The Church and Inexpensive Online Technology
“Church” and “technology.” Two words that don’t seem like they belong in the same sentence, unless it is “the technology at church isn’t working.”
But in our online world, churches can have a major impact using technology. Yes, it takes a little work. No, it should never take the place of personal, one-on-one conversations and encouragement.
But technology can be a great tool to help spread the message of Christ, both near and far. Still, there are hangups.
Too often, the singular hangup is money. For so many years, anything under the umbrella of “tech” was code for “expensive.” In the last handful of years, though, all that has changed. (After all, how do you think we keep this site going? It’s not from our overflowing coffers!)
In this post, I want to share some ways through which nearly any congregation can flood the internet with good material for very (very) little money.
1. Social Media. In reality, this is the least expensive way to utilize online technology for a congregation. If done well, it can also be highly effective. Considering how many members are on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and other platforms, why not meet them there? Facebook and Twitter are wonderful tools for building pages that include both information and encouragement. Instagram is a great way to share pictures, as well as cool invitations. All of these are totally free, and just require someone (or several people) willing to keep them up to date. With a little work, these can reach into a community, and show a congregation that is active and encouraging.
2. Podcasting. It is amazing to me how inexpensively a congregation can produce a podcast. If a congregation has a computer that can record sermons digitally, it can literally cost nothing. (Here’s a tutorial on how to do this for free.) For just a few dollars a month (less than $20), a congregation can go all out and make more of a “show” type of podcast (like A Legacy of Faith, for example). Since the world of podcasts is less saturated than blogging, but is growing, this is a great way to get messages out to the world.
3. Blogging. Even if a blog is nothing more than bulletin articles, it is a great way to get Biblical information out. There are several free blogging platforms (Blogger, Tumblr, etc.), or a blog can be incorporated into the church’s website, usually at no additional cost. Again, this takes some dedication, in order to produce new content regularly, but it is a good way to share messages in a bit more relaxed way. (Before you decide to start, though, take a moment and read this quick “before you start blogging” post I wrote some time back.)
4. Website. A church website can be wonderful and cost almost nothing. Hosting fees can be found for less than $10/month (in fact, here’s the hosting site we use for this blog, and it is just $4.95/month for a 3-year commitment), and then anything else you do, cost-wise, is up to you. There are free templates, as well as paid ones. There are free ways to do pictures, graphics, etc., or you can pay for them. Just remember to keep the site up to date!!!
Now, add it all up: Social media (free), podcasting (less than $20/month, and could be free), blogging (free), website (less than $10/month). A congregation can flood the internet with good material for less than $30 each month, and could even do ALL FOUR of these things for less than that, if they chose.
So, here is the question: why aren’t we doing that? In a time when online technology is so inexpensive, the church needs to dedicate itself to putting content online regularly to help people both near and far learn more about the Gospel.
QUESTION: What are some other ways a congregation can effectively utilize online technology for very little money? Share your suggestions in the comments!
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