are that it is just second nature dug into your ChMS? Have you few things to think now, when you sit down you evaluated what is out there for your through: fire up your PC, MAC, or even church? Just because you have used tablet. Click on a few programs, the same system for the last ten Church Software and then open up your Church years doesn’t mean it’s still the Service and Training Management Software (ChMS). right choice for your church today. Changing your ChMS, even if it’s You have things to do. Info What is your provider’s plan for the right path for your church, is a from last weekend’s events to new features? Since technology big task. Many churches have not enter, profiles to add or update, doesn’t sit still, your ChMS should evaluated or changed their ChMS emails to send, texts to type not be sitting still either. If you’ve in years, so moving to a new system out, contributions to enter, and seen the same features for the last in some ways is like learning a new a host of other responsibilities year with no updates, your ChMS is language. Regardless of how good that you hope your ChMS can standing still. your new ChMS is, regardless of handle. A lot depends on the how advanced the (Cont. on page 28)

August 2016 | 27 Just because you have used the same system for the last ten years doesn’t mean it’s still the right choice for your church today.

technology is, if your new ChMS — Does the ChMS assign as specific mobile device. If you haven’t thought partner can’t train and support your person to supportyour church? through your mobile strategy, you staff, the change will be a disaster. — What does implementation are falling behind and will soon The biggest area of complaint in look like? be unable to reach the majority of the ChMS arena is that the service- people who walk through your doors. — Can you call and get someone on providers deliver sub-par service. If the ChMS you are looking at does the phone? Churches can’t talk to anyone who not have an effective mobile solution, — How quickly does your ChMS can help them, or they have to wait it should not even be considered. If provider respond to support days (even weeks) for a response they do, consider the following: requests? from Support, or only a few people — Does it have the core within the church are even allowed — Are only certain people at the functionality you would expect to call. Even worse—it costs a church allowed to call? a mobile solution to have? premium to get the ChMS provider — Will they reach out to you — Can you edit profiles, take notes, to provide adequate support. proactively? move through processes, take If your current experience is like — Do you pay more each month for attendance, look up data, or this, you must ensure that any new a premium support package? check in children to an event? In partner will not be duplicating the — Are there online tutorials and essence, can your staff interact same service and support experience forums to assist you? and do their job effectively you have now. If you have great through their mobile devices? service now, but the technology is Church Software Mobile — Can you send push notifications? lacking, you have to know that your Functionality Register for events? Give new partner can support you. With Our world is now mobile. Your donations through the App? all this in mind, it is important to ChMS needs to be able to assist you Can your end users take their consider the following: in reaching the people who walk own attendance, check their own — What does service and support through your doors each week kids into events, read a bulletin, look like? through the medium they want or watch a sermon? to be reached, which is usually a

28 | MinistryTech.com Church Software Thought Leadership and Roadmap It’s critical for you to know the road map of your new ChMS. If the new ChMS you have chosen has no new releases scheduled for this year, or generally relies on what they have done in the past, they may not be the right choice for you. Technology changes so fast that any ChMS you consider must have a roadmap planned out for the next 12 to 18 months. You should know what is coming next from your new provider. (Equally important is to understand what they have released in the last 12 months: If they claim to have a robust roadmap in the future, but have not released a new feature in 12 months, are you confident that they really will deliver on those projected release dates?)

There are so many solutions available to churches now that it is an incredibly challenging task changing software systems. You may want to find a partner not just in the final ChMS decision, but also even in the search process. If the candidate provider is not helpful during the search process, it is highly unlikely that they will be helpful when you are an actual partner of theirs. So, take your time, ask questions, dig as deep as possible, and above all else know your new software provider. MT

August 2016 | 29 THE LAST WORD

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

Psalm 90:17 (ESV)