What technology do churches need?
This includes everything from digital projection systems, sound equipment, social media,
cloud storage, website design and much more. Church tech can be overwhelming with all of the
new options out there but it doesn't need to be that way. Church tech is the name for anything
related to a church and technology, and over recent years access to church technology resources
has increased. This includes everything from digital projection systems, sound equipment, social
media, cloud storage, website design and much more. Church tech can be overwhelming with all
of the new options out there but it doesn’t need to be that way. The best church tech should help
you achieve your mission – whatever that may be!
Technology has made incredible advances which means churches are getting access to more
technologies than ever before. In theory, these technologies should be easy for churches to use –
but that isn’t always the case.
As a church leader, you are probably overwhelmed with the responsibilities of running your
ministry. That’s why it is important to find ways to make your life easier. Technology can help
by taking some of the workload off your shoulders and putting it on a computer screen or an app.
It’s always good to start with the basics, so here are 10 technologies every church needs:
Computers
Computers are important for any organization that uses technology to communicate with their
members and potential members. They’re the core of your church’s operations, whether you
need them for emailing your congregation or scheduling volunteer shifts.
Church management software
If you don’t have a computer in every ministry area, there is likely one person who has been
tasked with managing everything – which can be time-consuming if they are constantly
switching between multiple programs to check on things like donations and
Live stream video
With the COVID pandemic still raging, live streaming video is important for reaching those who
cannot attend church in person. If your church is open, there may still be people who aren’t
confident about joining you or are having to isolate, and streaming is a good option.
Outside of streaming tech, there will also be people who cannot come to church and don’t have
internet access – potential solutions include creating DVDs or audio CDs with the service on
them.
Wireless microphones
There’s nothing worse than tripping over cables, and too many cables can become a distraction
for the congregation. Wireless microphones allow the worship team to concentrate on singing,
and the preacher to concentrate on speaking – especially if you choose a wireless headset for the
main message.
Podcasts
Let your congregation catch up or listen again to the previous messages. It’s great to have a
podcast as an educational tool, a reference system, and a way of drawing new people in.
Mobile apps
Creating a mobile app is a great way to collate the information around your church and present it
easily. Upcoming services and events can be highlighted, easy access to podcasts and livestreams
can be included, and updates from social media channels can be shown…speaking of which…
Social Media
Keep the channels of communication wide open with social media. Don’t just use it as a
noticeboard, use it as a way of connecting with people and continuing conversations.
Projectors and screens
Make the step to upgrade from hymn books and paper handouts – get the words up on a screen
for everyone to read. Linking into a computer system will allow you to show all kinds of
information, videos, and graphics to enhance every service.
A Website
In similar fashion to a mobile app, a website will allow you to collate all the information related
to your church in one place. If it’s carefully optimized for SEO, your church website can become
a fantastic way of letting people know where you are, what you do, and what you stand for.
An online booking system
Another requirement for the COVID era, a booking system will help you to keep track of how
many people will be coming to the building at one time. There may be a restriction placed on
how many people you can legally let in due to how close they can be to each other – managing
visitor numbers is simple this way.
How to Share the Gospel by Using the Internet
Sharing the Gospel can take many forms. Maybe you’re stuck at home and wondering how to
spread the Gospel in quarantine, or maybe you want to reach people outside of your geographical
community. The good news is with modern technology, you can share the Gospel virtually with
people all over the world.5We’ll explore more about5how to use technology to spread the Gospel.
Whether you create and publish original content or share spiritual posts on social media, you can
have an impact on others — even those you’ve never met.
How to Share the Gospel Online Through Content Creation
One way you can share your faith with others online is through content creation. Online content
includes blogs, videos, podcasts and more. If you have creative talents, you can put them to use
creating content that can reach strangers online with the Gospel. Consider these ideas:
Videos for kids: If you have a heart for5children’s5evangelism, you could create
entertaining and educational videos to post on YouTube to help kids learn that God loves
them. These could be animated videos, puppet shows or something else — use your
imagination and draw on your special skills and talents. YouTube is extremely popular
with kids and families, with some of the platform’s most popular kids channels drawing
tens of millions of subscribers.
Lifestyle blog: You could start a blog where you discuss your faith journey. You don’t
need to limit your blog to spiritual topics. You could include parenting advice, recipes
and anything else you’re uniquely well-positioned to share. Whatever you share, weave
in elements of your faith. You never know what sort of impact you could have on others
with these spiritual truths.
Podcast: If you’re studying a book of the Bible or exploring a certain religious topic and
want to share your insights, you could start a podcast. You can also ask to contribute to
an existing podcast as a guest. As of 2019, approximately 88 million people in the U.S.
listen to podcasts, so you can reach many people through an engaging podcast.
How to Use Social Media for Evangelism
Maybe the idea of content creation is a bit daunting to you, but if you’re among5the 82% of
Americans who has a social networking profile, you can use this platform for sharing the Gospel
online. Consider the type of posts you share now. Would your social media followers and friends
know you’re a Christian? Would they get a glimpse into the Gospel by reading your posts?
The Bible may not say anything specifically about being a social media missionary, but it has
plenty to say about sharing our faith. Social media can be a valuable tool for evangelism, just
like any other communication tool. The Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 5:20 that, “we
are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us.” Are you an ambassador for
Christ on social media?
Here are a few ideas for sharing the Gospel through social media:
Go live with your testimony: One way you can boldly share the Gospel is through your
own testimony. Consider going live on Facebook, Instagram or another platform. Or, if
you’re more comfortable doing so, prerecord a video. Talk about how you came to faith
and what a difference God has made in your life. Try to keep it brief, just hitting the
highlights, since people will be more likely to watch a short video. Encourage people to
comment or send you a direct message if they have questions about your faith.
Share Christian music: Christian music can be a tool for evangelism. If there’s a song
you enjoy listening to that packs a lot of spiritual truth into it, share it online. You can
share a music video or a link to the song on a streaming platform like Spotify. Consider
adding a caption that explains what the song means to you.
Share Christian quotes or posts: If you struggle to find the right words, remember, you
can help spread the Gospel by sharing the words of others. There is so much great content
out there for you to share. It might be a Christian blog post you read, the story of a saint,
a quote from the Pope, a personal testimony, or an article about lives that were touched
by Catholic World Mission. When you read something impactful, look for that share
button. You may get someone to think about God simply because you passed a resource
along.
Post Bible passages: Another resource you can draw from is the Bible. This one may
seem obvious, but in looking for the most relevant and impactful things to share, we can
sometimes forget to go straight to the source. When you share Scripture verses, you could
be getting God’s Word in front of someone who otherwise would not read the Bible on
their own.
Be an open book: People tend to put their best foot forward online and even be a bit
competitive about showing off the best parts of their lives. You can make a bold
impression on your friends and followers by breaking this mold in your online presence.
Share your struggles, as well as the high points, and talk openly about how God is
working in your life. This sort of sincerity and transparency is counter-cultural and is sure
to get people’s attention.
Remaining Respectful When Evangelizing on Social Media
When you engage with others on social media, remember to be respectful in everything you say.
It’s easy to become frustrated by hateful comments from others and lash out in response, but this
is not a good way to evangelize.
In 1 Peter chapter 3, we are reminded we should share our faith with others “with gentleness and
reverence,” so that when someone abuses us for our good conduct, they’ll be put to shame.
Respond to others with love, and you may quickly unravel their assumptions about you. They
may even apologize or become more open to listening to what you have to say.
In the world of social media, a respectful disagreement can seem like a paradox, so this is a great
way for you to show the world you’re different and to communicate the love of Christ.
