I think it is a great question and it took me a few moments to process an answer for her.  Technology is rapidly changing the life of pastors. I see it impact my job more and more with every year that passes.  I would break it down into three primary areas:

1. Connectedness

For pastors, our job is people first.  I desire to connect with people so I can help them build a better relationship with God and with one another.  Today, that connection is not only established face to face but also digitally.  The average church in the United States is less than 100 people and if we truly want to reach others we have to communicate with them:

• - The average teenager sends 50-100 text messages per day (adults are rapidly adapting texting as a form of communication as well)
• - 75 billion text messages are sent every month
• - 22% of people say that a text is easier than a phone call
• - 50% of facebook users log in daily to use the social networking tool
• - The average facebook user has 130 friends
• - As a group people spend over 700 billion minutes per month on facebook

I could add twitter, skype, and blogging statistics, but I think you get the point.  Digital media and social networking tools are a part of relational connectedness with the world around you.  Plus, the younger you are the more you rely on it to maintain your friendships.  I’m in my late 30′s and I use facebook regularly to stay in touch with people around the world.

Now translate that into the local church and we’ve got something really powerful and important to add to the working life of a pastor.  When I first started serving at Hope Summit one of my first compliments was around my use of facebook.  A woman my first Sunday at church thanked me for my facebook usage! She said, “Frank, thanks so much for talking with us on facebook, we’ve been waiting for this!” It was neat to see how something so simple like facebook gave us an opportunity to know one another in a better way.

I’ve also noticed another interesting trend.  I ask every new person I meet at Hope Summit this question, “How’d you find us?” More than 50% tell me that they found us on the internet.  Churches can no longer ignore digital media and technology, it’s essential for ministry.

2. Efficiency

The second thing tech does to change my job as a pastor is it helps me accomplish more work in less time.

• - My laptop keeps me mobile and I can write sermons and research on the road, at home (if my boys 3 and 5 will let me!) or in the office.
• - If I have my smart phone I can pull up any Bible verse in an instant.
• - I can accomplish a Greek word study with the click of a mouse.
• - With bible software like Logos or Quickvserse I can research thousands of resources on any topic or scripture verse in seconds!

When writing a sermon I used to have 6-8 books opened on my desk, now I have 1 or two favorites along with 10-15 on my laptop.  It actually makes me a better preacher.  Why wouldn’t you want the ability to use more resources for better research in less time?

3. Relevance

Not only is technology helping us connect and save time but it is also becoming more and more affordable.  That means even smaller congregations can access these tools at little or no cost.  Laptops are now less than $300.00 and you can pick up an average projector for less than a thousand.

With simple tools like screens and projectors we can more effectively:

• - Show video clips for sermon illustrations
• - Let the church see something that happened instead of telling them
• - Utilize PowerPoint to make our sermons easier to follow
• - Keep the church informed and up to date using text alerts
• - Use a combination of mobile and visual tech all at once with companies like jarbyco and engage the congregation in creative was like a live poll via text messaging.

Those are a few of my thoughts on the topic, and my conversation with Laura was great! Technology and media on a Sunday morning not only saves us time but it also makes a better presentation and helps us connect to a younger crowd that most churches need to do a better job reaching.

Click here to read Laura’s article from the Rocky Mount Telegram.

Now, let me make myself clear – I HATE ADULTERY.  I’ve seen cheating cause severe pain in couples, families and even destroy churches.  However, facebook is not the problem, people are the problem.  Creating rules for people to follow like, “THOU SHALL NOT FACEBOOK” is not going to fix problems that exist relationally in our churches.  What we have to do is teach what the Bible says about relationships and marriage, not create rules!

As ministers we have the opportunity to communicate a timeless message and life changing principles that can help people.  The teachings contained in the Bible help people develop healthy relationships, create personal accountability, build strong marriages, raise loving children, resolve difficult conflict, manage finances, honor parents, break addictions, and become genuinely better individuals.  No product or software is more powerful than the Word of God.

Facebook is a morally neutral tool, and we can use that tool for good or evil.  I would compare it to the Bible’s teachings on money.  Money is also a morally neutral tool.  1 Timothy 6:10 says, “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” It doesn’t say that money is evil… it’s the “love of money” that is evil. Facebook and money are simply morally neutral tools.

I think what we’re seeing in many churches is a need to explore something that is unknown.  We all get afraid of the unknown.  My kids are afraid to go into our basement alone simply because its dark and they can’t really see what might be at the bottom of the stairs.  That unknown space makes their imagination run wild at the thought of what might be down there in the dark. I think we can get that way when we as leaders have to take our congregations into unknown territory.

However, as church leaders, when we find ourselves in these strange and unknown places we have to educate ourselves. We can do so much more for our churches, and God’s kingdom, when we join together to help our congregations navigate new territories.  I actually think churches should embrace facebook and actively use it with their congregation for the greater community, not avoid it.  Here is a recent post I wrote on 10 Reasons Your Church Should Be On Facebook.  Those are just some quick thoughts, hope it helps!

UPDATE: Also if you want to know more about the questions I was asked you can read Lauren Green’s article here on Fox News.

Here is a list of some of my favorite Android apps:

1. Pandora (free)

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If you don’t use Pandora yet, you should start.  It is a great way to discover new music and listen to music you love for free.  The more you rate the songs you like or dislike the better it gets at reccomending new music for you to listen to.  With this Android app you can take Pandora with you in the car or the gym.  I even use it while mowing the lawn.

2. NFL Mobile (free with Verizon)

This app lets you track your favorite teams and players on the go and give you a live video feed from the NFL Network.  Plus if there is a game you want to keep tabs on and you cant get to a TV you can get keep track of the game right from you phone.  If you are a fan, this app is a must have.

3. KeePassDroid (free)

Do you have trouble remembering passwords?  How about usernames? When creating online accounts for paying bills or using online banking, or even goofing around with social media they all require usernames and passwords.  On top of that they all have different standards for creating passwords.  For me, that makes it a little challenging when trying to keep all my passwords organized and that’s where KeePassDroid comes in.   This free nifty tool keeps them safe, secure and organized.  If you keep your phone with you, the passwords are with you.

4. Google Voice (free)

Don’t confuse this with the voice activated search on your phone, Google Voice is a new phone number assigned to you by Google.  A phone number that saves you, your friends and family time and frustration.  People don’t have to make a decision to call you at home, work, or on your  mobile… no, they call one number and you decide where that number rings. Here is a video that explains how the app works

5. You Verson Bible (free)

You version is actually available on most mobile platforms.  So even if you don’t have an Android phone you probably can pick up this app.  I use this app quite a bit since it is so easy to navigate the bible and also it helps me manage my reading plan.

Those are some of my favorites, what are your favorite apps?

I certainly believe so. We can see from the teachings of Jesus that there is an expectation of growth.  The parables of the talents and the sower clearly demonstrate that.  It is also obvious that they counted the number of people that were listening to Jesus during these teaching moments and that practice continued in the book of Acts.  However, I believe that often there are times that we are so focused on counting that we forget what we’re counting for.

As leaders we need to make sure we’re not counting to feed our egos or to feel a sense of personal accomplishment. We’re counting so we can effectively lead and make decisions in the best interests of those God has asked us to serve.

There are lots of tools out there to aid in tracking measures.  If your are in the market for a new database and your church can afford to spend some cash I’ve worked with both Fellowship One and People Driven Software and both services have good tools, that provide helpful reports, and they have solid customer service. However, if your strapped for cash and would like to use a free tool just to aid you with some broad measures Church Metrics may be the right tool for you.

For other great articles on technology and ministry visit TechPastor.net

“The worst effects are emotional… no smiles on the street and a sense of despair.”

Haiti needs hope.  Yes, as Christians we need to help with disaster relief, we need to lead our nation and the world in providing water, food, and medical care but we also need to share Jesus.  Haiti needs hope and that is where organizations like Faith Comes By Hearing are doing some great things.  They are partnering with disaster relief organizations to bring hope to Haiti through the distribution of solar powered audio bibles. 

Not only do I love the idea but I love the technology. The other wonderful thing about their approach is that  literacy doesn’t stand in the way.  With the use of these audio bibles there is no need for batteries and even those that are uneducated can still hear the message of hope that God has for them.  Currently the organization distrubutes audio bibles in two ways.  On is through the Bible Stick which is basically an mp3 player that is compact, easy to use and practically indistructable.  They also distrubute a version of these units to military personnel in the battlefield.

To get an idea of what a bible stick looks like you can preview their bible stick for kids below…

To help on an even greater scale in Haiti Faith Comes By Hearing has designed a solar powered audio bible that has the kind of amplification needed to play audio for up to 300 people to listen to a life changing message. So not only are they distributing audio Bibles to the US military and numerous countries around the world, but they also have over 400 different versions available for download and distribution.

“Faith Comes By Hearing is committed to reaching the nations with the Word of God in Audio, offering the Bible in a format that will connect with the world’s 50% illiterate population.” 

Click here to learn more about their work, how your donation can provide people with hope, and make a difference in Haiti or other parts of the world.

Is God Mac or PC?

That is, up in heaven, is he cranking away on a Mac or a PC? Does he love the iPhone or is he currently listening to Michael W. Smith’s greatest hits on a Zune? Does he have a little apple sticker stuck anywhere?

I feel like lists work well on blogs, so let’s break it down list style and weigh all the facts.

1. Macs are beautiful and glimmery white in their design. Christ and God are always represented as the “light of the world.” PCs are often dark. God is definitely a Mac.

2. As soon as you own an iPhone you start to feel a potpourri of pity and shame for anyone who does not own one. Someone whips out a Blackberry and you immediately, smugly think inside, “That poor person. Pushing on physical keys. The horror.” God doesn’t like that arrogance. God is a PC.

3. Apple makes real efforts to improve the planet and recycle their products. God loves that. God is a Mac.

4. Apple is notorious for rejecting apps that people try to put on the iPhone. God doesn’t reject anyone. God is definitely a PC.

5. PCs are often plagued by viruses and crashes. Much like sin, God hates that. God is definitely a Mac.

6. Mac commercials are constantly mocking people who use PCs. God hates mockery. God is definitely a PC.

7. You don’t have to learn a complicated operating system to use a Mac. You turn it on and go. Same with God. Repentance and salvation are not complex systems designed to confuse people. God’s a Mac.

8. PCs are constantly needing to be upgraded and updated with the latest software and operating systems. Just like sanctification. You are constantly changing and being renewed. God’s a PC.

9. Macs take a very holistic approach to computing. There’s iLife and iTunes and iPhone. They all work together seamlessly. Just the way God wants to be integrated into every part of our life. God’s a Mac.

10. Some people treat Apple’s Steve Jobs like he’s God in a mock turtle neck. Turns out God is not cool with that. God’s a PC.

11. Macs are very intuitive. When you want to do something, you don’t look up how to do it, you just do it. With a PC, things are often backwards. When you want to shut down for instance, you have to click “Start.” The Bible is very intuitive too. Proverbs lays out pages of simple wisdom that just makes sense. God is a Mac.

12. Macs are all about outside appearances. They look fantastic. But God cares more about what’s inside. Macs are too vain. God’s a PC.

13. Macs make music easy to enjoy. They’re more artistic and often the choice of graphic designers and photographers. God is a great fan of the arts, as evidence by the colorful sunsets and sunrises he paints each day. God’s a Mac.

14. Macs are really expensive. God’s not. He paid the cost. He paid the debt we owed to him. God’s a PC.

15. The Mac logo, an apple with a bite out of it, is reminiscent of our fall from grace in the garden of Eden and God’s forgiveness of us. God’s a Mac.

16. The Gates Foundation has given millions and millions of dollars to help people around the world. God’s all about generosity. God’s a PC.

17. Apple stores are not designed like traditional retail outlets, but are more like aesthetic sanctuaries. They’re practically consumer churches. God’s a Mac.

18. Mac is constantly teasing us with information. There is a tablet. There’s not a tablet. God, on the other hand, is much more direct with his love and purpose in our lives. God’s a PC.

There’s the list and I’ve got to tell you, I’m stuck. I have a PC desktop and an Apple laptop. I don’t know who to score this one as anything other than a tie. How about you?

You can read more of Jon’s funny stuff or even buy his book by clicking here.

Is God a Mac or a PC?

What evidence would you offer to support or deny either decision?

The best part for you… no more listening to long voicemail messages!!!  Google Voice transcribes all your voicemail into an email.  I can’t even begin to tell you how much easier this had made things for me.  My voicemail hits my blackberry as an email and I can click through and call that number back if I need to return the call.  SOOOOOooooo convenient.  If your still now just beginning to catch on, watch the video below for a simple explanation:

Now here is where it gets better, If you’re smart your already thinking, “But my caller ID will still show up, they won’t see my new Google Voice number.”  That is where the nifty application comes in.  If you are using a Blackberry or Google Android phone, this app fixes everything.  Using the app you have access to your entire address book and you place calls through the application instead and PRESTO – your caller ID number that is displayed is your Google number.  Again, here is a video that explains it quite simply:

Click here to learn more about Google Voice or click on the button below to check out some other free tools you may like!

- If 96% of Gen-Y has joined a social network… social media is not a fad.

- If social media has kicked pornography out as the #1 activity on the web… social media is not a fad

- If facebook added more than 100 million users in 9 months… social media is not a fad.

- If 80% of companies are using Linkedin to find employees… social media is not a fad.

Watch the video below for more great statistics on social media:

Tweetdeck – by far my favorite twitter tool for my PC.  It allows me to group the people I follow to make things so much easier.  As you can see in the picture below, I set up 5 columns:

1. Must Read – these are people I want to follow closely and do my best to catch everything they write.  For me, this group includes ministry leaders, key people in technology, close friends, family, and our church staff.
2. All Friends – this is a column with everyone I follow on twitter.  I do look at this column but I don’t read everything.
3. Direct Messages – twitter is basically a public conversation… However, you can send private messages and this column keeps me up to date on those messages.
4. Mentions – Anytime people mention you on twitter it hits this column.  On twitter when you use someones username like, @chiapperino, they are certain to see it and it makes it easy to maintain a conversation.  Just remember it’s still public!
5. Twitscoop – This column is a function that tweetdeck has built in to let you know trending topics on the public timeline.  It displays key words to let you know what people are talking about.  To give you an example, this is how I found out Farve was playing football again!

Twitterfeed – Do you blog?  If so, this is an easy way to have you blog posts hit your twitter account automatically letting others that follow you on twitter know you have posted something new on your page.

Ubertwitter – a great application for the blackberry that makes it quick and easy to stay in touch with friends on twitter and send tweets!

Twubble- trying to figure out who you should be following on twitter?  Twubble tries to “help you expand your twitter bubble.”  By giving twubble access to your twitter account it looks through your friends on twitter and looks at who they follow to give you suggestions.  Great tool that you may want to give a try…

WeFollow- On online directory of twitter users.  If you are on twitter you should register here and it is also another place to find people that have similar interests, careers, or hobbies.

If there any twitter apps that you find helpful please share them below and fill me in!

Click here to follow me on twitter.

Click here for more great posts like this one on TechPastor.net

Key components to a great church website:

1. Less is more – don’t bombard me with every ministry on the homepage, everyone doesn’t need to know about your underwater basket-weaving class!

2. Don’t make me scroll – long web pages are lame.  I don’t want to scroll forever into a bottomless web pit, remember i can click… my mouse has buttons!

3. KISS – keep it simple stupid!  Ok, so I stole that one from my Sgt. in the military, but it works.  If you can’t make it easy than dont do it.  Complicated parts of websites just make the user frustrated, so if it can’t be simple than leave it out!

4. Use a simple CMS (content management system).  There are great tools out there like wordpress and joomla that are free! This means you can update the info regularly with out a pro doing it for you. If it is not easy for you to use then you wont want to bother maintaining it.

5. Relevant information – KEEP YOUR WEBSITE UP TO DATE!!!  Don’t tell me about the Christmas party that is coming up when it already happened 6 months ago!

If you’d like to see some great church websites Ministry CSS keeps a superb list.  You can take a look at some of them by clicking here.