Christian Computing Magazine - June 2014 by Now - Ministry Tech Magazine

Founder & Editor-in-Chief Steve Hewitt - steve@ccmag.com Managing Editor Kevin Cross - kevin@ccmag.com

Applying Tomorrow’s Technology to Today’s Ministry Volume 26

June 2014

No. 6

4 cover story

iDonate

More Options, More Donations By Steve Hewitt

Corporate Home Office

You Are Our Best Resource!

Ministry Leadership Assimilation

Copy Editors Gina Hewitt Magen Cross

Editorial

Steve Hewitt - steve@CDPublishers.com

By Michael L. Jordan

Protected with Purpose

By Steven Sundermeier

Merging Churches Consolidating the Administrative Function By Mary Lou Turnbull

Special Feature

Should Your Church Data Be in the Cloud?

Higher Power With Kevin

The Power And The Danger

Voice Over LTE and HD Voice

24 Digital Evangelism

Kevin A. Purcell – kevin@kevinpurcell.org

Christian Computing® is a registered trademark of Christian Computing, Inc. Written materials submitted to Christian Computing® Magazine become the property of Christian Computing®, Inc. upon receipt and may not necessarily be returned. Christian Computing® Magazine reserves the right to make any changes to materials subfor editorial purposes. The content of this publication may not be copied in any way, shape or form without the express permission of Christian

By: Russ McGuire - russ.mcguire@gmail.com

Christian Evangelism: Option or Command?

28 Ministry Communication

mitted for publication that are deemed necessary

Theotek News Podcast and Hangout

By Emily Kantner

306 Eagle Glen Ct Raymore MO 64083

13 Church Windows Software 15

Mailing address:

Phone: (816) 331-5252 FAX: 800-456-1868

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: Don’t be on the Losing Side

Contributing Editors Yvon Prehn Nick Nicholaou Kevin A. Purcell Russ McGuire Michael L White

By: Michael White

Computing®, Inc. Views expressed in the articles and reviews printed within are not necessarily the views of the editor, publisher, or employees of Christian Computing® Magazine, or Christian Computing, Inc.

A Challenge to Create Word Pictures with Meaning Instead of Banal, Trivial, and Mostly Useless Content Yvon Prehn - yvon@effectivechurchcom.com

32 Nick At Church

Newer Software Charity Licensing Includes Social Engineering Nick Nicholaou - nick@mbsinc.com

Christian Computing® Magazine

Articles that are highlighed are provided by our partners www.ccmag.com/2007_03/2007_03editorial.pdf

June 2014

editorial

You Are Our Best Resource! Steve Hewitt

The readers of CCMag are the best! Your responses to my question about your favorite app practically shut me down from all other work for two full days! It was almost impossible to check each of the apps that were suggested, but I did compile a list of 37 of the apps. In the name of good journalism I haven’t put it together as an article since I really don’t have great descriptions on most of them, but we will find a way to get the list to our readers in the near future. The class I taught gave the session good reviews and really appreciated the information. This month’s cover story on iDonate was also suggested to us by a reader. Don’t be fooled by the name, they are far more than just another online donation service. They have a very unique service that could be a great benefit to your church or ministries donation base.

the responses and publish them so that we all could profit from the information! I have several ideas for future questions, but I thought I would again give readers a chance to make this idea their own. What question do you think I should ask? What would you like to ask pertaining to what other readers of CCMag are doing, thinking, or planning for the future? Drop me an email (steve@ccmag.com) and let me know your suggestion for this month’s question. Then, watch your email box for our question of the month, sometime after the 4th of July! Thanks for reading, and thanks for taking part. I want us to partner more in the future so all of us can get a better idea of what technology solutions are working in our churches and ministries! Together We Serve Him,

I Want To Do Something New I loved the response I received from you on your favorite apps. I think we could all benefit from hearing more from our readers, so I want to start Steve Hewitt something new. Each month I would like to send out a specific question relating to you, your church President of Christian Digital Publishers steve@ccmag.com and ministry, and technology. We could compile Christian Computing® Magazine

June 2014

cover story

iDonate More Options, More Donations

By Steve Hewitt

n the past 20 years or so, we’ve gone from dial-up Internet access in our basements to high-speed connections in our pockets. But, aside from placing a form on a website, the way nonprofits ask for a donation and what they’re asking for haven’t really changed—until now. I recently interviewed iDonate CEO Ray Gary to learn a little bit about how their revolutionary system is changing the game. Enjoy! OK, so what is iDonate, and what type of clients do you work with? Well, iDonate is all about equipping nonprofits to get more donations, freeing them up to focus on advancing their mission. We’ve developed the first and only unified giving system built on the idea that when you give your donors more options, you get more donations. From a technical perspective, the iDonate system is a plugin that can be used on your existing site to instantly begin accepting all types of gifts—things like cars, boats, cell phones, Christian Computing® Magazine

jewelry and stock—just as easily as you’ve accepted cash. We work with nonprofit organizations of every size and recently partnered with ACS Technologies, the leader in church management software. We’re excited to align ourselves with them! While all of their clients can benefit from the solution, our integration with their social communications platform The City brings an extra level of functionality that enhances a church’s community environment. They said this new option will certainly help June 2014

their clients raise more funds which, through this increase in giving, will help thousands of churches fulfill and expand their mission—and I couldn’t agree more. So what’s the history of iDonate? How long have you guys been operating? Bill High started the iDonate foundation back in 2008. After practicing law for 12 years, he moved to the nonprofit world where he saw that organizations were having a lot of trouble handling noncash gifts. His clients really wanted to focus on serving, not on operations, and Bill wondered if there was a better way—a way to make it easier to process donations so more time could be spent doing good. As iDonate grew, it became clear that those same nonprofits were faced with an additional challenge: Donor demands for online giving were growing at a double-digit rate, and they needed a simple, user-friendly online experience. I came on in 2010 and fused Bill’s unique vision with traditional forms of online cash giving to create the iDonate technology you see today, which is the first and only of its kind. So how is iDonate different from traditional donation forms? A typical donation form collects credit card information and maybe ACH. There’s a payment processor and a back end where that data are stored and (hopefully) accessed in a meaningful way. The iDonate application includes that basic functionality, but asking for cash donations is just going after the same donation pie. Granted, it’s a large pie—the IRS reports around $300 billion in donations each year. Only 10 percent are noncash gifts—things like cars and gift cards and electronics—which is remarkable because it’s the exact inverse of a person’s wealth. In reality, 90 percent of our wealth is in noncash assets; 10 percent is in cash. That means 90 percent of donations are coming from a 10 percent pool. And everyone is competing for that 10 percent—other charities, the grocery store, even the restaurant down the street. The iDonate system allows organizations to go after the other $9 out of $10. By accepting noncash gifts? Exactly. Today, adding a noncash giving opChristian Computing® Magazine

tion to an online donation form is simple for most organizations. The real challenge is in the back end processing. The majority of nonprofit organizations don’t have the staffing for it, much less the expertise to unload the gifts close to market rate in a reasonable timeframe. This is why iDonate is so revolutionary. Our system allows nonprofits to accept noncash gifts, processes the donation, returns a receipt to the donor, and transfers the dollar amount received to the organization—all within a reasonable time frame. But you’re also accepting cash donations through the same system? Right. Cash and credit card donations still play a vital role—but the key is to focus on a unified ask. By accepting noncash gifts alongside cash donations, you’re allowing your organization the opportunity to benefit from that hidden 90 percent of your donors’ assets. Beyond that, you’re eliminating a possible barrier for new donors who want to support your mission but don’t have cash to give. How big is this noncash market? How worthwhile would you say it is for organizations to go after it? Very worthwhile. Consider this: Only 20 percent of iPhone owners sell their used phones— which leaves $9 billion in unused iPhones sitting in drawers across the country. And consumers are holding onto $40 billion in unused gift cards with an extra $2 billion added on top of that each year. On the other side of the coin, nonprofits are reporting more than $13 billion in stock donations and $1 billion in art and collectible donations annually. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. If your organization isn’t currently offering a noncash giving option, you’re missing out on your piece of a multi-billion dollar pie. Beyond that, you’re missing out on a key opportunity to engage your donors in a new and meaningful way. And what kind of difference are your clients seeing after the switch? A significant one. The average donation amount across all of our clients is $292—double the $146 national average reported by npENGAGE. I love to tell people about our work with PeppedUp!, an organization that provides movies, music, books and games to children who are fighting life-threatening diseases. They needed a flexJune 2014

ible solution that would not only allow them to accept all kinds of donations, but would also support their program that gifts electronic devices to these sick kids. iDonate was able to address both of their needs, and through the iDonate Giving System, PeppedUp! saw a 96 percent growth in noncash donations with the average noncash donation amount coming in at $290.62— right on target with our client average. Another great example of success is HOPE International, an organization that was given the iDonate system as a gift from one of their donors. They recently received a vehicle donation that netted the organization almost $9,000—a return of 10 times the donor’s investment in iDonate in just one gift! Our clients are also seeing a difference in the way they’re able to engage with their donors. I recently heard about a couple that donated their wedding silver to Prison Fellowship Ministries. They were inspired by the opportunity to give a noncash donation and delighted to make a difference by donating the silver that had sat in a drawer for much of their 64year marriage. So how do readers find out more information? Anyone who is interested in learning more about iDonate can visit iDonate.com to schedule a free live demo. We also offer the first 30 days free to organizations that want to get started. For other questions, feel free to give us a call at 877-410-4431 or email info@idonate.com.

Christian Computing® Magazine

June 2014

ministry leadership

Assimilation By: Michael L. Jordan

any people attend a church service when they’re invited by a friend or colleague. Sometimes they really enjoy the service, but never end up coming back. It’s not because they don’t want to not return. The majority of the time it’s just because they don’t know how to get “plugged in” to what’s happening in your ministry.

But it’s not just visitors to which this happens, sometimes this lack of being “plugged in” can also occur with members who become inactive in church activities. “For believers in Christ, the church is not a building, it is people. Whether they’ve been members for 30 years or if this week was their first time attending, each individual (and his or her overall spiritual health) is important,” according to the authors of the ministry guide Assimilation: Best Practices. “The truth is everyone in your congregation comes from different places. Some are brand new and looking to get involved with church activities Christian Computing® Magazine

quickly. Others may be new, but are looking to ease into being connected to what their passion in ministry is, evaluating where they stand before jumping in to becoming more involved. And still others may have been there for years without becoming involved at all.” There a several key things to address when discussing assimilation, but there are three which are essential. To get people connected, remember the three areas of involvement: fellowship, discipleship, and service. From your ministry perspective, the chief goal should be to ensure your church is proactive in assimilating people into a healthy, interconnected June 2014

group to form them into disciples of Christ. However, getting people connected can be the most challenging aspect a church faces. The key to getting people connected to your ministry is to help them find the best place in which they fit. After this happens, normally the entire church body functions much better and can move deeper into meaningful service. According to the Assimilation: Best Practices guide, here are three things your ministry should consider before you ultimately dive into making connections in your community. 1. Don’t be pushy with visitors, but give them a place to get answers: New people may be non-Christians who are being nudged by the Holy Spirit to see what church is about. They may be new to the area and shopping around for a church. Perhaps they’ve left a neighboring church that’s going through a relationship split or other difficult situation. Either way, tread lightly, staying mindful to avoid the hard sell on your church. Remember, no one likes the hard sell.

Christian Computing® Magazine

2. Create a sense of excitement among new members: During their “honeymoon” period with the church, it’s important to get people plugged in so they can become active, engaged members. When they’re plugged in, they can actively contribute to the church’s overall health. 3. Help lurkers and inactives realize they’re missing out: When it comes to trying to engage with non-engaged people who’ve been around for months or years, the temptation is often to resort use guilt as a tool. But this is seldom effective. True spiritual growth and contribution to the church body as a whole is the byproduct of a close, daily relationship with Jesus. So, instead of guilt, call attention to the activities and lifechanging events happening in the lives of active members. Know thy demographic: It’s about the right person and fit, not just filling spots. The above statement is true in today’s age. Many people, due to hyper-connectedness, feel more isolated than ever. People everywhere,

June 2014

whether followers of Christ or not, are frazzled. They’re over-worked and over-committed, leaving their spiritual lives in a depressed state. “Believers have a strong desire to go deeper and to grow in their faith while sharing life in their church community. Meanwhile, those who don’t yet know Jesus share the same need to belong. Salvation is often the result of a nagging sense of loneliness and a desire to find a new way of life,” continued the authors of Assimilation: Best Practices. “What’s interesting is these things are happening in an era of unprecedented connectivity, thanks to the growth of social media, smart phones, text messaging, and the Internet.” But how do you get there? There are numerous ways to get people plugged into your ministry via traditional means, whether it be a welcome center, greeters at each service or connect cards. These methods are absolutely necessary. However, there is an important next step you should take in today’s fastpaced world. That step is to make a true connection with people outside of Sunday School or weekly services. It is to really bring that connectedness to people anytime, anywhere, through the use of technology. As society moves deeper into the future, most are embracing technology to communicate and better connect. But what churches need are viable online tools that can deliver real spiritual sustenance and a way of regularly connecting outside of normal church gatherings. Today’s thriving, vibrant, fastgrowing churches are places where people are engaged in one another’s lives continually throughout the week, better yet around the clock. That kind of connectivity comes Christian Computing® Magazine

June 2014

outside the confines of their spiritual walk. They text, chat, email, utilize Twitter and Facebook at all hours of the day, so why should their communications with their church be any different? There are tools out there which are peopledriven and designed for ministry growth. There are ones which hit the proper marks. Those marks are: connecting people; providing deeper interaction; and moving ministry forward. And some churches out there are doing it right.

naturally because it’s the way their lives work

Growing megachurch congregation taps into the power of community. Geoff Surratt, Ministries Pastor at Seacoast Church in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina says many churches misuse social media technologies. “I see them totally misusing Twitter and Facebook — either they ignore them or use them wrong. ‘Community’ doesn’t mean sitting around listening to people talk about what they’re doing next. You have to talk with each other. You have to share your lives.” Surratt says his church has seen what can happen when people truly get involved by harnessing the power of technology. “There’s a reason it’s called ‘social networking,” he says. “It’s not a platform to share who you are and get your message out there. It’s a way to connect with people…. that’s how you tap into the power of community.” Let Us Help You Get Better Connected. ACS Technologies can help you assimilate new members while going deeper with those already in your congregation. Whether they’ve just walked through your front door or they’ve been quietly warming a seat for years without engaging, the key to a healthier, thriving body is getting people connected and properly assimilated. When you do, ultimately you’ll spread the Gospel more effectively. To learn more about assimilation and put best practices to use, including stories of how other churches have succeeded, download Assimilation: Best Practices today. You can also learn more by visiting www.acstechnologies.com/assimilation.

Christian Computing® Magazine

June 2014

protected with purpose

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: Don’t be on the losing side

By: Steven Sundermeier

eing a soccer fan all my life and personally playing soccer over the last thirty years, I have really enjoyed watching and coaching my boys in the game. This Father’s Day was very special to me, as my oldest son played in his very first soccer tournament. While his team was overmatched by older and faster kids, I was very proud to see him out there competing. In addition to watching him play, the tournament also put us smack dab into soccer mania; crowded parking lots, soccer tents with soccer merchandise and apparel for sale, hundreds of kids competing in the tournament and seas of parents cheering them on. As many of you already know, the 2014 FIFA World Cup kicked off in Brazil on June 12th and goes through July 13th. The World Cup features the top 32 National teams competing on the World stage. Before and after all my son’s Father’s Day weekend tournament games, everyone’s conversations centered around the 2014 FIFA World Cup: “How do you think the USA will fair in their first match against Ghana?”, “Will the United States make it out Christian Computing® Magazine

of Bracket G?”, “Where’s everyone meeting for the England vs. Italy game?”, and the questions continued. However, as I continued to overhear conversations at the fields pertaining to searching the latest cool soccer video’s online (ie. Nike: Risk Everything) and people’s plans to watch a certain match at a bar while live streaming another match, my internal security feelers got a bad vibe. As a security expert I became concerned. June 2014

Cyber-criminals are notorious for exploiting world events and world news and trying to capitalize on them. The 2014 World Cup provides them a perfect opportunity to achieve their goals. With all 64 matches being broadcasted and getting streamed to mobile devices, the World Cup will generate a huge audience with many people checking the latest scores and schedules on their smart phones and tablets. With World Cup hysteria now well underway, I have compiled a few areas for you to proceed with caution in order to help prevent cyber attackers from scoring on you. Live streaming of match games – If you are streaming the matches live from your smartphone, tablet or other mobile device while at a restaurant, bar or another public venue, it is recommended that you verify the network connection name. Hackers will setup fake Wi-Fi networks to attract unknowing users. Additionally, use extreme caution when searching for streaming websites that are carrying the soccer matches, as cybercriminals often utilize an old technique called Search Engine Optimization Poisoning to get their malicious pages on top of search pages. A quick search on Google for 2014 FIFA World Cup live streaming websites resulted in over a Christian Computing® Magazine

thousand pages. Here’s a tip from your Uncle Steve: they are NOT all legitimate! Be wary of World Cup themed e-mails – Only open attachments coming from a trusted source. Resist the temptation to open emails claiming you won free tickets to a World Cup game in Brazil or clicking on embedded links promising insider information on Team USA or never-before-seen footage of Messi, Ronaldo or the Brazilian star Neymar. Here in our Thirtyseven4 Security labs, we are noticing daily increases in emails targeting soccer fans around the World. Such emails include phishing style emails requesting online payment for streamed games and insider information on player and team stats, etc. Another observed phishing email claimed the system was infected due to the World Cup and the only way to clean it was installing a noted piece of software. Downloading World Cup apps – Currently there are thousands of apps available in Google Play that center around the World Cup. Apps include wallpaper of your favorite National team or player, ringtones (imagine every incoming call producing the famous “GOOOOAAALLLLLLLL!!!” shout), games, live streaming apps, apps with player statistics, etc. There are also thousands of apps being distributed outside of Google Play, and Thirtyseven4 has already updated for many malicious World Cup themed apps. These malicious apps have been observed to have the capability to push unwanted advertisements, charge high premium service fees to the user, retrieve passwords and abuse stolen user information. In a world where we have enough differences, it’s enjoyable to have something like the World Cup to discuss and get excited about on a common level. Sports provide camaraderie, unity and sometimes hope, to the teams involved and also those involved with the teams. I say: cheer for the goalie when he saves that shot; wince for the player that gets that nasty injury, but don’t “Risk Everything” to do so. Nike’s FIFA commercial entitled “Risk Everything” is a must-see, but it also provides an irony that I urge you to be aware of before falling prey to. Play it smart with 2014 FIFA World Cup coverage and online hoopla related to it. Don’t “Risk Everything” by failing to be diligent to basic online guidelines that you already know. Like an expert player: be alert, aware, and stay on your toes!

June 2014

church windows software

CHURCH WINDOWS SOFTWARE

This month, Church Windows Church Management Software has solicited the help of a true professional for our monthly subject. Mary Lou Turnbull has more than 10 years’ experience with Church Windows, but also more than 20 years’ experience helping churches who use any (or no) software package.

Merging Churches

Consolidating the Administrative Function By Mary Lou Turnbull

o, your church has decided to merge with another like-minded congregation? Maybe it’s due to budget shortfalls or possibly due to declining enrollment. Or maybe more positively, you have decided to combine resources to provide a broader ministry. Whatever the reason, effectively consolidating financial records and personnel may prove more challenging than you anticipated. Let’s back up a little and review the most common types of church mergers. • Continuation or Survival Merger – two congregations legally join together as one • Absorption Merger – the lead church acquires the assets of the joining church or the joining church donates all its assets to the lead church • Rebirth Merger – both churches close and establish a new identity

There are a wide variety of resources that can help distinguish the pros and cons of each type. Here, we will focus on navigating the consolidation process to bring you out stronger on the other side. One of our Steeple clients is a Lutheran church in

Christian Computing® Magazine

Michigan who consolidated three local congregations. The first one closed. Then, Church 2 and Church 3 merged to form a new entity. Now six months after the merger, we are sharing lessons learned during the transition. Develop a Plan Never underestimate the value of getting organized. Start with a checklist on what needs to be in place moving forward. Put someone in charge who is accountable for the progress. Get Experienced People to Help You The Finance Chair (a retired accountant) worked with Steeple Accounting to develop a streamlined Chart of Accounts for the new entity. Together, we developed a unified spreadsheet to June 2014

account for the fiscal year-end balances from each church. This expertise saved countless hours of unraveling inaccurate balances and reconciling accounts. Utilize the Resources (Strengths) that You Have If you have a church management system that’s working and already have the expertise in house, keep using it. In this case, one of the merging churches used Church Windows and the other was using Quick Books. Because of the advantages of a

fund accounting system, the decision was made to use Church Windows. Allow the Experience to Improve Your Processes The church administrator for the newly merged congregation had the following to say. “Don’t reinvent the wheel – fix the broken wheel!” Many organizations struggle with changing the way they’ve always done things. This can be magnified when churches combine. Take advantage of a fresh pair of eyes through the expertise and objectivity of the experts you have brought in to help.

The Church is people!

You’ve been called to minister to the people of your church. Let Church Windows manage the information so you can minister to your people.

CHURCH WINDOWS DESKTOP & WEB contain integrated: .FNCFSTIJQ t 4DIFEVMFS t %POBUJPOT "DDPVOUJOH t "DDPVOUT 3FDFJWBCMF t 1BZSPMM

Christian Computing® Magazine

People over “Things” Don’t forget to take into consideration the personnel component. It can be a challenge to bring together staff and volunteers from different churches. A congregation with unhappy, frustrated people may likely not last too long. Even if everything seems right on paper, disengaged members can zap the life out of a rebuilding effort. Try to gain consensus and the end result will reflect a collaboration rather than a forced combination of right answers. Mary Lou Turnbull is the owner of Steeple Accounting Services, specializing in church accounting and fraud prevention. She is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Church Administrator with the National Association of Church Business Administration and a current Board member of the Central Ohio Association of CFEs. Mary Lou has over 20 years in experience with churches and other non-profit organizations. For more information, visit www.steepleaccounting.com or email marylou@steepleaccounting.com.

June 2014

special feature

Should Your Church Data Be in the Cloud? By Emily Kantner

ach day we work with people who serve in a variety of roles at churches throughout the United States and beyond. While some are IT staff or other form of techies, many are not familiar with the lingo you hear when dealing with a software company. So they have plenty of questions about church management technology, including the cloud. We’re not talking cumulonimbus here, but the off-site storage of your information—“in the cloud.” Even though cloud storage has been around for several years and is a great option for churches, many are still reluctant to put their trust in technology they can’t see. But there are a few things you should consider before dismissing this service for your ChMS data. You’re probably already using some type of cloud technology. You just don’t realize it. If you use email services like Gmail, share photos on social outlets like Facebook, or back up Christian Computing® Magazine

the information on your iPhone, then you’ve already taken advantage of cloud technology. You’re not storing those messages, images, or data on your own server—a company is keeping track of all that for you. What are other churches doing? According to a 2013 survey, 80% of large churches are using a cloud of some sort, while just over half of all churches with fewer than 1,000 in weekly attendance take advantage of this technology. These numbers continue to grow as more and more churches see the value of this service. June 2014

Cloud storage offers several benefits to the church: • Equipment - Consider all the information included in your church database. You might have records for 300 people or 30,000. Now imagine the hardware required for your church to store all of that information on-site—not to mention the audio/video files from the latest sermon series available on your website or mobile app. With your information in the cloud, you don’t need to worry about the cost of hardware, upkeep, and maintenance required for all all those records. They’re more quickly and easily accessible than if your church were trying to tackle the job with limited technology. And you’ll experience minimized downtime because of the amount of backup in the case of a system outage. • Safety & Security - Your information is probably safer from theft and damage in the cloud than in the church basement. Although all data storage is somewhat susceptible, an experienced provider can better withstand these dangers where individual churches could not afford such security. Credible ChMS providers will heavily invest in antivirus software and disaster recovery plans to protect your information as well as safeguard hardware from natural disaster and any physical damage. • Accessibility - When you’re using a web-based solution that stores information in the cloud, you can access your database from anywhere that has an active internet connection. You can also make any necessary changes and the database will update automatically—whether you’re working on your office computer or laptop at the local coffee shop. • Hassle-Free Convenience Christian Computing® Magazine

June 2014

Churches often lack the technological resources to manage the breadth of information included in their extensive databases. But even those churches that do staff a full IT department don’t need that burden on the ministry’s shoulders. It’s not where they want to focus their time and energy. Utilizing cloud technology means less worry for the local church. • Ministry Benefits - Churches using cloud technology to enable online giving are more likely—almost twice as likely—to see an increase in contributions. They are also significantly more likely to engage their church communities through a variety of media like mobile apps and blogs. • Multi-Site Churches - Multi-site churches, although regionally spread out, can all access the same information on their church database when it’s stored in the cloud. So whether someone checks in at your downtown campus or a satellite location, the record is updated. What are the negatives? Although utilizing the cloud will save your church time, resources, and hassle, it’s not perfect—no system is. There are still risks because storage still physically exists somewhere. Even with preventative measures, cloud-based storage could be damaged or hacked. But your church’s system is still likely much more vulnerable. Because of the great measures a provider will go to in order to keep your information safe, cloud-based storage can also be pricier than do-it-yourself—but worth the investment.

EASY

CHURCH WEBSITES FROM

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Safeguard against the risks Even though your information may not be onsite, the devices you and your staff use to access your database aren’t in the cloud. Keep the computer that you’re accessing this valuable data from safe—make usernames and passwords secure and be wise about sharing credentials. And check out some great tips on tough-to-crack passwords and staying safe in the cloud. In most cases, the benefits of cloud storage greatly outweigh any risks. If you haven’t already made the switch, consider using this technology for your church to make things easier for your staff. It just might leave them floating on cloud nine. Originally published on Elexio’s blog. Christian Computing® Magazine

June 2014

higher power with kevin

Theotek News Podcast and Hangout

Kevin A. Purcell - kevin@kevinpurcell.org

orgive me if I do a little self promotion this month, but I want our readers to know about a new resource that we hope will benefit technology specialists in churches and just Christians who enjoy tech like we do. That’s where the Theotek News Podcast and Hangout comes in. Whose Hanging Out Every two week Antoine Wright form Mobile Ministry Magazine (http://www.mobileministrymagazine.com/), LaRosa Johnson of Olive Tree Bible Software and The Urban Scholar (http://urban-scholar. com) and a special guests join us, the Three Stooges of Church Tech, to talk about the latest in church, worship and Bible tech. We’ve only done a few shows so far, but we’re proud of the discussions. You can go back and check out the past episodes and join us as we get together again next time. More on where later. Christian Computing® Magazine

What’s In Store Each couple of weeks we’ll discuss the current news related to Bible software, church technology, worship technology and the tech industry in general. For example, during our first episode, the news that Harper Collins just bought Olive Tree broke so LaRosa filled us in on the details and explained how he learned about the news as an employee of the Olive Tree. This past week we talked about the news out of Apple that broke during their WWDC 2014 developers conference. We talked about what they announced June 2014

and what it means to the church and Christians using Apple’s products. It’s not always about news. We talked about ways users can leverage the great Evernote note taking and information saving service for ministry (http://www.evernote. com). That was during our second episode. We also talked about sermon prep workflow this last time with special guest, Pastor and Church Tech guru Wes Allen. We will do our next Theotek News Podcast and Hangout soon. Join us to learn about how Google’s announcements at their Google I/O developers conference effects church technology. We will also cover any other church tech news and give some helpful recommendations and tips for tools, software and hardware ready for you to use in your ministry. Where and When You can find us at http://bit.ly/ theotekpodcast where all of the old episodes show up soon after we finish. To join us live, be sure to follow me on Google+ using my website address http://www.kevinpurcell.org or on Twitter at http:// www.twitter.com/kapurcell. The dates for July episodes will be July 1, 15 and 29. We start at 10:00 p.m. Eastern time or 7:00 p.m. on the West coast. Our next episode will feature the Three Stooges of church technology, Antoine, LaRosa and me. We’ll also be joined by Dr. Joe Miller, a professor and preacher who uses Bible software and has helped a lot of people figure out how to get the most out of Logos Bible Software with his helpful More Than Cake videos on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCeXY_3RrnUyIaN7Fi08nT6w).

Christian Computing® Magazine

June 2014

the power and the danger

Voice over LTE and HD Voice By Russ McGuire - russ.mcguire@gmail.com

ast month we talked about Voice over WiFi, which has been introduced by T-Mobile and Sprint. Over the past couple of months AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile have all announced initial market deployments of another wireless Voice over IP technology - Voice over LTE (VoLTE). All three have announced that they will support HD Voice over VoLTE, while Sprint is already supporting HD Voice nationwide. Since these terms are in the news, you may be wondering whether VoLTE and HD Voice represent significant opportunities for churches and ministries, or are there hidden dangers? What is Voice over LTE? As I said last month, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m guessing that all readers of Christian Computing are familiar with Voice over IP (VoIP). At its core, VoIP allows voice calls to be made across Internet Protocol networks, including the global public Internet. Consumers, businesses, and ministries have many VoIP providers to choose from, including often your local cable provider, Vonage, and Skype. These providers have benefited from Christian ComputingÂŽ Magazine

lower cost networks and more favorable regulatory treatment to be able to pass on meaningful cost savings to customers, especially for international calls. In simple terms, VoLTE is VoIP, but over the 4G LTE networks that the mobile operators have been deploying. While VoIP traditionally uses a computer or a home gateway to connect to a broadband network, VoLTE is accessed using the mobile devices provided by your carrier - primarily smartphones using the normal dialing mechanism in the phone. Unlike VoIP and VoWiFi, VoLTE is not a new and separate application on the device, but rather is primarily an architectural change within the network. The mobile operators are changing the way June 2014

that they route the calls within their networks. Instead of traditional circuit switched technology, they are moving to an end-to-end IP packet network. With VoLTE, they will eventually be able to replace the traditional voice switches in their networks. They also will be able to eliminate some of the technology in each handset. As you can imagine, this is a huge change that is fraught with complexity and risk. Especially in the near term, the handsets and the network need to deal with situations where the customer moves into or out of an LTE covered area, or into or out of an area where VoLTE has been implemented. They also need to deal with the fact that not all handsets support VoLTE, so what happens when a VoLTE capable handset calls a non-VoLTE handset? The standards bodies also haven’t really started dealing with how to connect VoLTE calls between different mobile operators. Bottom line, it will be many years before VoLTE completely replaces traditional circuit switched voice calling. What is HD Voice? As you probably guessed, HD Voice is “high definition voice” providing a higher quality of sound in phone calls. The human ear can hear sounds roughly in the range from about 20Hz to about 20,000Hz. As telephone technology matured and became standardized, the telephone network was designed to deliver sound at a frequency range of approximately 300Hz to 3,400 Hz, so a small fraction of the human hearing range, but covering the range of the human voice and good enough to clearly understand conversations. As you might have guessed, this compressed frequency range was originally driven by the state of technology in the late 19th century, Christian Computing® Magazine

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but with the migration to digital technology, maintaining these constraints was driven by limiting how much bandwidth was consumed by each call and how much processing power was required in the handset. As network capacity and smartphone processing power have both increased, the opportunity has arisen to dramatically improve the audio quality of the telephone call. The standard that mobile operators are generally using for HD Voice is G.722 also known as wideband audio. This standard increases the frequency

range from 50Hz to over 7,000Hz. You can hear the difference with the demo at this web page: http:// support.sprint.com/support/article/FAQs_about_HD_ Voice_from_Sprint/3b348589-81a4-452d-8758-cd47d7ddb952 As a rough analogy, you can think about different broadcast radio technologies. AM radio was introduced first with small channel sizes, which meant that the audio frequency range was limited to about 40Hz to about 7,000Hz - which works really well for voice-oriented material like talk radio and sports, but not so well for the dynamic range in most music. FM came later and supports an audio frequency range of about 30Hz to about 18,000Hz. Of course, both of these are analog technologies, so they are susceptible to noise being introduced into the signal. HD Radio has been introduced for over-the-air radio, increasing the high end for AM to about 15,000Hz and for FM to about 20,000Hz, and shifting from analog to digital to eliminate extraneous noise.

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How can VoLTE and HD Voice help churches and ministries? Last month we talked about the financial benefits of VoWiFi. Because many VoWiFi services are free, churches and ministries could save significantly, especially for international calling. VoLTE, on the other hand, will not be free. As discussed above, VoLTE is really a new architecture for the mobile operators. You will make phone calls the same way you always have, they will just be transported differently through the network. And you will pay the same way you always have. At some point in the distant future, the carriers will realize savings as they are able to shut down the old circuit switched equipment in their networks and remove technology from the cellphones they sell us, but since they won’t be able to do that until all calls can be completed June 2014

with VoLTE, that’s still years away. We will all benefit from HD Voice as it becomes available, however those benefits will be largely intangible. Remote ministry workers likely will feel more like they are really with those on the other end of the phone and may be more encouraged. We may even be able to enjoy music and other non-talk audio content (waterfalls and birds chirping?) across the distances. However, especially as it pertains to people in distant lands, it likely will be years before the carriers work out the interoperability between their systems to enable a HD Voice call to a foreign land. What is dangerous about VoLTE and HD Voice? As with VoWiFi, the greatest danger associated with VoLTE and HD Voice is that it simply may not work. To benefit from these technologies, both ends of the call will need to be using handsets that support the technologies, in locations where the technologies have been deployed, and on the same wireless carrier. Unlike VoWiFi however, the risk that it won’t work isn’t our concern. Our mobile operator will ensure that, if HD Voice isn’t available, or VoLTE isn’t available, our call will still go through the old fashioned way. We may be slightly disappointed that the voice quality isn’t as good as we’d hoped, but we’ll still be able to happily connect with our loved one on the other end of the, er, wavelengths. Unlike VoWiFi, security is not a significant concern for VoLTE. LTE signals are encrypted between the handset and the network so your calls cannot be easily listened to. 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, radio, television, personal computers, the Internet, the Cloud, smartphones, or voice over WiFi, Christian Computing® Magazine

new technologies continue to advance our ability to know God and to serve Him, wherever we go. As 1 Peter 4:10 teaches us “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” 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 CXfriends (https://cxfriends.com), a social network for Christian families.

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June 2014

digital evangelism

Christian Evangelism: Option or Command? Michael L White - mlwhite@parsonplace.com

s the work of evangelism – digital or otherwise – an option or a divine command for Christians? If it is a command, are most Christians obeying or disobeying it? These are just a few of the questions I want to consider in this month’s digital evangelism article. According to a couple of recent surveys (one by LifeWay Research in January 2014 and another by Barna in December 2013), most Christians agree that evangelism (i.e., personal faith-sharing) is an individual Christian responsibility, yet these same surveys differ on how many Christians actually practice sharing their faith. In LifeWay’s survey of 1,086 Canadian Protestants, 78% had not shared with anyone how to become a Christian in the previous six Christian Computing® Magazine

months, while Barna’s phone survey of 2,083 U. S. adults revealed that a slim majority of Protestants (54%) had shared their beliefs about Christ with someone with different beliefs in the previous 12 months. The numbers increased slightly to 69% for those identified as evangelicals. This challenges the previous research I’ve heard quoted in some Christian circles where only one in five Christians has ever shared their personal faith in Christ with anyone else at any time in June 2014

their lives. While I tried to find a source for this last statistic, I was ultimately unsuccessful at locating it at the time of this writing. Perhaps it is simply an unsubstantiated claim which arose out of someone’s uneducated guess. Nevertheless, it warrants serious consideration whether Christians are either as devoid of evangelistic effort as LifeWay’s survey asserts or as adept at it as the Barna survey purports. Regardless of whether individual Christians believe faithsharing is a personal responsibility, the real question is, “What does God think about it?” We need look no further than Jesus’ own words to His disciples to find the answer. In what we now call the Great Commission, Jesus commands His disciples (which includes us as His disciples today) to go into the entire world and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). Just a short time later in His farewell address before His ascension back into Heaven, Jesus commands His disciples to be witnesses for Him unto the remotest parts of the earth (Acts 1:8). Since Jesus commanded us on two separate occasions to evangelize the entire world and since the Bible claims that Jesus is God in human flesh (John 1:1 & 14), perhaps we should take His words a bit more seriously. The good news about sharing the Good News nowadays is that it’s easier than at any time in history to evangelize, especially if we choose to conduct digital evangelism. As I’ve written in several of my previous articles for this column, we can share the Good News about what Jesus has done to save the world in a wide variety of ways from maintaining Christian Computing® Magazine

June 2014

a Web site to blogging to social media to writing eBooks and articles for downloading and Web browsing. Of course, there’s much more to digital evangelism than these few I’ve just mentioned, such as using audio and video recordings, so let your imagination run wild. Since Jesus has made it clear that He expects us to tell others what He has done to save us personally and that He wants to save others, too, we need to make faith-sharing more of a priority in our lives than ever. I don’t think He wants us to do so out of a sense of obligation or out of a dread of punishment, however, but rather out of a sense of loving gratitude for what He has done for us and out of a genuine concern for the salvation of our fellow human beings. If we consider witnessing for Christ from the perspective of being an act of loving gratitude it changes our entire attitude. If time management is our excuse for not evangelizing more often, we simply have to cut out some other activities from our schedule in order to make time for this very important task. After all, once we get into the Everlasting Kingdom of Christ, it is very unlikely that Jesus will ask us who our favorite TV

Christian Computing® Magazine

or movie stars were or how many technological gadgets we accumulated for ourselves or how many friends we amassed on Facebook or how many followers we attracted on Twitter or Pinterest. None of these things will stand the test of eternity. Only the lost souls that we somehow manage to win for Him will enter His Kingdom with us and stand alongside us to praise and glorify Him for His wonderful, matchless love and grace. If we change our attitude toward faith-sharing and see it as something we get to do, rather than something we have to do, it will make all the difference in the world. I know of no better way to help change one’s attitude than pausing to consider all the many ways Jesus has demonstrated His love toward us through His suffering and death for our sins. If pondering this does not cause you to overflow with gratitude, you probably aren’t fully appreciating the magnitude of Jesus’ sacrifice. God Almighty, the Creator of the universe, loved each of us so much that He entered our plain of existence as one of us – a human being named Jesus Christ – and did for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves. He lived

June 2014

His entire life without committing even one sin in thoughts, words, or deeds (because He is God, of course), and then He suffered and died in our place in order to make the gracious offer of everlasting life to us if we would simply accept it as the freewill gift that it is. To try to earn this gift or compensate God for it is an insult to Him. None of us deserves it and there’s absolutely no way for any of us to earn it or pay God back for it, so we must simply accept it with deep gratitude and appreciation. I’ve gone into significant detail about this and several other aspects of God’s plan of salvation in my latest book, The salvation of the LORD, which is due to be released by the first of July. It’s just one more way for me to conduct my own effort at evangelism. You can learn about its release on my Web site at books.parsonplace.com and get your copy wherever books are sold. Of course, my book on digital evangelism is a great tool for using digital technologies for evangelism, too, so I commend it to you as well. No matter how you choose to evangelize the

Christian Computing® Magazine

world around you, it’s important just to share the hope of Christ with whoever will listen. It also helps to pray for God to direct our steps as we seek to win others for Him, because as Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44 NKJV). May God grant us all glorious success in leading lost sheep into His fold – as the hymn says, “safe and secure from all alarms”! Michael L. White is the founder and Managing Editor of Parson Place Press, an independent Christian publishing house in Mobile, Alabama. His book Digital Evangelism: You Can Do It, Too! (Parson Place Press, 2011) is available wherever books are sold. Visit his Website at books.parsonplace.com for a list of his other books and articles.

June 2014

ministry communication

A Challenge to Create Word Pictures with Meaning Instead of Banal, Trivial, and Mostly Useless Content Yvon Prehn - yvon@effectivechurchcom.com

ord pictures, inspirational sayings, wise and funny quotes are all over the internet. I imagine your Facebook feed and every other social media site you visit is full of them. Instead of mindlessly reading and passing them on, we can do better—we can use this opportunity to create word pictures that share Scripture and challenge people to live godly lives. First I’ll rant a little more about the problem and then present a very fun and easy solution to it.

The junk that clogs social media We’re told pictures get passed on and short text is read and there is some truth to these statements. But whatever the reason, social media is clogged with images and short statements. Here are a few from my Facebook feed today....... “I have lost my mind and am making no effort to look for it.” “Hey you, yes you. Stop being unhappy with yourself. You are perfect.” “Making a hundred friends is not a miracle. Christian Computing® Magazine

The miracle is to make a single friend who will stand by your side even when hundreds are against you.” Though these sentiments may have a tiny modicum of humor or inspiration in them, at best they are dryer dust to the mind—useless fluff that clogs coherent thinking processes. At worst, some are flat-out biblically wrong and dangerous thinking for a Christian who wants to grow in Christ. What isn’t helpful to anyone who wants to grow as a disciple of Jesus I feel like an out-of-touch shrew in commenting on June 2014

this, but constant repetition of unbiblical sentiments isn’t a harmless, trivial thing. Our life is shaped by what we look at and think about. Here is one example of how this can have a negative effect on our spiritual growth. The many variations of “We are perfect,” as quoted in the sample above, constantly come up to assure us it’s OK to eat too much, be mean if we feel like it, and continue in whatever other habit we know we ought to change. It’s obvious that we aren’t perfect. We never will be in this life. At the same time our Savior expects us to work on perfection, our growth in Christ, and progressive sanctification. The biblical term “perfect” or “perfection” has the meaning of completeness and maturity, and though the Lord is always there to help and forgive when we fail, we are expected to strive toward this goal. From the Old Testament command to Abram: And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. Gen. 17:1, KJV To the New Testament commands: Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matt. 5:48, NIV Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Rom. 12: 2, NIV It isn’t OK to tell ourselves we are perfect as we are and to pass on quotes that encourage people to smother realistic guilt that can motivate change. Even if many of the quotes are not as blatantly false from a biblical perspective as this one is, they certainly do not fit into the command to think about “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy— think about such things. (Phil.4:8, NIV) To compound the challenges, not only do people read this junk, but they comment on it, praise it, and pass it on to others. Are there no alternatives? That’s the question I asked myself and of course Christian Computing® Magazine

June 2014

there are—sometimes a true and worthwhile quote comes up. But there needs to be more and I wanted to come up with a way for people to create word pictures like these easily and to post worthwhile and true thoughts (many great quotes from Christian writers) and Bible passages. After trying various ways to create these, and there are many, the one I liked the best is to create them using PicMonkey. I like this program because it has the ability to create good-looking backgrounds and put great-looking type on them easily and cheaply (for free if you don’t mind some

advertising on the system). PicMonkey is a funny little program. It started out as a photo editing one and one for adding special effects to photos, but it has matured into a really great program that allows you to create good-looking word pictures. The interface is unique, but not difficult. What I like most about it is that the typefaces available in the program work quite well for word pictures and if you don’t have an image you want to superimpose them on you can create a variety of special backgrounds from within the program. I created an intro and then a video tutorial for Effective Church Communication Members, to illustrate how to use the program and how to easily create word pictures with it. I also wanted to share this with my CCMAG readers so I created a special link for you. In addition to the video, you can download a set of word art images you can use in your print and digital communications. Here is the link: http:// www.effectivechurchcom. com/2013/06/special-forccmag-readers-video-on-howto-create-word-art-imageswith-meaning-and-downloadable-samples/ Please go to it and create worthwhile images that share God’s Word and worthwhile challenges that go beyond entertainment to help us grow in Christian discipleship. For more to help you create church communications that will help your church fully fulfill the Great Commission, go to: http:// www.effectivechurchcom.com

Christian Computing® Magazine

June 2014

nick at church

Newer Software Charity Licensing Includes Social Engineering Nick Nicholaou - nick@mbsinc.com

hurches and nonprofit ministries get to purchase software from some companies at a steep discount thanks to charity licensing. If you’re a church or ministry and didn’t know that, you’re spending way too much on common software products like Microsoft, Adobe, Symantec, etc. Some new software charity licensing agreements include social engineering non-discrimination requirements. Which are they? What do they require churches and nonprofits to agree to? And are you safe to just accept them?

Historical Perspective Some of us who have been in church and nonprofit IT for a long time have been part of the lobbying effort that got software companies to agree to let churches and other nonprofit ministries buy software at steeply discounted prices similar to the way educational institutions do. There is a strong business case for companies to give charity discounts, and most see the wisdom in doing so. Some new software licenses have some troubling new requirements, though. Christian Computing® Magazine

Recent Trend When Google offered Google Apps charity pricing, they began a trend that some others are joining in on. They included social engineering non-discrimination clauses that were not in previous charity licensing agreements. The clause is making some in ministry uncomfortable, and many are avoiding these agreements or are forging ahead knowing they may have to fund and endure a legal battle. Companies like Google are doing nothing illegal June 2014

by requiring these non-discrimination clauses— even though the groups they are protecting are not protected by law. They have the right to donate their products and profits any way they’d like, and can use whatever filters they want in deciding who will benefit from their philanthropy. Non-Discrimination Clause For some churches and ministries the nondiscrimination clauses fit within their doctrine and pose no concern. For others, the clauses cause great concern. It’s not my role to judge or insist one way or the other is correct. But for those who might not be comfortable with the clauses, it’s important to inform them and let them decide what they’d like to do. In Google Apps’ charity license application, you must certify that your organization “does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in hiring/ employment practices.” At one time they included “except as allowed by law” in their license agreement, but Google has removed that phrase (they can modify the agreement at any time with or without notice). For some that clause poses a concern because of their doctrine on those related issues, with or without the exclusion.

Christian Computing® Magazine

Microsoft has a similar clause in their O365 charity license. They state that organizations not eligible to participate in their O365 charity licensing program include those who, “engage in discrimination in hiring, compensation, access to training or services, promotion… based on… gender identity or expression… sexual orientation… other than as allowed by law….” There are currently no federal requirements protecting those gender orientation/ expression-related issues, but Microsoft could follow Google’s lead and remove the exception. By the way: these issues are not included in the VLA charity license agreement for Microsoft software. Government & Court Trends President Obama has demonstrated a pattern of bypassing Congress by using executive orders and regulations instead of laws to accomplish some of his objectives. Many expect that he will, by executive order, add gender orientation/ expression to the current list of groups (race, national origin, etc) protected from discrimination. That may or may not happen, and at this time is only conjecture. There are a few states that are very aggressive

June 2014

in this area: California, Colorado, and Washington, in which churches and ministries may want to be even more cautious if they have concerns about these clauses. And more states will likely follow. The Supreme Court will soon announce their decision on the Sebelius vs Hobby Lobby case. Their decision will indicate whether the current court is inclined to protect religious freedoms or not. Put another way: • A decision for Hobby Lobby will indicate that the Supreme Court is inclined to protect the freedoms The Church and its members have enjoyed to express their beliefs in all its various doctrinal expressions. Even though Hobby Lobby is a for-profit, a decision in their favor will be a welcome and positive signal to The church. • A decision against Hobby Lobby will suggest the opposite. The next step to determine how the court will approach this for nonprofits (vs for-profits) will be to get one or some of the church-related ministries that are opposed to some of the abortifacient provisions of ACA before the Supreme Court.

Christian Computing® Magazine

We definitely need to keep an eye on those developments. Nick’s Recommendations If your church or ministry doctrine is uncomfortable with the social engineering aspects of these newer charity license requirements, it seems you either need to say no to them, or to say yes but make certain you have a quick exit strategy. Just in case. Otherwise, the for-profit pricing knocks the cost way out of line when compared to the normal charity licensing costs. Nick Nicholaou is president of MBS, an IT consulting firm specializing in church and ministry computer networks, VoIP, and private cloud hosted services. You can reach Nick at nick@mbsinc.com, and may want to check out his firm’s website (www. mbsinc.com) and his blog at http://ministry-it.blogspot.com.

June 2014