Get a Free App for Your Church
For some time, I've searched for the right app for our church. As a temporary work around, I've created a mobile version of our site using WPtouch Pro. It works well, but does not come close to offering the capabilities a dedicated app can offer.
For example, we employ a wide variety of services to deliver content. We use SermonAudio.com, Vimeo, Sermon.Net, Liberated Syndication (for podcasting), plus a host of RSS feeds for each ministry news stream as well as the main news steam for our church. Add to this Facebook and Twitter for our social media components. A dedicated church app allows you to bring all of these diverse sources together into a single, simple interface on a mobile device.
In searching for an app builder, I first looked for a tool that would allow me to build my own app. I'm not a programmer, and don't have time to learn all of the nuances of building mobile apps, but if there was a program that made it relatively simple, it would be a win-win. Unfortunately, there is no such beast. There are the hints of early development in this area, but nothing that jumps out that help someone like me build a quality app.
My next step was to begin looking at the companies that develop dedicated apps for churches. There are several to choose from, and they all seem to be fairly consistent as far as price and features offered. The common pricing model is to charge a one-time setup fee to build the app, and then a monthly fee for continued access to the app. Once the app is built, most companies offer churches a way to access a control panel to add content and customize the app as needed.
What helped me pull the trigger is an offer by Roar App to build 1,000 apps for 1,000 churches in December free of charge. Again, most companies charge anywhere from $500 to $2000+ to build an app. Roar App is offering to build it for free. Granted, Roar doesn't have (see clients) the many of the flagship churches that other companies have, but in reviewing their list of features, it looks like they are on par with the big boys in the neighborhood.
So, if having an app of your own is something you would like to add to your church's technology mix, this may be a good way to enter the playing field.
What are your thoughts? Do you see a need for a church to offer a way for the church congregation and community to connect via mobile technology?
My Take on Google's Decision to Cut Churches Out of Nonprofit Program
Christianity Today reported yesterday on Google's decision to no longer offer churches a discount through their nonprofit program. Their decision is well within their rights as a publicly traded, for-profit corporation. In their guidelines Google states their decision to not offer a nonprofit discount to organizations with “religious content or proselytizing on website as well as organizations that use religion or sexual orientation as factor in hiring or populations served."
Google’s progressive leanings and activist approach towards social issues are well documented. It should not be a surprise to churches that Google would make the decision to prohibit churches from benefitting from their nonprofit program.
As a church and technology leader, Google’s decision does not bother me. Churches need to realize that corporations like Google have the right to offer their products free-of-charge or at a discount to whomever they wish. Google is a clear leader in the technology field, and I am a fan of their applications. I appreciate their vision for a new cloud-based operating system that has the potential to dramatically change how we view software and computers in general. The fact that I don’t agree with their politics or agenda does not limit me in any way from enjoying the benefits of their services.
Church leaders grousing about this decision need to recognize the weakness of their argument. If Christian leaders are going to oppose the social agenda Google embraces with one hand, yet at the same time expect a free gift from Google because they are a church, there is something very wrong.
Church leaders need to begin carefully examining the compromises they are making in their effort to receive a discount.
North Point Ministries Takes Video Streaming to New Level
Sunday Morning - When the Truth Hurts
A few months ago I came across a video that pokes a finger in the eye of today’s church. Produced by North Point Media (part of North Point Community church), the video is spot-on when it comes to its depiction of what has become the cliche-driven “cool” church. Churches across the country--big and small--run to conferences hosted by trend-setting churches like North Point Community Church then run home and try to copy their cool style down to the smallest detail.ConfessionI’ve been there, done that. To be honest, the mega churches hosting the conferences usually offer the disclaimer: “Don’t go home and try to do this at your church.” Then they tell you about the Resources available at an incredible “conference-only” discount that tell you how you can go home and do church the way they do church. After all, it must work because they have 10,000 people attending their church every weekend while you only have a few dozen or hundred. So, in spite of the disclaimer, we buy their resources, run home and start implementing the cool, trendy ideas we’ve just experienced. I confess--I am guilty.The Problem as I See ItAs I reflect on this movement within many Evangelical churches, I have to ask myself “why does this bother me?” After all, if a church can implement these new methods and see real, genuine growth, isn’t that a good thing? Perhaps, to a point. What bothers me, however, is that I consider authenticity to be one of the hallmarks of a healthy church. When I see churches attempting to model themselves after “successful” churches all in the name of growth, authenticity is the last thing that comes to mind. When it comes to methodology, it is too easy in 21st Century America for churches to become market-driven, growth-oriented businesses simply for the sake of numbers. Pastors cease serving their congregations as shepherds and teachers, and become ego-centric entrepreneurs who will go to any length and adopt any new idea if it will lead to growth.Again, if you sense I am being unfair with today’s pastors, remember--I’ve been there, done that. I am as guilty as any other pastor who has lost sight at times of what really matters.Question: What do you think after watching the video? Do you see where your church is becoming a cliche-driven church? Is this good or bad?
Groups Urge Obama to Proclaim “Inclusive” Day of Prayer
By Bob Allen | Associated Baptist Press
The Interfaith Alliance and Jews on First called on President Obama to proclaim an "inclusive" national day of prayer May 7 instead of endorsing a National Day of Prayer Task Force headed by Shirley Dobson.
Critics say the Bush administration tacitly endorsed the National Day of Prayer Task Force, which excludes non-Christians.
Signed by Interfaith Alliance president Welton Gaddy and Jews on First co-directors Jane Hunter and Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak, the letter dated April 21 said the National Day of Prayer, established by President Truman, several years ago was taken over by "exclusivists" in a group that "systematically excludes Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Catholics and even mainline Christians from National Prayer Day events it conducts around the United States."
For the last eight years, the wife of Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, organized National Day of Prayer ceremonies in the East Room at the White House. That drew criticism from religious liberty groups like Americans United for Separation of Church and State claiming the event had been hijacked by the Religious Right and used for a political agenda.