Tim Hollinger Technology Director Whenever I get a note of thanks for making our livestream services available, I find myself wondering what churches did in the pandemic 100 years ago. I found this account from CNN Health* interesting: “As the pandemic droned on, some newspapers shifted to having larger sections designated for guides to at-home Sunday services. In ‘Worship with the Star,’ a series by the Indianapolis Star newspaper, there was a full page that featured opening and adjourning hymns, scripture lessons and sermons. One reverend worked with a telephone company to facilitate dial-in services. Some church leaders hosted open air services…” Reading this and other articles shows that in some ways not much has changed in the past century. For all our advancement and dependency on technology, we still long for community and hearing from the Word of God to anchor our souls. You could even say the pastor working with the phone company created the first “live stream.” Every week a faithful crew of staff and volunteers work to bring us together in worship and learning. Most of our ministries have adapted and adopted new methods. Adult Communities are using Zoom to bring those sheltering at home into the classroom for interaction with teachers and classmates. And missionaries on the field get to join those communities every week for the first time. Worship service viewers have their experience augmented by lyrics and Scripture on screen to aid in active participation. Children’s ministries converted tablets purchased for checking in hundreds
of kids each week to presenting video lessons from their new curriculum. And they’re working on an option for mobile check-in to minimize crowding at check-in stations when we fully return. Perhaps the biggest task and surprise of this past year was pulling off the virtual Annual Meeting. Many hours went into planning and preparing for an option that allowed members to participate without being physically present as we were sheltering-in-place. The surprise was the record number who participated in that and subsequent congregational meetings. It is my goal and desire that we use these tools and innovations God has provided to enable and enhance our ministry. We are always looking for ways to improve what we can provide while being careful to be good stewards of the funds that make it possible. While I may be the one who gets those notes of thanks, I could not do my job without the tireless involvement from my team. Tony Visconti works to improve your experience with functions like surveys, registration and online giving, and he was instrumental in making our online meetings happen. Shelton Thompson and Joseph Abdelmelek work to bring you our services and events, either in person or via livestream and prerecorded options. For them and the technology provided us, I am grateful. To God Be the Glory! *cnn.com/2020/12/03/health/churches-covid-1918-lesson-wellness/index.html
25
