How Technology Can Help Your Church

June 8, 2009 by Kevin D. Hendricks

I’m a fan of cool technology. I like Twitter. I watch Lost on my laptop. I don’t have a landline. Seeing the church take advantage of new technologies to spread the gospel is pretty cool. It’s actually the latest rage (did you see the recent Time magazine article on using Twitter in church?).

But for all the technology, what really matters is people. I like Twitter because it keeps me connected to people. I like watching Lost online because I spend my Wednesday nights when Lost is broadcast with my small group. And the landline? OK, I ditched that because I’m cheap.

As cool as new technology is, what I really like about it is what people do with it to reach others. Online video isn’t what makes invisiblepeople.tv cool, it’s the way Mark Horvath connects with homeless people and shares their story. An impressive use of social networking isn’t what made 5 Days in May work, it’s the way people gave up their Starbucks and Pepsi for plain old water and then donated to the tune of $3,400.

Technology is definitely cool. It makes so many things easier. But don’t get hung up on the technology. Get hung up on the idea. Get hung up on the people. That’s how technology can help your church.

Rick Wilson
June 8, 2009

This is a GREAT point. I meet so many Christians who are either afraid of technology or completely disinterested. Not good! It’s all about the people. And in gen X and Y world – it’s just a part of life. The web provides an easy and affordable way to reach them! If we understand their terms – and get into their heads – we’ll be successful.

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iHateChurch
June 8, 2009

:: no doubt :: mark horvath is a wizard on twitter and his passion is exercised with ACTION… how about that America… someone who actually does what they say… awesome job, CMS & invisiblepeople.tv

Dennis
June 9, 2009

I think technology is an important tool for reaching people today. For those that say technology shouldn’t be used in church are the ones that believe that if Jesus was a carpenter today, he wouldn’t use a nail gun. The balance has to be how it is implemented. We host a venue called http://www.AVLexpo.com to help small and medium size church how to implement technology in a cost effective manner. You don’t have to be a mega church to look like it. I believe that it is also important that each church find their own “secret sauce” in how to use it.
Some one asked me when the use of technology becomes entertainment and not ministry. I told them that it is when the technology becomes the distraction from the message and purpose of the service. Technology should only help to convey our message not get in the way. We are huge proponents of the web, pay per click, Facebook, blogging, live streaming, ondemand, podcasting and videocasting and what ever it takes to reach people short of sinning.

James
June 10, 2009

People in church are too STUPID to take advantage of modern tech…

Randolph
June 12, 2009

This is really a great article! I’ve seen so many church people afraid of technology. I thank God for companies like Technology In Ministry (technologyinministry.org) who help relieve that fear. They were a great help to our ministry!

Fisher of Men CMS
June 16, 2009

Technology is a very broad term that should really be broke down for clarity purposes. For example, Twitter is a “communication” technology tool. Communication with your flock is certainly important.
Along this same lines, there are numerous other communication tools one could use in the church. Another popular communication tool is blogging.
There’s also the all important database of your members. For more information on why a members database is so important, go to http://www.churchmanagementsoftwaresystem.com/.
Unquestionably, technology is very important to a church. However, there can also be technology overload … when is enough enough? Can’t do it all. Set priorities, know what outcome you’re after, know the profile of your flock and make the decisions that best meet these objectives.
There’s a lot to think about.

Church Website Design Service
December 8, 2009

It is true that everything we do is for people. One way I always suggest having a church website help your church is by having a forum. It gets people in your church to connect more often.