Digital Ministry

Technology is changing the way we do everything. In almost every aspect of life now, we have the opportunity to transact online. And it really should be no different when it comes to church giving.  When it comes to church giving, we can’t make the mistake of thinking that people will continue to do things the way they’ve always done them. We can't assume everyone’s going to give in-person on Sunday morning. 

A good online giving platform should increase overall giving to the church. But a major study of the world's non-profit organizations revealed that givers abandon their online gifts at an astonishing rate of 83 percent! That means fewer than 20 percent of those who have an intent to give actually complete their gift. 

Each year, Capterra updates a top 20 software list in a variety of industries. We have been grateful over the years for their attention to this market and find their website very useful in helping churches find the best church management software for their organization. In the past, they have published a "Top 20 Most User-Friendly ChMS infographic" and a "Top 20 Most Affordable ChMS infographic," Capterra is now only updating this one Top 20 Church Management Software list moving forward.

As the church embraces digital solutions for connection, leaders are looking for the platforms and tools that will give them the most for their money. In the realm of social media, Facebook and YouTube reign supreme. However, many leaders have expressed growing frustration with the reach and engagement of Facebook and the difficulty of creating content for YouTube. The best-kept secret of the social media world is Instagram, and church leaders and communicators are starting to wise-up to the power the platform offers.

A new survey of 750 churches of differing sizes from around the world compiled by the church technology company Logos, makers of Logos Bible Software, shows that while the majority of pastors feel comfortable reopening their buildings, they expect changes in attendance, programming, and operations.

I am not a naturally gifted speaker. I have worked really hard to improve as a communicator. One of the areas I had struggled in for a long time was speaking directly to a camera. If you have spent many years speaking to a live audience, then speaking straight to a camera in an empty room is quite different. When the congregation laughs at a joke or is audibly engaged in the message, it builds my confidence as a communicator. It also gives me momentum as the sermon progresses. This all goes away when preaching directly at a camera.

God’s love is unequaled in all creation and in all created beings. Here are five sermon illustrations that you might be able to use for a message.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve had to contend with a new normal. Phrases like 'social distancing' and 'contact tracing' weren’t familiar terms until a few weeks ago. Large gatherings aren’t safe anymore, so we’re all turning to online forms of meeting and communication. This, of course, includes weekly church services. With state governors ordering people to shelter in place, church leaders were left scrambling in recent weeks to ramp up or start from scratch with online streaming services and more.