5 Technologies That Are Changing the Church (For the Better)
Every time you decide to move your church forward, there will be voices holding you back. Every time you attempt to try a new thing, engage with your audience in a fresh way, try a creative fundraising activity, you may face challenges.
We need to look at the modern world and technology from a positive standpoint. Let’s see the developments that are happening to broaden our outreach. Even though the pandemic may have forced you to stop regular meetings, put your activities on hold, and changed the way you must communicate with your members, this is a time to pivot.
This just might be the opportunity your church needs to make changes for the better and grow your donors in a. Let’s look at some software technologies that are opening new doors for the church and enabling our missions.
1. The future of AI
You may have heard how the Roman Catholic Church has joined up with IBM and Microsoft to work on the ethics of artificial intelligence. The Vatican even hosted a meeting of scientists to discuss robotics. The world will keep developing new technologies, and pastors must always be in tune to discover how the human heart and spirit might benefit from these developments.
2. Streaming Platforms
Nowadays, this is a given, and a platform you must utilize if you are to grow your donors and members. You no longer have to leave your home to reach the hearts and minds of your congregation. Those who may be confined in hospitals, quarantine, or even faraway mission fields now have access to your sermons. Continue to inspire and lead through streaming your content live, having a good online presence, and encouraging them to stay connected. This article on streaming shows how it is a safe way for your members to interact, plus a few more surprising advantages.
3. Instant giving apps
Tithing used to depend on physical contact with the pastors or church leaders. But if the old ways of collecting donations are not working anymore, the good news is that online options are endless. Now, with the comfort of their smartphones, folks can give donations, tithes, even recurring gifts. Learn how to use these apps for your church. The tithing apps available also often function as networking apps for better community connection. These will encourage your donors and members to stay connected with you, no matter how isolated they may be. Did you know that online giving has grown in churches over 12 percent last year alone? Click this link to find out how you can leverage one of the fastest-growing technologies to engage donors and increase giving through online apps.
4. Tighter security and data management
In the past, it was a challenge to guarantee the privacy and security of your donors and church members. Perhaps you had old-school methods of keeping their information stored—in paper folders, church libraries, or on outdated computers. Now, you can move everything to cloud-based solutions, and team up with companies who have built programs geared towards churches. Security and trust remain the number one value you must be able to offer people, if you expect them to support your church financially. Successful people also want to be associated with successful communities. Ensure that your management operations handle everything professionally, including the security of your members’ data. If not, you risk losing donors and their support.
5. Social Media Platforms
Today’s youth are experts in social media, and you probably have quite a few in your church groups already. Why not encourage your younger members to get involved with church activities through giving them social media responsibilities, asking them how you can improve your social media presence, and ensuring that your websites and Bible content are attractive for the younger generation as well?
Preparing the Ground for Harvest (The Parable of the Sower)
In the parable of the sower, Jesus reminds us that we must plant seeds on good ground, in order to reap the harvest. As leaders who want to reap the best harvest of abundance, it is your responsibility to till that ground the hearts and minds of your people) with love and wisdom. Let’s be reminded of the Lord’s words in Matthew Chapter 13:
3 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.
Do everything you can to prepare your members for the shift to digital transformation. If the ground is fertile, well-watered and cared for, it is guaranteed to “bring forth fruit” and “produce a good crop”.
Make sure your church is reaching its outreach goals and that your ministry efforts are not withering, scorched, or not rooted in a firm foundation of faith. For more inspiring resources, counsel, and a free Discovery Call about your church’s digital needs,contact us at Donorwerx today.
