Digital Ministry

Social Media continues to hold the attention of today's youth and provide unique challenges for parents and as well as youth leaders. In this article, taken from a YS Idea Lab Video, I'd like to outline some of the key things that influence how tweens and teens use social media and a few practical tips that you can share with parents. First I'll go into three things that influence how kids use social media today then I'll follow up with three things that parents can do to help.

The church website is still one of the most useful ways to draw in new visitors and reach the community. While social media gets most of the press these days, it's important to revisit your church website from time to time to make sure that it's meeting your needs and matching up with your goals for both inreach (within your church) and outreach (into the community).

If you’ve been on the internet at all over the past few years, then you know that there are a ton of new products and services popping up to help you’re church thrive. Many of these are truly great resources that can make your days more productive and give you more time for what you truly love. However, finding the right product or service can be an overwhelming task.

Have you ever had a conversation where you thought you were being totally clear? Only to realize later, that the person you were talking to understood the conversation differently. You both were talking about the same thing, but what was communicated was very different. Unfortunately, church communications can be this way too.

What's really great about working in the same industry for nearly 20 years is that every so often a company comes along that really shakes things up and redefines what can be done. One such company is Rock RMS, run by Spark Development Network, a nonprofit organization that built the powerful, open-source Rock RMS software. Rock RMS is somewhat of a newcomer in the church management software space, having gone through beta and version one release in 2014, then becoming financially independent as Spark Development Network. With more than 1,000 downloads and church plants on up through mega multisite churches hopping on board (such as Willow Creek), it's hard to not pay attention to what they're doing.

Church websites are important business. Aside from word of mouth, they are the next most popular way for people to hear about your church. If your site doesn't have current information, locations and times for services, along with mission and doctrinal statements - plus a host of other ways for people to connect - chance are you might be losing potential visitors. Below, I've rounded up 10 articles from around the web that offer fantastic advice on how to improve your church website. Your church website truly is your digital front door and can't be ignored.

We've written many times here on ChurchTechToday about cloud computing, first known as SaaS or web-based software. While many church management software systems began as desktop, or installed software, most offer some kind of hybrid options these days, or have gone even completely cloud-based to be accessible anywhere, anytime via the internet.

It’s tempting to waive the white flag, to throw your hands up in surrender, to the summer slump. Many churches simply resign their efforts and re-appropriate them in the fall. First on the chopping block of suspended ministries are groups. It’s almost expected that groups will take a break during the summer months. But, doing so can have costly consequences if you aren’t prepared. Much of the work that was put into groups, building relationships, and developing community is lost during the break.