Lorem ipsum
TECHNOLOGY EMPOWERING MINISTRY FELLOWSHIP FOR CHURCH IT • COMMUNICATION: PICTURES OR WORDS?
EASY CHANGES YOU CAN START TODAY
CHURCH DIGITAL OUTREACH STRATEGY WORSHIP INSPIRATION
AUGUST 2018 WWW.MINISTRYTECH.COM
CONTENTS
08.18
12 IT'S TIME TO CHANGE (AGAIN) It’s a mindset: In the world of IT, change is a constant.
4 BACKSTAGE INSPIRATION
if only i could fellowship with techies!
Unused instruments could be a pathway to new inspiration and opportunity.
Fellowship is important— especially for church IT folks!
15 DIGITAL ICONS OR CONCRETE WORDS? Steve Jobs: "Pictures are easy. Words are hard."
8 WHY YOUR CHURCH NEEDS A DIGITAL OUTREACH STRATEGY TECH CHECK 08.18............................................... 11 MinistryTech.com AUGUST 2018
It’s shocking how many churches haven’t gotten into the game
18 |2
A Word from the editor Ray Hollenbach
Managing Editor
Ray Hollenbach
Art Directors
Troy Irvin, Henny Vallee
Contributing Editors
Matt Farrand, Russ McGuire, Caleb Neff, Nick Nicholaou, Mike Norris, Yvon Prehn, Jonathan Smith, Steven Sundermeier
Copy Editor Laura Severn
ADVERTISING VP Advertising Sales
Jared Bryant
National Media Consultants
Cody Binder, Nikki Dirks, Charles Fleece, Malari Foster, Joseph Landry, Seth Rankin, Barbara (McDonald) Wolfe, Ryan Yoder
Account Associates
Leslie Massey, Bethany Payne, Syndie Porter, Nicole Vargas, Lara Whelan
Administrative Director Rebecca Meyer
Publisher
Outreach Inc. 5550 Tech Center Dr. Colorado Springs, CO 80919 (800) 991-6011 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 materials submitted for publication that are deemed necessary for editorial purposes. The content of this publication may not be copied in any way, shape 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 Ministry Tech® magazine, or Outreach, Inc. © Copyright 2018 Outreach, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
MinistryTech.com AUGUST 2018
You remember the dark ages, Christians have always been don’t you? The 1960s through the aware of the subtle influences of 1980s? technology, even while we press new • When “PC” referred to “punch card” inventions into God’s service. I love rather than “personal computer”? this mini-parable from the great A.W. • When Christians were worried a Tozer (who preached decades before supercomputer in Belgium called smartphones and PCs): “The Beast” was the beginning of “If God gives you a watch, are you the Apocalypse (they were sure it honoring Him more by asking Him was the beast mentioned in the what time it is or by simply book of Revelation!)? consulting the watch?” •W hen barcode technology was This has always been the accused of being a secret way of challenge for God’s people: how to assigning 666 to every product apply the learning and invention of bought or sold? men toward the glory of God. And it It wasn’t so will always be our long ago when challenge, whether If God gives you a watch, these examples we are dealing with are you honoring Him more were popular databases or space by asking Him what time it is preaching topics stations. or by simply consulting from Christian Still, it’s always the watch? pulpits. There has wise to remind always been a ourselves of the tension between advances in secular difference between the tools we use technology and the traditions of faith. and the purpose of the tools. And But whenever there has been that’s why there will always be a suspicion and fear about science and need for a publication like Ministry technology, there have also been Tech—because we are called to stand voices of reason and imagination at the intersection of technology and among Christians. C.S. Lewis was ministry, declaring, Jesus is Lord. among the earliest adopters of the science fiction genre. He used Sci-Fi in order to discuss eternal issues. (If you’ve never read his Space Trilogy, I recommend it highly!) 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.
|3
if only i could
fellowship with techies!
Where Can Church IT People Gather?
by Jonathan Smith
F
ull disclaimer: This is an article for IT people. Do NOT read this unless you are an IT person, manage an IT person, know an IT person, interact at any level with an IT person, or care about an IT person. If you don’t fit into any of those categories, feel free to skip this. If you do fit into one of those narrow categories, please, keep reading. IT people don’t take time to fellowship. I know: I am an IT person. We are busy, the help desk always has tickets, someone always has a broken machine, a user has mysteriously locked his or her account, software always needs to be updated and patched, hackers are always a threat, and grandma still needs help getting pictures off her phone. We are also driven, we don’t like for systems and services to be down. We want to stay current on the latest technology, trends and threats. And we are geeks, so we like a challenge. The result,
MinistryTech.com AUGUST 2018
If only there was a way for an IT person to get emotionally encouraged, spiritually refreshed and technologically current. we tend to work ourselves hard, and often forsake that “gathering together” thing in the Bible. If only there was a solution. If only there was a way for an IT person to get emotionally encouraged, spiritually refreshed and technologically current. Well friends, good news: There is! You just have to make time for it. One of the most valuable groups I’m a part of is the Church IT Network. I was invited to attend a meeting back in 2007 by my friend and fellow MinistryTech contributing editor Nick Nicholaou. He encouraged me to broaden my bubble a bit and get to
know others who work in church and ministry IT. The first meeting I attended only had 25 or so folks at it, but that small group encouraged me more than they will ever know. Ministry information technology is different from corporate information technology. I knew that but I didn’t know who else was also facing many of the same struggles I faced. Getting together with others serving the King in church IT has proven invaluable, and I’m thankful Nick let me know about this group. I’m amazed all these years later how many in church IT still don’t know about the Church IT Network. If you’re still reading this, I hope you will help spread the news. The Church IT Network is a group of church IT staff, volunteers, managers, pastors, leaders, etc., who meet online constantly and gather together in the real world once or twice a year. This is a network of peers, not experts who have figured it all out, because we know that isn’t possible, but a network of peers
|4
sharing burdens and learning together. The next gathering is in October near Washington, D.C. More than 400 church IT staff, volunteers, managers, pastors and leaders from churches all over the planet will gather to be recharged, refreshed and encouraged. While there are technical workshops and breakouts, there are also spiritual workshops and breakouts—sometimes those are more important than any technical magic about which we might learn. I know there are costs associated with events like this. There are travel costs, hotel costs, meal costs, etc., but where else can a church IT person go where they will be spiritually, physically and technologically fed? For only $85, you get access to the conference and all your meals are included. I’ll pause while you pick yourself up off the floor. I hope you weren’t reading this and walking—that could be dangerous. Many of the things I use in ministry every day I learned about, demoed and talked about with others who were also using it while at this event. Here are a few examples: 1. Living as One – Multi-campus IP video distribution with built in DVR and ease of use for volunteers. 2. Thirtyseven4 – Best in class antivirus, malware, content filtering and device management for an exceptionally affordable price (my friend Steven Sundermeier is also a contributing editor for MT and often attends these events). 3. Y amaha Pro Sound – Audio mixers, amplifiers and networks with pros dedicated for churches are there to help you learn and solve problems. 4. ChMS Software – While there are many options here, many attend this event providing an opportunity to explore options from various providers all in one place. 5. Wi-Fi and cyber security – Experts MinistryTech.com AUGUST 2018
#RUHOOKED
Teens & Social Media By Jonathan Smith
MinistryTech Monthly Contributor & National Speaker
A book for teens and the people who care about them. #RUHOOKED ISBN: 9781939881175/$6.99 Available at TRISTANPublishing.com and Amazon.com in these fields have come in and presented to us, in many cases blowing our minds (there was an agent from the FBI one year) and helping us do Wi-Fi and cyber security better. There are also tracks for church management software, web developers, IT pros/directors, online ministry and leadership development. The Church IT Network is a great place to come learn, share and grow. If you have a problem you are struggling
with, bring it up. If you are thinking church IT ministry might not be for you and you’re ready to throw in the towel, bring it up. If you’re down, look to be encouraged. If you’re up, look to encourage someone. Again, no experts, no one who has figured it all out. Just a bunch of folks looking to serve the King as best they can with what God has given them. I’m grateful I heard about the Church IT Network 11 years ago. I know how
|5
You want the freedom to … reach out … minister to people … create fellowship … contribute to your community PowerChurch Plus was created for just that!
Membership Accounting
We provide you with the tools to increase administrative efficiency and streamline accounting tasks, freeing you up to perform the work that matters.
Contributions Install on your PC or network, or access online. Choose which fits your needs.
Events Calendar Check In Completely Integrated
We provide software tools, freeing you up to fulfill your mission.
www.PowerChurch.com • 800.486.1800 MinistryTech.com AUGUST 2018
much this group has meant to me personally and to my ministry, and I know if you give it a try you too will be blessed and encouraged and your ministry strengthened. I’m glad I made the time in 2007 to attend and have made attending a priority ever since. It’s only $85, what have you got to lose? You might just find yourself refreshed, recharged and encouraged—you just have to take the time to find out. Check out the details online. You can register for the national event, Oct. 2-4, 2018. If you can’t attend this event, you can join the many online groups, chats and social media feeds to stay connected all year long and to find out about upcoming national and local events. This group has saved me time and money and is an invaluable source of information online and offline. I’m passionate about using technology to impact the Kingdom and further His message. The Church IT Network helps make that possible and I encourage you to get involved. Trust me; you won’t regret the investment of time in fellowship. I hope to see you in Washington, D.C. this October. MT Jonathan Smith is the Director of Technology at Faith Ministries in Lafayette, IN. You can reach Jonathan at jsmith@ faithlafayette.org and follow him on Twitter @JonathanESmith.
|6
MinistryTech.com AUGUST 2018
|7
COMMUNICATIONS
DIGITAL OR concrete ICONS words by Yvon Prehn
T
echnology has given us tools to communicate our message beyond our wildest dreams, especially in our ability to communicate with images. As a result of this, channels of communication have sprung up (Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, YouTube) that are primarily imagebased. In the past (though this will be hard for younger church communicators to imagine) a quality image cost hundreds of dollars to buy and sometimes hundreds more to reproduce it in a quality church communication. It obviously isn’t that way anymore. Hundreds of thousands of images are free to use in any way we want (here’s a link to 21 Free Image Sites if you don’t have enough). We know that in general (and it’s very general—there are always
MinistryTech.com AUGUST 2018
There’s a Give-and-Take Between Words and Images
exceptions: ask any age person with a serious Pinterest addiction) that younger generations tend to like the more image-based channels; older generations are more text based. No matter what tools we use to create our message, no matter what channels we use to share it, the one thing that never changes is our core content. Our content, permeated with the truth of the entire Bible and culminating with a call to salvation and discipleship in Jesus, must be the anchor and ultimate purpose of our communication ministry. It takes many pieces in many forms to completely share that message, but we need to keep that in mind.
The obvious question then is: What is the best way to communicate our content?
Younger generations tend to like the more image-based channels; older generations are more text based. Here is one of the greatest challenges, controversies and problems confronting church communicators today: the mistaken priority use of images over carefully crafted words to communicate our content. It doesn't matter what technology channel we use, the issue of the communication value of words vs. images is the same. Images can hit us with emotion and delight, but their actual message can be harder to pin down. Just because images are cheap, easy and fun to use today doesn't mean they on their own
|8
COMMUNICATIONS get our message across. Words are the primary carriers of content, of clear propositional truth. Words, however, are difficult to wrangle into meaning. It takes work, thought, planning and editing with words to even approximate clear communication. No picture, in and of itself, communicates anything. Every person brings their emotions, history, background, prejudices and loves to any image. Those barnacles of personal history are ever-present with any and every image you use and they define the content, which may be very different from what you intended it to be. Here is one example of how this works: Picture the American flag. What do you feel? For many of you reading this, you feel pride, patriotism, mom and apple pie. But not everyone will feel that way.
•W hat if your son or husband, best friend or boyfriend, was killed in a recent war and the last time you saw the American flag was as it draped the coffin, was reverently folded and handed to the family? •W hat if your family is from the Middle East and you have a relative in an American prison? •W hat if you are an expat who moved to Canada during the Vietnam War? MinistryTech.com AUGUST 2018
• What if you are Canadian (as some of my dearest friends are) and are slightly irritated with the U.S. even though you are unfailingly polite about it?
No picture has a universally shared and understood meaning. This is true beyond polarizing images like the American flag. Even in an extended family, the pictures of a birthday party for a 3-year-old posted on Facebook may mean to various people: • What a cute child my daughter is—I love her so much! • She looks just like her grandma— good genes do get passed on. • What a spoiled brat that kid is—that much money spent on a 3-year-old is wrong. • What a waste of food—people who come to the soup kitchen wouldn't think the cake fight was funny. • I'm afraid I'll never share a picture like that—I just had an early miscarriage. Because you don't and can't know the personal, visceral responses to images, images are not the best carriers of meaning if you want to convey the content of eternal truth.
Words aren't perfect carriers of communication, but they are better than images. Obviously our words can be misunderstood, but they do narrow the options of response because they contain in themselves the message we want to communicate. If we make the statement "God is love," our audience might define love in different ways, but the word "love" narrows our description of God in contrast to the statement "God is hate." If we then go on to add
the words of 1 Corinthians 13, where the Bible defines love in concrete actions, we define the meaning even more. If we add stories about how God expressed his love in the book of Hosea and his ultimate love in the death of Jesus, we illustrate the meaning of "God is love." We can do all these things through words. The more precise, polished and perfected our words, the more likely they will clarify the meaning of the message. Our audience can believe or not, accept or not, but our words should help them understand clearly the message they are accepting or rejecting. Using words and creating content that communicates the message we want it to is incredibly difficult. In an excellent article by Michael Wolff, What ad biz needs are writers, he talks about the shift away from words in advertising and why, in spite of the technological wonders now available to project images, advertising seems to be less and less effective. To summarize his argument, he repeats a comment between Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, and the head of his advertising agency, Jay Chiat. "Pictures," Jobs once told Chiat, "are easy. Words are hard." Hard or not, for church communicators, our content must contain clear and carefully chosen words if we want to be understood.
Does this mean we can't use images? Of course not—but effective church communication realizes that image must always be in a secondary role. Images touch, often powerfully touch, our emotions. Our emotions help us remember and take action. That emotion, however, if we want to use
|9
COMMUNICATIONS it for the kingdom of God, must be guided in its content. Words tell us what to see in an image. That's why the captions or text that goes with an image are so important—they aren't simply unnecessary words—they form a feedback loop with the image and strengthen the message of both. We see a picture—the caption tells us what to see and what is important in it—the picture then reinforces the message of the words. If done well,
No matter what tools we use to create our message; no matter what channels we use to share it, the one thing that never changes is our core content. this creates a powerful feedback loop of meaning between the image and the words. (To illustrate what this means, please go to this post that shows the effective use of words and images both in print and video: Why words and images need
To fully fulfill the Great Commission
RESOURCES FOR CHURCH COMMUNICATORS Training Templates Strategy Resources Podcast
www.effectivechurchcom.com MinistryTech.com AUGUST 2018
each other—the feedback loop of meaning.)
We've been entrusted with "the words of eternal life." Remember that when many were deserting Jesus and he asked the disciples if they were also going to leave that Peter responded, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God" (John 6: 68-69). It isn't too fine a point to emphasize that Peter said Jesus had the words of eternal life. Not miracles, or prayers, or songs, though all were part of his ministry, but the words. His words are the primary tool Jesus left us with to communicate his message. The channels we use will continue to change. Many of you reading this have experienced the shift from typewriters to iPads, and who knows what tool we will use in the coming years. But regardless of the tool, regardless of the channel, the value of words remains. It's our job to learn to craft them well so our words will communicate clearly the words of eternal life to a distracted, deceived and dying world. MT Yvon Prehn’s ministry to church communicators has two parts: http://www. effectivechurchcom.com, a site of FREE templates, strategy and resources, and http:// www.churchcomtraining.com, a Church Communicators Online Training School.
| 10
tech check
LIVE STREAM PLUG-AND-PLAY
08.18 An Indie Alternative to Children’s Ministry Materials The folks at Kids Ministry Team are doing something right. This start-up operation has developed check-in software for nursery and children’s ministry, along with downloadable (PDF) curricula for children’s church. If you’ve used nearly all the children’s church materials from major publishers (who do a good job in their own right), there are a growing number of pop-up resources for children’s church—even for children as young as nursery age (from newborns up to age 2). If your printer is up to the task, you can avoid shipping costs by merely downloading the full program, or print a free sample to test out the goods.
n
“Like having a professional camera crew in your pocket.” So says the video from the folks at Mevo, who offer a low-cost live stream solution. Most church live stream videos are static— one camera, one angle and (usually) lousy sound. Mevo’s portable unit allows you to cut and zoom from a single unit, as if you were shooting from multiple cameras. They even offer an automated live-editing “autopilot” that makes the cuts for you. The software side of the equation streams live to every major platform, via Wi-Fi or LTE, so compatibility isn’t an issue. Plus, their 90-second video is practically a tutorial on how to create interesting videos that communicate tons of information, quickly! You can get into the live stream game for as low as $299. Visit GetMevo for details.
n
You Can Edit Photos by Yourself–Really! Church websites tend to feature, shall we say, “unflattering” photos of their people and activities. One reason is that photo editing used to be difficult and time-consuming. As a result, church newsletters or Facebook sites fail to generate engagement—even from sympathetic users! Most smartphones have some editing capabilities, but there are online sites and apps that boost your ability to present arresting and engaging pictures. This is vital because our mobile, SnapChat/Instagram world is becoming even more visually oriented. (If that’s possible.) Ministry Tech recommends PortraitPro and Photolemur as two solutions within anyone’s reach. Check out either site to witness Before-andAfter comparisons that demonstrate the striking power of simple photo edits. Your newsletter readership will triple! (You can thank us later.)
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.
MinistryTech.com AUGUST 2018
| 11
PROTECTED WITH PURPOSE
it's time to Change (again)
Quit Your Moaning—Change Comes With the Territory! by Steven Sundermeier
W
ith summer break winding down and the start of school lurking right around the corner (It’s already August!), a monumental change is about to occur in our household: Our oldest child will fly-thecoop, transitioning from private Christian schooling to public middle school. I understand the magnitude of this change may seem minimal to some, but from the eyes of my son, this adjustment has been difficult to accept. It seems human nature to resist change. We change our clocks twice a year, and it’s always inconvenient. I’d imagine that my wife may have also been kicking and screaming when reality set in that her previously short last name (only four characters) would be forever changed to mine with 11 characters (but she says I’m worth it!). On a professional level, after over five years, it was decided that our firm (Thirtyseven4) needed a fresh website design. I really dreaded the effort, time and energy involved in that change. And how about a more difficult change: involving our selves, our very lives? Changing a hardened heart, bad habits, or a clouded and distracted mind? In life, dealing with change will be inevitable, and can certainly make us uneasy. While change is difficult, it is usually for our good.
MinistryTech.com AUGUST 2018
This goes for technology as well. A quick glance on our favorite news sites will typically yield multiple weekly stories of major corporations getting hacked or breached by cybercriminals. I read a recent article on how Twitter reported a potential data compromise to its hundreds of millions of users. We’ve seen Facebook, Google and other social media Goliaths send out similar advisories. How can we best safeguard ourselves against such attacks? Change. √C hange your password. I have reiterated the point of creating strong passwords many times. However, if Twitter or Facebook themselves are compromised, it doesn’t matter how long and strong your password, as your password has been exposed. Make it a practice to change your password (with strong passwords of course!) regularly, even if after five years you’ve just finally memorized it. √E xchange convenience for privacy. If you are like me, you do most of shopping online. Shopping online saves time over planning a dedicated trip to a retailer, it gives us flexibility, and even a perceived “privacy” while we shop, as opposed to being in a store with other customers milling around us. We’ve now gotten to
| 12
PROTECTED WITH PURPOSE the point in our rushed lives that we even like to save time while shopping online, don’t we? We configure/ allow our browser settings to auto populate shopping cart forms and sign-in account details, or we grant permission for the online site to save our credit card information to speed up future purchases. These time-savers can be very tempting, but they may not be the best idea. Saving your data means making it easily available for yourself down the line, but it’s also available to hackers as well. Sign in freshly each time. √ Change your approach. A good baseball player will modify their approach at the plate depending on the pitcher, the inning, the score of the game or the number of players on base. You also must situationally change your approach to your social media habits. For example, logging into your personal accounts while on a public computer or while connected to an open Wi-Fi network is a strike against you, as opposed to connecting to your own secure wireless network at home. That’s a safer play. Additionally, may I also suggest taking the time to implement two-factor authentication. √ Change your behavior. This might be the hardest one of all. Resist the urge of clicking on clickbait style headlines in your social media feeds. Avoid the “it is too good to be true” advertisements in Facebook. Yes, we all want to inherit a million dollars or receive a free $5,000 gift card to Costco but exercise common sense and change that kink-in-your-think that is telling you to click everywhere and on everything. This basic principle goes for opening attachments or clicking on socially engineered embedded phishing links within your email. Do you know that tricking you into opening well-crafted phishing links is the #1 method for cyber thieves to obtain your financial information? Strengthen your resolve to “know better” than these ads, and also exercise restraint on your clicks. √ Change your mindset. This may hard for some to grasp but here I go, and I speak truth. You and your devices are not invincible. Macs get malware. Operating Systems and software by nature contain countless vulnerabilities. You need strong endpoint security protection, and to maintain routine updates. The sites you visit and the free apps you enjoy downloading can do more harm than good, and most likely will. There are thousands of hackers out there working feverishly to steal your data. Be smart and start practicing safe computing. MinistryTech.com AUGUST 2018
Just like my oldest is nervous about entering a new school and sad about not seeing his old school buddies regularly, he is also excited about the new possibilities that the change will bring and the new friends that await. Change is hard, but an openness to change can bring forth great things. Like his middle-school transition, our attitude to making positive changes in our daily tech routines can make a big
difference; in fact, our attitude can possibly make all the difference. If we cling to old practices and passwords and stay in a “security rut” if you will, our odds of infection rise, the availability of our information and data opens up, simply because we refuse to take measures to shield it. However, if we are open to making changes (What if we embraced tighter security measures on our devices!), then somehow a positive attitude softens the blow of change, and when mixed with gratitude, the two are powerful forces in any situation, even security safety! Our lives, days and hours are busy—I get it. Often one more thing is just one more thing too many. But let’s discern which things are necessary investments of time (a password—even strong ones—only takes seconds to type), and let’s make the investment to change for the better, for our best interest. The thought of redesigning our entire Thirtyseven4 website completely overwhelmed and intimidated me. I am a tech-guy so I knew what was involved: all of the coding, links, testing, photos and not to mention information. But I also knew this change would be for our company’s good, for my good and also for our Thirtyseven4 customers' good. It was worth the investment of time and energy, and sometimes we just have to muscle through those areas in our lives. Plus, now I am so grateful that we invested the
| 13
PROTECTED WITH PURPOSE
It’s worth the investment of time and energy, and sometimes we just have to muscle through those areas in our lives.
time to move forward and make changes. I encourage you to make your device security one of those areas in your life. A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9 We have our ways and ideas, but in deferring to the Lord we can glimpse His plan for our days and lives. Be open to change (in your security!). Changing your passwords regularly. Changing your approach, behaviors and mindset. The thought may be intimidating, but the actual process is not. Just as my son will put one foot in front of the other and walk into a new school, you too can proceed one step at a time and you will be just fine too. Actually, you will be safer (than before), your data and information more secure and your identity and peace will be more strongly guarded. Steven Sundermeier is the owner of Thirtyseven4, LLC, a leading provider of antivirus/security software. With 17 years of experience in the cybersecurity field, he is one of the nation’s leading experts in virus, malware and other threats. Before founding Thirtyseven4 in 2009, Steven worked in a number of roles in the antivirus industry dating back to 1999.
MinistryTech.com AUGUST 2018
| 14
backstage inspiration Creative Gear for the Worship Stage by Mike O'Brien
A
fter 20 years of leading worship in the contemporary church, I have acquired various musical instruments that have helped me develop musicians, challenge bored Creatives and inspire possibilities on the worship stage. Most church backstage areas have an excess of unused gear just collecting dust. I hate this! These unused instruments could be a pathway to new inspiration and opportunity. Look through the backstage of most churches and you’ll find a pile of unused gear. It’s not junk! It’s inspirational opportunity collecting dust! There is a good chance most of your teams have underchallenged musicians that could use another instrument or two to wake them from their three-chord slumber. Adding new instruments will excite the band and elevate its sound. It will also inspire the congregation as they see and hear new instruments. Adding new instruments will require your musicians to be flexible, vulnerable and courageous,
MinistryTech.com AUGUST 2018
but I found most musicians appreciate the challenge. If the church is the hope of the world and we are tasked with sharing that gospel of hope through music, why should our instrumentation be so limited? Here are some creative gear ideas that might already be hiding backstage:
IN YOUR BACKSTAGE AREA •A Midi Keyboard Controller and Old Laptop – I lent out a $99 midi keyboard and an old church laptop (with Reason and Garageband loaded) to a 10th grade homeschooler. She came back to church with pads, Rhodes and all kinds of sounds loaded up ready to play. This stuff is no longer rocket science. CPU>USB Cable>Old Laptop>1/8" cable>DI Box>Sound System.
| 15
•A Real Fender Rhodes Electric Piano – This is a popular sound that you hear on recordings, and many keyboards already have a “Rhodes” sound built in. I have found it to be inspiring to actually have the real thing on stage. They require some maintenance but really add to the overall expression of sound. You can usually find them on craigslist for $600-1000. • Tambourines and Shakers – Extra percussion is a great tool to have for modern worship. Oftentimes I will employ a horn/string player to use percussion on a song if it doesn’t call for their “normal” instrument. Background singers can also help out by adding percussion to a song. If you can clap in time, then you can play hand percussion. • Hot Rods, Brushes + Mallets – Many times newbie drummers or folks that play with only one style of music will not have alternate sticks. I have found that most sets could benefit from one or more stick changes depending on the song. Encourage all your drummers to have a variety of sticks, but the church should have some on hand. • Accordion – This is not a joke. I have lent out the church accordion to MANY keyboard players over the years. I encourage them to search YouTube for lessons and play along to a slow song using the MinistryTech.com AUGUST 2018
keyboard (not the button) side. It’s a fun and life-giving musical tool to use for a song or two. Can sound like a pad or cello, not always polka. • Ukulele and/or Mandolin – If you have more than one guitar player, often times I will ask one of those players to learn mandolin or ukulele and use it in a song or two.
• Cajon or Any Hand Drum – I have trained up many drummers starting on hand percussion. They play along with the main drummer. As they get better I eventually have them trade seats with the drummer for the slow song. All of a sudden, I have more drummers! Check out Monk Drums, a very cool drum company that makes affordable custom cajons.
| 16
• Melodica – In Germany, they use this instrument to teach kids music. It’s a fun little piano that just about anyone can play. Don’t use it for every song or every week, but you can pull it out for a little inspiration. Keep the alcohol wipes handy. • Glockenspiel or Bell Kit – These instruments add a loud and significant punch to melody or riffs on vamps. They get a workout at Christmas time!
the cymbals for the slow part of the song to create dark orchestral swells to add emotion. •A sk your bass player to play the glockenspiel for a song that doesn’t need bass. • I nstruct your drummer to use brushes on a slow 6/8-song to help create a softer element in a song. •H ave your acoustic guitar player play the tambourine on their thigh like they are clapping. •L end out your Cajon to a young person who has good rhythm; invite them to play the next week.
• Strip down the stage to acoustic guitar, high-strung acoustic guitar, accordion, cajon and Fender Rhodes. MT Mike O'Brien holds a B.A. in Music from Kennesaw State University and a Master of Worship Studies from the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies. He has worked as a producer, engineer and mixer at Lucko Sound Studio, and with a collective of 25+ musicians called Poured Out Like Wine. Together, they produced seven albums with over 15 published songs with Vineyard Worship USA. He lives in Atlanta GA with his wife, Susan, and son, Ezekiel. You can reach Mike at vineband@hotmail.com.
• Baritone and High-Strung Guitars – Baritone guitars are tuned super low and sound in between a guitar and bass. They are fun and can work on some songs. High-strung or Nashville tuning is a way to string your guitar to make it sound "chimey." If you have extra guitars hanging around the church, consider making one of them high-strung. • Extra Snare Drums and Cymbals – Since the snare drum and cymbals are so critical to the overall sound it’s nice to have some extra high-quality options for drummers to choose from. If you have better drums and options at church you will suddenly have more drummers!
NEW INSTRUMENTS IN PRACTICE •L ead your drummer to use mallets on MinistryTech.com AUGUST 2018
| 17
why your church needs a
digital outreach strateGy (And Three Steps to Get Started)
E
very year—for the past 10 years—the third Sunday in September is National Back to Church Sunday. If your church is interested in National Back to Church Sunday, you should know that outreach is an important part of fulfilling the Great Commission and necessary for growth. You may already have a top-notch outreach strategy that includes time-tested methods like direct mail, invitation tools and word of mouth. But there’s a chance you’re leaving something out. Do you have a plan for digital outreach? You definitely need one: We live in an increasingly digital world, which means digital outreach belongs as part of a holistic outreach strategy. If your church doesn’t include digital outreach as part of your overall strategy, you’re overlooking an important way to connect with your community. Digital outreach means simply using the digital tools available to you to reach your community for Christ. You can start by creating a thoughtful plan that includes the use of digital platforms as part of your outreach efforts. A basic digital outreach strategy starts with these three components: 1. A great church website 2. Active social media profiles 3. An organized email list
MinistryTech.com AUGUST 2018
1. Have A Great Church Website Are you missing out on attracting new visitors and engaging regular attendees because you don’t have a church website? In today’s digital culture, a good online presence is a vital part of ministry. The Internet is the number one tool people use to search for information they need. If someone is searching for a church in their neighborhood, they’re probably looking online first. If you don’t have a website for them to find, you’ll potentially lose out on a new member.
| 18
Since you only have one chance to make a good first impression on someone, make sure your website is representing your church well. Think of it this way: A welldesigned website that is easy to navigate serves as a digital front porch for your church. People will feel welcomed and invited in when they see you’ve put effort into creating a website that answers their questions about your church. If you’re not sure where to begin, make sure your website has these basics on the homepage: • Church contact info (phone and email) • Church address • Service times It’s a great idea to have a “New Here” tab visitors can click on to learn everything they need to know about visiting your church for the first time. You can even include access to previous sermons so they can get a feel for your pastor’s teaching style, As you edit and polish your website, it helps to put yourself in the shoes of potential new visitors, especially those who may not be familiar with church. Is the content on your website presenting a simple, clear picture of what they can expect from your church? If not, test and tweak
different ideas to make your site visitor friendly. You can even ask for feedback when you meet new visitors at your church!
2. Be Active On Social Media Social media is where community happens online—your church needs to be on social media if you want to reach people where they are. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are excellent tools for creating awareness around your church and engaging with your community. Social media gives your church a chance to share the Gospel in the digital world. Sharing your story through content, photos and events keeps your church in front of your followers. Every post is a connection to your audience that reinforces your message. Every time someone shares your post, the message spreads even further, which means your church has a greater chance of being found by those who are seeking answers about faith, the Bible and God. If choosing social media platforms feels overwhelming, start with Facebook. Chances are almost every person, business or ministry you know has a presence on Facebook. Don’t be left out! Setting up a Facebook page for your
FREE 2’ x 6’ Banner
with purchase of Church Kit See details online!
TELL YO U R CO MMU NITY:
YOU BELONG HERE!
$69 value
Now in its 10th year, National Back to Church Sunday is a single-day event focused on extending an invitation of love, peace and hope to our unchurched friends and neighbors. A single day to reclaim the true nature of Church – exactly as Christ commanded. Since the beginning of Back to Church Sunday, more than 4-million Christ-followers have participated through over 30,000 churches. BECOME A BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY CHURCH IN 2018!
VISIT BACKTOCHURCH.COM
“If you are serious about your church reaching out and about reminding your church about the Great Commission, this event is an answer.” GRAND RAPIDS INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP
MinistryTech.com AUGUST 2018
Free Fall Kickoff Resources
Video Social/Web Graphics Powerpoint Template
500 Free Engager Invitations
Fall community outreach tip sheet
Church listing on BacktoChurch.com map of participating churches
| 19
•W hat to post? Facebook loves inspiring, shareable content—especially video and photos! • Show what makes your church special. You can include photos and updates about different events and ministries so online visitors get a sense of who you are. Facebook is a solid place to launch, but consider this: Instagram is becoming increasingly popular with churches. Younger demographics are especially present here, so if you want to draw in Millennials and Generation Z, think about getting started on Instagram.
3. Organize Your Email List church is pretty straightforward, and generally easy to manage once you get the hang of it. Here are a few tips for getting started on Facebook: • Create a public page for your church with your physical address, service times, contact info and website. • Upload a high-resolution cover photo that is relevant to your church. Use your church logo as your profile picture. • Invite your members to “like” your new page and encourage them to share it in their individual networks. • Follow other pages (think community nonprofits and other local organizations). Those pages will often follow you back, which grows your network even more. • Once your page is set up, start posting daily. If you don’t have time to curate and share daily content, an automatic daily posting service like Social Reach Daily is a great option.
MinistryTech.com AUGUST 2018
How do you communicate with your church family? Email is a wonderful tool to keep up with regular attendees in a unified way, or deliver relevant information to targeted groups within your church. It’s also a fantastic option for following up with new visitors. Your church may already be using a popular email platform like Outlook or Gmail. These are great options, but if you want to polish your approach to email, consider using a free email-marketing platform (MailChimp or Sendinblue are good choices). These platforms allow you to send sophisticated, visually appealing mass emails that keep your church in the loop. You’re also able to track data—you can see who has opened your emails, what time they opened them, if they opened them on a mobile device, etc. This helps you refine your approach to email so that you can be sure to deliver relevant content to different segments of your church. It’s easy for visitors and new members to sign up for your email list through “subscribe” buttons you can embed on your website. Email services like these can also help you stay in compliance with spam laws and other email regulations. No matter the email system you use, it helps to go through your email list and remove names and emails of people that are no longer connected to your church. You can also create email segments of specific ministries in your church (think women’s ministry or volunteers) so that you can send them content tailored to their interests and activities.
| 20
Here are a few ideas on how you can use email to reach out to your church and community: • Use your connection cards to gather visitors' email addresses, and then have a follow-up sequence tailored to them. This email sequence can thank them for their visit and suggest ways they can further connect with your church. • Send out a monthly newsletter to update everyone about what’s going on at your church. You can include reminders about upcoming events and links for them to register. •D o you have a prayer team? Use an email list to remind your congregation to be praying for the needs of your church.
When it comes to social media, everchanging algorithms mean there’s never a guarantee all of your followers will see your messages. That’s why email is a great addition to your outreach strategy—though you can’t be sure that people will open your emails, you’ll at least know your message arrived in their inbox. Your digital outreach strategy can grow and change with your church. Get started with these three basics and let them serve as stepping-stones to help you toward a fully integrated outreach strategy. By pairing your digital efforts with traditional outreach, you’ll have even more opportunities to reach people in your community for Christ. MinistryTech.com AUGUST 2018
Reach your community effortlessly with the Gospel every day. Social Reach Daily is the easiest way to energize your church’s social media presence, providing amazing, inspirational posts automatically to your Facebook page each day. Posts that your members will want to share with their own community of friends.
Try Social Reach Daily for FREE and watch your digital outreach grow!
Visit SocialReachDaily.com/Offer to try FREE for 30 days! | 21
THE LAST WORD
Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. PROVERBS 30:5