Ministry Tech Magazine - August 2017 by Now - Ministry Tech Magazine

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Social Media for Churches

August 2017

Where to Be, and How to Use It

CONTENTS

8.17

social media for churches– where to be and how to use it What channels should your church focus on, where should you spend your time?

A Word from the editor Ray Hollenbach Managing Editor Ray Hollenbach rhollenbach@outreach.com

Art Director Beth VanDyke

The Gift of Connectivity

4 5 Reasons why your church must prioritize social media

Vital features you should look for in a church app

bethvandyke.com

Contributing Editors Yvon Prehn Nick Nicholaou Russ McGuire Jonathan Smith Steven Sundermeier Kevin Purcell Steve Hewitt

Copy Editor

Embrace the inherent opportunities in social media.

Laura Severn

Publisher

How Christian Parents Can Use Social Media

Outreach Inc. 5550 Tech Center Dr. Colorado Springs, CO 80919 (800) 991-6011

Turn your social media team loose—to help families!

Ministry Tech® is a registered trademark of Outreach, Inc. Written materials submitted to Ministry Tech® Magazine become the property of Outreach, Inc. upon receipt

and may not necessarily be returned. Ministry Tech® Magazine reserves the right to make any changes to

TECH CHECK 8.17............................................................................... 7 START-UP | VisuALS Technology Solutions..................................20 What Happened to Novell?.............................................................23 Why Texting Is as Important as Social Media...............................29

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12 guidelines for church social media Social networking sites work together to enhance communication, foster faith sharing and deepen relationships.

materials submitted for publication that are deemed necessary for editorial purposes. The content of this publication may not be copied in any way, shape

The Medium Is the Message

ocial media isn’t really technology. It’s not software, and it’s not an app. It’s a place. In our connected world the various social media are the means of connectivity. From Facebook to Twitter to Instagram to Snap Chat, social media is how we stay connected. It only makes sense that the church—which is a community of connected believers—should be able to use social media to foster healthy relationships, genuine love and Christian connection. But because social media is a place, it’s easy for us to lose our way. We need guidance, something beyond Google maps, to help us navigate the world of social media in order to serve those people in our Christian communities. For example, take a look at the excellent opening article, “Five Reasons Why You Must Prioritize Social Media,” and you will discover that to be everywhere ineffectively is like being nowhere at all. Effective use of social media requires a coherent strategy, and also

the intentionality to execute that strategy well. Jonathan Smith’s article encourages us to take a close look at the most intimate usage of social media: within our families. Bill Gifford suggests practical and useful social media guidelines within our larger family, the church. And in the article “Social Media: Where Can Your Church Be Most Effective?” Yvon Prehn provides excellent suggestions for how to identify and mobilize a social media team within your church, whether your church is large or small. Christian theologian Marshall McLuhan observed more than 50 years ago “the medium is the message.” It turns out he was prophetic. Our choice of social media says as much about us as the content within the social media. It’s our hope at Ministry Tech that this issue will spur you to think deeply, not only about how to use social media but also how to use it well for God’s kingdom.

or form without the express 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

Cover illustration by Harryarts / Freepik

Ray Hollenbach is the Editor of Ministry Tech magazine. He has previously served as the editor of Outreach’s Better Preaching Update, and as the editor of the Pastor channel at Churchleaders.com. You can reach him at rhollenbach@outreach.com. August 2017 | 3

5 Reasons Why Your Church Must Prioritize social media

et’s face it: there are a lot of churches and ministries vying for people’s attention out there. If your church is involved— but not invested—in growing a digital presence and social media skills, you might be wasting your time and investment. But social media offers so many perks and possibilities it would be foolhardy not to spend some time devoted to your social media channels. In fact, it might the secret weapon for struggling churches, or a great tool to boost your attendance for important holidays. If you can’t justify time spent on social media, I encourage you to consider the following ways your ministry might be missing out.

SOCIAL MEDIA MIGHT BE THE FIRST PLACE PEOPLE FIND YOUR CHURCH

Being on Social Media Isn’t Enough | Google the phrase “church social media” and you’ll be served up over 200 million articles about using social platforms for your ministry. There’s no longer any question about whether your church should be on social media or not, but being on social media isn’t enough. You need to prioritize using it well. If you want to take advantage of all the opportunities social media provides you might need to elevate its importance. >>> 4 | MinistryTech.com

Illustration by Freepik

Over 46 percent of church planters say that social media is their most effective method of outreach. Think about that for a second . . . out of all the possible outreach methods, almost half of today’s church plants are seeing a bigger return for time they invest into social media than anything else. So it isn’t like social media is competing with your website for the most visible digital channel; it’s competing with every method churches are using to draw attention to themselves. With a thoughtful church strategy for social engagement and some regular money devoted

to advertising, you can create an awareness of your ministry and send people to your website where they can learn more. Plus, when you add the Facebook pixel to your site, you can retarget the people that Facebook has sent to your website.

YOU CAN BUILD 2 A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CONGREGATION’S FRIENDS Let’s face it; this is the reason you’re on Facebook. Through the likes and shares of your updates from people who already attend your church, your content is pushed into the feed of their friends and family. When you explain to your congregation that their interaction with your Facebook page is a form of outreach, you can build a strategy around sharing your culture with people who might be open to learning more.

FACEBOOK’S GROUPS AND EVENTS RIVAL SOME REAL LIFE CHURCH NETWORKS

There are some great software solutions out there for churches to use to facilitate digital community. But one thing that’s fantastic about Facebook is the fact that most of your people are already there every day. Using Facebook groups for ministries or studies is an incredibly easy (and free) was to keep everyone together and on the same page.

You can create groups for prayer, home groups, Bible studies, classes or lifestyle groups for people that like to do things like hike or garden. You can make them as private as you want, and you can invite people outside the church, too. This gives people another level of exposure and interaction with your church. Facebook events are another stellar way to raise awareness for an event. You can invite everyone in the church, and they can invite others, too. All updates and important information can be communicated in the event group. And you can even experiment with ads to promote your event. And, again, the great thing about it is everyone’s already on Facebook. (Check out our 10 Facebook Tips for Churches.)

YOU’RE MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE

Community is in transition. People are building important networks and connections online, and it is becoming a valuable way for people to connect. For instance, did you know that 35 percent of the couples married between 2005 and 2012 met online? Instead of fighting this transition, the church should be embracing its inherent positives and opportunities. We should be taking advantage of every tool at our disposal to reach people where they are, and there may be no greater tool available than social media. August 2017 | 5

SOCIAL 5 YOUR MEDIA ACCOUNTS REPRESENT YOUR CHURCH VITALITY I know it doesn’t feel like it should be the case, but when people come to one of your social media platforms and you haven’t updated it in months, it shapes their impression of your church. If you’re going to have a social-media presence, it’s important for you to regularly update it. This means that you need to be very particular about the social-media platforms your church adopts. It’s better to have one or two platforms you really excel at than to be on every platform and to do them terribly.

INTEGRATING SOCIAL MEDia WITH YOUR CHURCH APP If you already have a church app, you have an intuitive way to integrate social media into your engagement strategy. Since more people are using mobile devices to shop and interact online, an app is a great way to keep people involved, to tell your story, and to share your church’s teaching and content. People can share your content to their social-media platforms from your app and you can use your social channels to promote the app. It creates a seamless way to build an audience and expose more people to your church culture. If you don’t have a church app, contact echurch today for a free demo and find out how an app can revolutionize your engagement. MT 6 | MinistryTech.com

tech check

8.17 Say Good-bye to Jawbone! Just five years ago everyone was high on Jawbone, makers of uber-cool Bluetooth speakers and a rising competitor to Fitbit. But last month the company announced it was liquidating assets and shuttering the business. While your church may not have used jawbone speakers, the demise of this high-tech connectable firm is a call to consider whether you have a back-up plan in place if your hardware provider should close down. Remember Gateway Computers? How many budgetconscious churches bought their desktops, only to be left out in the cold when Acer acquired Gateway 10 years ago? The lesson? Make sure you have alternative paths forward before you invest in the next round of hardware. n EDITOR’S NOTE: Who can possibly keep up with all the tech options available these days? TECH CHECK highlights tech news and new gadgets that save you time, energy, money—and keep you from re-inventing the wheel. Have a hot tech tip or news item? Email rhollenbach@outreach.com.

Can a Chair be High-Tech? Let’s face it: the biggest innovation in church seating was the move from pews to padded chairs—or theater seats. What does this have to do with technology? Your sanctuary may not be in line for a seating upgrade, but every church employee has to sit somewhere, and it turns out that sitting might be the new smoking. For decades the business world has known the benefits in ergonomic seating. What are you doing to serve the people who do the work in your church? Check out the industry-standard Aeron Chair for Herman Miller, and don’t let the retail price give you sticker-shock: it just might save you from a workman’s compensation suit. n

Photo: HermanMiller.com

Space design for auditorium Perhaps building a new sanctuary is beyond your reach, but have you considered consulting with a design firm about the best use of your current space, or whether to start a building campaign? Or perhaps you need to see your church space through new eyes. Companies like The Aspen Group or magazines like Church Designer are valuable resources even years before you might consider a new facility. Many churches have discovered they have all the space the need—if they reconfigure it, or re-imagine new uses for the space. So the next time a capital campaign comes up at a deacons’ meeting, why not be ready with some valuable design assistance. n August 2017 | 7

How Christian Parents Can Use

Social Media

Turn Your Social Media Team Loose—To Help Families! by Jonathan Smith

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t’s hard to believe, but social media as we know it today has only been around for the past decade. As a medium of communication, social media now dominates all other forms of communication. Social media is the number one reason folks get online. Facebook recently announced that they have over two billion users. That’s almost one third of the planet using a single platform for communication. Social media discussions in ministry used to center around how to use it. What role does it have in the church? How can we use

it effectively to spread the gospel message? Who should manage it? These were good discussions as churches are naturally able to post current content to the various social media platforms thanks to the content created for Sundays each week. There are also plenty of resources available on the topic of how to use social media effectively in churches and ministries. There is, however, a new area opening up where churches can use their knowledge of social media to help those they serve. I hope that we can all agree that the primary goal of the Christian life is to be growing to become more like Christ.

Christianity is not standing still, it is constantly moving toward being like our Savior. This side of heaven, that is a continuous process that ends when believers are ultimately sanctified with Christ when He calls His church. We call it “progressive sanctification” because it is never completed during our lifetime. So how can churches and ministries apply progressive sanctification to social media? Thanks for asking. One area of tremendous need and ministry potential is helping to close the technology and knowledge gap between parents and their kids regarding the use of social media. Churches seeking to minister to those in their communities will find many opportunities when it comes to parenting and social media. If there is any organization best positioned to help parents grow and become more sanctified as they work to help their children grow and become more sanctified, it is the church. It should be natural for parents to turn to the church for help in this area, but is the church ready to help them or is it more focused on its own social media presence on helping parents and children grow in how they use theirs? There is a lot of demand for help in this area. I travel and speak frequently on the topic and know there are many others who do as well. Here are three ways churches can take their knowledge of social media and use it to help parents help their kids become more like Christ.

Churches seeking to minister to their communities will find many opportunities when it comes to parenting and social media. Churches can take their knowledge of social media and use it to help parents help their kids become more like Christ.

Available Fall 2017 Social Media for Teenagers

A resource for teens and people who care about them Written by Jonathan Smith MinistryTech Contributing Editor & National Speaker

www.TRISTANPublishing.com

August 2017 | 9

Stay Current

Share Resources One of the benefits of social media is that we are able to reach people we may not normally reach. We can post something and those in our church can share it, allowing us to exponentially reach folks who may not normally check out anything our ministry posts. Churches can leverage this sharing to post information on parenting and social media. This is also one way churches can show gratitude for all those shares. Instead of keeping the social media team locked in an office, that team can be used to share information on parenting and social media and provide tips and helps to parents and kids alike.

Provide Education Social media education can be a huge outreach ministry. Remember the social media team locked in the 10 | MinistryTech.com

office? What if they taught classes for those in your community on how to use social media? What if these classes allowed you to serve folks who normally would never set foot in your building? We teach classes on finances, why not parenting classes with a focus on social media? Parents are looking to understand what Snapchat is, for example, and then how to help their kids use it responsibly. Layer a Christian worldview on top of that and social media education is now an outreach opportunity for your church to show love to those in your community. Survey after survey and study after study show that all parents, from all backgrounds, and with any worldview, struggle with helping their kids use social media responsibly because they themselves don’t understand it.

Social media is always changing, and it’s easy to get left behind. What’s new today is old tomorrow. Want to know what’s going to be the next big social media platform? Watch where the teens go. While churches may be slower than teens to start using new social media platforms, eventually, they get there. As the church stays current it can also help parents stay up-to-date. It’s understandable that parents may be nervous, as keeping up is hard to do, but this is where your ministry can continue to share resources and provide education into the future. The opportunities to serve parents and youth around you will continue as social media itself continues to evolve. The goal is Christlikeness. Christlikeness is a progressive process that we should all work hard at. Churches should use the social media resources they’ve been given to help educate parents so they can be better equipped to help their kids not only use social media responsibly, but also in a manner that pleases God and advances His Kingdom. MT Jonathan Smith is the Director of Technology at Faith Ministries in Lafayette, Indiana. You can reach Jonathan at jsmith@faithlafayette.org and follow him on Twitter @JonathanESmith.

Additional Resources For additional resources on parenting and social media, as well as information on hosting a parenting and technology conference, please visit http:// faithlafayette.org/parenttech. Refer back to this site often as resources are added as technology and social media continue to evolve. There are two mini-books on social media coming this fall from Tristan Publishing. One is Social Media for Teenagers. This mini-book is written to teenagers and helps them address the challenges they face using social media and teaches them how to use it for God’s glory. The other book is 101 Ways to be Nice and Good Online. This mini-book is a list for all ages on how to be a good online citizen from a Christian worldview. It’s a great way to grow online by working on one or two ideas at a time. Be on the lookout next year for a book from Tristan Publishing for parents with specifics on social media platforms and how to honor God as you raise children in a social media driven world. For more information email info@tristanpublishing.com.

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August 2017 | 11

1Social 2

Guidelines for Church

Media Allow the Human Side of Your Organization to Shine! | by Bill Gifford Social media touches all aspects of our lives, from work, to school, to religious institutions. Social networking sites, on-the-spot communication devices, email—these all work together to enhance communication, foster faith sharing and deepen relationships. Is social media important for churches?

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Yes! Social media allows the human side of an organization to shine. A church is not about the brick and mortar. The pastor is a real person just like everyone else; he has struggles, triumphs and questions just as we all do. Using social media allows the pastor and staff to connect with their members and build relationships. Other ministries outside your organization also get to experience the personal side of the church, and that can attract new members. We noticed this powerful effect through our own company postings on social media and our blog. The biggest responses came from personal things like pictures of our first snowfall in the Upper Midwest, a picture of chocolates from a partner, and our team at the company holiday party. Although many of our blogs discuss important aspects of church software and include pictures, the response rate is lower. Why? The blogs are viewed as information to consume; people learn from them and move on. People are more likely to respond to a personal story about Icon Systems and its employees. Social media can also be very useful at a more administrative level. Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and other social media platforms are great ways for churches to communicate with members, organize events and attract new visitors.

Although social media is convenient and fun, it can have drawbacks. Following some basic rules can help keep social media safe and enjoyable for all. Disclaimer: The following list provides a few guidelines for healthy boundaries and safety of the church in the virtual world of networking and communication. Every organization should develop their own policy to fit the unique needs of the church.

Treat everything you share on social media like it’s public. All communication sent digitally (email, social networking sites, notes or posts) is not confidential. It’s so easy for someone to take a screenshot of a conversation or post and share it publicly with others.

Keep records.

All transcripts of online chats, blogs and videos should be saved when possible.

Use private groups where needed.

Be mindful of your audience.

Adults who minister to youth and who want to connect via a social networking website can set up a private group account for the youth and their families. That way, events and activities can be discussed openly and everyone can stay informed.

All clergy and adults who work with youth should consider the content of

any post that could be read by youth. Your words are often considered the voice of the church.

Sometimes face-to-face conversations are more appropriate. Email or instant messaging is not appropriate for matters that are pastorally or legally sensitive, emotionally charged or require extensive conversation. If a message is longer than a couple of sentences, it might be better to talk in person.

Set healthy boundaries.

Be smart about what you say.

In the world of social media, boundaries and safety practices must mirror the physical world. For example, a youth leader would not hold a conversation alone with a child, and should also not have a private chat on Facebook.

As the saying goes, common sense isn’t always common practice. The purpose of social media is to communicate with and inform your network, but make sure you do so tastefully and without revealing too much information. For instance, avoid advertising the location (or future location) of minors. It’s safer not to post something like the following: ‘The annual youth group lockin will be at the local YMCA on Saturday night from 9pm to 8am. See you there!’ August 2017 | 13

Get permission.

Make sure you have permission when posting prayer requests; some people may not want personal matters shared online. If you do get permission, keep in mind some situations are extremely sensitive and you don’t need to share every little detail. Don’t post this: ‘Please pray for Susan—she is driving out of state this weekend to care for her mother who is experiencing postoperative complications after her rhinoplasty.’ Post this instead: ‘Please pray for Susan—she is traveling this weekend to visit her mother.’

Respect copyrights.

Speaking of permission, verify the material isn’t copyrighted when posting things that are not your own (e.g., professional directory photos, clip art, videos, articles). Share a link to a video instead of embedding it on the church’s website, or share a link to an article instead of copying and pasting it in a blog post. (Here’s a post on sourcing free or low-cost photos.)

You probably already refrain from posting offensive content, but also make sure your posts are relevant and

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control what others say, but most social media platforms allow you to block repeat offenders who continue to post offensive items.

Monitor social media accounts regularly.

Assign church staff or volunteers to monitor posts and delete any inappropriate content. Giving more than one person access to the accounts is a smart idea; that way if your social media manager goes on vacation or leaves, the accounts will still be updated. As insurance, post a disclaimer. (Just do a Google search for ‘Social Media Disclaimer’ if you need some examples.) You can’t

Post content that is relevant.

REACH EVERY NEW NEIGHBOR WITH AN INVITATION TO CHURCH!

meaningful to everyone visiting the site. For instance, referring to an inside joke can alienate those who don’t know the story behind the humor.

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Enter your church address.

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Choose an invitation design.

PREPARE TO GREET AND WELCOME NEW MOVERS.

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Remember, social media pages can serve as a first impression to people outside of the church. Although content such as group discussions should be private, make sure some of the information is public so others can learn about the church and its mission. To use Facebook as an example, the church could have a public Fan Page with posts for everyone to see and also have a private group for members to share pictures, videos and prayer requests. Read our post about Facebook to get instructions for creating a closed or secret group and other useful tips.

Collaborate and stay

connected.

Using social media allows

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your organization to reach diverse members both within and outside your church, from college students to busy moms. Implementing guidelines for how your organization engages in social media will help ensure safety to your staff and members. Learn about additional steps you can take to ensure safety with background checks of staff and volunteers through IconCMO. MT Bill Gifford is the president of Icon Systems in Moorhead, Minnesota. For more than 20 years, Icon Systems has been developing software that

Get my free trial

will meet the needs of any religious organization—from church plants to denominational offices. To find out more visit www.iconcmo.com.

14 | MinistryTech.com

August 2017 | 15

Where should your church be on social media? The answer isn’t easy, primarily because of the qualifier: “your church.” Keep foremost in your mind as you plan and execute any social media strategy that you are doing this as a representative of Jesus, serving his sheep in the church. This is a challenging group of sheep! They come in all ages and all stages of interest in and interaction with social media. To answer where a church should be, you both need to look at where to be in the secular world of social media, and then you need to apply it to your church.

Current social media trends One of the best overviews of current trends in social media was put out this year by WordStream. It was updated in May 2017. Among other fascinating tidbits it shared that: ●● 83 percent of female Internet users and 75 percent of male Internet users are on Facebook. ●● 22 percent of the world’s total population uses Facebook.

Social Media for Churches

Where to Be, and How to Use It

by Yvon Prehn | The world of social media is vast. New options appear frequently. It’s both exciting (in that we have new ways to reach and disciple our world for Jesus) and at the same time overwhelming because of the challenges in the time and skills needed to make the most of these opportunities. In the midst of this challenge, what channels should your church focus on, where should you be spending your time? And how do you get all the work done you want to in order to make the most of social media for your church? First, we’ll look at the where and then some ideas for the how.

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●● 32 percent of teenagers consider Instagram to be the most important social network. ●● Most Instagram users are between 18 to 29 years old, which is about 6 in 10 online adults. ●● 81 percent of Millennials check Twitter at least once per day. ●● On any given day, Snapchat reaches 41 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds in the US. ●● YouTube (and even YouTube on mobile devices alone) reaches more 18- to 34- and 18- to 49-year-olds than any cable network in the U.S.

Social media is both exciting (in that we have new ways to reach and disciple our world for Jesus) and at the same time overwhelming because of the challenges in the time and skills needed to make the most of these opportunities. Word Stream developed several conclusions: 1. Facebook continues to be the most widely used social media platform, reaching 79 percent of American Internet users. Based on the total U.S. population—not just Internet users— that’s 68 percent of U.S. adults! 2. Every other platform trails behind: Instagram receives the silver medal with 32 percent of users; Pinterest comes in a close third with 31 percent, followed by LinkedIn and Twitter at 29 percent and 24 percent respectively. Another excellent overview of social media usage was compiled in January 2017 by the Pew Research Center. Their statistics were similar to the study above, but two summary quotes are worth noting: s more Americans have adopted A social media, the social media

Illustration by Harryarts / Freepik

user base has also grown more representative of the broader population. Young adults were among the earliest social media adopters and continue to use these sites at high levels, but usage by older adults has increased in recent years. And: acebook is the most widely used F of the major social media platforms, and its user base is most broadly representative of the population as a whole. What a striking statistic: 68 percent of the U.S. population as a whole uses Facebook. Many of the people your church wants to reach are on Facebook. Is your church reaching them through it? The other channels also reach a large number of people more dependent on age and interest, but still, they too touch many people your church reaches and disciples.

August 2017 | 17

Your first step: Refine the statistics for your church and your area Though the statistics and studies are a great overall starting point, you don’t have unlimited time, volunteers or money. Take a little time to refine the data for your church. You can do this in two ways: Look at your community: who do you want to reach? Study your community by using one of the many demographic studies available to churches (check with your denomination or the census bureau

media outreach emphasis than a church starting in a retirement community (and yes, churches are starting in them). In using social media for your internal church communications and discipleship efforts, I highly recommend a survey of your church attenders and members to see what they use. You can use online surveys such as Survey Monkey, but the problem with that is you will only

contains a list of social media channels and asks people to check which ones they use. It’s short and simple. Warning: no one will want to do this. The pastoral and worship staff will complain about the interruption (it will take maybe five minutes). The administrative staff won’t want to hand count the responses (just quick checks on how many of each one checked), but if

for data). You will be able to refine where you want to put your efforts. Though Facebook is a constant, if your community is younger and urban, you’ll need a different social

get responses from people who care enough to be on email. One of the best ways to get an accurate measure is a short survey on Sunday morning that

you really want to tailor your communications to the people you have been instructed to serve, nothing beats knowing where they are in social media usage.

In using social media for your internal church communications and discipleship efforts, I highly recommend a survey of your church attenders and members to see what they use.

How to reach people via social media Does it make you tired to even think about all the work that needs to be done to reach and disciple the people you want to on social media? If you are like most overworked church communicators the answer is an obvious “yes,” no matter how much you wish you were doing more. What is the answer? Haley Veturis, from Saddleback Church, has a fantastic solution. Her answer is to acknowledge that one person can’t do everything that needs to be done in your church in social media. You need a group of people, an army that she calls “advocates.” Veturis suggests you start with a community of people who care 18 | MinistryTech.com

about the church and each other. Come up with some basic guidelines and expectations they can agree to. These people overflow with love for Jesus, the Word, your church, and are already on social media. Commission them to speak for the church on social media in these three primary areas: CONNECT: First, engage with people on social media. Respond to comments, mentions, tags; follow back. Like and comment. One of my favorite ideas is to have a “Prayer Time” on Facebook, where you ask people to share their prayer requests and tell them that every “Like” they get means someone is praying for them.

TEACH: Use social media to educate people with content from weekend teaching. Turn sermon notes into bite-size pieces. “Serve them a little snack and then show them where they can get the rest of the meal,” Veturis said. “Give them lightbulb moments that can create self-reflection.” One way Saddleback did this was to create a social media graphic with a quote from the sermon on it. (You can easily do this with Canva. Check out the lesson, How to Create Social Media Images for Church PR). SHARE: This is where you expose your community to ministry opportunities and events

that have practical, helpful, and transformative content. There was much more to her presentation, but I trust these three areas give you some initial ideas on ways to start your own team of advocates who can do effective social media sharing for your church. What is important overall in her approach is that because you have a team to share the social media ministry, you can take time to build community, to be real people online and to present the love of Jesus as much more than a hurried, “get the notice out there for the upcoming special event at church.”

Keep foremost in your mind as you plan and execute any social media strategy that you are doing this as a representative of Jesus, serving his sheep in the church.

And Finally. . . Social media is here to stay. It will continue to evolve and expand. The most important advice I can give you in your approach to it is not to worry or work overly hard on trying to achieve social media expertise as you try to figure out where your people are and how to reach them. Instead, pray hard that God will give you a team of people who can share the ministry and who delight in using the new tools of social media to share the eternal story of God’s love for us, his desire for our salvation, and his goal to help us all grow to become like Jesus. MT Yvon Prehn is the founder and director of Effective Church Communications, www. effectivechurchcom.com, a ministry that helps churches create communications that will help them fully fulfill the Great Commission. She has been writing and teaching about church communications for over 20 years. Her latest book is The Five Steps of Effective Church Communication and Marketing. August 2017 | 19

STARTUP

VisuALS Technology Solutions The Inspiring Intersection of Tech, Marketing . . . and Accounting!

Russ McGuire russ.mcguire@gmail.com A trusted advisor with proven strategic insights, Russ has been blessed by God in many ways including serving as a corporate executive, co-founding technology startups and writing a technology/business book. More importantly, he’s a husband and father who cares about people, and a committed Christian who seeks to honor God in all that he does. His newest venture is as Entrepreneur in Residence at Oklahoma Christian University.

English, his dad thought Marketing would be better, but God had something else in mind. Jevon wasn’t able to get in all of the classes he wanted, so he found himself in an accounting class, and he loved it. He truly felt called by God to work with numbers to help businesses prosper. When he heard about the VisuALS project, it was an answer to prayer. While Jevon felt called to be an accountant, he struggled with how he could use accounting to love God and love his neighbor, beyond just making good money and being generous with his giving.

“I Love You” The engineering team did a great job with the software, and by January of this year, they were ready to get some feedback. The team, including Jevon, went to a local ALS Support Group meeting and explained what they’d been working on. Carl Phelps had been diagnosed with ALS two years before and had been unable to speak for the past year. He could still walk, but was losing the ability to use his hands and typing had become very difficult. He walked over and sat down in front of the VisuALS system and started typing and talking with his eyes. For

the first time in a year he was able to say to his wife, Janice, “I love you.” He also gave the students feedback on how to make it better, and after using the system for 45 minutes, told them, “I’m not giving this back until you tell me when I can have my own.” Two weeks later, the students brought the system to the Phelps home and got it set up. You can see the impact on their lives in a video on YouTube titled “VisuALS— Christian Entrepreneurship at OC.” Through that interaction, VisuALS became more than just a school project. Jevon shared, “Getting to know Carl and Janice,

by Russ McGuire

ometimes things just come together in a special way. The world calls that coincidence, but we know it’s God’s providence. This month I’m excited to share the story of VisuALS Technology Solutions, a company that sprung forth from the Oklahoma Christian University campus where I serve, and the story of Jevon Seaman, a young man being used by God to give a voice to the voiceless.

Human Flourishing Six months ago my monthly column talked about entrepreneurship and human flourishing, and throughout the Spring semester, that was the theme for my discussions with students. So I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that God would bless us with a student project that is becoming a business 20 | MinistryTech.com

that can greatly enrich the lives of thousands. About three years ago, Ash Srinivas, a student in OC’s Masters of Engineering program, approached Professor Steve Maher with a proposed project for an undergraduate senior capstone electrical engineering systems team. Ash had a friend from church with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, aka Lou Gehrig’s Disease) who was losing the ability to control much of his body, including his voice, his hands and his arms. Ash knew that technology was advancing fast and a communications solution should be possible for much less than the $20,000 price on existing products. In the Spring of 2015, a team of three engineering students started working on software to enable ALS patients to type, and with text-tospeech, to speak with their eyes.

Before their graduation in the Spring of 2016, Ash’s friend tried it out and said it was a good start. The team handed it off to a new team of four engineering students, who called the project VisuALS. Professor Maher recognized the commercial potential and asked me to help. I recruited a marketing student and an accounting student to help build a business plan.

An Accountant With Heart

In the Spring of 2015, a team of three engineering students started working on software to enable ALS patients to type, and with textto-speech, to speak with their eyes and regain their voice to say “I love you” to those around them.

Jevon was that accounting student. For as long as he can remember, he’s been serving in the church. Being in a small congregation, everyone in his family finds ways to serve, and they’ve taken missions trips to help another small church in Germany with community outreach. When Jevon arrived at OC, he thought he wanted to study August 2017 | 21

and giving Carl a voice, showed a world beyond his disease—who he was and continues to be. Carl was able to share with us that he still wants to be a disciple of Christ and he shared his favorite verse, Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that

so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Impacted Jevon has been personally impacted by this encounter and has also adopted Hebrews 12:1 as his own mission. “What do I want those witnesses to see in my own life? I need

to run with perseverance the goal set before me. It’s easy for me to say, ‘I don’t know how’ or ‘I can’t’ but I need to throw off those hindrances, get out of my comfort zone, and do what needs to be done.” That’s the mindset of an entrepreneur, and doing it all for the glory of God as a Christian entrepreneur. The engineering students have graduated and started their corporate careers. Jevon will be an accounting senior at OC this year, but he’s also stepped up as Chief Operating Officer for VisuALS Technology Solutions, LLC. He’s helping launch the business to help thousands of more Carl’s. Lord willing, at the beginning of September, VisuALS will begin selling their product for $3,000, a fraction of the cost of existing solutions, so that many who couldn’t previously afford it can now regain their voice and say “I love you” to those around them. MT

In this article series, we’ve defined a Christian entrepreneur as a person driven to glorify God in all he or she does, and ruled by the Word of God, who starts a new venture and is willing to risk a loss in order to achieve the success of the venture. Each month I’ve been introducing you to specific Christian startups and entrepreneurs, some of which may be helpful to your church, ministry, business or family, but my main intent is to encourage and inspire you to be entrepreneurial in your ministry and career. Are there Christian startups I should know about? Contact me at russ.mcguire@gmail.com. 22 | MinistryTech.com

What Happened to

Novell?

IT Lessons Learned From the Fall of a Great Company

by Nick Nicholaou

nce upon a time, computers were like islands in the ocean: separate and disconnected. Then a Utah company called Novell created a reliable way for them to communicate and share files that revolutionized the workplace! The network was born and staff productivity soared! Few today know who Novell was, but we still benefit from their inventive engineering. What can solution providers, IT professionals and churches learn from Novell’s story?

Some Novell History Novell developed the technology to reliably connect computers and share data on any PC running on an Intel processor. There were competitors, of course, but none of them could keep up with the engineering and strategies Novell pioneered in its networking product, NetWare. It was innovative! Then they developed a global directory service (NDS), an email system

(GroupWise) and a security proxy server (BorderManager) that made networking powerful, dependable and safe for companies of any size. A few years after Novell changed the structure of their networks by adding the global directory service, Microsoft decided to enter the networking game and created

providers, for IT professionals and for churches in looking at what happened to Novell.

Lessons to Solution Providers When Microsoft decides to compete head on, it often wins. The companies that pioneer

When looking for a solution, choose maturing and proven technologies; avoid the bleeding edge and stay just behind the leading edge. similar products to Novell’s, like Active Directory and Exchange. By 2000 Microsoft was pulling companies away from Novell’s solutions.

Why Does This Matter? Novell’s NetWare was a superior product for years, but Microsoft won! What happened? There are lessons to be learned for solution

solutions which propel the IT industry in new directions are always at risk from Microsoft— even if Microsoft’s solutions are not fully matched in quality for many years. Novell is an example, as was Lotus 1-2-3 and WordPerfect. The only way to survive competing with Microsoft is to continue to innovate, and to market at a ridiculously high level to keep people’s imaginations August 2017 | 23

pointed your way. We’re seeing history begin to repeat itself with hypervisor technology. VMware, similar to Novell, pioneered the hypervisor, which allows a physical server to

become a host to multiple virtual servers. VMware had about 71 percent of the market in 2016 (down about three percent from the previous year) and is currently the foundation for most of the

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cloud. Microsoft’s hypervisor (Hyper-V) is currently about 23 percent, and Citrix’s Zen is about 6 percent. The question is: What is VMware doing to keep IT professionals focused on their solutions? They continue to innovate, but are being heard from and talked about less and less in the marketplace. VMware needs to change its posture and recapture the imagination of the marketplace if it is going to survive.

Lessons to IT Professionals

platform or solution has put a horizon on their career. The discipline to stay aware of new technologies and shifting trends requires constant vigilance, humility and flexibility.

Lessons to Churches and Ministries Churches can rarely afford to become hardware and software development labs for companies hoping to become the next Microsoft. When looking for a solution, choose maturing and proven technologies; avoid

the bleeding edge and stay just behind the leading edge. Doing so will deliver acquisition and implementation savings, and improve team effectiveness. There are always folks ready to tell you what new solution or platform you should move to, but do your due diligence before agreeing. Research how IT professionals perceive the maturity of the option you’re considering, and check its market trend. Many technologies have entered the marketplace that had terrific promise, yet they were left in the tech-dust as the industry went in another direction. MT

Nick Nicholaou is president of MBS, an IT consulting firm specializing in church and ministry computer networks, VoIP and private cloud hosted services. You can reach Nick at nick@mbsinc.com, and may want to check out his firm’s website, www.mbsinc.com, and his blog at ministry-it.blogspot.com.

IT professionals tend to focus their expertise on specific platforms and solutions because they know how to make them work well. IT professionals once argued the merits of Novell NetWare vs Microsoft Windows Server; NetWare is rarely seen anymore. (My firm’s last client running a Novell NetWare network finally transitioned to Windows Server in 2016. They kept NetWare in place because it just kept working! But it was no longer supported; a decision needed to be made.) IT professionals used to argue the merits of WordPerfect vs Microsoft Word, and of Lotus 1-2-3 vs Excel, too! Now IT professionals argue the merits of VMware ESXi vs Microsoft Hyper-V. IT professionals need to constantly stay aware of new technologies and shifting trends. Any IT professional who decides to doggedly stay with a hardware August 2017 | 25

The Gift of

Connectivity

Awareness Leads to Engagement You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. Matthew 5:14-15

VITAL FEATURES YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR IN A CHURCH APP

Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds. Proverbs 27:23

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In today’s busy world sometimes it can be difficult to know how to find your flock, let alone provide them the attention needed. That’s where technology is a real friend to ministry. With more than three quarters of Americans now using smartphones, churches must not resist such an important tool in broadening their reach. Churches often struggle to understand just how revolutionary and critical

mobile technology can be to their mission. By offering people the tools they need to stay connected to their church, where they will actually use them (on their phone), churches prove a true understanding of their congregants and a real willingness to attend to their needs anytime, anyplace. But, what features really matter most to you and your church? Let’s break it down so you can decide:

Quite simply, you cannot hide your light (or your app) under a bushel. Let’s face it: if your members cannot find your app or are not aware it exists, there really is no other feature that matters. This is where branding comes in. You may not think of your place of worship as a “brand” but in reality your church’s name and the feeling it evokes in your members defines you. The more your members see it the more they identify with you. Many church apps fail to recognize just how crucial this correlation is. Some apps don’t allow churches to use their own name on the mobile app as it appears on the phone. Instead, the church is made to use the name of a third party developer, which can be confusing for members. The ideal app allows you to stay true to your brand: your own church!

Mobile apps like the Seraphim ChurchApp provide options so you can actually name your app after your individual church, making finding your app stress-free and using it a less intimidating experience. Those who use your ChurchApp will feel an instant connection. Only core personnel and back office staff should be aware of who actually developed your app. After all, does anyone else really care? The Seraphim ChurchApp even goes so far as to offer churches the ability to use their own vernacular in labeling within the app. Each church can change the navigation and use terms that pertain solely to the church. No longer is there any need to compromise your brand by working within a template that does not meet your needs, or requires you to use terms and vocabulary your church does not use. What to display can be up to you!

Integration Extends Your Reach But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22

Your mobile app must not provide only one-way communication or serve as a static billboard. It should provide a fully dynamic approach to

interacting with and empowering your members. Look for an advanced integrated application that works seamlessly as it connects your back office directly to mobile users in real time. An option like the Seraphim ChurchApp automatically publishes live content from your database to the app. For instance, put a couple’s anniversary in your database and it can instantly be seen in the ChurchApp by your pastor who might just happen to be with that couple and can now offer them a prayer for their marriage then and there. An integrated approach will provide you and your church with the tools it needs, at the time it needs them, and in the forms that make the most sense. Other app features to consider from apps like the Seraphim ChurchApp include: ■■ Event management calendar— Offers event mapping in addition to calendar ■■ Online Giving—Happens instantly and maintains financial history ■■ Directory—Updates instantly as members create/edit their own address book ■■ Task Tracking—Monitors tasks as assigned ■■ Small Groups Management— Engages and allows better workflow ■■ Prayer Requests—Happen immediately when needed

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Give the gift of a strong, connected church to your congregation and all will benefit.

Support Is Mission Critical Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

your church—ministry management, volunteers, congregants, administration—you need to find an app that not only recognizes who is using it and why, but that truly cares. Whatever path you choose, be intentional in your mission as you cultivate and build your church culture. Give the gift of a strong, connected church to your congregation and all will benefit. MT

Why Texting Is as Important as Social Media

Not everyone in your community will be interacting with your mobile app the same way. With so many different roles and responsibilities at

[ by Nicholas You ]

hen you are trying to stay in touch with your congregation and get parishioners excited about what’s going on in church, using a texting

service can get your younger members engaged more readily. Teenagers respond faster to texts than they do to any other form of communication, and a church that is able to text is more likely to reach Millennials. While the older population may prefer face-to-face

contact, it is standard communication for the younger crowd to text on a consistent basis. 28 | MinistryTech.com

August 2017 | 29

According to Business Insider, the average Millennial exchanges an average of 67 text messages per day. Millennials rely on their mobile devices like no other generation.

Millennials Use Their Technology Frequently According to Business Insider, the average Millennial exchanges an average of 67 text messages per day. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to use automated texting services to reach your church members, and it is clear that Millennials prefer the automated texting approach for communication beyond any other type of texting or messaging solutions. Millennials rely on their mobile devices like no other generation. 83 percent of Millennials have their cell phone next to them while they sleep at night. Cell phones are seen as a necessity to Millennials, and 41 percent report not having a land line installed in their home.

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Create a Social Media Presence to Interact With Your Congregation The younger generation also uses social media frequently, and this is a great way to get initial messages out to your church members. Status updates get buried in news feeds. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to follow up social media posts with targeted, automatic text messages to keep your church members both informed and reminded of events to come. These messages can be personalized for various groups within the church, or for each individual receiving the texts. Reinforcing the sermon and fostering connections between mentors and youth members is easier when you connect with the youth on their level, using the same technology that they are so

sign up for the texting service, welcoming them to the church. This is an excellent way to let new members know what is going on in the church, how to connect with a variety of ministries, and to share upcoming events. When you want to welcome new members and provide information on what goes on in your church, a text messaging service will help you reach new members.

accustomed to. Text messaging is essential communication with the younger generation when you are trying to foster clear communication. When you want to get your message across, there is no better way than to use the technology your younger crowd is constantly in touch with. n Reach each ministry group easier with a group text, creating content that is specific for the ministry you want to send a message to. n You can create ministry lists, and send out group text surveys to the group easily with a texting service for churches in place. How you connect to your parish matters, and the variety of messages you can send to increase your connection is unlimited. Send out messages to new members who

n Send out relevant happenings in the news that might interest your Millennials. This is a way to show your younger members that you are paying attention to the news, and that you value their input on what is happening in the world. When you share important news, this may foster discussions on things that are happening in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s society. n Reach your members who may be in need of inspiration by sending out a relevant Bible verse; the options are truly endless. Once members have signed up, you can set up a schedule of messages for them to receive to remind them of all the wonderful happenings at your church. When you have a church parish and you want to communicate with the younger crowd, a texting service for churches is your answer.

the generations, inspire church members, and be able to provide up to date information for each mission group within your church. You can reach new members, providing information about what your church has to offer, and you

will create a new way for your parishioners to remain connected with your church. For more information on setting up a Text System for your church, download a complimentary copy of our Religious Organizations Spotlight. MT

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With a text messaging software in place, you will be able to reach your younger members in the way that they connect most. You will build bridges between August 2017 | 31

THE LAST WORD

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22â&#x20AC;&#x201C;23 ESV

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