February
2010 Click the Cover Above to View the Whole Magazine
Cover Story
CDM+ Offers New Web Ministry Tools!
Steve Hewitt In a recession, some companies go into lockdown, hold expansion and new developments, and just try to "ride it out". However, others take the time to move forward, adding new services and invest in developments to improve their services, even during hard economic times. CDM+ is one of those companies that have continued to expand their offerings to ministries this last year, and I thought our readers would be interested, as I was, in some of their new services. Enjoy this interview with Randy Clay.
Editorial
Christian Computing Magazine iPhone App is IN the Store!
Steve Hewitt Christian Computing Magazine was the first Christian publication to put their entire content of each issue up on the Internet for people to read around the world. Christian Computing Magazine was the first Christian publication to provide their publication in a digital format, digitally delivered. And, now, Christian Computing Magazine is the first Christian publication to provide their entire magazine, via an iPhone App!
Press Releases
February 2010 Press Releases Icon Systems, Inc. is pleased to announce the release of our full blown Parishioner’s Module for IconCMO – Church Management Online. Parishioner’s Module now enables church members to log into a secure website to verify and update their personal information, view their giving patterns and print their own contribution statements.
The Mobility Revolution
Launching Online: Cloud Computing vs. Virtual Private Servers
Russ McGuire For the past several issues of Christian Computing, I’ve written about mobility topics. Starting this month, I’m heading in a new direction. Recently, I’ve worked with a group of homeschooled students to launch a new online ministry/business and I think the lessons that we’re learning may be applicable for anyone else looking to launch a ministry online.
Church Web Strategy
Church Website Communications Teams and Content Strategy Research
Drew Goodmanson Church websites are updated by communications teams of all shapes and sizes. Some church websites are updated by a whole team of people, whereas other church websites are updated and maintained by just one person. Most churches' communications teams fall somewhere in between, with varying degrees of responsibility assigned to a varying number of personnel.
Tech Talk
Cool Utilities 10
Dr. J.D. "Doc" Watson My column this month is dedicated to all my fellow geeks out there who contributed much to what you are about to read. Sorry I can’t do better than just “honorable mention.” We first revisit HJ-Split from last month and consider an alternative, and then we’ll take a look at three other utilities that make things a little easier. Best of all, as usual, everything is free.
Ministry Communication
How to Get People to Come Back after Easter Sunday
Yvon Prehn In most churches their biggest turnout of the year is for Easter Sunday. This doesn’t happen by accident—churches pour time, money, and resources into their church communications prior to Easter and it pays off with a full-sanctuary for multiple services. However, few churches have a continuing increase in attendance after Easter.
Higher Power
Digital Bible Study Is Breaking the Banks of the Personal Computer
Kevin A Purcell In the early days of doing Digital Bible study, you had really only one option – a personal computer of some kind. Today, that is changing with many devices and formats possible. How is this affecting the task of studying God’s word and reading content from Christian publishers in a format other than paper and print? It is breaking out of the banks of the PC just like an overflowing river. The flood of digital Bible study resources makes this a great time to be studying God’s Word.
Making Ministry Happen
With Web Videos, Prayer Requests Go Global
Jason Otis If you’ve been in church life for awhile, you might be familiar with something known as a “prayer chain.” In an earlier form, a Sunday school class would provide a list of names and phone numbers to class members, so that when a concern came up, the first person on the list would call the second person on the list who would call the third person on the list – and so on – until everyone had been enlisted to lift the need in prayer.
Nick at Church
It's Spring Cleaning Time!
Nick B. Nicholaou It’s Spring, and to many of us that means “Spring Cleaning”. Computer data is one of those areas that needs constant grooming, and the payoff is big! But to some just thinking of it feels like a chore. In this article I’ll help you organize your data and delete unnecessary files easily.
Special Feature
4 Ways to Use Social Media During Capital Campaigns
Ben Stroup It’s interesting that we live in a digital, multi-media world of RSS feeds, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc., until we go to church. Even some of the strongest users of these platforms in other areas of their lives fail to see the impact technology can have in church life.
ACS Technologies
Key Elements of Connection Success
ACS Technologies Many church members don’t feel as though they belong to their congregation. Providing a genuine connection between members, guests, and the surrounding community is essential to the growth of any ministry. The connection process allows the church to bring people in, prepare them for ministry, and provide them with opportunities to share their gifts within the church family.
Fellowship Tech
Accelerating Dynamic Churches
Fellowship Tech It doesn’t matter who you are, going fast…acceleration, is an invigorating experience! There’s just something about hearing the phrase “step on it!” with the feeling of rapidly gaining momentum. Maybe it’s the classic movies that made stomping on the gas pedal a fun idea, or even the personal experience of “burning rubber” while shifting through all four gears in a ’69 Ford Mustang Mach 1.
