Founder & Editor-in-Chief Steve Hewitt - steve@ccmag.com Online Community Manager Kevin Cross - kevin@ccmag.com
Applying Tomorrow’s Technology to Today’s Ministry Volume 24
July 2012
No. 7
6 cover story NCS E-Giving
Bridging the gap between technology and giving
Contributing Editors Lauren Hunter Yvon Prehn Nick Nicholaou Kevin A. Purcell Russ McGuire Bradley Miller Michael L White Copy Editor Gina Hewitt
By Steve Hewitt
Corporate Home Office
3 Editorial
Why the church is dying in America
Steve Hewitt – steve@ccmag.com
© Copyright 2012 by Christian Computing®, Inc.
9 Minstry Leadership
All Rights Reserved
5 Keys to Getting the Most out of Volunteers
from ACS Technologies
11 Logos CMS
Surviving Embezzlement
15 One Call Now
Inc. upon receipt and may not necessarily be re-
from One Call Now
Kevin A. Purcell – kevin@kevinpurcell.org
Michael White - mlwhite@parsonplacepress.com
mitted for publication that are deemed necessary cation may not be copied in any way, shape or form without the express permission of Christian and reviews printed within are not necessarily the views of the editor, publisher, or employees of Christian Computing® Magazine, or Christian
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submitted to Christian Computing® Magazine become the property of Christian Computing®,
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Building Faith Communities Through Better Communications College Heights Presbyterian Church
Mailing address: PO Box 319 Belton MO 64012 Delivery address: 306 Eagle Glen Ct Raymore MO 64083 Phone: (816) 331-5252 FAX: 800-456-1868
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By Russ McGuire - russ.mcguire@gmail.com
28 Nick at Church What Do You Use?
30 Ministry Communication
Nick Nicholaou - nick@mbsinc.com
Ministry Photographs - How to make them More Effective in Communicating a Ministry Message Yvon Prehn - yvon@effectivechurchcom.com
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editorial Why the church is dying in America Steve Hewitt - steve@ccmag.com
First of all, the question needs to be asked “Is the church dying in America?” I heard Walt Wilson speak in the early 2000’s at one of my own conferences. He was sharing the importance of the church embracing new methods to spread the Word, with emphasis on the Internet, which was why he was invited to speak at one of our Technology in Ministry Conferences. To make his point that the church needed to adopt new methods of communication to help spread the message of Christ, he shared startling statistics about how the church, especially the church in the USA, was declining. His projections were dire. Since Walt first sounded the alarm about the church’s decline in America, I have been on a quest to satisfy my own curiosity as to why the church is declining, and to be sure that Walt’s conclusions were correct. Sadly, Walt is right on target, and since that conference in the early 90’s the decline of Christianity and the church in America has continued. Dr. Richard J Krejcir made the following statement in an article by the Schaeffer Institute: “For the last 15 plus years, we, at the Francis A. Schaeffer Institute of Church Leadership Development (FASICLD) in partnership with Into Thy Word Ministries (another Francis Schaeffer vision), have been in careful, steadfast research in quest of “why so many churches are failing.” Christian Computing® Magazine
What the Statistics Tell Us This quest started in 1992 as a Fuller Institute project that was picked up by FASICLD in 1998, seeking what had happened and why the bride of Christ was in decline. God’s marvelous Church has become culturally irrelevant and even distant from is prime purpose of knowing Him, growing in Him, and worshipping Him by making disciples! This is evidenced by what is going on in our culture and in our church. Most of the statistics tell us that nearly 50% of Americans have no church home. In the 1980s, membership in the church had dropped almost 10%; then, in the 1990s, it worsened by another 12% drop—some denominations reporting a 40% drop in their membership. And now, over half way through the first decade of the 21st century, we are seeing the figures drop even more! What is Going on with the Church in America? The United States Census Bureau Records give some startling statistics, backed up by denominational reports and the Assemblies of God U.S. Missions: • Every year more than 4000 churches close their doors compared to just over 1000 new church starts! • There were about 4,500 new churches started between 1990 and 2000, with a July 2012
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twenty year average of nearly 1000 a year. Every year, 2.7 million church members fall into inactivity. This translates into the realization that people are leaving the church. From our research, we have found that they are leaving as hurting and wounded victims—of some kind of abuse, disillusionment, or just plain neglect! From 1990 to 2000, the combined membership of all Protestant denominations in the USA declined by almost 5 million members (9.5 percent), while the US population increased by 24 million (11 percent). At the turn of the last century (1900), there was a ratio of 27 churches per 10,000 people, as compared to the close of this century (2000) where we have 11 churches per 10,000 people in America! What has happened? Given the declining numbers and closures of Churches as compared to new church starts, there should have been over 38,000 new churches commissioned to keep up with the population growth. The United States now ranks third (3rd) following China and India in the number of people who are not professing Christians; in other words, the U.S. is becoming an ever increasing “un-reached people group.” Half of all churches in the US did not add any new members to their ranks in the last two years.”
The study continued to provide additional dismal reports. For example, while many polls showed that 40% to 50% of Americans attend church (20% in Canada and 8% in Europe) the results of the polls depend on how people desire to answer the question. It appeared from the polling data that if a person only attended once or twice a year, they would be counted as a “church goer”. The study by FASLCLD compared actual attendance records of denominations with known population statistics and determined that 22% of Americans “frequently” attended church in 1992 (including Orthodox, Evangelical or Protestant). In 1995 the number Christian Computing® Magazine
had dropped to 20.5%. In 1999 the number had dropped to 19% and by 2002, the number was down to 18%. Since these numbers represent attendance over ten years ago from when I am writing, I can only assume that the numbers have continued to go down. There are other studies, and other reports. While the statistics might vary a little, the distressing news is the same – the church is declining in America. Here are several other sites that support this conclusion. Some are secular, such as reports from Newsweek, but others are from Christian organizations, publications and denominations. http://vocabmalone.blogspot.com/2008/01/decline-of-church-in-america.html http://www.christianchronicle.org/ article2158685~Church_in_America_marked_by_ decline http://www.thedailybeast.com/ newsweek/2009/04/03/the-end-of-christian-america.html http://signsofthelastdays.com/archives/the-decline-of-christianity-in-america http://floridaconferenceconnection.info/blogs/ detail/276 http://www.thebigdaddyweave.com/2011/06/ southern-baptist-convention-stats-reveal-20-yeardecline.html Why is the church and Christianity in decline in the USA? There are many people happy to give a response. It is easy to find those that blame the decline on the church to one of the following; • Seeker friendly churches have watered down true Christianity and have embraced the things of the world. • Traditional churches have lost touch with the needs of our society and are simply ministering to their dying membership at the expense of reaching new people. July 2012
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• It is a “sign of the times” that there will be a great falling away, so some simply accept it and don’t sweat it. • Our government has become “anti” Christian and therefore has hurt the efforts and ministry of the church • Our nation has left the righteous teaching of the church because of declining morals. While there is plenty of blame to go around, and some of the points above might be valid, I suggest there are greater issues that have led to our problem – issues that I will be exposing in future articles (as well as some solutions!) And, since I put most of the blame squarely on today’s church, I know I am going to undermine the support base I have with many of my pastor friends, and probably find myself standing alone in my conclusions. However, I believe God has led me to start a church that is centered on avoiding the very mistakes I will be pointing out. It is my hope that others would grasp some portion of my burden and take it upon themselves. It is my prayer that
Christian Computing® Magazine
others will feel the call to start new churches that avoid the trappings that I will be sharing, and seek to present the wonderful news of salvation and abundant living to a nation that is depressed, anxious, hurting and lost. It is my dream that what I have started with our little “Mosaics Church” (the new church I started 20 months ago) will expand and be replicated across the country. Watch for future articles each month on this subject, including key technology solutions that even a new startup church can afford to enhance and expand their ministry. Together We Serve Him,
Steve Hewitt Follow me on Twitter @stevehewitt email - Steve@ccmag.com
July 2012
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cover story
NCS E-Giving
Bridging the gap between technology and giving
By Steve Hewitt
I
have been a fan of online giving since its beginning and am delighted to see it used by a growing number of churches. Recently, I conducted a comprehensive evaluation of E-Giving – an online giving system developed by NCS Services Inc, the pioneer of online giving to churches since 2005. Their E-Giving service offers many of the basic features you would expect, such as allowing church members to make a one-time donation to the church or any specific fund, as well as allowing members the opportunity to set up recurring transactions. However, there were many features that I found refreshing; starting with the fact that there are no setup, monthly or annual fees to use their service! The only cost to use the NCS E-Giving service is the bank/credit card transaction fees, and their rates were very competitive and affordable! And, in addition, you can use their service to take payments for tuition, youth trips, camps, fund raisers, etc! Since they host the service, it is easy to get up and running in a very short time. Once you complete their easy configuration menu to set up your basic church information and any specific funds you wish to allow members to donate into, you can simply provide a link on your website, inform your congregation of the new service, and you are Christian ComputingŽ Magazine
on your way! Another feature that I liked was the ability to allow you to set up a custom box allowing your people to write in their own designation. And I found it very easy to add another person as an administrator, delete a member’s account who is no longer active, access a quick transaction viewer providing a table of donations to give you a general July 2012
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idea of transaction activity, access a transaction history report spread over a period of time you desire and a handy bank reconciliation report of deposits! Over the years, some church leaders have expressed a concern to me that online giving seems to take away from the opportunity to give during the weekly worship service. Well NCS Services has thought of this and their E-Giving service sends an email in response to each gift that contains a graphic of an envelope listing the gift and the giver, designed to be cut out and dropped in the offering plate during your weekly worship service! You also have the opportunity to customize the subject and message that goes out with each email to everyone that has made a donation. They allow you to customize your online giving page (hosted on their site) by adding your logo or picture, mission statement, scriptures, and they give you control over fonts, background color, header colors, etc. You can even upload your own background wallpaper. When a member clicks the link on your web page to go to the online giving service, the page contains the look and feel of your website.
Christian ComputingÂŽ Magazine
One of the features that really excited me was the ability for guests to use the system without being a regular registered user. Gifts through this portion of the service can be as low as $1. My church is going to give this feature a try by using a viral email that will encourage non-members and guests to donate $1 to support the ministry of our small church. NCS has provided useful information for you to make the setup process easy. In addition, they have provided the graphics and HTML code to easily add a cool link from your site to your E-Giving site. And, they provide great information for you to use to share with your congregation, making it easy for you to educate them on the new service and ministry opportunities. This includes bulletin/newsletter inserts, church members E-Giving FAQs doc, bulletin clip art, promotional ideas, congregational letters explaining the new service, and much more. Fantastic! And, just in case you’re not sure how to promote your new online giving service, in the E-Giving Manual (accessed by simply clicking on a link in the administration menu whenever you log
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on) the provide a long list of great ideas to promote E-Giving to your congregation! The NCS E-Giving service is ready to integrate with Shelby, ACS Technologies, ParishSOFT and Parish Data Systems (PDS). And they provide other cool features such as their Virtual Card Terminal, enabling their service to allow you to process card transactions from any computer with an Internet connection. So you could use their service to process payments in your church’s bookstore, or sell a ticket at an event! And finally, the experience for the member is also simple to setup and use, yet they are provided some great tools; such as allowing members to easily view and edit their member profile or change their recurring gift schedule. They can also obtain a transaction history and view news from your church. And, right at the top of the screen, they can see their giving summary for the current month, the current year-todate and their giving for the previous year. They can also click on the E-Giving Transaction Calculator and enter their annual income. They will then see what their giving would be at 5%, 10% and 15% quarterly, monthly and weekly, to aid them in determining what amount they wish to give, especially if they are setting up recurring donations. What’s coming down the road? NCS Services tells me they plan to add a feature that will allow our financial secretary the ability to facilitate the addition of all gifts, cash and checks, into a member’s giving record, so it will combine with any other donation records, providing an accurate giving summary for each member in “The Cloud”! For more information, visit www.ncsservices.org
Christian Computing® Magazine
July 2012
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Ministry Leadership
5 Keys to Getting the Most out of Volunteers from ACS Technologies
S
ummer is the perfect time to plan ahead for a great fall, as you have time to think about your goals, plans and vision. It’s an especially good time to plan for improvements to your volunteer force.
The authors of the ministry guide “Workplace Flexibility for In-Demand Ministries” outline 5 keys to getting the most out of volunteers, but begin by pointing out “People want to volunteer at the church – for many people, it’s the most satisfying thing they’ll do with their week.” The 5 keys to happy volunteers all share one common characteristic: they make it easier for people to volunteer. Because while volunteering can be incredibly uplifting, it’s hard to stick with it if the church doesn’t support the volunteer force. Here are three of the 5 keys to getting the most out of volunteers, as outlined in “Workplace Flexibility for In-Demand Ministries.”
the first of the five keys to getting the most out of volunteers – flexibility. As the church business administrator, she has a lot to do. But she’s found ways to get real help from her talented volunteers. “I have one volunteer who is very highly qualified, he was a CFO, and I have total confidence in him,” Linda told the authors of “Workplace Flexibility for In-Demand Ministries.” She’s decided that the best way to utilize this volunteer is to allow him to work from his own home on contributions. “It saves me the work and the time,” she said. Cass McCollum, CFO of Covenant Church of Pittsburgh, gives her trusted volunteers flexibility, too. “People are usually very happy to serve in some way,” she said, but they often have day jobs. “If 1. Flexibility. Whenever possible, let trusted you’re working with a single mother who may be a volunteers do their work where and how they great data entry person, but she says, ‘I’ve got my see fit. kids home at night, I can’t leave,’ you need to have 2. Fellowship. Make sure volunteers and their another option for her.” families have opportunities to get to With a flexible working arrangement supported know each other. by on-demand access to essential church software, 3. Appreciation. Thank your volunteers. Then “We can now say, let us bring it to you,” Cass said. thank them again. And again. “That’s really been a godsend.”
How Flexibility Helps You Get More Out of Volunteers Linda McKiernan with Mill Creek Community Church in Shawnee, Kansas, explained how she uses Christian Computing® Magazine
Equipping Your Volunteers with Tools They Love – Like iPads! Another way to help support your volunteers and keep them coming back is to allow them to use the July 2012
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tools that they enjoy using. This is another important aspect of providing flexibility. If your volunteers have begun using popular Apple tools like iPhones and iPads, why not incorporate those into the work your ministry is already doing? There are many ways to utilize these cool tools that can really benefit your ministry. For instance, “One increasingly popular use for Apple iPads is checkin. One advantage is that iPads are totally portable, plus they can be used for other purposes when not being used as a check-in station. Think about it: An iPad can be set up for check-in at a big event one week, and the next, it can be used for check-in at a small group. Going off-site for an event? No problem. And in between events, the iPad’s back to being a reader, a web browser, and more,” according to the ministry guide “Workplace Flexibility for In-Demand Ministries.” Remember: Keep Volunteers Happy to Keep them Coming Back There are many tools that are essential to a thriving ministry – but a strong volunteer force is surely one of the most important. That’s why it’s so essential to put serious thought into how you’re taking care of your volunteers. If you keep them happy and satisfied, not only will they come back, but they’ll also invite their friends to come volunteer with them. Utilizing the 5 keys to happy volunteers outlined in “Workplace Flexibility for In-Demand Ministries,” including Flexibility, Fellowship, and Appreciation, will help you get the most out of your volunteers – and get more volunteers. Download the free ministry guide now and unlock your best volunteer force ever – plus get information about technology tools and trends that are great for church staff, as well. Christian Computing® Magazine
July 2012
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LOGOS LOGOS CMS
Surviving Embezzlement from Logos Management Software
N
one of us wants to admit that it could happen in our church – fraud and embezzlement are crimes we want to think would never happen in a Christ-centered community. But the statistics tell another story: about one-sixth of 2011 major embezzlement cases victimized non-profits and religious organizations, according to The Marquet Report on Embezzlement. Learning how to protect your organization and creating an action plan are crucial to preventing and rebounding from internal fraud. Denise McClure, CPA, CFE, and president of Averti Fraud Solutions, helps nonprofits and for-profit businesses implement accountability measures that effectively address and help to prevent embezzlement and fraud before it starts. “What an organization does after it discovers embezzlement says a lot about its character. Confronting the problem head-on with a clear, confident message is key to sustaining donor confidence.” Let’s say the unthinkable happens: you discover that someone has embezzled money from your church. Now what? Report to Authorities It’s tempting to keep quiet about a case of embezzlement. Reporting the theft obviously exposes your organization to questions and potential criticism from the media and donors. Generally speaking, though, Christian Computing® Magazine
keeping quiet is the wrong call. Reporting prevents future cases. You might quietly fire the perpetrator but how does that impact the next employer who runs a background check and finds nothing? You have a responsibility, both to protect others from future fraud and to move the perpetrator toward getting help. Keeping quiet is not compassionate. “Would-be embezzlers have to rationalize their actions and often tell themselves they are just ‘borrowing’ the money,” said McClure. “When no one notices, they borrow a little more. The extra cash and upgraded lifestyle are addictive.” In other words, embezzling is a type of addiction. When approached in a spirit of love and truth, embezzlers can be guided towards healing. Celebrate Recovery is one organization dedicated to helping July 2012
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individuals recover from addictions using a gospelcentered approach. Encourage the offender to find such a program in the church or community. It is vital to eliminate the “shock-and-awe” reflex when we learn that someone has sinned. A message from Pastor Rick Warren on his church website says, “Because of sin, we’ve all hurt each other, we’ve all hurt ourselves, and others have hurt us.” Casting stones is not the answer; facilitating help, healing and forgiveness for the offender is. We ALL need the gospel: Taken daily, in the context of community. Rinse. Repeat. As you move forward, don’t forget this core truth as you move forward, both for yourself and the offender. Develop a Plan Plan [n.]: developed in advance (emphasis mine) 1. Don’t Wait! Plans made after the fact have an uncanny tendency to miss essential components of effectiveness. Putting the plan in place before something happens allows your organization to scrutinize its thought processes and move through multiple revisions and updates. Plus, openly communicating the development of a plan to staff and volunteers may also serve as a deterrent to fraudulent activity. Thinking through the logistics of crisis management that you will address in the plan will help those individuals shouldering the responsibility in the aftermath of a fraudulent incident, giving them concrete steps that are likely to foster a positive outcome. 2. Communicate the Truth Communication with your key stakeholders and the media is essential if you expect to prevent wild speculations that can harm your organization’s reputation. In the absence of information, people project their own interpretations. If you don’t proactively communicate your church’s stance on the situation, then others may decide to make those connections for you. And more often than not, they will assume the worst possible scenario. McClure said, “Churches and other nonprofits are especially vulnerable when donors believe you’re not being a good steward of their money. Reaching out to them first lets them know you’re on top of the situation and helps sustain their trust in you.” Designate a spokesperson who will communicate with a scripted message that covers the key points. Of Christian Computing® Magazine
course, what you can say will depend upon where an ongoing investigation stands, so you’ll need to carefully craft new messages to respond to developments in the case. Key Points to Cover Speak honestly to inform without compromising any ongoing investigation. Here are the top points to cover: • Plainly state that we are the victims of a crime, like many other organizations. • Identify how the irregularities were discovered (e.g., by our own internal controls). • Explain that we have reported the matter to authorities and are fully cooperating with the investigation. • Identify what we will do differently in the fu ture.
• Caution against speculation, gossip. • Ask for prayers for the organization and the perpetrator.
3. Compose a Preliminary Announcement The time between “reporting” and “arrest” can be tricky. You’ll need to say something if a trusted and well-liked staff member needs to be fired or placed on leave before he or she is arrested, even if you can’t give much in the way of details. Here’s one idea: [Name], our [employee title] here at [church name] was relieved from duties last Friday. This decision did not come easily nor was it made lightly. Because the reasons for the termination are personal in nature, it is not possible to share the details. I would ask that you avoid engaging in speculation and proactively stop all rumors that come your way. I also ask that you pray for this person and the situation, and ask God for discernment as our church seeks to fill this position as quickly as possible. The caution against speculation and call for prayer caps a finely crafted message and focuses on a return to the church’s primary mission and greater Christian duty. It fittingly concludes with a focus on moving forward. July 2012
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pect to be watched more closely by your people, by other organizations, and by the media. Face the scrutiny with a humble attitude. (Take what’s good and leave the bad if there are those who are particularly vicious.) As your organization learns from this experience and you speak openly about it, it will teach others. You are giving them a blessing by going first which lends boldness to those who may find themselves in a similar situation down the road. Plus it will garner trust in the long run. Trust is most acquired, not when times are good, but when the challenges come and you respond to crises with wisdom and compassion. Did you operate with integrity no matter the cost? Did you entrust your reputation and honor to God? One church leader gave his local ABC TV news affiliate an attorney-approved, on-camera interview, which he leveraged into a lesson in fraud prevention in churches. His openness gave the story the face of a trusted, knowledgeable leader, which closed the door to speculation and distrust. 4. Work with Authorities If an arrest is likely, work with your law enforcement agency to coordinate timing. Usually, they are willing to give you a few hours between the time of arrest and the time it is made public (e.g. announced via press release or website post) so that you can contact your donors and put the finishing touches on your prepared statement. During that pause, your designated spokesperson(s) should personally call any stakeholders and finance council members to deliver the scripted news. 5. Accept Scrutiny When issues of embezzlement arise, you can exChristian ComputingŽ Magazine
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Remove a Key Component The fraud triangle, developed in the 1950s by renowned criminologist and sociologist Donald Cressey is still referenced to this day when crises like these surface. Cressey proposes that, in the situation of fraud, the perpetrator has some type of need, rationalizes that need, and then seeks an opportunity to appease the need through stealing. It is within your power to eliminate only one of the three key components of The Fraud Triangle: opportunity. Having proper checks and balances (e.g., segregation of duties, transparent systems and reporting, finance council oversight, and regular internal/external audits) will go a long way to ensure protection. If you’re using a system like ConnectNow Church Accounting, you’ll be able to talk about how closed periods, audit trails, and a secure Web platform help churches operate in full transparency and assure donors and finance councils that funds are being safeguarded and used as intended.
How will you reach them... ĂŌĞƌ the service? SPREAD THE WORD… with One Call Now Voice, Text and Email messaging for churches. Visit us online at onecallnow.com or call 877-698-3262 to learn more. 201208LS259
onecallnow.com
Move Toward Healing The prevalence of theft in American workplaces doesn’t excuse the crime, but it certainly lends perspective. There’s no need for embarrassment. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) 2012 Report to the Nations, a typical organization loses 5% of its annual revenue to employee fraud. And the U.S. Department of Justice estimates that 1 in 3 employees steal to some degree from the workplace. Communicate statistics like these to buffer the shock factor. Constantly point your people back to God’s grace and His healing power. Acknowledge and validate people’s hurts. Be an active listener. If someone comes to you feeling betrayed or experiencing a loss of trust, allow them to grieve, but point them toward Christian Computing® Magazine
forgiveness, while reinforcing the message: “We, as a church, are moving forward. Here’s how….” Forgiveness in these situations is never easy. However, it is important to remember that forgiveness does not mean that what they did was permissible, or that they should not be held accountable for their actions. It means that we let go of our need to make them pay so that we can be free of the poison of hatred or bitterness. This is the final and most critical step in surviving embezzlement. It will close the door on the past and swing wide the door to a better future.
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ONE CALL NOW
ONE CALL NOW
Building Faith Communities Through Better Communications College Heights Presbyterian Church
C
ollege Hill Presbyterian Church was founded in 1955 in Fayetteville, NC. With 99 members and a robust community outreach program, the church is a staple of goodwill and charitable action in its community. THE SITUATION College Hill Presbyterian Church was founded in 1955 in Fayetteville, NC. With 99 members and a robust community outreach program, the church is a staple of goodwill and charitable action in its community. When a winter storm caused the church to cancel a community dinner, organizers had a surplus of prepared food in danger of going to waste. Thinking quickly, planners froze the food and decided to host a Family Christmas Dinner within days. Since the event was new and needed to happen before Sunday services, they had to tell church members as quickly as possible.
a popular summer program for children and adults. The week-long program has a strong turnout, but leaders were concerned with dwindling attendance at the end-of-camp picnic. Leaders sent a One Call Now reminder to all members of the church, and attendance increased by more than 50%. “This is an outstanding system,” said Iva Kelly, College Heights Presbyterian Church staff member. “It really saves a lot of time and keeps everyone informed. I would recommend any group use One Call Now.” Contact us to learn more!
THE SOLUTION A few months earlier, College Heights Presbyterian Church partnered with One Call Now to solve its communication problem. Notifying church members of a Family Christmas Dinner in a few days? Not a problem. Church staff sprang into action. The message was sent to the entire congregation within minutes.
INDUSTRY Religious – Church
THE RESULT Thanks to a One Call Now phone message, more than 130 people came to the first ever Family Christmas Dinner. Considering the time frame, this level of attendance was truly remarkable. The Family Christmas Dinner isn’t the only program to experience a sharp increase in participation since using One Call Now. Vacation Bible School is
TOOLS UTILIZED Text-to-Speech, Subgroups, Automated Phone Calls
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PROBLEM Inefficient communication with congregation Dwindling event attendance PAYBACK 92% time savings 50% increase in event attendance
GEOGRAPHY Fayetteville, NC REPLACED Manual phone tree
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higher power with kevin
Digital Bible Study News
Kevin A. Purcell - kevin@kevinpurcell.org
A
lot happened in the world of Digital Bible Study over the last month. I thought I would give you a few short blurbs of news instead of waiting to cover each of these over the next few months. After all, timely news is sometimes better than in-depth coverage.
MyStudyBible.com and WordSearch You may already know about MyStudyBible. com a great study site from the people at Lifeway, the publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention (or is that the Great Commission Baptists - see http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews. asp?id=38089 about the denomination’s name). You also likely know about WORDsearch (http:// www.wordsearchbible.com) one of the best Windows-based Digital Bible Study tools available. Like the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup commercials, we now get two great tools in one great solution. Sign up for a MyStudyBible.com account and link it to your WORDsearch account and you can access your content. I was informed by Paul Mikos of Lifeway that this would not be officially launched until they Christian Computing® Magazine
were able to make more content available, but you can access it now in a beta form. To do that, log into your MyStudyBible.com
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account and click on the Library tab at the top of the site page. A popup shows up with a link in the lower right corner that says, “Link your ID to access WORDsearch titles available on MyStudyBible.” Click it and enter your details to access some, but not your entire WORDsearch library. This comes as a result of Lifeway buying WORDsearch, which bought QuickVerse. That means if you’re a QuickVerse user you can also access your QuickVerse library as soon as it becomes available on the site. For those of us who’ve gone Mac, this gives us a better way to access our WORDsearch library than installing the version of WORDsearch they coded for Mac. It runs the Windows version in a virtual environment and isn’t that pleasing for Mac users yet. Logos Announces FaithLife Study Bible Site and App If you head over to http://www.FaithLife.com you will see a brand new site from the people at Logos Bible Software called FaithLife. You will find out about their new study tool called FaithLife Study Bible, a study Bible made and designed with Digital Bible Study in mind. The “Bible-Centered Community” gives you and your community of Bible students a way to interact around God’s word in a social networking way. You might consider it Facebook for Bible Study. Logos targeted the site to individuals, churches or schools. Sign up for an account and you can interact with others in your Logos Bible Software (version 4.5 or higher) using the FaithLife Study Bible. The latest update gives you access to FaithLife community notes. Imagine if you and all your friends could make margin notes in their paper Bibles and they would magically appear in everyone else’s Bible. With the FaithLife Study Bible in Logos Christian Computing® Magazine
software, they can. You can use the computer software or one of their mobile apps for iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch as well as on Android. In addition to community-based study notes, you get the Study Bible notes tied to most verses of the Lexham English Bible. You also get access to the Lexham Bible Dictionary, multimedia content pictures, maps, charts and info-graphics and you get it all as part of the community tool. If your church uses Proclaim, a Logos-developed worship software tool, then your church can enjoy content and interaction together while in a worship service. The Proclaim system gives users links that they can access from the mobile apps during the service. Worship attendees can interact during or after a sermon like never before. I haven’t used this yet, but I’m intrigued. To learn more, head over to http://www.faith life.com. You can find links to download the apps at http://www.faithlifebible.com/app. Laridian’s Jeff Wheeler Goes Home If you use any of Laridian’s mobile Digital Bible Study tools, like PocketBible, then you were impacted by a fine man of God. Along with Craig Rairdin, one of our inaugural Christian Computing Hall of Fame inductees (see http://www.larid ian.com/?p=456) Jeff founded the company that brought the Bible to mobile devices. Jeff and the folks at Laridian knew these little handheld computers would become great tools for mobile Digital Bible Study before smartphones even existed. I didn’t have a lot of interaction with Jeff Wheeler, but I did converse with him via email and social media a couple of times. He seemed like a kind and decent person and was a pioneer in Bible software. His partner Craig Rairdin gets more credit publicly, but I’m sure even Craig would say that Jeff likely should receive some of that attention. July 2012
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Craig Rairdin wrote on the company’s blog, the day Jeff Wheeler passed away, “The features that you love in QuickVerse and PocketBible and which you often praise me for were likely Jeff’s ideas and his doing.” (from http://blog.laridian.com/?p=846) The greatest tribute I can offer a Christian brother and servant of the Lord is a story. Jeff wrote a Digital Tract for iOS based on the Roman Road. I recommended it to a church member who installed it on his iPad. He shared the tract with a person where he works and the person trusted Jesus Christ as Savior. Today Jeff enjoys the treasures of heaven! I look forward to meeting him there one day.
Christian Computing® Magazine
July 2012
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digital evangelism
Where to Get Help
Michael L White - mlwhite@parsonplacepress.com
L
et’s face it: everybody needs a little help from time to time. Furthermore, there’s no need to be ashamed or embarrassed to ask for help when you really need it. This is no less true with doing the work of evangelism, digital or otherwise. Let’s face it: everybody needs a little help from time to time. Furthermore, there’s no need to be ashamed or embarrassed to ask for help when you really need it. This is no less true with doing the work of evangelism, digital or otherwise. To do any work, we need the right tools and instructions. Whether you’re taking on a “simple” self-help job around your home or you’re looking for more effective ways to communicate the Gospel, you need good resources to help you do the job right. In the case of fixing a relatively minor repair to your household plumbing or upgrading your personal computer with a new component, you need the right tools and good directions for how to use those tools to accomplish the job at hand. The same is true, of course, with conducting efChristian Computing® Magazine
fective evangelism, whether digital or face-to-face. Fortunately, with the Internet, there is no shortage of either tools or instructions for how to solve practically any problem you may have. In the case of home repair or computer upgrading, you can check out sites like www.ehow.com to read articles or watch videos on how to do just about anything. Of course, there are gazillions of other such sites to consult on these topics as well. Unfortunately, my aptitude for and personal interest in doing handy man jobs like fixing plumbing problems is well below the national average. Unlike the TV character Dr. Cliff Huxtable on the popular 1990s sitcom The Cosby Show, I’m under no self-deception that I’m actually skilled at doing these sorts of things. Cliff, despite his comic ineptiJuly 2012
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tude for properly performing these tasks, thought he could fix anything (all with the intent of saving money for expensive repairmen), though he usually made matters worse and more costly in the long run. Whenever something broke down around their home, Claire, Cliff’s wife, would go to great lengths to conceal it from Cliff in order to prevent him from turning a minor repair into a monumental catastrophe. Unlike Cliff, however, I’m more than willing to acknowledge my technical limitations and to pay a professional to do the job right the first time. When it comes to matters like computer upgrades, certain software usage, and digital evangelism, however, I’m a bit more knowledgeable and interested. Thus, when it comes to how to conduct more effective evangelism, with particular emphasis on the digital aspect, which is our focus for this column, I can recommend the Internet Evangelism Day Web site (www.inter netevangelismday.com) for tons of articles, videos, books, online courses, and more. You can spend hours and hours browsing this site and absorbing the many recommendations and suggestions for doing evangelism in practically any venue, including, of course, in the digital arena. While Tony Whittaker is the face of Internet Evangelism Day, he is actually the front man for the “Internet Evangelism Coalition (IEC) – an umbrella group of evangelical Christian organizations who share a vision for online outreach...” (as the site states on the description page: http://www.inter netevangelismday.com/description. php). While Tony actually lives in the United Kingdom and operates this world-wide ministry from an office there, the IEC headquarters is at the Billy Graham Center in Christian Computing® Magazine
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Wheaton, Illinois. I have never met nor do I claim a close acquaintance with Tony, despite having communicated with him by email a few times over the years and subscribing to his Web Evangelism Bulletin by email since I became aware of this ministry. I’m embarrassed to admit, however, that I stay so overwhelmed with the multitude of email newsletters I receive every week and the many other tasks to which I’ve committed myself that I don’t read this very useful resource as often as I should. Nevertheless, because of the plethora of helpful information contained in it and on the Internet Evangelism Day Web site, I won’t let my own failure overshadow the value and importance of recommending them to you. There are, of course, a host of other evangelism resources all over the Web that are just as helpful, though few will rival the Internet Evangelism Day site for quantity of content. A search on the keywords “digital evangelism” will bring up millions of pages for your consideration. While my own site, www. digitalevangelism.com , has a long way to go to approach the level of aid that the IE Day Web site offers, I mention it here mainly as a resource to better acquaint you with my book Digital Evangelism: You Can Do It, Too!, and the many helpful tips it provides. I’m planning to begin working on converting it into eBook format soon, and whenever it’s available, I’ll let you know in a future feature article about it here in this column. Hopefully, that won’t be too much longer, though I have a number of other commitments to fulfill first. Since it’s the summertime and you may have some other outdoor activities you’d rather be doing than reading this article, such as Christian Computing® Magazine
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sunbathing, swimming, etc., I’ll make this months’ article a little shorter than usual. On the other hand, if you’re reading this article on your e-reader out by the pool or another public place, perhaps you have Internet access where you can spend a few minutes getting acquainted with the IE Day site I’ve recommended. After considering one or two of the options there for sharing the Gospel more effectively, why not put your newfound wisdom into practice? The next person who approaches you, whether known or unknown to you, why not engage him or her in a conversation that could very well save his or her soul? Now that you have the help you need for getting and using the tools and instructions you need, what are you waiting for? Time’s a-wastin’! Michael L. White is the founding pastor of Wellspring Ministries in Mobile, Alabama, as well as an author and part-time independent Christian publisher. His books, including Digital Evangelism: You Can Do It, Too! (Parson Place Press, April 2011), may be viewed at his Web site books.parsonplace. com and purchased wherever books are sold.
Christian Computing® Magazine
July 2012
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the power and the danger
Microsoft Hardware
By Russ McGuire - russ.mcguire@gmail.com
O
n June 18, Microsoft introduced Surface, a new family of tablet computers running Microsoft’s forthcoming Windows 8 and Windows RT operating systems. The products will be available in a total of 4 different configurations, and integrate a number of innovations that haven’t yet been seen on tablets (e.g. built-in kickstand, and a cover that doubles as a keyboard). But what makes the computers truly noteworthy are that they are Microsoftbranded. This is the first time that Microsoft has sold computers under their own brand. Microsoft has historically been a dominant software company, and that dominance, at least in part, was driven by the fact that the company provided the software for many different hardware manufacturers, and didn’t compete directly with them. With Surface, that has changed. Christian Computing® Magazine
Who is Microsoft? I don’t ask that question facetiously. I know that every reader of Christian Computing knows who Microsoft is, but sometimes I wonder if Microsoft themselves know who they are. In their boilerplate language included in each press release, Microsoft is very succinct July 2012
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in describing themselves: “Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq ‘MSFT’) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.” Leading with “software” is totally appropriate since that is where the company got its start and where it still makes the bulk of it’s money. According to the company’s 2011 Annual Report, revenue was distributed across Microsoft’s five business divisions: • $19B for the Windows and Windows Live division • $17B for the Server and Tools division • $2.5B for the Online Services division • $22B for the Microsoft Business division (in- cluding MS Office and related products) • $9B for the Entertainment and Devices division
ing to their core customers – the Computer brands (HP, Dell, Acer, Toshiba). In both cases, Microsoft decided to launch a hardware product to demonstrate what was possible with Microsoft’s software technology. In fact, the Of these five, the first four are heavily soft- prototype Xbox was built using Dell hardware ware centric, and the Windows division is com- to demonstrate the gaming capabilities of Mipletely dependent on other computer manufac- crosoft’s DirectX technology. The prototype was so impressive that it became a very sucturers to integrate Microsoft operating system cessful gaming platform. The first Microsoft software into their products. Microsoft has done a great job of making these manufacturers Mouse was actually introduced in 1983, the same year the company introduced Windows, feel non-threatened and strongly supported in and before mice were broadly available for the marketplace. Will Surface change that? PCs. Later, Microsoft introduced additional mousing innovation, including the scroll wheel Why would Microsoft compete with its cusand the first commercially available optical tomers? mouse. A decade later, in 1994, the company Surface may be Microsoft’s first computer, but it is not the company’s first hardware prod- introduced the first Microsoft Natural Keyboard, making an ergonomic option broadly uct. available. You may be using a Microsoft keyboard or Microsoft has launched other hardware mouse today, or perhaps you have an Xbox in your family room. Both of these are very solid products that haven’t enjoyed the longevity of these two franchises. Of course, you may rehardware franchises. When Microsoft entered these hardware markets, they weren’t threaten- member the Zune media player that unsuccessChristian Computing® Magazine
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fully attempted to compete with the iPod. Perhaps the shortest lived of any Microsoft product was the Kin, an underpowered Smartphone introduced in 2010 and pulled after just a couple of months. Microsoft’s networking products stayed on the market for almost two years. Microsoft said they introduced 802.11b WiFi gear because what was on the market was too hard to use and was slowing market adoption, however, Microsoft couldn’t keep up with technology advances in the WiFi space, so Microsoft discontinued the products in 2004. Perhaps Microsoft’s most unique hardware products were the Actimates stuffed toys. Introduced in 1997 and discontinued in 2000, the toys were in the shape of popular kids characters including Barney, Arthur, and the Teletubbies. The characters actually interacted wirelessly with VHS videos and PC games. In each of these cases, Microsoft was trying to shape or accelerate the market, demonstrating what was possible, and trying to create an ecosystem with Windows at its center. Over its history, Microsoft’s greatest value creation has come from its strong support of independent software developers. Almost all of the above referenced products created new opportunities for software developers and sought to accelerate software market growth. So, why did Microsoft introduce the Surface? They did it to accelerate the market for Windows 8 software Christian Computing® Magazine
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and to shape the overall tablet market towards the Windows ecosystem. I’m guessing that, given the strength of Android and the threat of Chrome, Microsoft didn’t trust its traditional computer partners to be aggressive in introducing Windows 8 tablets that would generate excitement for consumers, and more importantly, for software developers. Why should churches and ministries care? I’m guessing most of us use Windows computers in our ministries. There are lots of advantages to the Windows environment. Hardware is a commodity, so we can buy it cheap. There’s plenty of software, including lots of affordable or free options. Obviously, as the world becomes more mobile, a key question is whether Microsoft will be relevant. In theory at least, if we were using Microsoftbased smartphones and tablets, the integration of our computing platforms would be simpler and more complete.
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul wrote of the church “For the body does not consist of one member but of many. … God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ “ (1 Corinthians 12:14,18-21 ESV)
Sounds great, so, where’s the danger? Microsoft is making a risky play. Their introduction of Surface could demonstrate the potential for Windows 8, generate huge excitement, and win the hearts of consumers and developers. If they are successful in doing so, I’m not sure they will continue to play in the tablet hardware space – they will have accomplished their mission and they can leave the computer business to the experts. However, Surface could be just as well received as the Kin was (or rather wasn’t). Meanwhile, Microsoft’s competitive entry into the space could drive their traditional partners firmly into Google’s arms. If that happens, those who bet on Surface could be left with an orphaned product line. Christian Computing® Magazine
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Perhaps Microsoft needs to be reminded that it has a specific role to play, and so do its manufacturing partners. By saying “I have no need of you” to HP, Dell, and Acer, it may actually hear back “we have no need of you Microsoft.” It is my hope and prayer that these articles on the power and danger of technology will encourage you in your daily walk with Christ. Whether it is the printing press, personal computers, the Internet, mobility, Wi-Fi, social networks, or tablet computers, new technologies continue to advance our ability to know God and to serve Him, wherever we go. Russ McGuire is an executive for a Fortune 100 company and the founder/co-founder of three technology start-ups. His latest entrepreneurial venture is Hschooler.net (http://hschool er.net), a social network for Christian families (especially homeschoolers) which is being built and run by six homeschooled students under Russ’ direction.
Christian Computing® Magazine
July 2012
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nick at church
What Do You Use?
Nick Nicholaou - nick@mbsinc.com
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olks often ask me what I use for a computer, cell phone, tablet, headset, etc. Here are my answers— and why— so my perspective might help you make whatever hardware decisions you need to make. Computers Computers fall into three categories for me: servers, desktops, and notebooks. Here’s what I use in each category: • Servers. I’m a fan of Dell PowerEdge servers. Their performance is high, their Pro support is excellent, and their price point is modest. We recommend tower and rack servers (we only use rack servers in our office and datacenter because they fit in our server room best), and most are configured to be virtual server hosts using VMware. o Because we often run five or more virtual servers on one physical server (or host) we like them to have at least 12gb of RAM. o We also like to have redundancy in hard drives and power supplies since they are the components that fail most often. We configure the hard drives in RAID5, which means three or more hard drives act as one, and any one can be lost without crashing the computer or losing data. • Desktops. In this category we use and spec two kinds of systems, generally. Christian Computing® Magazine
o For Windows systems we like the Dell Optiplex 790 running Windows 7 64-bit. We usually put 4gb of RAM in, which is a terrific spec for most roles. Three year next-day on-site warranties take us and our clients out of the hardware support business and make these systems a great value— built for the corporate network environment. o For Macs we like the iMac. Depending on the role we may spec it with as little as 4gb RAM, or as much as 16gb for video editing stations. And we like the 27” display. • Notebooks. In this category we also use and spec two kinds of systems. o For Windows systems we like the Dell Latitude E6420. A 14” display and weighing in just over 4 pounds, this is a good value and dependable system. We also load these up with 4gb of RAM and Windows 7 64-bit. For those who like larger displays when working at their desk, we recommend a docking station (less than $100) to avoid the complication of having a second desktop computer. July 2012
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o For Macs, we like MacBook Pro and MacBook Air systems. Solid state drives are worth having, and because these are more expensive systems we almost always spec them 8gb of RAM, if possible, so they’ll last longer. The computer I use is a MacBook Air 11” with the maximum available RAM (4gb) and a 128gb solid state hard drive. When at my desk I connect it to a 27” Thunderbolt display, which acts like a docking station. Connected to the display is a wired keyboard with numeric keypad and a 2tb external hard drive for use with Time Machine (local backup). I recommend IT Directors and Network Administrators use a Mac. A growing number of church and ministry staff members are using Macs, and they need support and guidance. The only way an IT Director or Network Administrator is going to have a voice that is received credibly by many Mac users is if they use a Mac. That either means two computers (a Windows computer and a Mac), or getting a properly spec’d Mac that can run both OSes (which I recommend doing with VMware’s Fusion). Unfortunately the Mac OS will not run well enough on a Windows computer to gain the expertise needed. Tablets I use an iPad, and am very impressed with it. I’m also very impressed with the Kindle Fire, which is an Android tablet. Both have great capabilities, but neither replaces a computer for me because I need to do more than little apps let me do. I need full applications, like Microsoft Word and Excel, and using those in a Remote Desktop/ Terminal Services connection is not always possible. Smartphones I use an Android smartphone because I need to be active in every OS (Windows, Mac, IOS, and Android). The phone I have is the Motorola RazrMaxx, which has wonderful battery capacity! I also use it as a mobile hotspot, and have yet to run out of battery (I recharge it every night). Christian Computing® Magazine
Headsets I use different ‘headsets’ in different situations: • We have a VoIP phone system in our office, and I use a software phone instead of a more typical handset. That means I use a headset to make and receive phone calls at my desk. The headset I use— and love— is a Sennheiser Office Runner. It is wireless, but not Bluetooth. It is RF (radio frequency) and has a crystal clear range of about 400 feet! • When I’m away and using a headset for my softphone or for my smartphone, I use a Jawbone Era. The exception is when I’m driving my vehicle (a Ford F150), because it’s equipped with Microsoft Sync. So, those are the hardware solutions I use, in what circumstance I use them, and why. I hope that helps you as you evaluate your next purchases. Nick Nicholaou is president of MBS, a consulting firm specializing in church and ministry IT and CPA services. You can reach Nick via email (nick@ mbsinc.com) and may want to check out his firm’s website (www.mbsinc.com) and his blog at http:// ministry-it.blogspot.com.
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ministry communication
Ministry Photographs
How to make them More Effective in Communicating a Ministry Message
Yvon Prehn - yvon@effectivechurchcom.com
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hotographs can be one of the most powerful communication tools in church communications and today it costs virtually nothing to produce them in digital format. However, in this situation, more isn’t always better (look at most photo albums on Facebook). That is why I believe a review of why photographs are useful in ministry and church communications, and how to produce more effective ones, may be useful.
Why photos are important in church and ministry communications They are impossible to ignore. People can easily ignore page after page in print or online of what might well be very important text, but they can’t flip through a newsletter or website without looking at the pictures and reading the captions associated with them. Because people will always be drawn to a photo and because they can have a powerful effect on the ability of your church to communicate its message, following are some tips that will help your photos be more effective. Christian Computing® Magazine
Photos that tell a ministry story Head shots or formally posed pictures don’t tell you much of anything about a person. If you want your audience to know something about your staff, missionaries or whoever else you want to feature, you have to do more than share a head shot. Get your subject involved in action. A head shot merely labels a person, an action shot tells a story. Think of how much more people would learn about your leadership if instead of a mug shot of the minister each time you had his column in your newsletter or blog, you had a picture of him in action. Use pictures of him July 2012
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with his family, interacting with a Sunday school class, or in his study. Capture him participating in a hobby, or at a church activity. A series of photos such as these would give a more rounded representation of your pastor as a person. Additional tips to help you to get good people pictures It is said that public speaking is the number one fear for most people, even above dying. I disagree. I think it’s having your picture taken. I’ve seen countless people in ministry who are comfortable speaking to hundreds of people turn into jelly when approached by a camera. What is even worse than the fear of getting your picture taken is the end result. A stiff, formal shot of a person clearly not enjoying the process doesn’t communicate any reality about the person. Pictures are put into publications and on the web so people can see the people involved in the ministry. But the strained individual standing up against a white wall with a terrified expression is not the same person who can captivate a room full of sixth graders with stories about Jesus. The severe look on the face of the man in the buttoned up suit is not the same pastor who chopped wood for you when your husband was sick or comforted Christian Computing® Magazine
your niece when she lost her baby. The pictures you take of people in ministry are of individuals God uses to inspire lives and change souls for eternity. Your challenge in taking pictures is to capture that person, who they really are, and share him or her in your communications. One of the best ways I’ve found to capture the real person is to photograph them doing what they do best-in the midst of ministry. If they work with kids, take a picture of them with kids; if they preach, photograph them preaching. If you can’t do that, at least take someone with you to talk to them while you are taking pictures. I’ve found this method works great even for people who hate to have their picture taken or don’t normally photograph well. People in ministry tend to be interactive people— they come alive in relationships with others. Often when you’ve got them talking to someone else you can take a photograph that shows them at their best. It also takes their mind off the experience of being photographed. You have to be brave to get the best shots It isn’t easy to get the good, gutsy photos; to get in the middle of ministry situations and shoot incredible July 2012
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pictures. It’s much easier to line people up against a wall or have them squint into the sun and smile on the count of three, but you’ll never get a memorable photo doing that. One possible solution is in your head to play photo journalist; be another person. Get in the middle of the group, on a chair, on the floor, shoot at odd angles. Talk to your subjects; get them interacting and take lots of pictures. Forget all about yourself and catch your subjects being themselves. Photographs of sensitive situations Sometimes photos are too real. In ministry we deal with some really tough situations: hunger, pain, disabilities, emotional and mental problems. The challenge is to illustrate these situations while retaining the dignity of the people involved. Show the results of your ministry, not the problem that prompted it. This means: • showing your youth group involved in serving meals at the senior center, not kids hanging out by graffiti covered walls. • showing children fed and at school, not starv- ing and holding their hands out. • showing women working and healed and not battered and poor.
like a story with too many words. Just one person doing what the event is all about gets to the point of the story. • Cut extra stuff from the photo as you would cut out extra words. The contemporary style for photographs, especially head shots, is very tight cropping. • Drama is always more important than quality. Concentrate on taking pictures that tell a story. Finally, ALWAYS caption your photos—in print and on the web—a picture may be worth a thousand words, but without a caption, the question is, “Which thousand?” People will make up a meaning in a photo if you don’t tell them what you want them to see. For more material on effective church and ministry communication photographs, videos that illustrate the material above, and a handout on the importance of captions, go to: http://www.effectivechurchcom.com/2012/07/ how-to-take-modify-and-use-photos-more-effectively-in-print-and-online/
Not only does this kind of photography emphasize the good news of the gospel, but this way a person is not forever labeled in your photograph as a victim. Final tips on effective photos for your church or ministry • This is not portrait photography or studio work. You are taking pictures to use to communicate a message. • Choose your photos for placing in publications or on the web as carefully as you choose your words. Don’t just dump the entire digital file on a page. Be sure the photo backs up the mes- sage of your words. • A photo of a large group where you can’t see anyone clearly is Christian Computing® Magazine
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