A few weeks ago at the national meeting of the Church IT Roundtable at Saddleback, Rick Warren made the following statement, “The purpose of technology is to make the church more personal.” He is right, that is indeed one of the purposes of technology in the church. Unfortunately, churches often misuse the technology they have or fail to use it altogether. Here are a few technologies, most of which we have used at Second Baptist Church, that can enhance and preserve the personal and pastoral care of a large church:

1. Prayer Pagers: We have a supply of prayer pagers for those in the midst of a health crisis. We publish the names and the numbers of the pagers on our church intranet and our church website. One of our first recipients of a prayer pager, Rebekah Tauber, received such a following that the chain emails detailing her situation became an urban legend and earned an entry on snopes.com. Her prayer pager was a highly personalized reminder that people were praying for her. The pagers we use are through USA Mobility.
2. Social Security Death Index: We occasionally receive late death notices of church members or regular attenders. As part of our pastoral care, our senior pastor sends personal letters to family members on the 1 year anniversary of the loss of their loved one. It is important that we have correct information if it was not included in the death notice to the church. To verify our church records, we have used the Social Security Administration’s death index. If you need to verify a large number of records, I recommend CDYNE who provides a tool to search against a list of names. Otherwise, Ancestry.com underwrites the cost of a free search tool for single searches at RootsWeb.com. It is impressive how much information is returned in this simple search tool.
3. Task Centre by Orbis Software: Task Centre is a great 3rd party tool to use with any ChMS that monitors changes in your database and kicks off any defined stored procedure, task, or notification. Using this tool, you can setup email or SMS reminders to staff at the anniversary date of a birth or  loss in your church family, or a follow-up notification after a church member has not attended after a certain number of weeks, or schedule a weekly hospitalization report to be auto-generated and sent to your senior leadership. For us, it has been a very valuable tool!
4. Google Voice: Before you setup a designated prayer line, consider using Google Voice to give you even greater flexibility in managing calls for prayer. With Google Voice, you can have your prayer line ring several phone numbers concurrently ensuring that you don’t miss a call. You can also have the voice mails transcribed and sent to you by email or text. You can even forward calls on a schedule…allowing calls at night or on weekends to be routed to an alternate number.
5. Care Calendar: CareCalendar is a web based system to organize meals and other help for families during a time of illness or life changing event, such as the birth of a baby or death of a family member. Although it is cannot be integrated with your church’s membership database, it is still very much a worthwhile tool to recommend to your church family.
6. Caring Bridge: CaringBridge.org provides free websites that connect family and friends during a serious health event, care and recovery. It is similar to a blog but more defined in function and easier to use for the non-technical. There are other sites similar to Caring Bridge such as CareFlash and CarePages. Each of these organizations are very open to creating a branded account with your church as a service to your church members. I have not seen a comparison chart for these, so do your homework before deciding on the preferred provider for your church family.
7. The Funeral Negotiator: This isn’t a necessarily a technology or a software, but a great online resource. As a pastor, I have used the funeral negotiator before and he is the real deal. If you have someone in your church family that is overwhelmed with funeral costs (and who isn’t??), then I definitely recommend they contact the Funeral negotiator. He will save a grieving family a lot of money.
8. iPrayerWorks: iPrayerWorks.com is a hosted prayer management software that helps track and disseminate prayer requests, hospitalizations, and homebounds. It is a very much needed software and is one of very few that even exist.
9. Prepare-Enrich Marriage Preparation: Prepare-Enrich is a marriage prep program that includes an online couple assessment. Pastors can login to retrieve the assessment scores and access any number of relationship building exercises to include in the marriage preparation process. We have used this tool as a part of our Marriage Prep ministry for several years. While it is not a Bible based or Christian based tool, it is a very valuable tool and can be used well when facilitated by a pastor.
10. Legacy.com: Legacy.com provides tools for families to create websites in memory of lost loved ones. It also provides a service to post obituaries with an optional guest book for people to sign. It does cost money and probably could be just as easily accomplished through a free blog software, but I thought it worthy of mention.

Recently, our church added a FREE job posting web service to our website that we call “Career Connections.” The purpose is to connect businesses with qualified job candidates within our church family. Employers may post job openings, search resumes, and view applicants. Job seekers may post resumes and search for job openings in the Houston area.

If your church has not done something like this, let me highly encourage it. We found a great partner in Tim Krauss at NeedsMet. NeedMet is a customized web application that connects employers and job seekers inside your church. It is a valuable tool to help church members find meaningful employment, connect church employers with job seekers, and help churches reduce unemployment.

They did a great job customizing our instance of their software to match our website (see before and after). They also back filled our account with job openings from Houston area companies…giving our church family immediate opportunities to pursue. I highly recommend them. Best of all, they are priced right for churches and deliver a great product in a short amount of time.

Being a teacher myself, I love visual teaching aids. Today, I came across a phenomenal tool….one that I have dreamed about but did not know existed. It is a timeline creation tool for the web 2.0 generation. Head on over to Dipity.com and checkout some of the example timelines…all of which can be embedded in your blog or website. It supports the inclusion of images and videos in the timeline. I have included below a sample timeline of Apple’s release of new technologies. What’s the downside of Dipity? It gets somewhat pricey to get rid of the ads, though they do offer non-profit discounts.

Consider its use for the church:

1. Create and share Bible Timelines…showing God’s Redemptive Timeline
2. Create a History of Your Church and How God has Blessed Your Church
3. Build a Timeline of Your Own Testimony and How God has Changed Your Life
4. Create a Visual Timeline of a Building Campaign…Showing Images of Your Church’s Construction.

Looking for a group SMS/texting solution? There are several solutions available. Here are just a few worth consideration:

1. Tatango: Accessible via both web and your mobile device.

• Key Features: Pay as you go, contact import, multiple admins, groups.
• Pricing: Monthly plans vary from $20/400 msgs to $200/5000 msgs (pricing details)

2. TextHub: Facilitates 2-way interaction using smart logic, keywords, and polls.

• Key Features: contact import, personalized/scheduled messaging, groups, and more.
• Pricing: Monthly plans vary from $100-500 depending on features  (pricing details)

3. TxtSignal: Simple to use Web based tool for 1 to many and 1 to 1 text messaging.

• Key Features: no contracts, groups, multiple users.
• Pricing: Costs based  # of contacts and # of group messages (rather than # of messages). Monthly plans range from $10-$40.  (pricing details)

4. SimplyTXT (SimplyYouthMinistry.com): This appears to be a rebranded version of TxtSignal promoted by Doug Field with Saddleback Church. There is a relationship between the two, but it is unclear. Nevertheless the features are the same, but the pricing appears the same too. If anyone has more details, please comment below.

5. Jarbyco: More than just group messaging, this provider does quizzes, polls, and voting as well. Clients include Granger Community Church, Willowcreek, and others.

• Key Features: groups, quizzes, polls, voting, moderated text to screen (seems feature rich, but site gives little details).
• Pricing: Not posted. Requires engagement with their sales team.

6. MemberHub: MemberHub is more than a mere text messaging tool. It is more suited for creating online groups/communities of which text messaging is one of several features. Though they avoid being characterized as a social network tool, they share many of the same characteristics.

• Key Features: calendar, file sharing, discussions, group communications (email/txt).
• Pricing: $12-100 depending on number of “hubs”. (pricing details)

7. JabberText: If you need a simple bulk text messaging solution with no bells and whistles, then JabberText may work well for you.

• Key Features: schedule sending, contact upload/import, unlimited groups/contacts.
• Pricing: No contracts, setup fees,etc. -  just cost per message (pricing details)

8. TextChurch: No bells or whistles here…at least from what can be learned from their website. It does not provide screenshots of their application or a feature list, but they do offer a free trial.

• Key Features: send via phone or website, easy opt-in/opt-out; groups, keywords.
• Pricing: Begins @ $24.95 per month for 350 ad-free text messages.

When talking with any provider, be sure to ask for any religious or non-profit discounts.

UPDATES:

12/03/09: Added ChurchText.com

BibleGlo coming 10/15/09.

When I hear the term ‘social network’, I immediately think about Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. In reality, these websites are just modern day expressions of real life networks of interconnected relationships between individuals. These networks of relationships are usually centered around a common interest, belief, or activity. Social networks go as far back as the first family—Adam, Eve, Cain and Abel. However, I believe the most sanctified example of a social network, this side of Heaven, is clearly described in Acts 2:42-46.

⁴² And ?they devoted themselves to the apostles’ ?teaching and the ?fellowship, to ?the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³ And awe? came upon every soul, and ?many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. ⁴⁴ And all who believed were together and ?had all things in common. ⁴⁵ And ?they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ And day by day, ?attending the temple ?together and ?breaking bread in their homes, they received their food ?with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and ?having favor with all the people. And the Lord ?added to their number ?day by day those who ?were being saved.^[1]

Luke describes the first church as, “all who believed were together and had all things in common.” Wow! I don’t know about you, but this sounds like the perfect social network. Can you imagine the deep interconnected community of this first church…to the extent of voluntarily selling their possessions to ensure that everyone was without need? Do you think the 21^st century church could once again experience this type of interconnectedness? I do and I think technology will be a key accelerant in making this a reality.

Acts 2 is a product road map for social media and technology in the church. As we seek to extend the functions of the church online, I believe a holistic approach would encompass the following:

• Spiritual Formation (Learning God’s Word) (v. 42)
• Community (v. 42, 46)
• Prayer and Care (v. 43, 45)]
• Worship (v. 46)
• Evangelism (v. 47)

Though many internet campuses incorporate one or more of these elements, most only do one of them really well. I agree with Greg Atkinson’s assessment, that if you are going online with these functions of your church, don’t do it unless the technology fits within the vision, mission, and church growth model of your church. Don’t do it for the sake of doing something really cool.

Several churches and organizations are already making great strides using technology to extend and facilitate these ecclesiastical functions online. Here are a few that I believe are doing it well:

Learning God’s Word (Spiritual Formation)

Movee

Shadetree

YouVersion

Worship

Church Online at LifeChurch.tv

Northland, A Church Distributed

Community

The City at Mars Hill

I know there are others, so feel free to add comments below to add the list of those who are using technology and social media to fulfill these ecclesiastical functions with excellence.

As for sharing and evangelism, these are indeed the fruits of many of the technologies listed above (in addition to others), but I have not seen any applications designed with these specific functions for the use in the local church. If you do, please educate me!

If your church is pursuing a holistic approach, drop a comment below. I would love to hear both your strategy and the technologies you are using.

Have you ever stopped to consider the global presence and use of online social networks? Most of us have heard of the large number of users on Facebook and MySpace, but the map below will tell a bigger story. Social networks are not mere fads, but a new era in communication and community. It’s the new email. In fact, I agree with Jeremiah Owyang that email is is the first and largest social network. While email will remain, social networks will continue to grow and evolve.

[Note: Sometimes map will take a moment to load, if at all. Map Source: http://manyeyes.alphaworks.ibm.com]

The question now is how will the church leverage social networks to further its mission of changed lives for Jesus Christ? For certain, I am not the first to ask this question, but I am amazed at the number of church leaders who are still hesitant and skeptical of embracing these technologies for ministry purposes. Perhaps there remains a shortage of good examples of how social networks contribute to the bottom line. Sure, we can certainly talk about fan pages, groups, etc, but I would argue that much of what can be gained by their use in not in their native features, but what can be developed or extended using their APIs. So this leaves me to wonder who is doing it? Who (whether churches or ChMS providers) are using these social networks ‘strategically’?

um….no. It doesn’t exist yet, at least to my knowledge. If you find such a solution, please let me know. However, there are some solutions that come close. After a little research, the following apps appear to be the best of breed for apps that manage your twitter and facebook feeds (but not RSS, at least not yet):

1. TweetDeck: Packed full of features…it supports multiple twitter accounts and your Facebook profile so you can view and update both accounts with one post. It also supports groups and saved searches.

2. Seesmic: Similar to TweetDeck but you have the option of using a web based version or installing it on your personal computer. Both Seesmic and TweetDeck have companion apps for your iPhone to keep everything in synch. They will soon allow you to record video and drop it into a tweet….very nice!

3. HootSuite: HootSuite is superior to TweetDeck and Seesmic in Twitter management features, but it does not include the Facebook integration. It does have stat tracking all the way down at a tweet level. It also supports groups and even allows you to embed columns or groups right into your blog or other website. Moreover, it also supports team workflow allowing you to give permissions to other people. This is more useful for organizations or corporate entities rather than individual personal twitter accounts.

4. Twinbox: This did not make the top of my list, but is certainly worthy of honorable mention. Twinbox is an Outlook plugin that allows you to view and send tweets straight from Outlook. So in some sense, you could get partial functionality of all three since Office 2007 has a built in RSS reader and is capable of receiving Facebook email notifications for comments or messages made on your Facebook profile. These features are all good, but it lacks the intuitive design and social DNA of HootSuite or TweetDeck.

After playing with all four…I vote HootSuite and hope Facebook integration isn’t far behind.

Two major announcements hit my news reader today.

Facebook has acquired FriendFeed (let’s just say they are now ‘friends’). It will be interesting to see what happens with Friendfeed in the days ahead. Read the official announcement.

On a different note, Google made a significant announcement today that they are planning to launch a next generation version of Google Search. While it will look the same, it is reported to be faster, more accurate and more comprehensive. Read more from Mashable.

Leonard Sweet, evangelism professor at Drew University, recently wrote an article  entitled, “Twitter Theology:  5 Ways Twitter Has Changed My Life and helped me be a better Disciple of Jesus.” He has shared some very intriguing personal reflections on his use of twitter.

First of all, Len has rightly turned twitter on its head…an approach all Christians should take in their use of social media. He has redefined the application of the tool. Len writes, “In twitter’s ethic of followership, I am constantly reframing reality in ways that are more Jesus….In my ongoing battle with self-transcendence over self-absorption, twitter has helped me become more others-focused.” Rather than indulging himself in the self-proclamatory nature of twitter, Len tweets with the purpose of encouraging others in their followship of Christ, not in the followship of himself. This is the Christian ethic of social media.

Twitter asks, “What are you doing?” Facebook asks, “What’s on Your Mind?” LinkedIn asks, “What are you working on now?” Facebook tells you to ‘Broadcast Yourself’ and the list goes on. As Christians, these technologies are not evil or even bad. These websites are mere tools. They can be used for good or bad. They are amoral. However, it is the morals of those who use them that determine their value for us as individuals and for the church. Don’t let the presuppositions of those who created them (as indicated by the self-proclamatory inquiries) deter you from using these tools for the Kingdom of God.

Don’t underestimate the difference you can make with 140 characters. As Len describes them, tweets are sound bytes that bite. He writes, “No one was better at tweets than Jesus. Jesus was a master at sound bytes that bite with terseness and immediacy.” More than likely, your favorite Bible verse is a case in point.

Third in Len’s twitter theology is the principle of ‘surface.’ He writes, “Life is not just about the depths. Life is also about the surfaces. I spend large parts of my life with academics who spend their careers exploring the depths. Many seldom come up. You come up for the air of communication and relationship, and when you spend all your time in the depths you find yourself talking only to yourself.” I can certainly see the applicability of this for those in theological academia, but for others such as myself, the danger is not the lack of surfaces, but the lack of depths. May all of us stay anchored in the depths of God’s Word as we seek to encourage others in Christ both online and off.

My thanks to Professor Sweet for sharing his thoughts. It is important for us as Christians to consider the implications of these tools and use them rightly–with a Christian ethic that seeks to encourage others to follow Christ rather than seeking to be followed.