Resources

TouchPoint launched in 2008 at Bellevue Baptist Church. Unhappy with the system they were using, they decided to build their own using developers on staff. Over time, other church leaders heard about their software and became interested in it. In 2015, they rebranded as TouchPoint and looked for a buyer to take on this business that the church never intended to start in the first place. The church wanted a company to purchase the software that would serve churches well. In 2017, The Pursuant Group bought TouchPoint Software. Since then, TouchPoint’s user base has tripled in size.

Around late summer, most churches start looking towards Fall and what events to host that time of year. Obviously, 2020 is anything but a typical year. Even planning weekly services is influx based on the spread of COVID-19 in your region. How do you prepare for an event 2-3 months out when you don't even know what next week will bring?

With a different kind of fall looming in front of us thanks to COVID-19, many families, including mine, will be homeschooling or distance learning. All summer I’ve been thinking, “What will the fall be like? What could I do differently if we’re distance learning?” Although our kids are enrolled in California public schools, perhaps this is my opportunity to work in a Bible curriculum before they get started for the day. In the past, I’ve used a short devotional or reformed lectionary guide to get my kids a little scripture with their daily vitamins and orange juice. With less driving hither and yon, it is possible your family might have more time to work in a more robust Bible curriculum. There are multiple online Bible curriculums that have been beefed up during COVID-19 to give us homeschooling newbies a little more confidence. 

Just when you thought the days of the family-sponsored pew were over, COVID-19 has completely changed the way we do church. Now most members are required to reserve their seats in order to attend a church service. In parts of the country where the virus isn't running rampant and indoor events are allowed, most organizations must ensure social distance and 25 or 50 percent capacity per state orders. To do this effectively, churches must use a managed seating software program to make sure they won't have too many people attending their services.

In June, after months of being forced to hold worship services in an online-only format (thanks to COVID-19), California churches were allowed to begin meeting in person again. This time, with a limit of 100 people or 25% of the building’s capacity. Just a few weeks later, Governor Newsom ordered that churches “discontinue singing” while gathered for worship services. This resulted in an uproar from many Christians. How can we hold a worship service without worshiping? How can the government dictate whether we praise God or not? Didn’t Jesus say that we must sing?

Throughout human history, the Bible has prompted the development of new technologies for recording and distributing the sacred text of the Scriptures. Technologies ranging from papyrus, scrolls, and the printing press have served Christians for many centuries. Now with electronics and digital technologies, we have Bible software and apps to help access the Scriptures.

I have been leading worship in a full-time capacity for twenty-two years. Still, nothing could have prepared me for a global pandemic, hybrid worship, and a situation that began in our church on Sunday, March 15, 2020. On that Sunday, our worship team did most everything we would normally do on Sunday with one major difference… there was no congregation in our worship space!  Like most churches across the country, and around the world, we found ourselves in an unprecedented scenario. One no one could have foreseen and one for which no seminary education could have prepared us. Our church had to learn how to minister to our people solely through livestream technology on Sundays and Zoom meetings throughout the week. 

As digital technology increasingly gets more infused into our daily lives, podcasting makes it easier to produce and to distribute Bible-inspired content. Did you know that there are more Christian podcasts than any other category? Many Christian podcasts are repurposed sermons preached at churches, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Others podcasts are hosted by all kinds of Christians talking about a wide range of topics related to faith and life. There are also podcasts that speak directly from the Bible itself, the very source of spiritual life. As the Scriptures provide the eternal spring of daily bread, may these 7 examples of Bible podcasts feed you personally and even inspire you to start podcasting.