TechShepherds.com

Fighting Elephants In the Church

A Masaai elder once told me, "When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers."  Satan tries to get leaders as high up the organizational chart as possible to fight with one another.  In the end, they may hardly scratch each other, but those around them and who report to them (the grass) suffers greatly.  Just food for thought.

IT and Ministry Leader

Can your ministry benefit from the expertise of an Information Technology Director?  If so, I know a great candidate.

I  have personally worked with this person, and I highly recommend him.

This person is seeking an IT Director position in ministry and has 10 years of experience.  He has a passion for God and technology.  If you need someone or know of a ministry that does, you can e-mail them here.

IT and Bible Translation

I wanted to help get the word out about this one.  Maybe you or someone you know is feeling called to use your IT gifts in Bible tranlsation.  If so, read the following.

Learn how your Information Technology skills  can advance God's Kingdom through Bible translation. Wycliffe Bible Translators is hosting two-day conferences on February 24 and 25, 2006 in San Francisco, CA and on March 3 and 4, 2006 in Pasadena, CA. One is also planned for the Seattle area in May.

Wycliffe urgently needs over 200 seasoned IT professionals in order to complete the task of Bible translation for millions of Bibleless people. IT professionals are needed in the US and abroad for everything from exciting cutting edge language applications to enterprise systems, business analysis, electronics, management, software development, consultation and training. The "Check IT Out" conference costs $65 and includes 4 meals,materials, and snacks.  Housing is available. For more information or to register, go to http://jaars.org/checkitout

Initiate or Respond?

Usually when it comes to technology in ministry, there seams to be the perception that the technology minister should simply respond to the requests of the staff and merely support them as users.  The problem I see with this is the majority of staff understand their various ministries but do not fully understand the potential of technology. 

<<If you are reading this as a non-technology staff member and beg to differ, then you are in the minority, and I applaud your ability to see how technology can enhance your ministry.>>

So, to all the technology ministers out there, it is time to start a revolution.  Technology can and must be used in our culture to initiate ministry opportunities.  To do this, the technology ministers must be included at the table with the ministry planners.  If you are not included at that table, request to be there.  If you are denied that opportunity, explain how you can make better usage of the technology only by being in the planning process as opposed to finding out about an opportunity until it is too late to contribute.

For those of you who are already at the ministry planning table, how did you get there?  Were you invited?  Did you have to request or even fight for that opportunity? 

Hey, Computer Guy!!

Through the years I have been introduced as the "computer guy" at various churches and ministries where I have worked.  I must admit, that has started to bother me somewhat.  I don't introduce the pastor as the "preacher guy" or the worship pastor as "the music guy" (although I am sure they probably have been referred to in this way before).

What I have come to realize is that technology in ministry is such a misunderstood concept that people really do not know how it fits into the mission and ministry of the church.

So, if you are the person responsible for technology in ministry at your church or ministry, what do people call you?

Turn Off That Phone!!

I love this one.  Green Bay Packers coach Mike Sherman cut his weekly press conference short when a reporter's cell phone went off repeatedly.  He even canceled Bret Favre's press conference because no one would take responsibility for the interruption (read more about and watch this on MSNBC.com)

This has become a problem everywhere.  Last week I heard four cell phones ring in one service.  Even though a reminder to turn off cell phones is printed in the bulletin, shown on the screen before the service, and often announced before the service, it happens every week.

What do you do at your church to address this problem?

Digital Revolution

Technology fueling a revolution.  Mark Batterson has a great post about how technology fueled the Protostant Revolution.

How is technology fueling your ministry?

Link: Evotional.com - Originality, Authenticity, Creativity.

High Tech or High Touch?

Okay...I know that the technology will allow it, but don't let the capabilities of the technology get in the way of the personal touch of ministry.

Even the most basic of phone systems today have a feature called an auto-attendant.  In basic terms: the computer can answer the phone and help direct the caller to the right person.  This should be used as the after-hours system or for roll-over during extremely high call volumes.

After having tried to implement an auto-attendant a few years ago, I highly recommend against it.  The negative feedback was personified in the hurt voices of people calling.

Having the right person in the position of church receptionist is key.  This person is often the first impression people have of the church.  Everyone can use a kind, smiling voice.  It is a shame to call a church and get a prerecorded auto-attendant.

If you are not convinced this can make a difference, read Bruce Johnson's post at the link below:

Link: brucedjohnson.com: Are You Answering Your Phones Live?.

Thanks, Bruce, for sharing this post with us.

Cost of Technology vs Cost of Ministry

Terry Storch placed a trackback to my post about Preparing for FellowshipOne that has created some great posts about the cost involved.  I would like to add my two cents to the conversation as I think it goes beyond the cost of F1 to the cost of good technology in general....

Do Your Church Memebers Know Each Other?

Too often, members of the same church will live in the same neighborhood for years without meeting each other.  Imagine if they were to actaully meet and organize to reach their neighborhood for Christ.

There is a great tool that will help facilitate such a ministry opporunity.  You can learn more about this tool at www.mappingcenter.org. 

Before you jump over there to look at this great tool, be sure to read Mark Waltz's blog on how Granger Community Church recently implemented it.  This is great stuff!http://markwaltz.typepad.com/marks_weblog/2005/07/block_party_con.html